Martial Art Prodigies

[Paratus]

I was just wondering about something. For you instructers, have you ever taught a student who just seems to be the perfect student or as the thread is aptly named, a prodegy of martial arts. Someone who learns and performs quickly, learns quickly, with skill, etc. i guess the same goes for everyone else, have you ever seen this? (or are you one ;) )

Maybe we can name some famous ones too

[YODA]

I've had a few of these over the years - they usually burn out after 2 to 3 years and switch to the next thing that they want to play at.

It's the people who have to work hard for every scrap of skill they get that tend to stick around and make REAL progress.

[Freeform]

Beat me tp it Dave! The guys that seem to take to MA real easy tend to leave because they aren't 'challenged'.

Col

[Tireces]

I think I've encountered at least one of these (though I never taught him, he was a fellow student). I've never felt roundhouse kicks close to as hard as this guy could do. I think he may have had some previous training, though.

[Jim]

woo hoo.... something we can agree on!

My experience has been exactly the same. Those who have to work right from the start tend to stay for the long haul. Those who are 'gifted' then to leave to chase coloured string.

[Bigfoot]

Ditto Yoda.

[booksie_girl]

That makes me feel a little better about my lack of talent :p

[Kwan Jang]

-I can see your point and many with talent do tend to take it for granted. Yet, I have been surrounded by prodiges over the years. From Ernie Reyes, Jr. to the kids on the Little Dragon's Demo Team (sometimes I just think it's wrong for a six year old to be able to hold a vertical side kick). If you don't want them to burn out, you have to constantly challenge them and take them to new levels. Let's face it, there is enough material and growth potential within the arts to keep one challenged for several lifetimes. The higher you go, the further you can see. It is up to the instructor to be creative and dynamic in their teaching methods. Also, you must refrain from placing artificial limitations on them from achieving their potential. (examples of this include my joke on 6 yr. olds and also how people really jumped for the throat in their comments of Richard Sandrak), even if that potential goes beyond the instructor's own. In fact, my instructor has always told me one of the signs of a good instructor is that some of his students will surpass him. I have always worked as a teacher to achieve this (and as an athlete and a fighter to raise that bar so high that I'll still give them decades worth of work to try to catch up.).

[Kwajman]

I met Richard, he IS an awsome kid. As an MD I would love to do some tests on him....

[EKATZ]

If you’ll read another thread about Richard (http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3321&perpage=60&pagenumber=2) in this forum, you can see some great pictures of him! Please also check out Davezilla (http://davezilla.com/index.php?p=1194&c=1), Monoki (http://www.monoki.com/log/archive/001856.shtml), Richard’s Forum (http://novogate.com/free/index.php?b=888), and Richard’s Guestbook (http://www.guestbookworld.com/cgi-bin/gbwshow.exe?187721071345702:5:0%22%3EView)

[pocketwarrior]

either the crossed over sai's or the Conan when he was ten picture....:D

[Brad Ellin]

Prodigies, no. Hard working and dedicated, yes.
By the way, did you have to post so many pictures? A simple link would have sufficed.

[Merlin]

My current class has 2 MA prodigies. One, has this particular talent for amazing speed and grace. He quite literrally kicks through things like they were made of paper. The other is really tactful and mindful. He will contemplate every move and how the opponent will react in a split second, then execute it with textbook accuracy.

They are unsuprisingly, both my best students yet. They will hopefully both go on to win championships, which will give my teachings a bit more recognition.

I'm lucky in that these two students know how good they are, and know that they can make it to the top, so I'm pretty sure they wont slack off after a few years.

[Matt_Bernius]

A favorite quote on this subject is:

"True genius succeeds inspite of talent, not because of it"

Time and time again, there have been cases where natural talent has been something that impeeds great progress. As Kwan suggested it takes a great teacher to help a student overcome their talent (that's a funny thought isn't it), eat bitter, and become better.

- Matt

[Merlin]

Originally posted by Matt_Bernius
A favorite quote on this subject is:

"True genius succeeds inspite of talent, not because of it"

Time and time again, there have been cases where natural talent has been something that impeeds great progress. As Kwan suggested it takes a great teacher to help a student overcome their talent (that's a funny thought isn't it), eat bitter, and become better.

- Matt

You see in my class we try and put skill to the talent. A man with talent but no skill is no kind of man. (or a man who isn't at his full potential)

[TigerAnsTKDLove]

yes yes theres this one guy who i know his name is derek a first dan gonna be a second dan by spring. he was my master's very first student and this kid moves at the speed of light... hes amazing.

[Xia]

If a prodigy is one who inspires wonder, then don't go into awe. I have been known to be a prodigy. To a few who call me enemy, anyway everyone can be a prodigy.

[Tireces]

You're cool. Really. What are you, some kind of comic book character?

[shipto]

yep have a guy at our class whos done 5 or 6 classes total I trained with him on his first class and was amazed when i asked him what he had done before he replied nothing. Having said that i would say he would be a much better boxer than thai boxer though not that i know much just the look he gives off says boxer.

[moondog]

i've never seen a prodigy though i've read that yang lu'chan progressed very quickly in taiji... as to burning out i'm not sure that is totally correct... yang lu'chan achieved proficiency very quickly yet never dropped the MA to pursue other things... he held the title of "the unsurpassable" until his death so i guess it really depends on whether the person is interested enough or not... i agree that the MA hold enough depth for a person to study it for his entire life and still just experience the tip of the iceberg since human potential is essentially underdeveloped

[Tireces]

Just like we only use a small percentage of our brains, right?

[Cyph]

haha :D

[moondog]

yep just like we use a small percentage of our brains. a study done a few years ago showed that elderly people who have led very experienced lives only utilized 3-5% of their brain. we've got a long way to go, and i personally believe that the human potential is unlimited

[Cyph]

:rolleyes:

[Tireces]

Originally posted by moondog
yep just like we use a small percentage of our brains. a study done a few years ago showed that elderly people who have led very experienced lives only utilized 3-5% of their brain. we've got a long way to go, and i personally believe that the human potential is unlimited

I am laughing so much right now, I won't elaborate on it, but you'll see sooner or later. Someone who's been around here a while won't be able to resist explaining.

[47Ronin]

We HAD a guy in our class that was a total nerd kind of person but just killed in full contact fighting. Everyone seemed to call him a prodigy and I think the kid had great potential but his parents pulled him out of it for school. He didn't really disagree with them either.