jaedeshi

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You ask the wrong question. If your hiring an instructor then you evaluate their teaching ability and not their ma ability. Their ma ability will be an issue but not as much as that person's ability to impart knowledge, inspire a student to excel, adapt style for special populations and get new prospects to join. As a business you have to be assured that instructors fill your students' needs if they don't then they won't stay in the school. That doesn't always mean the instructor needs a vast amount of ma knowledge or that owner needs to have a lot of ma knowledge to evaluate an instructor.

Using the face to block with will make you stupid. Don't do it.

So if the what student is saying is the truth not rumor or anything else. Do you throw them out? or ask them to stop telling the truth?

The internet makes the world a whole lot smaller. So you miss teaching but no one in your immediate area wants what you have to offer. Put up lessons online. Reach out to your organization and others. Make short video lessons put them on youtube and ask for feed back and questions. I'm sure your old students would still like to get lessons from you. Youtube also has selective options so you can control who views your videos. Just an idea I hope it might cure some of your boredom. Best of luck. Jae

Hi Rateh, I do agree with what you said in your post. I would say that a large majority of instructors do not monitor student instructors enough. Maybe their intentions are in the right place but they are ineffective in how they monitor their students. IMHO when talking about "student instruction" one needs to decide why first are you requiring it? Then set maximum and minimum limits and a student is allowed to do teach. In pre black belt ranks sometimes you would use "student instruction" to evaluate to see how much students understand of what they do. That would require less time than using "student instruction" as a tool. In other words using teaching to advance the students knowledge. Of course at higher levels you are using "student instruction" to evaluate their skills as a teacher. The problem is when students sign up at the school they do so under the assumption the dojo owner or instructors are doing the instruction and not other students. Student instruction should really be kept at a minimum in commercial schools. As a student I want to train under the instructor and not his students. Also students that find themselves teaching often never signed up to pay to teach. They signed up to be taught. If I was in a situation where I wasn't paying for my instruction I would feel different. There are very few teachers that don't teach for money. That being said when schools treat me like a consumer I act like one. I want what I pay for and won't work for them (for free) or be a test pilot for their other students.

True! Yet, isn't it their ego, the naysayers, that's the thing that they are having difficulty in letting go themselves? After all, the martial artist that's considering to retire has already let go, and in that, their ego has never been an issue. The naysayers or anyone that needs to criticize others have more of a problem within themselves. They bolster themselves up by bringing others down.

I say what has helped the most is continually searching for new students and responding promptly to inquiries about the school. What always worked is finding out what the student is looking for out their training and suppling the type of training that will help achieve their goal.

There are some cases where the they are just learning the curriculum of a new style. That is not to say that they don't know the techniques in style and how to apply them. I'm talking about basic sets or forms. These are just basic ways a style will introduce techniques to a student. Every style will have a certain particular way to teach it in a standard way. Having changed styles I find myself in this situation at times. I'll have to learn a set or form from someone that is junior to myself in knowledge and overall skill in the technique that the set is teaching.

Well I would always wear what was allowed by the dojo. Usually only a white gi. One dojo allowed a black gi or mix top and bottoms of white and black when you attain black belt. In that case I also wore a black gi or a white top with black bottoms. In the dojo I run new students wear regular work out clothes until about a month. After that I push them to get a gi only white but I recommend a judogi since it's stronger. If a student comes from another school I allow them to wear what they have until it's time for a new one. At black belt I allow black and blue gis.

You shouldn't make descions based on what others will think of your legacy. They'll have their opinion of you and your actions and that's their right. Do what you need for yourself and not based on what others will think of you. As a martial artists we learn that eventualy we have to let go of our ego.

I think it too expensive. I like that there is the option to pay for different rates for the amount of classes you plan to attend. The school doesn't offer enough space, or equipment. You also make seem as the instructor doesn't have full teaching status yet so that's another strike against the school. Although the rates are about average for a large metro area you should be getting a lot more for your money. I know of place that offers more than that for free.

I would be wary of any school that uses a contract especially so of one that says you can't train in another school. It can mean the instructor is a fraud and keeping away from other instructors/schools is the way of keeping you in the dark about it. This may not be the case with you but it can be. I would be concerned.

Hi being one that trains in Koryu Uchinadi and having met McCarthy Sensei on many occasions I would like to say the use of "koryu" in the name is not trying to make any link to old mainland Japanese jujutsu. Think of the "koryu" as an adjective to the word "uchinadi" just after it. Uchinadi meaning "Okinawan hand" a term for okinawan fighting arts. KU training methods are more in line with the older methods of karate or what would become karate as it is known today. Although as a style KU was not formed before 1868 the methods we use to train are from before that time period. None the less term koryu was not used to a connect itself with jujutsu of old japan anyway. Though "koryu" as a term is used by many to classify jujutsu arts of Japan before 1868 it is not the only way it can be used. Just like Wushu is a term adopted to define the newer arts of kung fu that are combined acrobatics for sport, it is also does actually mean martial art. So for a older kung fu style (that is not sport oriented and doesn't do acrobatics) to say it is wushu is also correct. You should feel free to question McCarthy Sensei yourself about the name of style. He took the name upon the recommendation from a his teacher a highly respected Japanese karate master and karate historian. If you look on McCarthy Sensei's website he does reference how he came to name the style as such. This was due to the fact that karateka would give him flack for mixing Japanese words with words from the Okinawan dialect to name his style. I personally don't have a problem with the name from either point of view but thats just my opinion.

