Class Structure?

[gheinisch]

Hello All,

 

Just wondering how everyones class is structured. Do you have a set routine that you know about before you get there or is more of a find out when you get there type of class? I guess both ways have good and bad traits. My dojo is more of the find out when you get there type. Of course we always warm up and go through our basics but after that we may practice stances for most the night or concentrate on kicks. Some nights we do kata and more kata and when we're done with that we'll do a couple more kata's just for good measure. Other nights we get the matts out and practice throws, joint locks, escapes, rolls, break falls etc. And then some nights our Hanshi will invite another instructor(former student of his) to come in and teach a class, which is great because you can learn so much from someone that has a little different outlook on things. I like having class this way because it keeps it fresh and rarely do I feel like I'm in a rut. Do any of guys and gals have class like this or is it more of the 30 min. warm ups, 30 min. basics etc.? As I said, I see nothing wrong with either way just curious as to how others do it.

 

P.S. - My school is fairly small so it makes it easier to do things in a less structured way. I realize the large schools have to have some kind order or it would be a nightmare.

[granmasterchen]

my schools are similar. The one i was taught in was like yours, we do our warm ups and then some random activity that was up to the instructors discretion, which is the same way i teach.

 

anytime someone would ask the instructor what we would do that day he would answer the same way , "work out" which was always true and it never let anyone know what was going on, i like this way myself.....but thats me, i find it like a surprise and either way i will learn something and when i teach someone will learn something new..

[Kanzashi]

Our classes are generally structured. Monday and Tuesday classes are for kata training, Wednesday and Thursday classes are for kumite. It saves on lugging out your equipment every time. The make up classes on Friday and Saturday are combined into one long class, half kata, half kumite.

 

As for structure, I know that some of our instructors have a teaching outline, very roughly done and very flexible, usually on a sticky note. Other instructors shoot from the hip, but generally follow suit with the same type of class, with some variation.

 

We are required to do one kata and one kumite class per week.

 

We have over 200 members, so it makes for some structure but stays flexible.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Good topic! I';ll have students ask me periodically what we're going to do the next class, and I usually just shrug and tell them "It depends on who comes to class."

 

The reason is this. If the class is primarily newer, beginning students, we will work more on kata and simplier techniques. A more advanced class, we'll work on harder techniques and harder kata.

 

I used to be a school teacher and had to plan every class, but I've found that isn't easy to do in a karate class.

[karatekid1975]

We have a rotating schedule. The first week of the month may be throws/breakfalls (Mon, Tues) and Basics (thurs, fri). The second week may be sparring/grappling (mon, tues) and Forms (thrus, fri). The third week may be one-steps (mon, tues) and Joint locks/standing grappling (thur, fri).

 

It's good that I can concentrate on one thing for two days straight. But then again, we only do it once a month, maybe twice (depending on the rotation and how long the month is). That I don't like. Because it's usually throws that gets "rotated out."

 

My TSD instructor had a routine. Warm-up, then stretching, then basics every class. Then the last half of the class, he usually "shoots from the hip." BUT he always made sure we did each thing twice a week. For instance, he made sure we did forms twice a week and sparring twice a week, ect. I liked that better.

[blitzcraig]

my school had us all line up and bow in. Then if it was a birthday, or anyone got a new belt they would have to hold the pad and everyone in class got to kick them, then it was warm up time, streches and crap, then we had a calender of what do to for the day. It went 1-5 so like monday is 1, tuesday 2, wed 3, thrus 4, friday 5, sat 1, sunday 2, and so on. 1 was endurance, 2 forms, 3 sparring, 4 fancy kicks and knife defence, and 5 forms i think. I havent been in a while

[aefibird]

In both my Karate club and my Aikido club there isn't a set structure to the lesson.

 

In Karate, it depends on who is there at each class. Beginners and lower grade classes start with a set warm up/stretching time. Higher grade classes still have a warm up/stretching period, but you are expected to warm up yourself and not follow the instructors set routine. Beginner classes always have some basic training & drills in them. Higher grade classes are flexible and we do stuff based on the people there. Eg, this week we have been working a lot on kicks and we concentrated on that on Tuesday and tonight.

 

In Aikido we start with warmups and kokyu session (breathing). After than we always have a period of time where we practice rolls and breakfalls. Then the techniques for the lesson are written on the whiteboard. Sensei demonstrates and answers any questions and we work through them in pairs. Every so often we change partners. After 15 mins or so of working on a particular technique Sensei calls us all back together and either goes over that technique again in the same way, or looks at how it can be used in a different way.

[aes]

Our classes varry but generally follow this plan for an 1 hour and 1/4 class:

 

10-15 mins of warmup (running, pushups, leg raises etc)

 

10 mins of stretch.

 

remainder of class we practice forms. Sometimes a particular skill is highlighted and we will work on this for a while too. Like heavy bag work or balance.

 

Class finishes off occasionally with a short lecture on Karate fundementals etc.

[SevenStar]

warm up

 

drills/new techniques

 

sparring

 

my MT, judo and bjj classes all work this way. they last from 1.5 - 3 hours, depending on the class and the day.

[italian_guy]

My kickboxing class is about 1 and half hours.

 

first 10 min running.

 

10-15 minutes warm up and other physical exercise

 

like pushups.

 

5-10 min leg streching.

 

40 min combo practice or bag work.

 

10-15 min sparring or shadow boxing.

 

5 min abs.

 

Tai-chi is mostly basics and forms at my level (beginner).