Thoughts on self-training

This is training outside of classes, away from teachers, separate from those already cultivating a style. This training done on your own time, time dedicated solely to incorporating techniques, ideas or moves that you have learned from others or thought of yourself. It is important to do this self-training, you must make a technique yours before truly utilizing it. Only you can decide if it is worth committing to muscle memory or if it will remain a theoretical idea to recognize in others. This training should take place in a special spot, a place that is easy to fix in the mind. Why? Well there are times when recalling a technique or thinking about a series of movements it is good to first place yourself mentally in this place. It is like a rooted spot that links you to various angles of training. Training by yourself, away from your teacher is also away from the mentors influence. There is no one to correct you, but therein lies the attraction. You must learn your body, you must learn to judge the correctness of form. You do not need a mirror, the feel of your muscles will tell you the alignment of feet and shoulders. Let your self be the demanding seeker of perfection. For only when you reach the point of having no excuse are you truly training your self.