cfr

Since Im not allowed to watch they're classes, I have no idea.

RAB

Ask the instructor if you could watch one session. Be honest with him or her that you are unsure of your future within the art that you think it wouldn't hurt to see what you could learn in the future.

After his/her responds to you it should make it easier for you to decide to walk alway or continue to walk with your school.

cfr

I have asked and he said "no". I didnt tell him I may be leaving though.

RAB

do you paid this person?

cfr

Yes. I was in a year long contract. His logic was that it would make the students nervous while sparring and he wanted them to be able to make mistakes without doing it in front of others.

Beginner

The school I'm studying w/ right now gets you to spar after being taught the basic strikes, deflections, intercepts, etc. This way, the student learns to appreciate the use of particular strikes, deflections & intercepts and realizes his/her strengths & weaknesses. Sparring speeds up the students' progression.

I've never seen any school where any of the sparring can't be seen by students. That's pretty odd...

thekuntawman

really its not strange if a teacher does not allow beginners to watch the more advanced students class. actually a good traditional teacher does not need to advertise any more to his students than telling them about the style, school and himself. yeah there will always be students who are not sure, but his job as a teacher is to develop his skill at the level he is on. and when he realized his strength and fighting skill got better, then that will be his proof that the training is good. i dont allow that either, and i do not allow visitors to watch (or free trial lesson) to any class. if they want to try it out, then they can pay for one month. participating in one class wont give you any idea of the style, no more than watching a bunch of karate movies will teach you to fight. this is what we call "judging a book by the cover", or "too easy to convince". he should be convinced by nothing more than his own skill. so you watch some advance guys. does that mean you will be like them? or better than them? or as good (or worse) than them?

now if a student studied this art for more than three or four months, and he is not sure if his skill got better, than the training might not develop anything. even one month of lessons should make you appreciated something.

__________________
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danjuandesiga

I really dig those Straight Blast gym tapes. They make MORE than just sense too.
I am a Flip and raised in the PI in FMA. (And if you know Flips when they're in their own "clique". You KNOW what I mean, because I am too independent and too American for them) And I am proud to acknowledge that the "American"-innovated training style of the Straight Blast gym is Awesome!

Them and the Dog Bros.

Rock on with your stick on

Dan de Siga

Sun_Helmet

Sidenote:
'FLIP' was a term used by US soldiers in the PI to mean "F***king Little Island People".

--Rafael--
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Beginner

Just to clarify. I did mention that the students were made to spar after being taught the basic strikes & deflections/intercepts. Depending on the learning curve of the student, it would take different amounts of time for different individuals. The point being made was that sparring actually helps in the progression of the student's fighting skills.

Not letting newer students see the advanced class is a totally different issue. The concern is more on when the students would need to be made to spar in order for them to put into practice what they've drilled for the last month or two. Cfr in fact noted that his school allows their students to get to spar only after around 2.5 years training & that he has gone through year 1. Even w/ a traditional martial art like Karate, it doesn't take that long before you get to spar. FMA has been known to be one of the most practical martial arts and this quality is lost w/ cfr being that it's practicality can only be realized after 1 to 2 years. I totally agree w/ your statement that "he should be convinced by nothing more than his own skill". On this premise, however, the only "safest" way for him to convince himself that his skill has improved is to see his improvement in sparring & realistic combative practices. W/o such, how can he measure his improvement? Sure, his strikes may have gotten stronger or his stick (or sword) handling has become more fluid. But how does he use this new found strength when someone is actually trying to hit (at the least) him? Is his fluidity still evident when he is stressed by 2 or 3 people in a realistic combat practice?

Btw, on a note. We also use actionflex & those things are amazing! It enables the practitioners to execute their techniques at full speed w/ a great less hurting. This way of training lets the fighters learn, the safest way, if a certain technique is effective or not. This is not to say that those padded sticks don't get you bruised, though.

darrianation

Honestly this is insane! I have a hard time trusting instructors who do not let their students or potential students watch classes.

__________________
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1. Any power that can be abused will be abused
2. Abuse always expands to fill the limits of resistance to it.
3. If people don't resist the abuses of others, they will have no one to resist the abuses of themselves, and tyranny will prevail.


Welcome to the Socialist States of Amerika . Coming soon Jan 20th 2009!

Beginner

Yep. A very, very hard time trusting...

krys

FLIP also means Loving Intelligent Friendly People ....

I think it is good to watch a class before joining in order to observe how students behave... this is not always possible if you join the class.

__________________
Krys
MINDANAW SILAT ASLI

cfr

I was able to watch and even try before I signed up, but only the lower levels.

cfr

So, from what Im gathering most FMA schools arent like mine? You guys can watch the upper levels training where you go?