Quote:
Originally Posted by Gurokevin
... As for the mindless robots. I thought the same thing when I first started teaching in the 90s. But what I do now is in almost every class I talk just a bit about how one should be towards the martial arts. Always trying to improve upon some aspect of what we do. Finding out new ways of dealing with problems. I tell them to not take what I say as the 'gospel' but to experience it for themselves and find out if it is right and works for them. This gets them into the mindset of a true martial artist and not a 'clone'. ...
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This was what I was taught when training TKD with a particularly exceptional instructor. Every lesson was different, every lesson we were asked to question our beliefs and under standing of what we knew, and of how well we thought we knew it. "Ok, that kick is looking strong, and correct. Now do it faster, or with more balance, or while moving, or while under attack, or while distracted, or from a seated position, or on a slippery surface etc"
I can see this lacking in my current instructor, even though he is a great fighter. /blasphemy To some degree we don't discuss when to use what, why we should use it, how to avoid using it in the first place, situational awareness, etc. It's all mostly physical.
This is what I want to teach, along with the physical skills taught to me by my current school. I want them to become fully rounded martial artists, one step at a time.