How do you learn the sport of kayaking?
There is a wonderful model on cognitive learning that shows we vacillate between different levels of understanding. When we are first exposed to a sport there is a good chance that we are unconsciously incompetent. As we watch from a distance we think, “I can do that!” After exposure, we become consciously incompetent. “Wow, I had no idea these things flipped so easily.” With some instruction and practice, we become consciously competent. “If I just keep this edge up crossing the eddyline I’ll stay upright.” And after miles on the river, we become unconsciously competent. So much so, that should someone ask us how to do a certain maneuver, we would have to consciously try a few before being able to give an answer. Some of us are programmed to give verbal answers more easily.
There appear to be two modes of thinking, represented separately by the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Each has a different way of interpreting and processing information. You may have an experience of hearing someone describe some part of kayaking and you thought, “I knew that!” Up to that point you may not have been able to articulate, but you could perform! Your knowing was in your muscles. You were accessing the right brain, which is the skills side and is oriented toward grasping whole patterns. It deals simultaneously with multiple concepts and makes intuitive leaps to complete associations. The left side is the verbal side. When learning occurs from the left side it is analytical. No matter how you are programmed to LEARN, the competent kayaker when interacting with the river relies on the right brain capabilities of simultaneously processing many inputs. Analyzing from the left-brain happens best during practice, where valuable information can be shared through verbal means.
While you are learning, you’ll find that this verbal understanding boosts you into the consciously competent stage. As this happens, you may find yourself taking one step forward…and two steps back! That is because in the heat of the game, “to analyze is to paralyze”. As you modify your technique or play around with your river running strategies, your new awareness can get in the way of synchronizing your movements to the current. Know that this is normal. With time and practice, your more effective actions will become unconscious and you’ll be way ahead of the game with better technique. In the meantime, take an attitude of “there are no mistakes, only the process of exploring and experimenting to find more effective way”.
People tend to have a primary way of learning sports. It can be analytical, doing, feeling, or seeing. Those of us who learn kinesthetically need only to expose our muscles to certain sensations and these "smart" muscles store that awareness for future use. This knowledge remains unconscious to our analytical mind. We perform, but don't necessarily understand. Analytical learners are at a loss to attempt a skill until there is sufficient understanding of the how’s and whys. The conscious mind thus prepared can coach the muscles to perform. Visual learners also need to understand before attempting to perform. However, their mode of gathering information is through their eyes. It is their fortune to "monkey see, monkey do". Most of us learn through some combination of these styles.
If you are primarily kinesthetic, search out drills. As your muscles begin to feel the affect of movements, your muscle memory will quickly understand where this movement will work for you on the river. If you're analytical then reading is valuable. As well, find a more experienced analytical kayaker and enjoy verbally dissecting the sport. It will translate to your actions on the river. Visual learners learn fastest by watching better paddlers, to enable their muscles to see and understand what to do.
Having a friend on the water with you as you practice, or even better, to video you will help to ingrain new, techniques more quickly. Remember that learning is a process, not an outcome. Keep it fun. Making errors is part of the process. And humor goes a long way toward keeping things enjoyable!
By Mary DeRiemer, host of River Runner's Edge, The Kayak Roll, Kayaker's Edge, Kayaker's Playbook DVD's and books.
We think there's nothing better than slipping into river time and returning to what is truly significant. It's very likely that you do too. Whether you are new to the sport, interested in making plateau breakthroughs, or wanting an exceptional wilderness or international trip, join us in reaching your destination. www.adventurekayaking.com
There appear to be two modes of thinking, represented separately by the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Each has a different way of interpreting and processing information. You may have an experience of hearing someone describe some part of kayaking and you thought, “I knew that!” Up to that point you may not have been able to articulate, but you could perform! Your knowing was in your muscles. You were accessing the right brain, which is the skills side and is oriented toward grasping whole patterns. It deals simultaneously with multiple concepts and makes intuitive leaps to complete associations. The left side is the verbal side. When learning occurs from the left side it is analytical. No matter how you are programmed to LEARN, the competent kayaker when interacting with the river relies on the right brain capabilities of simultaneously processing many inputs. Analyzing from the left-brain happens best during practice, where valuable information can be shared through verbal means.
While you are learning, you’ll find that this verbal understanding boosts you into the consciously competent stage. As this happens, you may find yourself taking one step forward…and two steps back! That is because in the heat of the game, “to analyze is to paralyze”. As you modify your technique or play around with your river running strategies, your new awareness can get in the way of synchronizing your movements to the current. Know that this is normal. With time and practice, your more effective actions will become unconscious and you’ll be way ahead of the game with better technique. In the meantime, take an attitude of “there are no mistakes, only the process of exploring and experimenting to find more effective way”.
People tend to have a primary way of learning sports. It can be analytical, doing, feeling, or seeing. Those of us who learn kinesthetically need only to expose our muscles to certain sensations and these "smart" muscles store that awareness for future use. This knowledge remains unconscious to our analytical mind. We perform, but don't necessarily understand. Analytical learners are at a loss to attempt a skill until there is sufficient understanding of the how’s and whys. The conscious mind thus prepared can coach the muscles to perform. Visual learners also need to understand before attempting to perform. However, their mode of gathering information is through their eyes. It is their fortune to "monkey see, monkey do". Most of us learn through some combination of these styles.
If you are primarily kinesthetic, search out drills. As your muscles begin to feel the affect of movements, your muscle memory will quickly understand where this movement will work for you on the river. If you're analytical then reading is valuable. As well, find a more experienced analytical kayaker and enjoy verbally dissecting the sport. It will translate to your actions on the river. Visual learners learn fastest by watching better paddlers, to enable their muscles to see and understand what to do.
Having a friend on the water with you as you practice, or even better, to video you will help to ingrain new, techniques more quickly. Remember that learning is a process, not an outcome. Keep it fun. Making errors is part of the process. And humor goes a long way toward keeping things enjoyable!
By Mary DeRiemer, host of River Runner's Edge, The Kayak Roll, Kayaker's Edge, Kayaker's Playbook DVD's and books.
We think there's nothing better than slipping into river time and returning to what is truly significant. It's very likely that you do too. Whether you are new to the sport, interested in making plateau breakthroughs, or wanting an exceptional wilderness or international trip, join us in reaching your destination. www.adventurekayaking.com