[Yoda]

I'm a firm believer we can memorize anything, it's simply a matter of consistent review.

Most of the people who say they "can't memorize" have never really tried. They are stalled at the port of 'think they can't'. Stuff the 'learning disability': I don't believe it for a second.

Here is the way I go about it . . . inch by rock-breaking inch. No lazy. Just lift club and break rock. I break things down into small pieces and memorize bit by bit.

For example, in memorizing the 21 points in 1-L, I wrote them down on four 3 X 5 index cards, five points to a card except six on the last. I labeled these cards '1-5,' '6-10,' '11-15,' and '16-21' and kept them in my TGM book. I would briefly review them (like flash cards) from time to time, usually concentrating more on one card than the others.

I also photocopied (in 50 percent reduce mode) these cards laid out in a vertical column. I then cut it out and folded it up 'accordian-style' and carried it in my wallet. Then, whenever I had a spare minute or two -- waiting in a post office or fast food line, for example -- I would pull out my little fold-out and review a card or two. Or maybe just mentally recite one or two.

In the car, I would practice reciting them -- out loud -- in their own little 'blocks,' say '11-15' or '6-10' and always including their number. And I used the little memory tricks, too. For example, 1-L-#8 -- "No portion of the lever assembly swings forward independently." -- I see the bottom 'o' of the '8' swinging forward independently of the top 'o.' I even used the list as a sleep aid -- -- at night or on airplanes, starting from #21 and going backwards. I rarely made it past #17 or so.

After a while, I had memorized 1-L -- and 12-1-0 and 12-2-0 (the Drive and Drag Stroke Patterns) and 12-3-0 (the Mechanical Checklist For All Strokes) and 12-5-1/2/3 (the Basic Motion Curriculum) and so on. That foundation helps me every day in my teaching, speaking and writing.

No magic.

No genius.

Just plain ol' grind it out one-day-at-a-time effort.