To find the second term of the arithmetic sequence given the recursive formula, we start with the initial term \( a_1 \) and use the formula to compute \( a_2 \).
Given:
- \( a_1 = 22 \)
- \( a_n = a_{n-1} - 10 \)
We can find \( a_2 \) using the recursive formula:
\[ a_2 = a_1 - 10 \] \[ a_2 = 22 - 10 \] \[ a_2 = 12 \]
Thus, the second term \( a_2 \) of the sequence is:
\[ \boxed{12} \]