DWx

I have a child in my class, let's call her Jane, who I've long suspected really doesn't want to be in my class. Jane is constantly asking to "play a game" rather than do anything Taekwon-Do. Not that what we're doing is boring, often we're playing TKD themed games with the kids to disguise repetition or doing things they like such as padwork or partner work. Jane's older brother Bobby (also made up name) clearly loves it but Jane can be a distraction when she really doesn't want to take part as she'll then try to get his attention instead. What to do? I actually asked the whole class last week who enjoyed coming to Taekwon-Do and all but Jane put their hand up. I honestly don't think I'm going to reach this kid and at this point she's better doing something she actually wants to do. But what do I do? Do I speak to mum and dad and tell them not to bring her? On the one hand that feels like I've failed her but on the other I can't force her to enjoy my classes and the whole class is suffering because of it.

As has been stated already, it depends really on the student and what they want to achieve, and whether that is open to them without continuing to grade. I know plenty "Forever First Dans" who have little interest in the curriculum beyond that. They got to first dan so they could compete as a blackbelt (in sparring) and spend their days doing that.

Congratulations Liam!

Congrats JR!

That's great Brian! I've always wanted to do chin ups but am a bit chunky for that!

Getting much better! Its a bit lopsided as after I messed up my left elbow a few years ago I can't quite lock out on that side. But generally much stronger.

15/06/21 Squat 10x20kg, 5x40kg, 5x60kg, 5x80kg, 5 sets of 5x92.5kg OHP 10x20kg, 5 sets of 5x35kg Deadlift 5x60kg, 5x80kg, 5x92.5kg +10 mins on the treadmill 20/06/21 Squat 10x20kg, 5x40kg, 5x60kg, 5x80kg, 5 sets of 5x92.5kg Last time was tough so I didn't increase the weight. Bench 10x20kg, 5x40kg, 5 sets of 5x57.5kg Found this one tough and I failed the very last rep. Could do with smaller increments but the smallest plate they have is 1.25kg. Depending on how next session goes might buy myself a pair of 0.5kg plates to take with me. Row 10x20kg, 10x40kg, 5 sets of 5x52.5kg +3 sets of 8x50kg barbell lunges

It depends on who it is and how much of a pull they have. At the very least you can expect to pay travel and hotel expenses. Coming at it from the other side, the most I've paid to attend a course was €250 for a 2 day course.

No worries, the Kane one is really good as I believe he is also a school teacher by day? The others are all high level sports psychology guys. The one by Steve Ingham is especially good. He was Team GB Director of Science and Technical Development and worked with a lot of our Olympians, especially Steve Redgrave (5x rowing Gold medallist).

Finding it hard to get to the gym on a weekday evening, may have to try getting in some morning sessions instead. 01/06/21 Squat 10x20kg, 5x40kg, 5x60kg, 5x75kg, 5 sets of 5x87.5kg OHP 10x20kg, 5 sets of 5x32.5kg Deadlift 5x60kg, 5x80kg, 5x90kg +10 mins on the air bike, 20 secs sprint, 20 secs normal 06/06/21 2hrs patterns training online with our GM 12/06/21 Squat 10x20kg, 5x40kg, 5x60kg, 5x80kg, 5 sets of 5x90kg Bench 10x20kg, 5x40kg, 5 sets of 5x55kg Row 10x20kg, 10x40kg, 5 sets of 5x50kg +20 mins on the treadmill

I only have two specifically about teaching martial arts: * Martial Arts Instruction: Applying Educational Theory and Communication Techniques in the Dojo - Lawrence Kane * Principles-Based Instruction for Self-Defense - Rory Miller But I also have lots on sports psychology I find useful for teaching: * Conscious Coaching - Brett Bartholomew * The Fighter's Mind: Inside the Mental Game - Sam Sheridan * How to Support a Champion: The art of applying science to the elite athlete - Steve Ingham * It's Time to Start Winning: The Definitive Mind Programming System for Sport - Simon Capon

Maybe I'm calling them by the wrong name? I was doing these:

Good points so far and I agree these are excellent approaches. I would add that sometimes lazy students can also be those that don't want to or can't deal with failure (see bushido_man96's topic here). I've had a few, mostly teens, that are so embarrassed to fail if they try hard, they think better to not put much effort in at all! Its almost a self-fulfilling prophecy then because they don't try, they don't improve, and then they are even more likely to fail when the task is more demanding. My current strategy with these is to start the session with easier tasks where they can get little wins. Starting with an easier technique or combo, then increase the difficulty level incrementally. If they start becoming self-aware and struggling and then stop trying, the difficulty level drops back until its challenging but not too difficult that they fear failing.

Great points Spartacus It's a fine line as you want parents to be engaged and involved with their child's learning, but if it goes too far the other way you get parents who couldn't care less and just treat it as daycare.

Getting a little less consistent in the gym now I'm back to 3 days of classes a week. 23/05/21 Squat 10x20kg, 5x40kg, 5x60kg, 5x75kg, 5 sets of 5x85kg Dropped the weight but did pause squats, holding for 3 secs at the bottom Bench 10x20kg, 5x35kg, 5 sets of 5x50kg Row 10x20kg, 10x30kg, 5 sets of 5x45kg Accessory work with dumbbells to hit my triceps more. Supersetting dumbbell rows with tricep kickbacks then sets of skull crusher's. +30mins walking on the treadmill on an incline to finish

For us all ranks are technical ranks up to 7th Dan. 7th Dan's are "masters" having completed the formal curriculum. However for those going for 4th Dan and above, even though they are technical ranks, you still have to submit your application showing if you run a school and what wider events you have attended and participated in.

