Here in NC you don’t need experience or permit for MSF. To get permit and endorsement you HAVE to take the written, MSF cert or not. Get the cert. and you get your endorsement, it only by passes the riding test.
I am not sure on various locations but in my MSF course our instructors had us in the “text” part of the class go through and do the “claw procedure” for a couple of minutes. Meaning hold your hand out like your gripping the clutch and slowly let your fingers un curl in a drawn out 5 count. It kind of conditions your mind to slowly releasing in small movements before you get on the bike.
This is a great illustration for many because usually with friends and their riding tales the simulated movements are always over exaggerated, but thats all some have to go by.
Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h