Motor Learning: Block vs Random Practice

Awesome! So glad to see all of the people trying to apply this to martial arts; that was my first thought. I've seen this in action but never knew it, and it fits perfectly with my "practice is boring" mindset! (because all I knew was block practice)

Really enjoyed the video, I've read a lot of stuff related to this and while I felt like I had a decent understanding of most of this, it really drove home the points so well about the difference between random and block practice. Helps so much truly understanding that random practice isn't necessarily going to be pretty, but that's not a bad thing. Thanks for the post!

I was preaching this for years at combat sports training: Yes,repetition is the mother of skill. But variation is its father. So,when i teach for example a basic boxing combination, like a jab-cross, i have my students do it first,as block practice, just to get familiar, but then, onto the variation. Different hights (head or body), one high one low, doing it while moving forward, backwards or sideways, do it when punched back,and so on... It sort off doesn't really help with confidence in the first few sessions, but it really REALLY helps with skill acquisition and long term retention.

Wonderful video essay and explanation of motor learning, thanks Trevor!

This is an awesome video and the concept can be demontrated in martial arts, specially Jiu-Jitsu. I am improving a lot using the reading, planning, doing approach. Thanks.

FANTASTIC material. Noodling on how this could be applied to BJJ and MMA. 

this video is incredibly helpful and is really easy to understand thank you so much.

This is great. I have been doing some Random Training for years now. I never thought there was a name for it. I do start off with block training and when the athletes gain an understanding of the fundamental I then switch to Random Training.

Thank you! That was inspiring and I have learned a lot

We love your stuff, Trevor. Please keep posting and sharing! A handful of us in the jiu-jitsu community are exploring motor learning concepts in our teaching because of you.

🤯🤯🤯 amazing!

Well put together!

Great great great video! 🔥🔥🔥

Excellent video. I’ll be applying this more when teaching HEMA. It’s hard finding the balance in our amateur context though. Much blade work, even the barebones basics, is extremely technical, so getting to the point where a student can do a technique at all can be a struggle. Adding random elements to that can take a while. What’s a good ratio of block vs. random drilling for beginners?

Wow this is excellent! I'm an MEd candidate and also a martial arts instructor. I'm alwayd looking for better, more efficient ways to teach.

LOVE YOUR PRESENTATION! MAHALO. FOR SHARING.

Awesome video, and well researched - thank you!!! I would assume that, as hinted at the end of the video, random practice is more effective also because it forces the athletes to stay alert all through the practice. Is there any study on this point? Focus is clearly important for every sport, but is there any variation we can add to a drill to either improve or lower the athlete's alertness?

Thank you very much for this

thanks for the examples

Great video!