To be honest I think it'll be less about the style and more about the instructor and school atmosphere. Your son is relatively young and any training is going to build gross motor skills above all.

It depends what you mean by relevant. Does it enrich your life or take away from it? If your main goal is self defense you can adapt your current training or you can find something else. If your goal is fitness and wellbeing likewise.

That's great to hear Bulltahr. Though it does happen with guys also, women do tend to be a bit gentle sometimes when learning to spar.

Congratulations nunopicadoand welcome back!

Thanks guys. The good ones far outweigh the bad ones luckily but some do drive me bonkers! I had another pet peeve triggered this week because of COVID I've stopped parents from sitting in and watching. But this week I had a student trial so invited the parents to see... You know when you get those parents who try to teach their children what you're teaching? I'm like give the kid a break. I don't care if his stance isn't quite right, it's his first class!

Bit of a rant but I'm looking for some solidarity here... do other instructor's find that some parents just don't get it??? Like the whole ethos of martial arts. Especially when it comes to gradings. Students only test when I invite them. And even then they will fail if they don't put the effort in. Some parents just don't get it and seem blinkered when it comes to their kids.. like they insist their kids are ready to test even though they don't know their forms or haven't learnt any of their terminology. Or can they double grade to catch up little Jimmy who's in the same class at school. Or my other pet peeve is the parents who just don't listen? I think I'm pretty good with announcements, I post to Facebook group, parents WhatsApp, email, Instagram stories and I send letters home..yet some parents still claim they didn't know about testing dates or holiday closures! Drives me bonkers especially when I can see they've opened the emails... Please tell me I'm not the only one this happens to?

Long post as I've missed logging a few of these! 03/05/21 Squat 10x20kg, 5x40kg, 5x60kg, 5x80kg, 5 sets of 5x85kg Row 5x 40kg, 5x50kg Bench was busy for my whole session so swapped it out for presses on the resistance machines. Also did 2x 10 Pallof Presses each side on the cable machine 05/05/21 Another pool session. Whilst I can swim, my friend is a swim teacher so agreed to work with me to improve my efficiency. Met up and did 45 mins of drills to improve my body position. 06/05/21 Went to the gym but wasn't feeling it. Did 30 mins / 500 kcal on the cross trainer and then went home. 08/05/21 Squat 10x20kg, 5x40kg, 5x60kg, 5x80kg, 4 sets of 5x90kg, 5x100kg Wanted to test myself and see if I could the 100kg squat. Grinded out the 4th and 5th but felt good. OHP 5x20kg, 5x20kg, 5 sets of 5x30kg Still not overly confident on my form for OHP so didn't increase the weight. I do feel like I'm getting better at bracing my core and not so much of a layback this time. Deadlift 5x 60kg, 5x80kg, 5x90kg Was feeling good and had a bit of time left so had a go at a few close grip benches Close grip bench 10x 20kg, 5x30kg, 5x40kg +20 mins on the treadmill 10/05/21 Swam 1km working on form 11/05/21 Squat 10x20kg, 5x40kg, 5x60kg, 5x80kg, 5 sets of 5x95kg Dropped the weight back down slightly to work on better depth Bench 5x20kg, 5x30kg, 5 sets of 5x45kg With bench my left arm (the one I had the Tommy John surgery on) is noticeably weaker. I may have to start doing some unilateral work to balance it out. Row 5x 40kg, 5x50kg 16/05/21 Squat 10x20kg, 5x40kg, 5x60kg, 5x80kg, 5 sets of 5x95kg Still working on form. Getting some tightness in my right hip flexor when I sink below parallel. OHP 10x20kg, 5 sets of 5x32.5kg Deadlift 5x 60kg, 5x80kg, 5x90kg +20mins on the cross trainer to finish In amongst all this still teaching 4 hours a week which will rise to 6 now everything opening back up. From today I can have adults back in class which is great.

As a Brit I feel qualified to answer this Tea on an empty stomach is fine. First thing I do in the morning is have a mug of breakfast tea with milk even before breakfast. Then a steady supply throughout the day, at least 4 or 5 during work, another 4 or so in the evenings at home. I will confess I've taken to drinking more herbal and green teas in the afternoon but it's still not uncommon to be drinking a regular cup of tea at 9, 10pm at night.

23/04/21 Taught kids class for an hour followed by hour sparring drills with the teens. Great energy in the room. 25/04/21 Taught online squad training for hour and half. I ran the 2nd and 3rd dans through their patterns for half hour then took everyone for fitness, burpee beep test for everyone, before they finished up with sparring drills with one of the other coaches Then later that afternoon Zoom training with our Grandmaster. Two hours on senior grade patterns. 27/04/21 My back always tightens up nowadays after a long patterns session, so didn't want to aggravate it further so skipped lifting. Did 45 mins on the elliptical at the gym instead. 28/04/21 Taught kids class, basic grabs and defences. Then the teens did patterns for an hour. Joined in for that, great being able to do then properly again as always gets my heart rate up.