Question for instructors here

Discussion in 'Health and Fitness' started by matveimediaarts, Sep 30, 2016.

  1. matveimediaarts

    matveimediaarts Underappreciated genius

    Hello, comrades!

    I was playing the role of sempai in bokken sparring today. I was trying to teach my rohai an intermediate/advanced box pattern. For some reason, no matter how I tried, he got hopelessly lost in the pattern-made lots of wrong and poorly timed steps and constantly fluctuating timing. :bang: I tried 1) going through the pattern very slowly as both defender and attacker and 2) pointing out how other students were doing it properly.

    I feel like I failed in my job, and I'd like to do better next time. Thanks! :hat:
     
  2. Simon

    Simon Administrator Admin Supporter MAP 2017 Koyo Award

    It takes time to settle into becoming an instructor and I salute you for wanting to get better.

    Sometimes students can get lost in a movement for weeks, then all of a sudden something is said in class and the entire movement links together.
     
  3. Latikos

    Latikos Valued Member

    Not a professional myself, but how complex was the pattern?

    In case it was a rather complex, it might have helped not only to slow it down but also to break it down into more parts.


    And a personal preference: Depending on the way *how* you pointed out, that other students "were doing it properly" he might additional have felt under pressure.

    If I(!) get told: "There look! He does it great, why can't YOU do it?!" I will start getting lost for sure.
    I'd get annoyed, uncertain and would "have to" be good right now - what will makes things worse.

    And on the other side: If someone gets told "Look how good Nicky is doing it", I will start getting nervous and a bit uncomfortable, because I feel bad for the person who struggles right now.

    Just my quick thoughts.
     
  4. Simon

    Simon Administrator Admin Supporter MAP 2017 Koyo Award

    For movements that are difficult to remember I do handouts, or even shoot a tutorial for my You Tube channel.

    Here is an example of a stick drill that strikes right left, right, left and the LH stands for low and high.

    By doing this the student ends up with a catalogue of drills they can refer to when training at home.

    It may not be for everyone, but it's one of the tools I use.

    4 Count High Closed Chamber Drills

    4 Count Regular High HH HH
    4 Count Modified High HH LL
    4 Count Broken High HL LH

    4 Count High Open Chamber Drills

    4 Count Regular High HH HH
    4 Count Modified High HH LL
    4 Count Broken High – HL Same Stick HL Same Stick HL HL

    4 Count Low Closed Chamber Drills

    4 Count Regular Low LL LL
    4 Count Modified Low LL HH
    4 Count Broken Low LH HL

    6 Count High Closed Chamber Drills

    6 Count Regular High HHH HHH
    6 Count Modified High #1 HHL HHL
    6 Count Modified High #2 HLL HLL
    6 Count Broken High HLH HLH

    6 Count Low Closed Chamber Drills

    6 Count Regular Low LLL LLL
    6 Count Modified Low #1 LLH LLH
    6 Count Modified Low #2 LHH LHH
    6 Count Broken Low LHL LHL
     
  5. matveimediaarts

    matveimediaarts Underappreciated genius

    Thanks! :) I could tell it was stressing him out and he was over-compensating with exaggerated speed and movements. It was a high intermediate-ish pattern(2nd belt level, IIRC)-a repetitive box (all 4 sides have the same attack/defense sequence). The hard part was the corner transition. Advancing partner goes *shuffle-thrust, shuffle-thrust, step-kessa, attack the knee* Retreating partner goes *shuffle back-block, shuffle back-block, step back with hard upper block,turn right to slap block knee attack in gadan gamae*:hat:
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2016
  6. Kwajman

    Kwajman Penguin in paradise....

    I always break it down for students who seem to be a little slower to pick it up. I currently only have about 68 paying students ranging from white to first dan and most seem to pick up patterns pretty quick up to about red belt. Then almost everyone gets it broken down into parts.
     
  7. YouKnowWho

    YouKnowWho Valued Member

    If you can always coordinate 1 arm with 1 leg, you can cut down the complexity into 1/2.

    For example, instead of doing:

    - right arm does ...
    - left arm does ...
    - right leg does ...
    - left leg does ...

    You can make it into:

    - right arm does ... while left leg does ...
    - left arm does ... while right leg does ...
     

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