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DO
AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO
Don't
follow to closely
I have seen it
many times.
I bet you have
too.
A class full of
students, all working hard, all trying their best. Most
of them just want to get better at what ever it is that
they are learning to do at that particular moment in time.
Some, however, whether they know it or not, may actually
have a somewhat loftier goal. Hidden away deep in the
back of their mind is one over riding thought, they want
to be, "just like sensei".
Now don't
misunderstand me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with
any of us emulating those we admire, or for that matter
wanting to be more like them.
The trick is not
to try and be, "just like them".
After all, it is
our individuality that makes each of us who we are.
What I mean to
say, is that as instructors it is our job is to turn out
students with good basic skills in all aspects of our
chosen style of karate, or any other martial art for that
matter.
But not clones.
Having our students
copying our good habits is one thing, but having them
also copy our bad habits as well is something that we
definitely need to avoid at all costs.
So where do we draw the
line.
When and where do we say
to the student, " do as I say, not as I do".
It should begin when we
first recognize that a desire to be "just like us"
exists in some students. After all the real goal of any
good instructor should be to develop the uniqueness that
lies within each individual and to bring out the best in
them, but as themselves. Not to try and make them into
what ever we as instructor have ourselves become.
This is why it is very
important that we make every effort to control those
nasty little habits that we all have, and that we really
need all of our students to avoid, or at least postpone,
until they are much further along in rank.
For example.
Many experienced
instructors, in order to help themselves relax between
techniques, will often make a habit of opening and
closing their hands between movements, even when going
from one closed handed series of techniques to another.
While there is nothing
fundamentally wrong with this, provided the instructor is
of a significantly high enough rank, and they understand
when and why they are doing this tyoe of action, it may
not be appropriate for them to do all of the time.
Especially when teaching a class. Otherwise they may
suddenly look around one day and find that kyu belts of
all ranks are starting to do the same thing, and for no
other reason than the fact that they have seen their
sensei doing it on a regular basis.
Doing something as
instructor because you meant to do it is one thing.
Allowing the students to copy your "every movement"
just because they admire you is quite another matter
altogether.
One way to avoid this is
to learn early on to recognize the natural flow that
exists within each student. What works well for them, and
what does not. You must then nurture what works for each
student through good training, while at the same time
also modifying what does not work for each student, but
also through good training. Beginners and middle level
kyu belts, and for that matter students up to the rank of
Ni Dan should always be encouraged to adhere strictly to
proper technique, without any short cuts, and without
putting in any additional movements, especially in kata.
Once you have had your
input into how the student should be doing things, you
should then leave the student to practice on their own,
to make mistakes, to notice them, and to correct them on
their own. Naturally you must continue to monitor their
progress and to make comments, and adjustments when
needed, but constantly hovering over a student and
commenting on every move they make, or saying to a
student "do it like I do" is the wrong
approach, and teaches them nothing.
If they are going to
truly learn and progress in their karate they must often
do so on their own, and learn to separate what should be,
from what should never be. At the rank of San Dan,
however, freedom of action between movements should not
only be tolerated it, should actually be encouraged, as
this will open up a whole new aspect to their training
and personal growth within the art of karate.
So by all means pass on
all your knowledge, and all your skills, keep nothing
back, keep nothing hidden, but be sure and pass these
things on only at the appropriate time, but only in a
manner that allows the students to better themselves, not
just so they can become a copy of you, or anyone else for
that matter.
Clearly in karate-do and
in life all knowledge is meant to be shared, what, when,
and how is the question.
-
- Remember:
- The
object of any karate lesson must always be,
- to
develop the character of the individual,
- not to
try and re-create the teacher.
-
- Part
the clouds - see the way.
-
- "The
objective of karate-do is to contribute to the evolution
- of
the human spirit through physical and mental training."
- Sensei
Peter Lindsay
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