Teaching MA

[Cudgel]

What exactly must one do in order to become and instructor of a MA?
I ask this because well I want to teach MA after I feel I have learned enough to be worth teaching to people.

[Joe karate]

Train hard and get recognised by a superior. Train really hard and wait. That's how i was approached. I trained all the time(still do) and they noticed, asked me to help with kid classes and offered "extra" training.

PS I'm not an instructor yet, more of an instructor in traing

[YODA]

Teach when it becomes necessary for your development - until then remain a student - trust me, it's easier :D

[Cudgel]

well part of the problem is that in the area that i live in there is lack of quality MA instruction here
well not really I learned a lot and have helped trained people in my MA but the problem is my group is a non profit organization and I hate to say this I want to get paid to teach the western sword arts not just pass along what works for me.

And well I was kinda planing on learning much more and then trying to found a school.

[Brad Ellin]

Truer words never spoken Yoda. That's how I approached. That and when I thought I had something of value to share. While in Saudi Arabia I was approached to teach Evergreen Airlines flight attendants some basic, but effective, self defense. Not really liking that phrase, I taught them how to evaluate and avoid situations, and when that failed, to hurt the aggressor and hurt them good. It was all part of my development in becoming a well rounded MA. Nowadays, I stick with being a student, until the time comes again to teach.

[YODA]

'tis so true.

People are in such a hurry to reach what they see as the destination that they often miss out on the splendour of the journey :D

[Freeform]

And its much easier to just turn up to a class rather than have to plan it weeks in advance! :D

[morphus]

I went in to instruction when my previous instructor left - it was good for me for a while but it did take over my training to much, it became almost all theory. I am now in the process of backing away from teaching, and training practical again and it's like a breath of fresh air, it feels wonderful to be training (nearly) full out again, i've lost weight(a whole stone)and my techniqical form is starting get sharper again.

Teaching has its good points, but it can become suffocating.

[Bon]

Sounds like there's some good advice being given on this thread.

[Kat]

Those who can do, those who can't teach, and those who wanted to teach become academics.
Don't take it to seriously;)
But I have found that those who start out with the goal to teach are often not the best teachers,just as often those who are the best at a discipline are not nescessarily the best teachers.

[Saz]

I think teaching MA is a big responsiblity. You're views are often projected onto younger or more impressionable people, and those views can stay with them forever. If you're good, great. If you're not, it can cause trouble for lots of people.

Why not try assisting your main instructor for a while?

[Andy Murray]

There's an old fable about a spirit in a jar!

The spirit will grant you three wishes, but after these are granted you must sell the jar for less than you paid for it!

Eventually a person buys the jar for 0ne penny and can't sell the jar!

His soul is forfit!

What would you do?

[Jim]

Use two of the wishes and forget about the jar.

[Joe karate]

Focus on being a student, thats what i do and i love it. If i had to choose between teacher and student(even though i don't teach) i would choose student.

[YODA]

Originally posted by Joe karate
Focus on being a student, thats what i do and i love it. If i had to choose between teacher and student(even though i don't teach) i would choose student.


If I had the option - so would I.

[Scotty Dog]

started as a student, thought " man it must be cool to teach", did that for a while & got so disheartened I stoped training for a long time.

Missed training so much I started again, now I'm teaching again???

I decided to start teaching again not because I thought it would be a cool thing to do, but rather because I'm at a place both geographicaly and in my development where I need to teach. I'd much rather be a student finding my way at my own pace rather than having to keep on my toes because I've a responsiblity to my students. I know though that's not going to happen :)

This time I'm teaching because it's the right time, not cause I think it'd be some cool thing having all these people look at me & call me sifu. hopefully that'll make me a better coach.

PS
Andy I'd dontate the jar to the oxfam shop ;)

[shadow joe]

i think the best advice you can take from what's been said is that why don't you try teaching under your instructor for a while?


if that's not possible then why not? how much formal training have you had. I think to teach you have to be confident in your technique, know it works, and be able to apply it. You don't have to be the best, just dedicated.


i just started teaching again under my latest instructor and it's been great. I'm trying to make it my career, and if it happens I plan to have both time for training and for teaching.


