ashworth

I haven't been in a club where you have to earn your white belt, I like to think if I accept a student they become a white belt... and I hate seeing a gi without a belt...

I work in a company that sells Trenchers (Agricultural and civil engineering) I work in the stores, I deal with customer phone calls, completing customer orders, invoice customer orders. Deal with all goods in, liaise with shipping companies to arrange collections. and I have my own office

Happy Birthday!!

I did start watching it but only got about 10 minutes in, couldn't really get into it...

I do remember my first tournament, I was about 9, was a blue belt after about 4 years training. only competed in Kata, ended up coming 4th, I didn't really understand what tournaments were about back then so I was a bit nervous. After moving to a different style I next competed when I was 15, felt much more comfortable this time! both kata and kumite, won gold in kumite and silver in kata. competed a fair few times since

I was 5 years old, I vaguely remember odd bits about lessons back then, but can't really remember my first lesson...

As an instructor I like to offer help when students are struggling, I have often said they pay another time when they have the money, (usually like to keep it private so others students don't know) but the club does make profit, that profit is for the club therefore I'm happy to reduce certain fees where possible.

So I run my own little karate club, it takes up a lot of my time but I don't mind that because it is what I love doing, running 3 classes a week, planning the lessons outside of the dojo please all the other little admin jobs, in the past year it has picked up and I'm just about keeping on top of it, but I can see it growing and taking up more time in the future, which becomes an issue when I look at my life outside of karate, my relationship to be exact... She has nothing to do with the club at the moment, now I don't want her to start training and getting into it like that but I really would like her to be a part of the club, attend events and just have a general presence in the club, so that even when I am busy doing stuff for the club we can do it together. I haven't yet approached her about this, just thought I would start up this topic and see how many others have been in a similar situation... what do your other halves do?

Great news! I hope that one day when I eventually get round to having children that they will want to follow in my footsteps...

First goal I'm well on my way to achieving, I have gone on a diet and nearly lost 2 stone bringing me down to just under 13stone. Have now started biking into work. Second goal I'm fulfilling, visited a new Iaido dojo last week, start training there from tonight. Haven't done too much advertising yet, just used facebook to promote a new class I have opened through the week and got about 5 new students through the door which I am really happy with. considering we are only in march I'm quite pleased with what I have already done this year.

Ok so after moving at the end of last year the Iaido Dojo I was training in is even further away way, but I have found another dojo which I went to check out last night, looks like a good class and hopefully I am going back next week, really looking forward to getting back into it. but... I noticed a couple of differences and asked the sensei about it, turns out its the Shinden ryu style rather than the Jikiden I have been doing, this doesn't bother me too much, I know a few of the differences, tying the sageo on the other side, noto is different, but what other differences are there between the two styles? Be handy to know what habbits I'm going to have to change...

I just noticed that your with IMASA? they are running a coaching workshop certificated course next month, if it isn't too far from you it might be worth a look, I am thinking of going myself, just to keep up to date with health and safety and child safeguarding advice, just an idea, obviously its not a compulsory thing to do but could be of interest...

Hello, Welcome to the forum, who is it that has asked about instructor training? Sounds like you have pretty much everything set up that you need, are you affiliated to an organisation? If so they may offer some kind of coaching course which doesn't hurt. When I start up my club I went along and got a national coaching award from the organisation I was part of. I had already had instructor training from the previous club that I was part of, but it was good for the experience. depends what training and awards you have already done, but my advice at the start is to get as much as you can that is on offer, help build up your experience and become more recognised in the martial art community.

It definitely can't hurt, I was fortunate enough to have a family member that would give me private lessons. I run a couple of small classes, and with the help of my second in command we split the class up often leaving us with 2 or 3 students each and feel that all students are receiving plenty of feedback, and working on content more specific to their grade. All depends what you are getting from your main classes, or if there is a specific area that you feel less confident in, a couple of private sessions on that area could help you improve where you want to improve...

Welcome!!

I do believe that everyone can learn, even if they may have a certain condition that prevents them from performing how they would like, but they can certainly understand how to do it just takes a bit more time. I have had a couple of students that seemed to really struggle getting certain things, we could train for months and they simply can't get it, then all of a sudden one day something just clicks.

I set up a website for my club (which is only a small club) and I'm glad that I did, I like the idea that we have an internet presence, it mainly just serves as an information source to current students, with news about up coming events, and about recent student's accomplishments. So when potentially students ask about the club I can tell them to check out our website, and they can have a better picture about what they are getting into and have more of an idea about what to expect.

I had an idea suddenly come to me for an interesting topic, hopefully it hasn't been discussed before, apologies if it has! What was your first impression of your sensei/instructor, (if you remember) what were they doing at the time when you first saw them. If you have had a number of different instructors feel free to talk about them all.

Just checking keep us posted on how it goes, hope everything works out for the best. Best of luck

Definitely make sure that it is away from the dojo and not after class, you want to be away from that environment to make the conversation a bit more neutral. After class he may still be in the role of "Sensei" and as you have said that you have a friendship outside of the dojo thats where you want the conversation to be, outside of the dojo, as friends. When I read your scenario I imagined it was my student (who is also a friend, and is actually going through the process of becoming an instructor...your not him are you!?) If I was the sensei I would rather this conversation take place outside of the dojo... That is just my view anyway...

Sorry to hear this is happening to you and effecting you both outside of the dojo as well.. Best thing I can think of is to figure out exactly what you would like your role to be in the dojo, whether its to just be a student or if you do want to assist every now and then, once you are sure what you want arrange to meet outside of the dojo and have a heart to heart on the matter, it is not worth losing your friendship outside of the dojo as well. explain exactly how you feel, see what he would like from you as well. Maybe talk to him about what goals you should be setting yourself so that he can see that you still want to progress with your training and maybe that could motivate him to help you out more in class like he does with his "true students"

You are still a karate-ka regardless, not being able to do a certain kick head don't make you any less of a karate-ka, karate is about striving to be the best you can be and that is different for everyone. Don't feel disheartened, it will come just be patient, speak to your instructor about various exercises that can improve your flexibility for this technique, and remember that it wont happen overnight. I have a student that had a similar issue, was flexible enough to easily kick head level with a front kick, but side and round kick couldn't, wasn't until around his brown belt grades that we saw significant improvement with those kicks.

So how many real kicks do you think he done in the video?

Still in the process of coming up with final goals but do have a couple that I know I want to do... -get my fitness back up to what it used to be, that will include using the gym after work, going for runs, and possibly going on a diet! something I never thought I would have to do. -get back into my Iaido. -work on advertising to try and attract more students. -expand my MA knowledge a little bit more, seeking out other instructors and places to train. -Find more tournaments and get back competing.

I nailed pretty much of my personal goals, and I would say about half of my MA goals, I did get back to Iaido but had a few things get in the way and then I ended up moving which meant I was a bit too far away from the Dojo I was going to but I have found a new one where I am that I'm hoping to check out in the new year