How to give a seminar?

[Ghost]

RIght slight dilemma, i have just been asked to give a seminar in thai boxing later next year. I have accepted, no specific date yet but i have a problem.
I have never attended a seminar before, i just train,fight and have taught but have never been to a seminar.
How would you go about organizing a seminar and what is expected.

[Guest]

just to be clear mate, have you been asked to teach the seminar or organise it?

[Ghost]

just to be clear mate, have you been asked to teach the seminar or organise it?

teach it mate.

[Guest]

OK mate.

I've been teaching seminars for a number of years now, and rather that waffle you with "it depends on this it depends on that", I'll just share some basic rules of thumb:

A seminar should be like a buffet, and not a meal (hang with me). When you teach your own class, you know the level in the room and you should teach 3 or 4 things that they can fully digest and train hard. At a seminar, you often don’t know the level in the room and it will probably vary from beginner to very experienced. Therefore in order to offer something to everyone, you tend to teach a lot more than you would in a class, and teach a wider range of material and a broader range of difficulty. The key is that people don’t come to a seminar to walk away with everything, in the same way that you don’t walk into a buffet to eat the whole lot, you take what you can and what you like. So teach wide and broad, and offer people the luxury of choice.

Have a clear plan, and make sure it has a logical progression that builds. I map out everything I am going to teach, including the time per drill etc so it flows. As per the above, the plan should go from the basics that everyone can get, then you build and build so it progressively offers more for the advanced people. Always stress to the beginners in the room to stay where they feel comfortable, and not to feel pressured to try and do everything. The cool thing about seminars is that beginners get to see high-level stuff and aspire to it, and the more experienced people get what they came for.

Mix up the technical and the ballistic. A four-hour seminar on footwork will be dull and lose people, then again a four-hour seminar of pad work will kill everyone! Mix up the technical and the cardio, and shift topics at least every hour. The last Thai seminar I taught I did basic form and shadow work, some Kick and Kick Counter Drills, some Boxing Hand drills, some Knee and Elbow four counts, then the last half an hour I mixed it all up with some Conditioning drills on the pads. This maintains people’s interest, touches on everyone’s personal preference at some point, and gives them the feeling that they have come away with a lot.

I guess the last thing is the most important, and that is how you come across in your energy and presentation. Often at seminars, the guys in the room don’t know you, so they won’t immediately relate to you – you have to work at them. Just be full of energy and conviction, get round the room and spend a bit of time with everyone. Also, teach the stuff that you know you really own and will look very sharp at – seminars can be a tough crowd and a few people have tried to challenge me. If you get a smart arse in the crowd, pull him out and demo on him, I don’t mean beat him up but you know what I mean – feeling is believing. Keep the energy going, 4 hours (usual seminar time) is a long time to train for most people. Give them breaks, let them eat and drink plenty of water or you will just get the thousand yard stares. If a drill or subject area is getting stale then switch it, bring out something more dynamic, flow with the energy you are getting from the guys in the room.

Seminars are great fun to teach, I’m sure you’ll have a blast mate.

[Ghost]

excellent thats very comprehensive, just what i was after, was a long reply so thanks for taking the time to do so.
i will probably have some questions soon enough.

[fire cobra]

My aproach to teaching seminars is much the same as Michaels(excelent advice),if i dont really know the group im teaching,if i do know the group im teaching or they are a Muay Thai group i teach the small points that make the big things better,as an example when teaching the round kick to the body i emphasise first the bend and straighten of the support leg for a round,then the raise on the toes for a round,then the protection of the face(bonkarn na) etc etc,this way both newer people and advanced get something out of the course.

One other point is the length of the seminar id go for 3 hours and have a 15 min break with a Muay course,also 15 mins before the end i sometimes have a question and answer period,good luck with it Ghost.

[Guest]

i teach the small points that make the big things better

I'm stealing that phrase!

If you are teaching any sessions over the xmas and new year period drop me a line, I'm up home in Durham for two weeks. Would be great to learn from you.

[fire cobra]

I'm stealing that phrase!

If you are teaching any sessions over the xmas and new year period drop me a line, I'm up home in Durham for two weeks. Would be great to learn from you.

Its all yours Michael.

I sure will be doing some teaching over the hols,keep you posted,be great to meet you brother.