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Post by supergroup7 on Nov 25, 2005 6:15:07 GMT 8
Yes they should. That should be implicit as well I would think. Bill.. although my statement is pretty obvious.. I have had far too many experiences with higher belts that are so centered on A) Teaching you all the nuances of a technique that you become confused, inundated, and lost as to what you are trying to achieve. Information overload. B) Trying to be a "good" teacher without keeping in mind the learning ability of the student. Thereby frustrating the student by putting too many demands at once. Just because the higher belt knows how everything is interrelated this does not mean that the student is ready to ingest it... sometimes the student needs it to start simple, and then get steadilly more complex. C) Raising the level of interaction in sparring to a level that the lower belt cannot handle. For example, when performing one step sparring with a lower belt, the higher belt switches lead feet, changes distance, blocks the incoming counter of the lower belt, etc. etc. which is WAY beyond the skill level of the lower belt. I can understand challenging the lower belt by adding some things, but also there should be instruction to help the lower belt learn to cope with the new material. I've seen far too many higher belts treat the lower belts with derision, with an "I'm so superior to you.. look how I can do all these things to you, and you are helpless" attitude in the name of "teaching". In fact, the more the student fails to cope with the demand placed upon them the greater the ego boost seems to expand in the higher kyu. I have heard statements such as "What is wrong with you? This is easy. You just do this!" Teachers in the school system have to go through years of study before they graduate, and are placed in charge of other people's education. However, in a karate club, there are many times that a higher kyu student is placed in a position of "teacher" without having been taught how to teach. Just having the skills to achieve Black belt level does not automatically give you the ability to teach... anymore than getting pregnant gives you the skills to mother a child.
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Post by wmioch on Nov 25, 2005 11:27:29 GMT 8
I've always been an advocate of seperating Black Belts and Teachers. It's just not the same thing. And as you've just pointed out Mir, it's actually counter-productive all around.
Bill
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 25, 2005 15:03:41 GMT 8
A) Teaching you all the nuances of a technique that you become confused, inundated, and lost as to what you are trying to achieve. Information overload. A brown belt was once tasked to teach me a form when I was in the states. And that was what he did. Chat chat chat about the minutiae ... until one of the sensei came to him and said "just show Mr Wee the form, you don't have to explain it to him, he knows what to do." Thank goodness. Without that I would have been totally flooded. Totally agreed. Now if only everyone were to do this, we'd all have better quality instruction! Colin
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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 25, 2005 23:02:48 GMT 8
I too agree on the separation of BB and Teachers. I strongly emphasis teaching to my BB. In fact all my Brown and BB have to take my instructor development program before they make 2nd degree BB. If they don't then they can not use a teaching title. They will only have one teaching title. Si-Suk, assistant instructor. All my BB have to complete 200 hour of teaching prior to any BB promotion. No matter what. I have one BB who is ready to promote, but he doesn't have his teaching hours and I have refused to grade him.
So, I really do believe there should be a separation of BB and Teachers.
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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 25, 2005 23:07:42 GMT 8
Separtation Continued.
It has always been my firm believe that there should be a further separation of various things in the BB Catagories.
For instance. I believer that if I have a student who is excellent in form, and midiocore in fighting that I would not hold him or her back but promote as a Black belt in forms or kata only. The same for fighting and weapons.
However, over the years I have tried to promote the rounded martial artist concept do to the tournament scene.
I consider myself a true observer of the martial arts. I look, I see and I understand for most of the things I see. Therefore, the rounded martial artist is the better martial artist.
Sifu White
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Post by supergroup7 on Dec 10, 2005 3:28:32 GMT 8
Just an add on to the above list of Kyu Grade Responsibilities: I do not feel that youth under 18 are mentally advanced enough to take on the responsibilities, and burdens of a high kyu belt. Yes, I understand that the facts are that there are many youth out in the martial arts realm that are doing it.. but I would offer the thought that the demands are extremely difficult for them, and that they cannot do it with the same capacity as an adult with life experience. For example, as an experienced mother, I look at the 14-18 year old new mothers out there with compassion, and pity. I know what the demands are as a mother, and I feel that these youth shouldn't be expected to meet them. The fact is that these young women ARE mothers, but that does not make it a good thing.
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Post by Colin Wee on Dec 10, 2005 21:29:21 GMT 8
Just an add on to the above list of Kyu Grade Responsibilities: I do not feel that youth under 18 are mentally advanced enough to take on the responsibilities, and burdens of a high kyu belt. I totally agree with you here. Not that I disrespect youth or late teens. My most senior belt is a 2nd Kyu in his mid 20s. I would not be able to entrust a much younger person with the responsibilities that I lay on my senior student's shoulders. Colin
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