Debatable....depends on the person...a lot have become better sticks than a lot of the trainers and they have not had any actual "training"
Junky, I think the important difference that needs to be pointed out in this discussion is "experience" vs. "training".
Training is a focused, purpose-driven approach to learning. Experience is learning through trial and error and bulk repetition.
The MA is a great place to get
experience, because that's where many fights are to be had. However, not everyone learns most efficiently by experience. As you say, it depends on the person. Some people will just repeat the same error over and over. Some may recognize their mistakes and improve on their own.
The problem with learning by experience only is it can lead to gaps in knowledge that one isn't even aware of. It's hard to know what you need to learn. It's common to find A technique that works (without knowing why) and stick with it, but not ALL techniques that work (and why). Learning only by experience can also be a slow, painful approach as well. A single hour in the TA can often be more valuable than many hours in the MA.
Funny story: I worked with a veteran player not that long ago who was a dedicated "BnZ" guy who "has trouble with turn-fighting". After working with him for a few minutes, I realized he was losing sight of me in our 1v1s. This was in a Pony, which has great visibility, so it made no sense to me. I saddled up behind him and asked him to look back and tell me when he could see me. Turns out (long story short) he had been playing the game for many years
without knowing he could use F10 to save his head positions!! Think setting his head positions and improving his views made a difference in his ability to turn fight...??
Trainers are not supposed to be "the best sticks in the game". Most of us don't spend enough time in the MA to pursue or maintain that level of play. I can give you a good fight, but I will never be one of the top sticks in the game -- and I don't aspire to be.
AH Trainers are meant to be good enough to recognize areas that can be improved upon, to be able to diagnose problems and to be able to articulate how to get better, regardless of the skill level of the trainee. It also requires a fair amount of patience.
When I was newer to AH, I went in the DA and "trained" under several of the "best sticks" (according to their dueling results) -- as I was told by many players to do. What I found was that some of these incredible sticks were not very good at helping others learn. They had the skill level, but they couldn't consciously articulate what they were doing right or what I was doing wrong -- they just did it, by instinct, having learned by experience.
Look at the varied replies from veteran sticks in this thread addressing what Mike needs to learn next. It is all good information, but none of them cut to the core of what Mike is missing -- keeping sight of the enemy.
What a Trainer can often do is find that one key thing for each player that they are struggling with to make them aware of it ("conscious incompetence") and provide a practice setting to become "consciously competent" at it. That to me is what Training is all about.
There is always something new to learn in AH, and even veteran players can even benefit from time in the TA. I have worked with guys who are superior sticks to me and they have all either learned something or honed their skill further in the training sessions. Training time is not just for new players.
Anywho, that's the difference between time in the TA and the MA, in my opinion. The best way to
learn something is through training. The best way to
perfect that knowledge is through experience in the MA.
<S>
Kingpin
