teaching

[likuid]

Hi guys-

It's been a while since I posted here. My next to last post was the day the old server was shutdown. But anyway...I'll get to my question. I've always been interested in teaching, and I would really like to teach in the future. I feel that everyone has an obligation, no matter what they do, to pass their knowledge on to others.

I've been training JKD for two years...a very dedicated two years, I do cardio training for an hour every day around midday. I do mma 3-5 days a week, and sometimes weight train after class. I'm very mindful of nutrition, and I've also taken this serious approach into researching the arts I practice. With that brief background...when do you guys think a person is ready to start teaching? or even to start to practice teaching?

Sorry if this sounds disjointed, I'm actually at work and in a rush.

glad to be back

likuid

[sikal]

Originally posted by likuid
Hi guys-

It's been a while since I posted here. My next to last post was the day the old server was shutdown. But anyway...I'll get to my question. I've always been interested in teaching, and I would really like to teach in the future. I feel that everyone has an obligation, no matter what they do, to pass their knowledge on to others.

I've been training JKD for two years...a very dedicated two years, I do cardio training for an hour every day around midday. I do mma 3-5 days a week, and sometimes weight train after class. I'm very mindful of nutrition, and I've also taken this serious approach into researching the arts I practice. With that brief background...when do you guys think a person is ready to start teaching? or even to start to practice teaching?

Sorry if this sounds disjointed, I'm actually at work and in a rush.

glad to be back

likuid

Well, ultimately, the time to start teaching is when you and your instructor feel the time is right.

However, you should always be "practicing" to teach. If you're working with someone and they're struggling with something that you have a fair grasp of, then you give a few pointers and, voila, you're "practicing" to teach (if that's the phrasing you prefer :-)

*** Disclaimer:
The below is a very general statement of possibilities, just a few ideas tossed out to you. Don't take it as gospel or as a "this is what you *should* do" ... it's just a couple of possibilities. If you approach your instructor with any of these and it gets rejected, don't blame me (or your instructor) ... just assume that you're not ready yet and that your instructor will tell you when you are :-)

If you're really interested in teaching, then you should discuss it with your instructor. With 2 years under your belt, you should have a fair understanding of some of the basics. So, training in JKD, after 2 years you probably have a good grasp of the mechanics and a fair understanding of the Pak Sao and Lap Sao (probably more than this, but it's a good example). So if you let your instructor know that you'd like to spend more time helping newbies with these techniques, he/she would probably do this. Or maybe (and I can't speak for your instructor, it's just an idea), your instructor could set up an "intro" curriculum and test you on the material in it, then when new students come in it could be your responsibility to give them their introductory lesson. Or whatever, there are a lot of ways you can more formally approach it. But, as I said, over time you'll get more and more exposure to the teaching side of things as your instructor sees you have things well enough. Eventually, when you and your instructor feel that you're ready to start formally teaching, then it'll be time.

Regards, Mike

[Kevin]

Should you start teaching, hmmm......

That depends what you mean.... Helping out the less knowledgable guys, or teaching in your garage, or opening a chain of Sumpreme Ultimate Championship Karate schools... and running an ad in Black Belt magazine offering to sell Black Belts in S.U.C.K.

Seriously.... if you are totally upfront about your experience, skills, etc... you can never go wrong teaching. If you have something to offer (which I think you do), and someone wants to learn from you.... where's the harm?

We are all students.... some are just further along than others. As you teach you learn.

Good luck.... let us know how it goes, and don't be a stranger!

Later!
~Kev

p.s.- What were you thinking about charging for those Black Belts?

[dan downard]

I would consider talking with your instructor and getting his help .He may have you help in your present school so you can get expereince while you continue to train.
That would fullfill your want to teach others.
To go out and just start a school is not that bad an idea,if you have the skills.But dont leave that decision up to you. Get yourself evaluated by your instructor.
Next,ask yourself why you want to teach.Money?Ego? Or,like you said,just to pass on knowledge.You can do that at your present school.
If there were no school in your area and you had good skills,it would be easy.But,why would someone want to go to your school if he can get instruction from someone with more technique right down the street?
I may sound a little harsh.But I just went through the same thing.I had to really question myself.And I wasnt happy with my answers once I started being honest with myself.Thats a big step.And you really need to know what motivates you to take it.Just my 2cents.

[Chad W. Getz]

So, Mike, or anyone else, what if you have different 'views' (for lack of better words), well you interprit things differently than he does? Should you take the time out to show this student something that your instructor likes to teach, yet you don't feel comfortable teaching 'that particular movements' or should you show him things that you have interpreted and do instead?

For example, I have always had one main "instructor". I do alot of demonstrations and stuff in his class, while I also teach stickfighting on the side and develop my own train of thoughts. What I do is different from what he does, yet, I still insist that most of what I do comes from what he has shown me, with my own interpretations and working. If I teach newbies in his class, should I teach the way he does or the way I do?

Another thing, we don't have ranks or "material" or phases, etc., so there is no specific things that are taught, which just makes it a tougher choice of what to teach. One thing that I have picked up from him is the ability to teach at a whim at cover enough topics and material to send someone home feeling full. I don't need an outline, however, I think it is necessary to teach to mass(which I don't like, I'd rather train indivual).

[sikal]

Originally posted by Chad W. Getz
So, Mike, or anyone else, what if you have different 'views' (for lack of better words), well you interprit things differently than he does? Should you take the time out to show this student something that your instructor likes to teach, yet you don't feel comfortable teaching 'that particular movements' or should you show him things that you have interpreted and do instead?

