The principle “Slow is smooth, and smooth becomes fast” should guide all training programs. It emphasizes that developing technique is more important than speed. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to train professionals from nearly every background. I have taught law enforcement, military personnel, professional investigators, private security, and individuals. I found that it didn’t matter whether the participant was a stay-at-home mom or a SWAT team member; one issue consistently arose. They wanted to perform a new skill as if they had been doing it their entire life.

As human beings, we tend to imitate the actions of others. We often fail to recognize the years of training and practice that person has invested in honing their skill. Consequently, when we attempt the same action, we feel frustrated with ourselves for not being able to replicate their performance.

The Prodigy

The truth is, not everyone is a born fighter or shooter. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have achieved. Most skills take time to develop. For example, consider the musical prodigy. This is someone who can grasp concepts that confound others from the very first time they sit at a piano. They don’t just sit down and play as if they’ve been doing it for years. However, they develop musical skills very quickly, and in a relatively short time, they find themselves playing music that others only dream of playing.

I have witnessed this phenomenon in firearms and self-defense training. Some individuals begin training for the first time and quickly develop skills that enable them to perform like professionals. THIS IS NOT THE NORM! The rest of us must work hard to develop those skills that seem to come so easily to the “prodigy.” The reality is that we can improve those skills if we put in the effort.

Memory

The first step is to accept the information and not work too hard at remembering it, as this can interfere with the learning process. My favorite example is trying to remember a phone number. Have you ever tried so hard to remember a phone number that you actually prevented yourself from doing so? If you accept the information (the phone number) provided, you will be able to recall it just minutes later. Then, you can write it down or type it in. However, if you force the information into your mind by rapidly repeating it over and over, you might end up mixing it up before you can do anything with it.

Training

Our training can follow the same process as remembering the phone number. If we accept the information and practice it slowly, we will develop the skill to perform the technique smoothly over time. This means successfully executing each component of the overall technique. As we continue to practice the technique smoothly, our minds will begin to accept the movements as natural or comfortable for us to perform.

This mental acceptance enables our bodies to naturally develop speed in performing the action. Over time, this movement or technique can become a conditioned part of who we are. Training helps us execute it efficiently and effectively with reduced mental focus. This is what is meant by “Slow is smooth, and smooth becomes fast.”

Remember, your training is not a race to the finish line; it is a transformative process that you should embrace and nurture. Your safety is indeed your responsibility. Take the time to develop skills that will become an integral part of who you are, so you won’t have to think about performing them. The key to staying safe is your training!