Novice vs. Expert

In any art form, sport, or discipline, even the unschooled can easily pick out an experienced practitioner that truly knows his craft. It is also relatively easy to recognize a novice: a young pup new to the discipline. How is this differentiation so easy to spot? Simply put, the expert makes it look easy. The novice routinely displays his power for all to see.

Everyone goes through a novice stage when he or she is new to something. Eventually, what will determine how fast one will attain mastery is how one practices. The one who patiently and steadily focuses on the basics becomes refined and efficient through practice after practice of the fundamentals. Think about John Coltrane and Jazz music. Even as he invented a sub-genre of jazz and spawned a whole generation of saxophonist-disciples, there are many first-hand accounts of his many practice sessions: He played scales. Over and over. He played standard jazz tunes. In all keys and at all speeds. In performance, he could smoke and exhaust anyone. all because he had such a deep mastery of his instrument and the basics. How do average, untrained know he is a master? He made it look ( and sound) easy.

As this relates to kettlebell lifting: a lifter working towards expert status seeks deeper mastery of the basics and practices them day in and day out. The perpetual novice displays his "power" for all to see. The novice gets bored with the basics and spends his time on the latest circus tricks and "variations."

It is interesting to note that the masters can do all the "circus tricks" and odd feats of strength, but not because they practice them. It is about doing fewer things better, working towards perfection. Along the way, there will be some unexpected gains, but with a solid foundation. More installments on this topic to come...