For example, I have always had one main "instructor". I do alot of demonstrations and stuff in his class, while I also teach stickfighting on the side and develop my own train of thoughts. What I do is different from what he does, yet, I still insist that most of what I do comes from what he has shown me, with my own interpretations and working. If I teach newbies in his class, should I teach the way he does or the way I do?

Another thing, we don't have ranks or "material" or phases, etc., so there is no specific things that are taught, which just makes it a tougher choice of what to teach. One thing that I have picked up from him is the ability to teach at a whim at cover enough topics and material to send someone home feeling full. I don't need an outline, however, I think it is necessary to teach to mass(which I don't like, I'd rather train indivual).

What I've done in this type of situation is cover both bases.

My instructor does have a "curriculum method" (i.e.: what he prefers to see on tests and such) ... but he's also willing to allow variations so long as they follow the same principles and are effective.

So, when I'm teaching something I make sure to teach the way my instructor prefers it to be taught first. Then I explain that I have a variation that I prefer and here it is. I explain that they should take the "curriculum method" as the one they need to remember and focus on ... but seeing my variation may help them understand it better, or maybe it'll help them keep an open mind or give them an idea of how they might modify it so the concept works better for them in their own toolbox.

Anything that helps them understand it better is a good thing and as long as they get the "curriculum method" so they can advance and, later, have a starting point when teaching it.

At least that's my take on it. My instructor has never had a problem with that. In fact, he likes hearing my perspective on things. On the one hand, it makes him proud because he's done more than anyone else in giving me the eye toward principles and effectiveness that I have. On the other hand, he likes hearing tangents from a larger man's perspective ... it gives him other options when teaching guys of my approximate build because maybe what works better for me with that principle will work better for them too :-)

However, I've known instructors who would think it was disrespectful or rude or whatever to do this. I think it boils down to your relationship with your instructor and who your instructor is as a person. My instructor knows me well enough to know that I'm not doing it out of ego or anything. I'm simply sharing my perspective in an effort to help someone else's understanding a little bit.

Good question, Chad :-)

Regards, Mike

[likuid]

thanks fellas, for the advice. I'm definitely not ready to even consider opening a school (btw Kevin, I'll give you a black belt in exchange for really good food!) I like the practicing to teach within my school approach, and waiting until both my instructor and me feel I'm ready to teach. I guess teaching is like martial arts, it takes practice, so it is probably a bad idea to spend the next ten years never teaching, I might become a proficient martial artist yet have no idea how to pass on what I've learned. So, I really like the being honest approach. I'll tell people exactly what my experience is, and that I want to learn how to teach, and maybe both of us can learn something in the process...as opposed to saying I'm a 10th dan-107th degree-black-sash-grandmaster-aikin-bad ass that is teaching a style that no one can defend...

[dan downard]

Exellent!Good attitude.

[thekuntawman]

likuid,

are you still studying with a teacher, or do you train yourself? i have students who teach, and a couple of them have his own style. but as long as you are good at what you are teaching, and you understand the weakness and the strength of that technique, then you are okay to teach. the hard part is getting people to understand what you are saying and how to do it. i am one of those people who have a hard time getting people to understand me. for some teachers they are very good at making other people understand, some people are only good at doing it. and some people are good at both. but if you only have one and not the others, that is no reason why you cant teach, as long as there are people who can learn your technique.

if you dont have permission to teach from your teacher, maybe you should make your own name for your technqiue. if you do, go for it!

[Kevin]

>>Kevin, I'll give you a black belt in exchange for really good food!<<

Well... I really wasnt looking for a belt... but what the heck.... come on by! I make a really good Cajun BBQ shrimp that would probably get me a high level Black Belt in your system!

Anyhoo.... teaching is a gift, not everyone has the ability regardless of skill level.

I like to think back to those things that made things click for me, use analogies, and use different approaches to help the newer guy understand. Remember... what makes things click for you, won't necessarily do it for someone else. And as you get "time in" teaching, you will develop your teaching technique.

~Kev

[Kevin]

Oh yeah...

Resist the temptation to obsess on every detail, try to only correct an individual 2-3 times a session. Let the person get the general idea, point out major flaws, and repetition tends to iron out any major flaws. IMO, constant correction leads to more frustration than anything else.

Your mileage may vary...
~Kev

[Chad W. Getz]

Originally posted by Kevin
Oh yeah...

Resist the temptation to obsess on every detail, try to only correct an individual 2-3 times a session. Let the person get the general idea, point out major flaws, and repetition tends to iron out any major flaws. IMO, constant correction leads to more frustration than anything else.

Your mileage may vary...
~Kev

Kev, good point. Someone else mentioned something similar a while back, was it you?

Personally, when teaching, I like to see the person doing it that day, and something that they could use if they were to get into trouble that day. Forces you to keep it simple and real. Also, like most everyone here mentioned, it is a good idea to be able to "produce" ideas in different formats for different people. Good luck.

[likuid]

this has been great. Reading all of the advice and possibilities makes me feel better about possibly teaching one day. I am still training under someone, and I will continue to do so for a very long time...even while (if) I teach. I really like the feedback. At first glance, I agree with the 'patient' approach, i.e. limitting your corrections per session. While training, I have learned to be patient, not to force things, to focus on technique and fluidity, and that fluidity and power come with time. I assume teaching is the same way. Work as a guide, and if your students are persistent they will succeed. Cool stuff