Ask a room of students what they worked on last Tuesday and you will get a lot of blank looks. That is normal. Classes are full, you are concentrating, and by the weekend half of it has gone. A training log fixes that, and it costs you a couple of minutes a session. After training since 1989, it is one of the simplest habits I would recommend to any student.
Why a log is worth the effort
- You remember corrections. The thing your instructor fixed this week is easy to lose by next week. If you write it down, you can check it before you train again.
- You can see progress. Progress in martial arts is slow, and it is hard to feel from week to week. Looking back through a few months of notes shows how far you have come.
- You spot patterns. Maybe you always write “tense shoulders”, or you feel flat on the days after a late night. That is useful information.
- It keeps you consistent. It is a small bit of accountability, and a missed week stands out on the page.
What to write after a session
Keep it short. If it takes ten minutes, you will stop doing it. A few lines is plenty:
- The date, and what you trained.
- One or two things you were shown or corrected on.
- Something that went well.
- Something to work on next time.
- How you felt, tired, sharp or sore, and anything to rest.
Wing Chun examples
In our art you might note which form you worked on, such as Siu Nim Tao, and one detail of structure or relaxation. For partner work, which in our adult classes is applications, you could record what you were applying and what happened when your partner changed something. Over time, the notes become your own record of the things you keep getting wrong, which is where the real learning is. I cover common faults in common beginner mistakes in Wing Chun, which is a good list to compare against.
A technique library
A log is not only a diary. It is worth keeping a separate list of techniques, drills and ideas, with a line or two on each. Add a video link if you have one from class that your instructor is happy for you to keep. That gives you a library you can search, rather than a pile of loose notes.
Paper or digital?
Either works. A cheap notebook in your kit bag is hard to beat. Digital has its own advantages: you can log from your phone straight after class, search your notes and keep everything in one place.
If you want a ready-made digital version, I put one together for the club’s Etsy shop, TrackAndTrainStudio. The Martial Arts Training Log is a Notion template sold as an instant digital download. Here is what the listing says is inside:
- A quick-log training journal for capturing session details, discipline tags, intensity and key takeaways.
- A technique library with room for video references.
- A sparring and tactical log for recording your rounds and partners.
- A goals and recovery tracker.
You get a PDF setup guide with a link to copy the template into your own free Notion account, plus example data so you can see how it works. It is built for several styles, so you can use it for Wing Chun or anything else you train. The same template, called the Martial Arts Progress Hub, is also in the shop on this site. You will need Notion, so if you do not want another app, use a notebook.
Reviewing your log
Writing is only half of it. Once a month, read back through your entries. Underline anything that keeps appearing. Pick one or two to work on for the next month, and tell your instructor what you chose, because they can usually help you fix it faster.
If you train online as well
If you practise at home alongside classes, the log is a good place to note what you worked on solo. Our online academy has a 7-day free trial if you want to see how it works. For wall art and other gifts for people who train, see our Posters and Gifts page.
New to training? Book your free trial class, and start your log after your first session.
Sifu Alan Bagley, Wing Chun Halesowen
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