Practice Until You Can’t Get it Wrong

The saying “practice makes perfect” often encourages people to keep practicing a skill until they become proficient. However, a more accurate phrase is: “Don’t practice until you get it right. Practice until you can’t get it wrong.”

This saying is based on the idea that true mastery of a skill requires more than just being able to do it correctly. It also requires being able to do it consistently and without making mistakes. This is because even a small mistake can have significant consequences in a high-pressure situation.

For example, if you are a surgeon, you need to be able to perform surgery perfectly every time. Even a small mistake could kill the patient. The same applies to athletes, martial artists, and anyone who conducts a skill under pressure, such as defending yourself.

So, how do you practice until you can’t get it wrong? Here are a few tips:

• Start with the basics. Ensure you have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of the skill you are trying to learn. This will give you a foundation to build on as you practice.
• Break the skill down into smaller steps. This will make it easier to learn and master each step.
• Practice slowly and deliberately. This will help you to focus on the details and to avoid making mistakes.
• Get feedback from others. Ask someone more experienced than you to watch you practice and give you feedback.

If you follow these tips, you will be well on your way to mastering any skill you set your mind to. So, what are you waiting for? Start practicing today!

Here are some additional thoughts on the saying “don’t practice until you get it right, practice until you can’t get it wrong”:

• It is essential to be critical of your performance. Don’t just focus on the times when you do something correctly. Pay attention when you make mistakes, and learn from them.
• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. It is essential to learn from your mistakes and not make them again. This is why we practice on the mat over and over.
• Be patient. It takes time and practice to master any skill. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right away. Just keep practicing, and eventually, you will reach your goal.

I hope this article has inspired you to start practicing until you can’t get it wrong! This goes for martial arts techniques or simply drawing pepper spray from your pocket.

As always, be safe and be prepared.

See Also:

• Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast
• Learning from Theory, Practice, and Mistakes
• Sinking to the Level of Your Training
• When Is Your Training Resume Enough?