# 6 Reasons To Go Slow

- Link: https://brianejohns.com/2015/07/22/blog-6-reasons-to-go-slow/
- Published: 2015-07-22T12:48:00-04:00
- Author: Brian Johns

> _You must go slow! Slow is the mother of skill!- Professor Remy Presas._

## The professor used to admonish us who rushed into new techniques. He wanted us to have good form and structure before worrying about speed—wise words.

I often train slowly for smoothness and fluidity and to self-diagnose any structural
defects in my technique. I go slow, smooth, and relaxed to find that 1% improvement.

Even Steve Austin went slow.

I generally mix up my training speeds. If you train at only one speed, you miss 
out on the benefits of training at other speeds. That said, there are significant
benefits to slow training.

## **Here are 6 reasons to go slow:**

**(1) Work every detail:** Going slow ensures that you pay attention to all the 
details of a technique. Do you have a good stance? Are you moving your feet correctly?
Where is your check hand? Are you using the stick optimally?

**(2) Muscle memory:** going slow increases “muscle memory.” Taking your time through
a technique or anyo appears to increase your retention. If you rush through something
only a few times, how likely is it that you will remember the next day? Take your
time. I once timed myself doing 10 repetitions of Naihanchi Shodan at slow to moderate
speed. It took me all of 5 minutes.

_Let me repeat: 10 repetitions of Naihanchi Shodan at slow to moderate speed took
me only 5 minutes._

Ponder that.

## Can you slow yourself down for 5 minutes and work a technique slowly and patiently? You will benefit significantly from this approach.

See the below video of LeBron James learning spin moves from Hakeem Olajuwon. Notice
how he’s taking the time to learn new skills?

**(3) See your own mistakes:** If you rush through a technique, you will likely 
not notice the multitude of errors you are making. If you take the time to go slow,
you will then notice the mistakes, big and small. This alone is another reason to
go slow!

**(4) See the possible counters:** If your partner is smart enough to go slow, you
can spot possible counters. The key is to stay engaged and actively look for those
possible counters. You could miss out on a golden opportunity to train your mind
if you are not engaged.

**(5) See the muscular tension disappear:** Those who rush through a technique often
think they are relaxed. When told that the student needs to relax during a technique,
they often furrow their brows and protest that they are relaxed. How many of you
have seen this?

**(6) Eliminate competition:** By going slow, you focus on building skills and not
on “winning.” A good example of de-emphasizing winning is the slow-rolling practiced
in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. By taking competition out of training, you focus on your
skillset.

I often emphasize to my students the need to train skills rather than get competitive.

Although the video below is long, it gives a good overview. The emphasis is on training
skills, not on “winning.”  _It’s all about the training._

## **Over to you, can you give other reasons for training slow?**

## Additional Reading

 * [Four Easy Ways to Teach Relaxation!](https://brianejohns.com/2016/07/25/blog-four-easy-ways-to-teach-relaxation/)
 * [How to do the Redonda Training Drill](https://brianejohns.com/2021/02/01/blog-how-to-do-the-redonda-training-drill/)
 * [Top Ten Tips for Watching Martial Arts Instructional Videos](https://brianejohns.com/2024/02/14/top-ten-tips-for-watching-martial-arts-instructional-videos/)
 * [Counters to Disarms](https://brianejohns.com/2016/11/22/blog-counters-to-disarms/)
 * [The 5 Benefits of Teaching Private Lessons](https://brianejohns.com/2015/07/01/blog-the-5-benefits-of-teaching-private-lessons/)

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