I don't feel comfortable starting my own school right now but teaching under my sifu within his realm of guidance is much better anyway. I get to learn the ins and outs of an ORGANIZED school that isn't a sellout, free lessons, and many more benefits without the headache of having the rent due from my pocket.



get into it, if it's right for you it'll happen - with dedication,
- JOE

[Thomas]

Originally posted by Kat
Those who can do, those who can't teach, and those who wanted to teach become academics.
Don't take it to seriously;)
But I have found that those who start out with the goal to teach are often not the best teachers,just as often those who are the best at a discipline are not nescessarily the best teachers.
I have been trying to resist commenting on this, but I can't.
I am a teacher, and I will let you know that I could, did, and now am sharing my experience with the next generation. (I teach social studies, global history and US history). Many teachers are very dedicated and instead of going into prosperous careers and earning lots of money, we choose to share our knowledge and skills with the next generation. Did you ever have a tecaher who taught you something that you use today?
As concerns the martial arts, my instructor is an incredible teacher. He has all of the ability and succeeded very well in the martial arts. Last year he was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame, not for his gold medals or national championships (he has none), but for his teaching of the martial arts and his dedication to producing young martial artists who will carry the tradition onward.
"Those who can, and can very well, teach so that others may in the future."

[Kat]

Thomas
Good for you,without a doubt there are many teachers who have nothing but the best intentions.
However Eucation professionals have a horrendous amount of power particurlaly in primary and secondary education,where there influence can be on a par with peers and parents.
I would like to draw your intention to some works by a gent called Koegel who brings forth the concepts of "Dominator Intelligence" and "Partnership Intelligence".Current and tradition education formats require students to trust and follow blindly the words uttered by there teachers.Current tradition seeks to frame relationships among groups and individuals in terms of enforced hierarchization of social differences making it difficult to relate to others as equals.Teachers desire to influence students,some do this by stressing comunication and role modeling(further deleveloping their own veiw of self)others are more concerned with protecting themselves from criticism(particularly against any element which is seen to threaten there dominate position)which often carries over into their personal lives.
If we structure our social relationships on the basis of force backed ranking then we can only create a culture of "I'm better then you" which I belive an't much benefit for anyone.
Anyway hope its interesting reading at least.

Personally some of the best teachers I have meet were because of their excellent comunication skills,humility and ability to interact and respond to different situations and personalities.Including a Boxing trainer who I never saw throw a punch.

[Thomas]

I am sorry that your education training is so frustrating. When I was working on my BA in education, we also had to learn older styles and stuff like Piaget and Kohn and memorization stuff. Luckily when I started teaching, most of that stuff went out the window. The current trend is a more liberalization of student expectations (not always good) and the idea of making the learning experience practical, relevant and individual specific (which is very good). Furthermore, one of the hottest trends now is Cooperative Learning (see Dr. Spencer Kagan). This is a great way to develop trusting relationships and skills that students will use in the workforce.
As far as teachers exerting a strong influence over students... good. Teachers are role models and should be as influential as parents and peers. It is our job and duty to develop strong knowledgeable citizens who can make their own decisions... instead of goats who follow the herd mentality of the peers or those too apathetic to even care.

[Jay]

Originally posted by YODA



If I had the option - so would I.

Dave,
You should do what makes you happy ... if you aint enjoying something maybe you gotta re-think things ?

Jay

[YODA]

Originally posted by Jay


Dave,
You should do what makes you happy ... if you aint enjoying something maybe you gotta re-think things ?

Jay


Lots of re-thinking going on at the moment Jay.

[Jay]

Originally posted by YODA



Lots of re-thinking going on at the moment Jay.

Yeah I picked up on that vibe :D

Think of yourself for a change - screw what anybody else thinks - wants or needs off ya. (am I being a bit harsh ??) A good friend of mine died last year and it really made me think about life in general (oh yeah ... now I'm gettin' deep) Why do we do things that we don't enjoy or want to do ? Ok, you can't go around thinking that you are the centre of the Universe and stuff anybody else, but heh ... we are only here once (unless we really get deep and talk about re-incarnation ... I normally only do that after 6 or 7 pints :D)

Do what makes you happy ... only you know what that is.

Hope I didn't go off on one too much :)

Jay

[YODA]

LOL!

Well with this injury I'm taking some time off - so I'm hoping I'll be raring to go when I'm better. If not then we'll see.

[Andy Murray]

Deep down, folks are hoping you get back to where things were.

Deeper down, folks are hoping you get back to where YOU wanna be.

Either way, everyone wishes you the best!

[YODA]

Thanks Andy - the big question is do those two lead to the same answer?

Time will tell.

[Sonshu]

The easiest way of finding out if you have the SOFT skills to be a an instructor is.

Get a group of honest friends and teach em for a fe lessons. If they feel that you communicate the subject well to them and they are honest in there critisisims - we all have flaws.

Then you may well have somthing that people will want to learn. Also what you want to teach is it marketable. A horable thought but running a class with hall hire, insurance and all can cost and will cost you money to start.

Are you ready for that commitment - I hope it does not put you off as you can learn a lot from teaching and learn to question what you do and why also how to break things down.

SONSHU