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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 25, 2005 23:15:17 GMT 8
So, here is the chance for you to express your opinion in the separation of Black Belts and Teacher. I thought I might throw a couple of catagories to spark you thought process. If you vote, please explain or support your answer.
Sifu White
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Post by wmioch on Nov 26, 2005 8:19:21 GMT 8
I am a definite advocate of having them seperated.
Now, there is nothing wrong with having a requirement that your Teachers be Black Belts, but there is something wrong with having your Black Belts be Teachers.
There are many different kinds of people in this world. Some are talented at imparting information, in different ways, and some are not.
Things that I think are major disadvantages to forcing all Black Belts to be active teachers. - If they are bad at it, your students will learn poorly and will not enjoy it. (Frustration on both sides)
- If they do not enjoy it themselves (whether they are good at it or not) they are likely to begin to foster negative emotions that can display themselves in a number of ways.
- Most of all, students that do not want to be teachers, may simply leave if there is too much pressure/requirements on them to do so.
Surely you can think of black belts in your experience that are not well-suited to be teachers.
Bill
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Post by supergroup7 on Nov 28, 2005 1:44:26 GMT 8
A teacher should be a black belt, but not all black belts should be teachers.
I think that there should be two types of black belts... those who chose to train and teach, and those who chose to train. However, that thought might be treading on some traditional attitudes, and expectations that a black belt is supposed to be able to teach.
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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 29, 2005 20:22:41 GMT 8
A teacher should be a black belt, but not all black belts should be teachers. I think that there should be two types of black belts... those who chose to train and teach, and those who chose to train. However, that thought might be treading on some traditional attitudes, and expectations that a black belt is supposed to be able to teach. As far as tradition, you are not on the wrong track. There have been many famous Black Belts who have said the same thing. Most of the time Senior Black Belts take on teaching rather than compete or do hard training similar to when they were younger. However, teaching is a talent. There are those who are great. There are those who are good and then there are those that suck. Pardon the adjective. But that is a truism, even in real life. Think of the days you went to school. The one thing about an instructor that will turn me off in a heartbeat is not passion for what he does. Teaching has to be a passion and an expression of the person presenting it, or the whole atmospher of the classroom is asleep. Sifu White
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Post by supergroup7 on Nov 29, 2005 21:24:57 GMT 8
I agree with you that there is a magic that happens when a teacher is filled with joy, and passion for their art.
It must be difficult, Sifu White, to keep up the passion for teaching when one can be faced class after class with energy-less students. How does a teacher keep motivated then? How does a teacher motivate others to find their spirit to look for more? How does a teacher find time to train for themselves?
It sound so much harder to be a Sensei than to just train on one's own. That is why I feel that there should be two levels of black belt.. The higher level being those who chose the more difficult path of not only living their martial arts, but also sharing it with others.
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Post by wmioch on Nov 30, 2005 9:45:46 GMT 8
I don't think that there should be some kind of seperation of rank. It is entirely up to the style's head as to whether to make teaching a requirement, but I don't think I would support the notion of a "higher" level of black belt. There are some titles that are typically reserved for teachers. I like that idea better.
Bill
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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 30, 2005 20:12:05 GMT 8
Although I require my BB to take the Instructor development program, only a few of them teach. The objective of teaching is passing on information. Since I have went to a strick cirriculum it is important for me to promote that program to the best of my ability. Since I teach professional seminars I can stay motivated at least during the program if nothing else. I feel the need to get in front the class and go from there. The passion for teaching is a calling and expression of ones inner being. It is like the ministry. Those that really don't have the calling are really lousy ministers, so I look at teaching as a calling. Besides, it is my way of having fun in the classroom, without being bored to death. I hate boring classes. So, I try to make mine fun.
Sifu White
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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 30, 2005 20:13:57 GMT 8
I like the Idea, that if I had a BB Student who could specialize in an area. Which rarely happens, I would just let them teach that specialty. Keeps that BB interested in passing on the information and it keeps them motivated.
Sifu White
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Post by supergroup7 on Dec 2, 2005 2:21:47 GMT 8
I think that the reason that BB are asked to teach as part of their requirements is so that:
a) a bond of respect, and mutual support starts to happen between the higher and lower belts
b) the BB doesn't center only on his/her progress to the detriment of the other people of the dojo.
c) It helps strengthen knowledge when you have to describe something to someone else. You really have to know something well to be able to teach it.
d) It challenges the more shy, introvert, BB to get past their limitations and take charge.
e) It demands a certain amount of energy to keep the skills that the BB may feel less inclined to practice, just in case they get placed in a position of having to teach this.
