Long conversation yesterday with Patron regarding learning, and training. Patron speaks often about martial arts, and training. In training, learning new technique never achieves in first attempt. How student deals with learning greatly influenced by method of corrections applied. Patron tells story of learning blocking by enduring series of repetitions of attack to block. This is where “safe to learn” becomes greatly relevant: Those repetitions caused impact to body, over and over and over. Even bearing decreased energy, impact damage cumulative.

For some, learn by pain is motto. In fact, for some, “Learn by pain” is way of life. Counterpoint, not all people respond to situation with epiphanies or growth, some simply learn fear.

In case of Patron’s story, Patron’s teacher kept impact to tolerable level, changed elements and implements of practice, used varied methods of practice – some sparring, some Kata – and through all, Patron perservered with practice and learning.

Martial arts ‘schools’ often have proscribed training methods. These methods are clear, documented and understood prior to student taking on study. In Patron’s martial pursuit, training done by teacher’s intuition. Teacher knows methods, and trains by way of personal experience. In that area, many trainers find that teacher-student relationship unsustainable, as student learns in ways teacher unfamiliar. Nothing wrong with such things as all people are different.

Point being – for student to grow, student needs space to be vulnerable. Student needs to know that well being, physical, mental, emotional resting in care hands. Only in vulnerable place, where student may fail by whatever measure of success used, can student find both courage to face internal fears, and also take risks necessary to reach for growth. Babe Ruth famously swung 714 home runs. Ruth also struck out 1,330 times, with lifetime batting average of .342. These numbers represent “failure”. Ruth came up to plate 8,399 times, and only ‘succeeded’ 1/3 of time achieving base. Failing to achieve goal is part of learning, and indeed part of “doing.”

Why, Nikolai, you discuss martial arts? Subject is easier to understand sometimes. No people take statistics for artist learning painting or calligraphy. No “happy percentage” exists in records showing artist achievement. Often, perception being “artist must be perfect in all executions.” If artist for commission – patron has 2 options: Success: Patron happy, failure: Patron not happy. Artist to be successful need batting average far above Babe Ruth – success often expected to be 100%.

How, then, can artist train? How artist finds acceptance of failure? Answer complex, but often lies within concept of victory conditions. What goals for project? What constitutes victory conditions? What parameters? Most importantly, how does artist risk failing so growth possible, and what help given by artist’s patron enables artist taking that risk?

For artist, finding methods and place for train where risk and failure SAFE for mental and emotional state critical for growing. Patron calls this his White Whale, a hill willing to die upon. “Help” only helpful when risk and artist growth not endangered. Like fighters, every artist has their own level of “learn by pain” or other such methodology. Safe place for practice critical in all disciplines. Sometimes important for Student to walk away from unsafe places, but also important for trainers to recognize HOW create space safe for training.

Final thoughts – Not all pressure comes on Patron. Patron challenged me to be thinking: when enagaging with others, am I allowing for the space being safe or is my input making unsafe. Awareness Important.