Perhaps not the biggest mistake that many new practitioners make, but certainly a critical one, is trying to learn too much to quickly. Understanding the details of a single component - stance, balance, grip - creates a sense of refinement and a deeper take on the material. The difference between the expert and the beginner is understanding gradations on a spectrum - the beginners sees in black and white, while the expert sees shades of gray. To see all of those partials, you’ve got to know what you’re looking it, which is impossible when you’ve got too much floating around in there.
Set a schedule. This is the most important - carve out time for your practice. Don’t be sporadic - ever heard of the “accidental martial artist”? Of course not. Get serious - get scheduled!
Be patient. Progress comes in fits & starts, and you can’t learn instantaneously. Get detailed, then get patient. What’s the rush?
Narrow your focus. Think details. Get great at the little things, because they will combine to produce the big things. Some people thing you need to know it all: you don’t need 9000 different moves - just 3 or 4 you’re really good at.
Seek support for any goal you set. Ask more questions than last year. Find the people who can guide you to the right answers.
Don’t set a large goal without creating a smaller one first! Resolutions often fail because there’s no set plan of action.
