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How I Learned to Type 100WPM on Two Keyboards and Two Layouts

October 20, 2025•4 min read•
#Self

A few years ago, I never thought that a keyboard — something I use every day without much thought — would completely change the way I work.

What started as a small curiosity about typing speed eventually led me to explore two keyboard layouts (QWERTY and Colemak) and two keyboard types (regular and split). It wasn’t just a technical challenge; it became a personal experiment about consistency, patience, and how small habits can compound into big improvements.

The Spark: IMKG and The Primeagen

There were two main things that pulled me into the world of keyboards:

  1. IMKG (Indonesia Mechanical Keyboard Group)
  2. A content creator named The Primeagen

IMKG — The Facebook Group That Started It All

I joined IMKG out of curiosity. Inside, people were posting typing test screenshots showing insane speeds — 100, 120, even 150 WPM. It was fascinating. Watching people type that fast made me wonder,

“Could I ever do that too?”

So I bought my first mechanical keyboard — a Rexus — and started practicing.

At first, I was averaging 50 WPM, but slowly it climbed to 60, 70, and finally over 100 WPM. The key wasn’t talent or fancy gear — it was simply mindset and consistency.

I told myself:

“I won’t stop practicing until I can hit 70 WPM.”

That small promise kept me moving forward every day.

The Primeagen — The Developer Who Types Like Lightning

Then I discovered The Primeagen, a Twitch streamer and developer known for his blazing-fast typing and obsession with VIM. He used a split keyboard, typed like a machine, and often joked,

“I’m using VIM, by the way.” 😄

Watching him made me realize how deeply tools can shape how we think and work. So, naturally, I fell down the rabbit hole — researching split keyboards, ergonomic layouts, and the mysterious world of custom firmware.

After weeks of reading and watching YouTube videos, I finally ordered my first split keyboard: the Corne.

The Challenge: Sacrificing Productivity to Learn

When I switched to the Corne, I immediately hit a wall.

My typing speed dropped from 100 WPM to 10 WPM. It was painful — typing a short message felt like running a marathon with weights on my fingers.

But I knew what I signed up for. It was just before Ramadan, so I used that month to focus entirely on relearning typing on the split keyboard.

I practiced every day, tracking my progress. By the end of the month, I was typing at around 80 WPM, comfortably and confidently.

It was one of the most humbling learning experiences I’ve ever had — losing a skill to rebuild it from scratch, just for the sake of curiosity.

The Split Keyboard Curse

After a month of using the Corne, something funny happened — I couldn’t type properly on a regular keyboard anymore. 😅

Every time I used my laptop keyboard, my fingers got confused. So I started carrying my split keyboard everywhere, which was… not ideal.

At some point, I decided to fix this dependency. I challenged myself to use only my laptop keyboard for one full week.

By the end of that week, I regained my flow — typing comfortably at 100 WPM again, this time on both layouts (QWERTY and Colemak) and both keyboard types (split and regular).

What I Learned Along the Way

This journey taught me more than just typing fast. It taught me about how we learn, adapt, and grow through discomfort.

  1. Mindset beats tools. Fancy gear helps, but consistency is what creates real progress.

  2. Short-term productivity loss is worth long-term gain. Sometimes, slowing down is the fastest way to improve.

  3. Enjoy the process. The world of keyboards is surprisingly deep — layouts, switches, keycaps, ergonomics. Explore it, and find what fits your flow.

Typing as an Expression of Flow

Today, typing isn’t just a means of communication for me. It’s a rhythm — like playing an instrument. Each keystroke feels deliberate, fluid, and satisfying.

My journey from QWERTY to Colemak, from regular to split, reminded me that growth often starts with frustration — but ends with freedom.

And who knows? Maybe one day I’ll be learning ortholinear or stenography keyboards next. 😄

💡 A Few Tips If You Want to Try

If you’re curious about improving your typing or exploring new layouts:

  • Practice on keybr.com or monkeytype.com.
  • Set realistic goals (e.g., +10 WPM milestones).
  • Focus on accuracy before speed.
  • And most importantly, embrace the dip — your speed will drop before it rises again.

“Small, consistent changes compound over time — even in something as simple as typing.”