Expert in a year ?

I have read Sam Priestley and Ben Larcombe's book 'Expert in a Year: The Ultimate Table Tennis Challenge', (2015).

The idea here was to give Sam quality coaching in a year and see if he can penetrate the 250th ranking in the UK with his expertise.

He cannot. But the process did lift him into a quality adult player but the level of 250th ranked player is very high, indeed and the pair recognise this.

At the end of the book the process of growth is the success. It shows how repetition and practice feed into success - realistic success that can be mimicked. At the end of the book he has about 25 core findings. His 22nd point is 'Practice, Learn, Reflect, Repeat'.

The reflection idea is for us to be our own coach.

Another comment he makes is 25 Don't compare yourself to others, as that sets you up for unrealistic benchmarks and a feeling of inadequacy.

1 Turn it into a thing.

This means make the activity a part of your life pattern. It is like a new arm, no a collectable toy.
He said if he was not part of the challenge - which had set the goal of being an expert in a year then this would not have progressed at all.

The pair had posted youtube videos which can be looked back upon to show growth.

A by-product of the challenge was it inspired others to progress too and mimic this idea. Sam has gone onto accept other challenges - such as be a Brazilian expert in a year. Be aware however, Sam has time and money to travel off to training camps for coaching and competitions, too, which we wont all have but if you take point 25, above, that is not an issue really, it just shows he is doing what he can to achieve his goals within his means.

Qi Gong 3 years on

I have been doing qi gong - chi kung - for 3 years now.

This is my yearly update.
The
I cannot say I have made any improvements in this year. I have struggled to get my mind into neutral too many times this year, which is why. I have had to come back later in the day and repeat the session to get the effects of the moves.
Something I did learn however, if I do the yoga moves, salute to the sun, first, then that tiers out my body, which helps calm the mind for the qi gong session. This is a good find.
I bought a yoga mat that folds up and is quite thick off, of ebay for £17. I can use it outside if I put some cardboard down too.

To make an advance in qi gong, I think I need a teacher. I know there is one near by, and I ought to go. The group situation is meant to be conducive to producing chi and will help for focus, I bet.
Having said that I have not gone backwards, I think in qi gong. I have been maintaining my efforts and any skills in here but I cannot expect advances. I do not do the fire/water moves any more as they are demanding on the knees I think.

I do have some things 'to do': investigate the  dragon and tiger qi gong books I bought by Bruce Frantizis. This looks doable. I want the videos too. (Need the exchange rate to be better).
Then I want to go thought the qi gong sounds cd I have. That would be of value.

I have put these new areas off, for a bit, as it has to be done properly or not at all, I think. I do not want to learn new moves without properly knowing why I am doing the moves and what is needed. (Youtube vids on qi gong are plentiful but they do not stress often what internally the focus is / what type of breathing or thinking should be going on. (This is why I like Dr Yang Jing Ming's work for example - very theoretical).

Bruce Frantzis does however do this. 

I taught my sister the 8 moves of brocade recently. Or rather I showed her the moves and we did it together a few times. The wu chi position seemed to make an impact. This was good, as I had to relearn the ideas behind the moves properly, so you know what organs are benefiting for instance. I showed my nephew the moves too but he did not keep these up. Pity. They are the 8 'treasures' after all.