The Simple Training Journal

A training journal is a log book of personal practice. It can document goals, training plans, progress, class notes, and personal reflections. Even minimal entries provide value to practitioners seeking continuous improvement.

Why Keep a Journal?

Three primary advantages emerge from consistent journaling:

Motivation through visible progress. When you can look back and see where you were six months ago, you recognize how far you’ve come. Progress is often invisible day-to-day but obvious across longer timeframes.

Focus by reviewing current objectives. Before each session, glancing at your journal reminds you what you’re working on. Without this, it’s easy to drift between random practice without direction.

Inspiration from documented discoveries. Those “aha moments” fade from memory quickly. Writing them down preserves insights you can revisit and build upon.

Getting Started

Acquire any portable recording method - physical notebooks like Moleskine, ring binders, or digital apps such as Evernote or OneNote. The best system is the one you’ll actually use.

Basic entries should include:

• Session date and location - Track when and where you trained
• Lesson theme or exercises - What did you work on?
• Challenging or interesting elements - What stuck out?
• Next training objectives - What will you focus on next?
• Significant insights - Any “aha moments” worth preserving?

Start Simple, Then Expand

Begin with the basics. Don’t try to create an elaborate system from day one.

As comfort grows, you can expand your journal to encompass:

• Sparring records and observations
• Opponent analysis and patterns you’ve noticed
• Long-term goals and progress tracking
• Detailed class notes and drill descriptions
• Questions to ask instructors

The journal grows with your practice. A beginner’s journal looks different from an advanced practitioner’s journal - and that’s exactly how it should be.

The Real Value

The act of writing forces reflection. When you have to put words to your experience, you think more carefully about what happened and what it means.

This reflection is where much of the learning actually occurs. The journal isn’t just a record - it’s a thinking tool.