Train With The Masters Seminar at the Francis Fong Academy this month

[Ghost]

It was pretty clear from the post that the test was done in an afternoon.
And i have every right to pass comment.
So how long does the actual test last?

this wasnt a direct criticism of Chai, this is a criticism of the speed in which instructor certificates are handed out these days. This was also clear from my post.

Your post makes no sense, you are making a criticism about other people being critical. which is a contradiction.

thanks.

FYI,
The people who test under Ajarn Chai have to have a minimum of 5 years of training, a minimum of 40 hours training directly under his supervision, the recommendation of one of his instructors that their student is ready to test, and the application begins 90 days prior to the test date. It doesn't take 1 hour. I can't speak for any other instructors in the West here because I am not familiar with them, but I am assuming since you commented in this post you are talking about Ajarn Chai's instructor tests.

The following is directed to everyone in the posts who has negative comments about ANY instructor:
It's very easy for us all to criticize something or someone, and sometimes as humans we do this from our limited perception - maybe we never have even had any direct experience with that person. Criticism, at any level, only leads to confrontation. And, confrontation is the most animalistic level of human existence. Therefore, this style of behavior is contradictory to the true philosophic essence of the Martial Arts.
Who is so all-knowing that they possess the right to criticize anybody? Moreover, if you find it necessary to criticize or make negative comments about another person, what does that say?
If you haven't equaled someone else's level of accomplishment, then you have no right criticizing them.
If you don't like somebody, or something they have done, put away the criticism. Instead, just become more - do something bigger and better. From this, you will make your own positive contribution to the world.

[Trace]

Response

You're right. You are free to think and say whatever you want. I apologize if I've offended you in any way. In my first paragraph, I was trying to explain that you don't get instructorship from Ajarn Chai in one hour, even though that might be how long the formal test is; these students have to put in years of time and show a lot of dedication, loyalty and heart to earn their certification. Unfortunately Ajarn Chai doesn't have an Academy, so the TBA tests wouldn't be the same as they would be in Thailand. But here in the West, we do the best we can.

Best regards.

[Flaves]

It is unfortunate that my post cause a confrontation. I apologize for any miscommunication on my part, or if aspects of my post were misconstrued.

Ghost, Sifu Tracey is right, the entire process takes WAY more than one hour, and I am sorry if that is what you inferred by my comments. If you would like to know specifically what the process details, I would be more than happy to give you a more specific breakdown based on my understanding (not experience since I am not an instructor) of the process. Or you can also visit the TBA website for an idea of how it works: www.thaiboxing.com

Let me know if you are actually interested to know. In the event that you are not sincerely interested I don't want to waste time detailing the process (once again as I understand it), so please let me know. Thanks.

Either way thank you for reading my posts and taking the time to reply.

Keep training hard.

Dan

[Ghost]

there is no confrontation, dont worry. My post had little depth behind it beyond commenting on what was apparently a very quick test. Which is largely what happens in the UK. So i was dissapointed to read that it seemed to be the same in the states.

It is unfortunate that my post cause a confrontation. I apologize for any miscommunication on my part, or if aspects of my post were misconstrued.

Ghost, Sifu Tracey is right, the entire process takes WAY more than one hour, and I am sorry if that is what you inferred by my comments. If you would like to know specifically what the process details, I would be more than happy to give you a more specific breakdown based on my understanding (not experience since I am not an instructor) of the process. Or you can also visit the TBA website for an idea of how it works: www.thaiboxing.com

Let me know if you are actually interested to know. In the event that you are not sincerely interested I don't want to waste time detailing the process (once again as I understand it), so please let me know. Thanks.

Either way thank you for reading my posts and taking the time to reply.

Keep training hard.

Dan

[Flaves]

Ghost,

I am actually curious to know the experience of your instructor test in Thailand. Would you mind sharing? It was 3 months? You can send me a private message if you want. I look forward to hearing it. Thanks.

Dan

[Ghost]

Hi mate, ill post some up on here cos it might be nice for others to read.

