There is an Aikido dojo just around the corner from my place and the instructor is Nidan. Is this is adequate level for someone to be teaching Aikido? I the instructor in person last week and he seems like a great person to interface with. I will attend one of his afternoon classes tomorrow to watch him teach. Below is the instructors profile. James Sterling Sensei began his study of Aikido in 1992 under the teaching of Steven Williams Sensei (Yondan) in Phoenix Arizona. He is a Nidan with the Aikido World Headquarters in Japan through Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU), headed by Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan. Sterling Sensei began his study in the Martial Arts at the age of 13 in Judo and Ju jitsu. He later entered service in the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division, 2-14 (LI). After discharge from service Sterling Sensei began his study of Aikido and joined The Alliance of Guardian Angels, Chapter 29 in Phoenix, Arizona.. There he led the chapter, and trained the members in Aikido. In 1994 Sterling Sensei, under Bill Elderts Sensei (Sandan), opened the Hei Ki (Universal Energy) Aikido Club in Victorville, California. After returning to Arizona and Desert Wind Aikido, he joined the State of Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, graduating in the top of his class, and later Department of Corrections, again graduating in the top of his class, where he became a TSU (Tactical Support Unit) team member. In 2000 Sterling Sensei relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada with the State of Nevada Department of Prisons, and in April of 2001 opened Desert Wind Aikido Las Vegas. Sterling Sensei has worked with state, and federally contracted agencies, as well as security in the nightclub and casino industries, being assigned to special details and personal escort to high profile figures such as General Norman Schwarzkopf, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Ben Afflek and Jennifer Lopez. He has conducted many charitable classes for organizations such as Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Southern Nevada, Nevada Children's Center, Clark County Parks & Recreation Rec Trek program, and has also conducted self-defense and awareness classes for local government agencies, and private organizations both in Arizona and Nevada.
it depends how good the instructor is at getting his info across, i am a 5th kyu in the bujinkan and i have to teach a basics class once every 3 weeks but i am good at it because i have done training and coaching at work so i can use that in my training.
do you know this guy personally? is it okay with him that you posted his name and profile in the forum? why you ask if his level is adequate? i think being a BB is one thing but to teach is entirely different. we can't really judge a persons ability to teach thru his or her background or rank. as Greg Chapman said good day!
Anyway, to answer your question. Firstly, this Aikidoist has a Ni dan issued to him through Hombu dojo, Japan. As someone (me) who likewise holds Aikikai certification, I can testify to the standards required to receive such accreditaion. Secondly, This aikidoists Sensei is Mitsugi Saotome, a very skilled and credible Aikidoka. If Mr. Sterling is worth his salt, he will have earnt his Sho dan and his Ni dan and be a quality Aikidoist. Thirdly, Ni dan is still only a junior dan grade. As an instructor at this level, he should be looking forward himself for progression. If he is not, his dojo will go nowhere due to the fact that student's progression is relative to the instructors grade. But personally I can't see this happening in a dojo within Saotome Sensei's organisation.
If your personally good at something, to be able to teach that to someone else will really show what your made of at any level and any aspects of life.
I don't yet run my own club, however I do do alot of teaching especialy when helping to prepair people for gradings. From my experience I'm inclined to say that a 2nd dan should be capable of teaching. But it does come down to the individual. Teaching martial arts is a whole different kettle of fish from simply practicing one or puting your skills to use as a door man or body guard. When assessing a teachers ability to teach you have to be able to participate in the class and come away with the idea that it made some sort of sense. You must then be able to think back a few weeks on and think it still makes sense. Well that's my current theory on teaching anyway.
Being "good" at something won't / dosen't imply one can pass that information on effectively to others. Good instructors arn't born, they are made. Through a comprehensive course of instructional skills which accompany the knowledge (the subject matter) being taught. You cannot teach something unless you know your subject, you cannot teach the subject unless you've been taught how to teach, you cannot teach unless you are comfortable in front of a class. ~ If anyone one of those facets are missing or weak, it shows; either in the presentation/delivery of a class (and)or in the long term abilities of the students in a class. A nidan is just another part of the learning curve, the fact that it's a grade of black belt likewise does not imply a large amount of knowledge in the wearer of the belt. IMHO leading a class is something that should be encouraged from middle to senior kyu grade, under the watchful eye of a suitably experienced instructor, this encouragement is continued in greater quantities as the experience and grade of the student increases, through 1st kyu into shodan and beyond. If the question was specifically related to a nidan instructor without affiliation to some larger accredited organisation, I'd say "find another dojo" however; the fact the nidan in question is *most likely* involved in a grading syllabus of his own, there isn't a problem with him setting up and running a dojo under, ultimately, the direction of his principal instructor to whom he has to justify the quality of the students under his direction. I think people must understand that a black belt is no more than a white belt, one is still a student, learning from one's peers, it doesn't matter if your a shodan or rokkudan, there is always something to learn from someone.
Just for those who perhaps don't know. There are two differing types of lessons: 1. Theory A class with little or no physical work involved, it is normally a discussion based session (a typical classroom environment) 2. Practical A class made up primarily of physical activity, with limited amounts of theory used in required explanations. In either class type, a lesson is composed of several sections that make up a logical structure. Depending on what type of class you’re teaching.. Either Theory or Practical will depend upon the size of each of the sections. I won't go into how to plan a lesson (unless someone asks) but detail the sections within the structure of a lesson - The principles a) EXPLAIN Regardless of what you’re teaching, how you’re teaching or the type of class; you must explain what you want the students to learn. This information can be as detailed or as sparse as required to make the point. If in a theory class, this will form the bulk of the teaching media. b) DEMONSTRATE Following on from that you have explained, you must demonstrate your point(s) if you’re teaching a practical lesson, this section may well form the bulk of what your teaching (depending upon complexity and the need to elaborate on theoretical knowledge) c) IMITATION Here you can allow students to mimic your physical actions to allow them to better understand what you've just explained and demonstrated, this is often used for beginners who need additional visual stimulus to grasp what is being taught. d) PRACTICE Once you are happy students have understood your point, allow them to practice and develop. ^^The above is summarised as E.D.I.P^^ e) CONFIRMATION Again, regardless of what you teach or the nature of the class, you must ensure you confirm the knowledge you have taught has been retained (otherwise your class has been a wasted endeavour) Confirmation is an essential phase of any teaching and can be done very subtlety or very overtly through testing. Either way, an instructor should consider all confirmation phases as a form of test; you are in effect 'testing' to see if what you've just taught in understood. At it's simplest, you set questions for the class to answer, this also includes a questions 'too & from' period allowing them to confirm what they 'think' they know. You can also set tests, the most obvious of which is a grading. An instructor needs to be an effective communicator, someone who actually enjoys the responsibilities of leading a class. Skill in the subject matter is unfortunately not enough to make a person a "good" instructor. If a nidan can carry out a lesson based upon those principles and knows his subject matter within the bounds of his qualification, and is happy to lead a class, I'd expect that person to (with practice) deliver a good lesson. About me: A former member of the armed forces. Later employed in the capacity of producing and delivering continuation training to members of RAF air and ground crew, & RAF Regiment personnel. A student of Aikido for almost 17 years (with the odd break) and student of Muso Shinden Ryu Iaijutsu.
