In my work life, everything has a spreadsheet: sale forecasts, production plans, customer master lists, inventory, purchase orders, bookings and invoices. At home, I use spreadsheets to track my monthly expenses and balance my checkbook. I even put my Christmas gift purchases on Excel. Spreadsheets are easily converted into charts and graphs. The rows, columns and cells help me stay organized.
Over the next two months, my goal is to be organized in my karate training. I started a personal karate training log. I considered using this blog as a place to record my training. I decided against it because the post format would be cumbersome to scroll through. I decided to create a spreadsheet. I set up a separate worksheet for karate and kobudo. The far left column lists the name of the form - 19 open hand kata and 27 kobudo kata (8 different weapons). The rows across the top are separated by week.
I recognize that spreadsheets are not for everyone. My sister Kim is a creative person with a career in marketing/communications. She designs websites and makes jewelry in her spare time. Kim hates spreadsheets and does not use them for work or at home.
I don't know if I will even like or find a karate training spreadsheet useful. Only time will tell...
Do you have a training journal? Is it a spreadsheet?
Over the next two months, my goal is to be organized in my karate training. I started a personal karate training log. I considered using this blog as a place to record my training. I decided against it because the post format would be cumbersome to scroll through. I decided to create a spreadsheet. I set up a separate worksheet for karate and kobudo. The far left column lists the name of the form - 19 open hand kata and 27 kobudo kata (8 different weapons). The rows across the top are separated by week.
I recognize that spreadsheets are not for everyone. My sister Kim is a creative person with a career in marketing/communications. She designs websites and makes jewelry in her spare time. Kim hates spreadsheets and does not use them for work or at home.
I don't know if I will even like or find a karate training spreadsheet useful. Only time will tell...
Do you have a training journal? Is it a spreadsheet?
9 comments:
I had them, they were actually journal books using pen and paper but then again blogging and computers were not as prominent in the day.
I now use blogging or journaling. I have a few sites that are topic specific and those along with writing eBook formatted material are a great benefit.
I am writing about the ken-po goku-i at the moment .... inspiring methods I believe.
I just a spreadsheet to keep track of my current and previous month's training.
Charles James: I enjoy your websites...very informative. :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Rick: I hope the spreadsheet will quickly identify the kata I tend to "put on the shelf". There are so many kata in Okinawa Kenpo and it is easy to skip over certain ones such as Nunte Bo and Eiku Bo. These weapons are often practiced at seminars but we rarely take them off the wall in the dojo. Time to make some changes...
I log my training on a knockdown karate forum (www.kyokushin4life.com). It can be a little bit difficult to scroll through old posts, but the interaction with other forum members - the feedback, the advice, and the positive encouragement more than make up for that. I've also recently started a minitab file (statistics software) on certain components of my training for graphing and analysis (I'm kind of a dork that way...).
Interesting idea - I used to use a wall planner but it fell into dis use. However having just recently developed a tai chi progress formula, perhaps it's time to invest in a spreadsheet to really put it to work! ;-) Perhaps you could do something similar for Karate?
I'm also I currently using the google "Days Since" gadget to keep me motivated, not to miss days training.
Sandman: Graphs...nice! :)
SpiralWise: Thanks you for visiting and commenting! I need to spend some time on your site...interesting. My tai chi instructor, who is an engineer, used math/physics to explain concepts.
I think I am really Kim's sister. Spreadsheets give me hives. I avoid them like, well, hives.
I do keep track of my training, though. Two notebooks help - one for ancilary training (lifting weights for reps and weights and running for intervals, distances and stuff like that) and another for karate stuff (lots of sad drawings in that one because I can't draw for squat). It helps to look back and see what training regimines worked and which ones were a bust.
Yes, Karate training is really important to develop your personal skills. And your effort of creating spreadsheet is great.
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