There are more positive reasons to make a BB teach the lower belts.
My question for you is "Is it a necessity for a BB to be capable as a teacher?" In other words, would it be possible for a person to fail their BB test because they are not effective assistant teachers?
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Post by Colin Wee on Dec 2, 2005 10:57:00 GMT 8
I'd like to answer this question in my view of how kata works to transmit the martial arts. You get the 'gift' of kata in your lap, but it doesn't mean very much until an instructor explains what the kata is supposed to be. Then it only starts to amount to something if the instructor takes his/her own experience and embed it along with the kata training. When I was in the states, the big lesson we learned quickly is to keep your chin down. We have that in the first few lessons along with the rudiments of kata, and then enforce it along the way. I was just complimented when two of my young students told me that that was a really useful thing - even in sports. I guess getting a soccer ball kicked into your nose isn't pleasant. So in summary, the kata only works if you get an experienced instructor with fight experience leading you through it. Without it, it's but a dance. Breakitdown. Colin
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Post by supergroup7 on Dec 5, 2005 22:07:41 GMT 8
So in summary, the kata only works if you get an experienced instructor with fight experience leading you through it. Without it, it's but a dance. Breakitdown.
Your comment brought a big smile on my lips, very witty.
However, I will need to disagree here on some of the concept presented. I agree with you that the intention of the movements of the kata is better understood by a student who is led by someone with fight experience. However, I do not believe that kata becomes a "dance" if the deeper moves are not taught, or understood.
Let's look more deeply into the whole "dance" idea. There are many physical movements that our body is capable of doing. The act of extending the arms, and bringing them into ourselves can be used in many different ways: A loving hug, an attack, a defense, to pick up a heavy object. The main difference is what the intention is in the head.. but practicing extending your arms, and bringing it in is the same. So.. my point is "dance", "gymnastics", "figure skating", "swimming", "kata"... it's all the same movement done with different intent. In my opinion, there is always benefit in doing the movement.
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Post by Colin Wee on Dec 6, 2005 10:35:05 GMT 8
However, I will need to disagree here on some of the concept presented. I agree with you that the intention of the movements of the kata is better understood by a student who is led by someone with fight experience. However, I do not believe that kata becomes a "dance" if the deeper moves are not taught, or understood. I'm not sure how it is done at your school. What I am saying refers to all the schools that more often than not teach kata as a way to earn the next belt. Many schools and instructors teach kata with no adequate time spent on deconstructing it. For those schools kata is not even a dance, I think it becomes a meaningless or arbitrary exercise to learn for the grading. Few would be able to use more than perhaps one or two moves in sparring or self defence. This comment is more so pertinent to those schools that teach kata to only ignore the machinations of kata for alternate drills to use for sparring. Can't imagine how this can happen? I have seen this with my own eyes! Colin
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Post by sifuwhite on Dec 7, 2005 21:06:14 GMT 8
I agree with Colin, with regards to schools teaching kata only for rank purposes. They never take the time to do a proper bunkai of the forms. Heck, you can see this on the tournament seen all the time.
If Kata is a the life blood of you system. Then there should be more emphasis on the foundations, such as stance, proper kicks and strikes, etc......
Sifu White
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Post by supergroup7 on Dec 10, 2005 3:15:25 GMT 8
"This comment is more so pertinent to those schools that teach kata to only ignore the machinations of kata for alternate drills to use for sparring. Can't imagine how this can happen? I have seen this with my own eyes!"
I believe you, Colin. Totally! I've seen that kind of empty kata myself. I've even done it myself when I am first learning a kata. I think that it is part of the learning process. First you learn the basic chunks of movement without knowing what they mean.. then as you advance in knowledge, and skill you start to understand your kata, and be able to recognize, and use the bunkai. Yes it is sad when some dojo do not get past the "do the pattern for testing" mode.. these students are missing out on the whole reason that kata exists.
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Post by supergroup7 on Dec 10, 2005 3:18:20 GMT 8
I agree with Colin, with regards to schools teaching kata only for rank purposes.
Wouldn't the main fault of this lay upon the shoulders of the Instructors rather than on the attitude of the student?
How does one go about instructing the Instructors to understand and value the bunkai of the kata enough to incorporate it in their curriculum? Do they reserve this knowledge for the higher belts only?
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