♟️The Metagame #012: Faster Isn’t Always Better

Please excuse my subtitle humor.

Anyway, here’s what I have for you today:

• Krav Maga

• The art of preparation

Read time: 3 minutes

Recently, I’ve been taking private Krav Maga lessons.

For those unfamiliar, Krav Maga is a form of self-defense developed by Imi Lichtenfeld. It's practical, efficient, and designed for real-world situations.

Last week, while practicing knife attack blocks, my instructor Gus told me to slow down.

But wait—don't I need to be fast to block an incoming knife attack?

I often hear people say, "Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast," but they rarely explain what that actually means or how to achieve it. To be honest, it's become a bit of an overused cliché.

In Krav Maga, every movement is intentional. You practice very specific tactics and maneuvers where every body part is accounted for:

• How your feet are positioned

• Where you place your hands

• Which arm you strike with

• How you shift your weight

• What your next move is

Attention to detail is paramount.

If you rush through the process, you'll likely get hurt when it matters most.

People often criticize me for being so particular about everything I do, but that's my version of smooth.

I don’t rush things.

When I do something, I like to do it right.

This approach applies to martial arts, poker, chess, coding projects—everything.

So here is my advice to you:

Be deliberate.

“Slow and smooth” doesn’t mean just going through the motions. It’s definitely NOT about being lethargic or drawn out.

It means getting the important things done, the right way.

That’s how you improve.

Preparation

Krav Maga is all about being prepared. Ideally, you never need to use the skills you learn, but you’re always ready if you do.

The art of preparation has helped my productivity skyrocket.

For my coding projects, I leave myself a little note when I’m finished for the day about what I did and what I need to do next. That way, the next time I open my code editor, I don’t waste time trying to remember where I left off. Those 5 minutes of extra prep save me 15-20 minutes of confusion in my next coding session.

It’s why I pick out the clothes I’m wearing the night before.

It’s why I schedule my week of work every Sunday.

My version of smooth is always being prepared and knowing what comes next.

Obviously, life is naturally chaotic, and it’s impossible to predict everything.

Sometimes, shit happens.

But being prepared for shit to happen is well within our control—and it’s all we need to operate on the next level.

Quote of the week

Thanks for reading!

If you have any questions, hit me up on LinkedIn or on 𝕏 at @sam_starkman, or feel free to reply to this email!

— Sam