Keeping a Journal

[Sohan]

I have always kept a journal for strength training, running, and swimming, but never thought of one for MA until about a year ago. Wish I had started it years ago.

Respectfully,

Sohan

[Belasko]

I keep a journal that I don't write in with any regularity but I like to use for recording major events in my life. This has included things like when I got my BB, graduated from college, etc. Any more I use it for writing down stressful events in my life that I know have or will have a major impact on my continuing development in life. Working in the ICU this is sometimes a frequent thing. Over all though, I use it just to keep a record of some of the items that have happened that I know I don't want to forget. Ultimately it can be great to look back on and realize just how much you have changed.

[marie curie]

I keep a journal that I don't write in with any regularity but I like to use for recording major events in my life. This has included things like when I got my BB, graduated from college, etc. Any more I use it for writing down stressful events in my life that I know have or will have a major impact on my continuing development in life. Working in the ICU this is sometimes a frequent thing. Over all though, I use it just to keep a record of some of the items that have happened that I know I don't want to forget. Ultimately it can be great to look back on and realize just how much you have changed.

I have a personal journal for events like this too- but I have a specific binder with notes for Kajukenbo- not so much judo/bjj

[HumanTyphoon]

I see that a few people used the word 'reflect'....and to me, I think a journal is like a mirror. By looking in a mirror, you have to reflect upon yourself. To many people, this is a hard thing to do as things in life aren't perfect and are full of things people don't want to remember. Thus, the reaction would be to try to get away from those problems, and not reflecting upon the past will get you away from it.

But, to the original topic, I believe a journal is helpful. In fact, much evidence and experience can show that if you face your problem and it's roots, it'll be much easier to get over with it. By keeping a journal, it will help you to look back at yourself and find knowledge and wisdom from your past experiences. It's also healthy for the brain. So yeah, I think keeping a journal is a very good and healthy thing to do, even though it might be hard to do.

[ArmorOfGod]

I have kept a strict martial arts journal since my first class back in 1991.

It has gotten very large and has dates, diagrams, side notes, listings of who I learned things from, and dates.

A few months back, I finally transfered all of it onto disc, then backed it up in my online briefcase ( briefcase.yahoo.com ). That was a huge task.

It is my pride and joy.

AoG

[patusai]

I have kept a strict martial arts journal since my first class back in 1991.

It has gotten very large and has dates, diagrams, side notes, listings of who I learned things from, and dates.

A few months back, I finally transfered all of it onto disc, then backed it up in my online briefcase ( briefcase.yahoo.com ). That was a huge task.

It is my pride and joy.

AoG

I envy you. I wish I was that organized

[Whitefeather]

I would like to keep a journal, but, knowing my stupendous luck, there is a very good chance someone would read it, but this martial arts journal thing sounds like a good idea. I might give that a whirl.

David

[Kieran-Lilith]

I have a few journals.

One is for me to simply vent in whenever I start having a hard time. It makes me feel good, especially when I burn the paper that the problem is written on. Then again, maybe I just like flames.

Another is for class to class of martial arts. It helps remind me what we did so I can remember it all and my impressions of whatever it was.

Another is for notes about martial arts techniques, ideas, philosophies, and it's my class notebook that I write in when Sensei has us get them out.

Then, occasionally, I'll have a notebook for just philosophies, ideas, etc.

Really, most of them could all be one notebook, but I like having lots of different notebooks.

[ShotokanKid]

I keep a journal. I write one page min. about the day and sometimes include stuff from the day (a flier, a fortune cookie fortune)

Not sure why I do it, I just do.

[Shokei Marcsui]

It's a great way to track your progress.