I will make this as brief as possible so its not all inclusive but gives a rough idea.
Id have to pass each phase if you like but here is basically what happened:

Ok so in the first 2 weeks or so i was teaching the younger boxers, i had to do this in thai so i was having 1 hour or so a day of lessons in thai. I was watched for correcting them properly and held pads for them. During this time my own technique was watched regularly in my own training sessions and also how i was working with the kids.

Then i started to attend the fights the boxers were going to and they taught me how to work the corner, then i was regularly working the corner and helping the fighers prepare, this was at various stadiums including racha and lumpini and many smaller outdoor ones.
They then gave me a boxer who was about 18-20 to fight train solely for their next fight, i was their padman and trainer, i dictated everything he was to do, i also did padwork with the other fighters but one fighter was put under my wing if you like and i was part guided through this but by this stage i was expected to be able to do this.

After that i was a full padman working at the gym training all fighters along with the other padman, i was actively involved with all workings of the gym and taken by the owner to all the shows and everything that was done was explained, i was treated as a proper trainer with a view to being a gym owner if you like.

At the end of this there was a special 2 week phase of testing where i had to spar a lot and reactive padwork was the name of the game. Id be expected to be able to catch shots, so the fighter throws a kick, without me knowing its coming, and i move the pads to catch it, and so on. They want the highest level of padwork basically, very dynamic and lots of work going in from the padman so its really like sparring but led by the padman.
Of the 2, 3 hour sessions every day each session they were testing some aspect or another, id be told this at the start of the session and if i didnt pass id be doing it again the next session, which happened a couple of times.

It was a lot of work overall, thats the basics of what happened.

hope that helps

Ghost,

I am actually curious to know the experience of your instructor test in Thailand. Would you mind sharing? It was 3 months? You can send me a private message if you want. I look forward to hearing it. Thanks.

Dan

[Guest]

Teaching credentials, in any field or discipline, should be awarded based on the person's ability to coach and develop others. Full stop.

The process Ghost went through in Thailand is based on that exact premise, and sounds like an excellent way to screen potential instructors.

Many arts and organizations could learn a lot from that process.

[fire cobra]

Hi mate, ill post some up on here cos it might be nice for others to read.

I will make this as brief as possible so its not all inclusive but gives a rough idea.
Id have to pass each phase if you like but here is basically what happened:

Ok so in the first 2 weeks or so i was teaching the younger boxers, i had to do this in thai so i was having 1 hour or so a day of lessons in thai. I was watched for correcting them properly and held pads for them. During this time my own technique was watched regularly in my own training sessions and also how i was working with the kids.

Then i started to attend the fights the boxers were going to and they taught me how to work the corner, then i was regularly working the corner and helping the fighers prepare, this was at various stadiums including racha and lumpini and many smaller outdoor ones.
They then gave me a boxer who was about 18-20 to fight train solely for their next fight, i was their padman and trainer, i dictated everything he was to do, i also did padwork with the other fighters but one fighter was put under my wing if you like and i was part guided through this but by this stage i was expected to be able to do this.

After that i was a full padman working at the gym training all fighters along with the other padman, i was actively involved with all workings of the gym and taken by the owner to all the shows and everything that was done was explained, i was treated as a proper trainer with a view to being a gym owner if you like.

At the end of this there was a special 2 week phase of testing where i had to spar a lot and reactive padwork was the name of the game. Id be expected to be able to catch shots, so the fighter throws a kick, without me knowing its coming, and i move the pads to catch it, and so on. They want the highest level of padwork basically, very dynamic and lots of work going in from the padman so its really like sparring but led by the padman.
Of the 2, 3 hour sessions every day each session they were testing some aspect or another, id be told this at the start of the session and if i didnt pass id be doing it again the next session, which happened a couple of times.

It was a lot of work overall, thats the basics of what happened.

hope that helps

Ghost thats excellent,ive never heard of that type of work going on for a farang in a thai camp,what camp was that at if you dont mind me asking.

[Flaves]

pretty cool man. thanks for sharing.

[OctaviousBP]

Yes, I am also curious about what camp this is, and some of the details... were you paying a fee? Did they "certify" you afterwards? Sounds like an interesting program.