Lee M

Allot of schools have an A & B class. Forms & Sparring type splits. My classes we just teach curriculum which means no class planning required. We practice each area for 2 weeks - 4 lessons then progress to the next section - enough for people to get the core basics and able to build on to it without getting bored.

There is program on chanell 4 right now all about buildings and how they affect our moods. They prove that enviromment does affect our moods!

checking this out now some good points to take from this.

I think it's too easy for someone to label a school McDojo plenty of teachers with tiny classes are great at it. There are Mcdojo's teachers that are better at marketing then teaching. Some good some bad. I think I saw one of the shows Pro V Joe pretty brutal stuff.

I have heard fighters training in a pool - less stress if joints etc. I saw one of the Klitschco's doing this recently.

An instructor should keep the talking to a mix 20% of the class time. Its always better to impart pieces over the course of the section - rather than lose peoples interest. We've all talked too much at some point!

LOve that MasterPain great comment!

I agree on this. Its nice just to walk in the door and train and not have to deal with instructors justifying themselves and their art.

Concepts are what you teach once someone has the basics of a technique thats what makes them work. I think your always going to be critcized for claiming you've created your own art. Most of have - imagine a graphic equalizer with different levels of base, treble - this is how most of are similar but also unique.

Yes rolling pin on the shins!

Its like saying push ups will improve your punches - its not a specific exercise that improves the execution. In this context your saying higher kicks improve balance and strength for lower kicks... Like saying a triple roundkick will improve the strength in a single kick...

I think my Instructor was just a great athlete but decided not to go pro - amatuer sport and decided upon Karate and competition.

Yes if you train with focus and intensity each time your always going to improve "kaizen". Maintaining control and leaving something in the tank is good - save this for the 12 round.

Avoiding is the most important skills - its what we spend the least amount of time in the dojo because its not exciting and most of us probably don't have alot of knowledge apart from walk away and avoid a situation. Geoff Thompson said "you teach a child to avoid cars on the road, by safely crossing the road, rather than teaching them what to do if they did get hit"

The amount of people that enquired about x style then with a little more fact finding they kno very little about the art. In this context the style is irrelevant.

I think since school starting charging "proper" money to train - which is what a true pro deserves. Its when this happens the Instructor can become worried about losing students and a few hundred dollars a month in the process too. If your value system sits above making money you'll sleep ok at night..happy with the way your school is ran.

Good post Karateka63 love it!

If its important then we make time - simple as. Life always gets in the way. I'd Love to. I wish I could... Set your goals and then ensure your daily actions meet your goals.

You need base arts is terms of your foundation. Allot of people have to be part of something to gain grades. This can create challlenges especially in the past due to differences. If you train mixed styles for example.

I think its finding your right audience. Allot of people will want to criticize because it might be valid or might be their ego. On youtube everyone is an expert Lol!

Action beats reaction. agree with Justice Zero. 1. Create a barrier - space 2. Use pre-emptive strike 3. Keep constant forward pressure until the threat is removed.

Man its exciting when you get that focus on progression. I loved it...although the sparring was what I have always loved the most. Great lesson for veterans to maintain that desire.

I agree your going to get better results from training with an Instructor (if he is good!). I have learn't plenty from DVD's giving me access to learning and coaches that maybe I couldn't travel to easily. That said from my sites there are plenty of people that want to accelerate their skills through DVd's or solely learn from them for whatever reason - time, cost!

No formal fights - just lots of guys coming along to test us out of the mats. Plenty of boxers...I loved the challenge.

Can vaguley remember - I was 9 in a Shotokan Class probably didn't know what the hell I was doing.