A student of mine found this a couple of years ago. Maybe someday I'll do it. https://www.bridgeport.edu/pages/3868.asp "The University of Bridgeport is proud to be the first American institution of higher learning to offer a B.A. in Martial Arts Studies. While martial arts study at the university level has long been a part of academic life in Asia, UB's program is unique in that it combines a wide range of liberal arts courses with martial arts practica. The program, offered through the University's International College, explores four aspects of the martial arts; • Historical background and philosophical roots of the martial arts • Languages and cultures of the societies in which the martial arts originated and developed • In-depth study of at least one of the martial arts • Psychosocial dimensions of the martial arts and their impact upon personality and society It has long been argued that through study of the martial arts people develop a measurable sense of accomplishment and a mastery of mind over body, contributing to greater self-esteem. Through the teacher-student relationship the martial-arts student embarks on a voyage of self discovery and learns the importance of respect and regard for others."

Anybody consider the accountability of an instructor that has an AI that commits a crime against his students? Paid or volunteer it doesn't matter. The instructor will give a AI authority over other students. Is the instructor responsible if the AI sexually assaults a child or adult? Do instructors do a background check before they make a student an assistant instructor? How about take a psychological screening? Why a Psychological screening? Because a background check is only useful if the person was caught doing something wrong. There can never be enough supervision. There was a case of an assistant instructor molesting young children in the dojo while their parents and instructor were there. This happened on many occasions and with different students. The AI was an adult. Do you think a student(18 years and under) is not capable of something this bad? There was also a case where a student wrestler used a wrestling technique to sodomize his opponents. This was also done many times and with others around. Those my be isolated cases but I'm just putting them out there to show anything can happen. Do you as instructor do everything possible to protect your students when you give authority to someone else? Should the instructor be responsible for the actions of those he puts in charge? In a civil anyone can sue and the court would entertain the lawsuit but how about criminally? Is there a law in penal law that would hold you responsible for the criminal acts of others you have given authority to?

I believe that also except that I believe in teaching certification. Just having the rank shouldn't mean your able to teach. Rank equals skill level and knowledge of techniques. It means you can perform and have a certain level of knowledge. It doesn't necessarily mean that one has the ability to pass that knowledge to others. Hence have separate teaching credentials for those that wish to teach. I'll do just about anything for a dojo that I'm in. Though if I'm forced to join a martial arts school that is a business first. Meaning their main reason for being is to make money for the owner then no. I'm a paying customer give me my service(instruction). Don't try lighten your work load by having your other customers volunteer to help you provide the services your supposed to be giving. If these businesses do then they should compensate their volunteers.

Is it legal? Every situation is slightly different and those differences are likely to make it legal or illegal. The question for me is it morally right? I say be up front with all your requirements in the beginning before a student signs up. For schools that charge. If a student comes with the intent of learn the martial arts up to lets say black belt. He/she comes with that goal lets say. Do you tell them that at certain point they are required to teach without compensation to attain their BB? I never was not until I was preparing for BB rank. It's also wrong to leave an AI with a class or even 1 student alone. They should always be supervised. AI should also be given lessons on how to teach. On the junior belt side. Students signed up believing they would be taught by an instructor not by an AI. Having students teach I'm for it but the way its done in many places is wrong.

What is it worth? That's a question that is near impossible to answer for me. Can you really put a price tag on martial arts instruction? This is what I do. I teach old school from home not as a business or as a means to support myself. I interview people and select my students so I'm sure not to teach anyone who would abuse the knowledge. I only collect donations to support the up keep of the dojo. Even being a donation funded dojo I probably have more variety of equipment that 90% of schools out there. I added my own personal tradition at the end of every class where I thank and shake every students hand. This is for giving my the opportunity to teach and grow from teaching. The only payment that I can see that would repay any instructor would be to use the knowledge as it was meant to be used. To protect life, yours and those who can't defend themselves. Pay back the founders by practicing, teaching, and developing the art selflessly so its not lost in time.

I didn't think my suggestion would go over so well. I really wanted to state that kiai isn't about being loud for one. The next thing that bothered me so much was that he stopped the group from progressing through your form because of one young student. It sort of puts her on the spot and that might not be the best method to help her progress. If it is a method that helps her improve fine put her on the spot a few times but not the whole session. There are others in your group that need their training as well.

I commend you on trying to help your kohai progress.

good luck!

How about asking your shihan to get over his need to hear a loud kiai? No disrespect intended. You need to look at the reason behind her soft kiai. If its because of social shyness then she needs help to get over that. On the other hand if thats her natural manifestation of a kiai then leave it be.

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread but I just made a decision to dismiss my first student today after she was found to have stolen an ipod from the dojang. Interesting enough it was the same student I noted above...I guess the writing was on the wall! I would have used her to demonstrate a neck break on. Then show the students how to dispose of a body properly. kidding. That's a solid reason for dismissing a student.

you say that John Doe is "Sensei John Doe is extremely well versed in Shotokan as well as the Shotokan syllabus is concerned. Including, knowing the methodologies/ideologies and the like of Shotokan. So much so that it's comfortable/creepy that Sensei John Doe is as familiar with Shotokan as much as he is with Seidokan Karate. Sensei John Doe knows Shotokan inside/outside; every Kata, Kihon, and Kumite as well as each and every Bunkai/Oyo Bunkai including, Kobudo of Shotokan." Then why not? He could have trained under a qualified teacher but didn't want to through the trouble to become a certified instructor under "abc Shotokan org." In these days where most instructors don't teach MA as a profession why spend a load of money getting a certificate to prove to others what you already know to be true. My instructor was an independent from MA organizations. So my rank is only good as for as his dojo door and that is fine with me.