The Payoff of Practicing Techniques

In 2003, I discovered flying trapeze on a trip to Club Med. I was instantly hooked, and I’ve been doing flying trapeze as a sport ever since — going on 23 years.

Trapeze hooked me with its physical challenge, an adrenaline rush, a fun communal aspect, and an open-ended system where there were always ways to make progress. There are always more and bigger tricks to learn, and constant refinement of techniques is part of the process.

Rooting in the Fundamentals

My goal from the start was to be able to do my basic skills and tricks without safety lines.

While some of my peers pushed themselves to try bigger and more complex tricks, I focused on refining my techniques on my basic tricks without safety lines. Over 2 decades, I dedicated myself to weekly trampoline classes to build aerial awareness and habitual movements, and did hundreds of “reps” of my basic tricks to feel confident that I could fly safely out of lines to the net or a catcher.

All aspects of life move in seasons and cycles, and trapeze has been no different. There have been seasons where I flew twice to three times a week, other seasons where I’ve flown only once a week, and seasons where I have been away from the rig for an extended time.

2025 has been one of those years where trapeze has been in a “winter” phase as various issues, including a knee rehab that has been ongoing for months, have forced me to stay off the trampoline and trapeze since early this year.

After several months away, I recently returned to the rig for a practice. Without safety lines, I climbed the ladder, took the trapeze bar, and reacquainted with the joy of taking flight.

On the fly bar, I was back in my element. I was home.

Bravery vs Confidence

During the class, one friend remarked that I was “brave” for doing my tricks to the net and to the catcher without safety lines after so much time away.

I hadn’t even really considered putting on the safety lines for my warm-up swing or basic tricks. Although a part of me was a little nervous about taking that first swing without safety lines, I trusted in my body’s ability to execute on skills.

Years of honing my techniques had given me confidence in my ability to perform.

That’s the true source of confidence; it doesn’t come from doing one big thing one time, but from the hours spent refining your techniques so that you know you can do it consistently.

This principle isn’t unique to flying trapeze.

The Payoff of Techniques: Confidence

A person who can sit down at a piano and just start playing likely spent years drilling their scales and chords.

A basketball player who spent years drilling layups and foul shots will retain those skills even after years away from the court.

Weightlifters who spend years drilling good techniques know they can lift heavy weights without injury.

None of these people are “brave” for their attempts; they have earned confidence from practicing techniques.

Focusing on techniques and fundamentals doesn’t always look “sexy.” It can sometimes be perceived as boring — which is why many people opt to pursue bigger skills and fancier moves.

But when you’ve invested the time and effort into refining your techniques, you don’t need bravery, because you have confidence.