I believe that people have different learning styles.

Some learn with their ears (audio learners). Some students are “visual learners.”  Then there are those who learn through a combination of audio and visual cues.

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One interesting thing that I’ve learned about visual learners is that some need the instructor to demonstrate techniques while in a specific spatial orientation to them. Specifically, some visual learners have an easier time processing information if the instructor and the student are facing the same direction. For example, if a student is learning the 12 angles of attack, they either stand beside me or behind me so that they can replicate my movements.  Not all visual learners need this specific spatial orientation to learn.

Having been born severely deaf, my learning style is decidedly visual.

I rely on the visual much more heavily than the hearing world.  Unless the instructor has an outstanding voice, I rely on demonstrations of the technique being taught and try it out on my training partner. Most of the time, I either know the concept behind the technique or try to figure it out on my own. If I cannot figure out the concept on my own, I will hash it out with my training partner or ask the instructor in private.

An example of this is when I learned about pressure points. There is often a great deal of theory and explanations behind pressure point techniques. This is not exactly a good fit for my learning style.

I often miss what the instructor is saying due to poor voice quality or the constant movement of his head, which makes lip reading difficult.

However, I often recognize the movement being taught and its application due to my years of training.

Given my heavy reliance on visual learning, I often devour martial arts books that discuss history, theory, and applications. This helps to replace whatever verbal instruction I might miss at a camp or a seminar. I’m not a fan of the “how-to” martial arts books, as they do not aid my martial arts education.

Second, I watch tons of videos. I analyze the technique being taught using the slow-motion function of a DVD player. Video has been a tremendous help in my learning process as a martial artist. I cannot emphasize how important video is to me. I wish that martial arts DVDs and YouTube videos were captioned. That would open up a lot of avenues for me. Somehow, I’ve managed it!

How do you learn? What kind of learning style do you employ? What can instructors do to improve your experience?

Let’s hear from you!

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