a not very good teacher

[Son Goku the monkeyking]

if a sensai or sifu does not have any trophy's at all, but he has been to many tournaments whould u think that sifu or sensai was not very good, or did not follow the rules at tournaments.( like the evil sensai in the karate kid part 3 ) i am asking this quistion only out of curiosity

PEACE

[danbong]

It means the instructor did not win tournaments. There are many possible reasons for that. Examples might be:

The tournaments are very friendly to the style (for example a wushu forms practioner living in an area where there are only traditional Japanese tournaments).

The style is not tournament focused (for example hapkido or krav maga).

The instructor is skilled in his style but is not athletic compared to most of the competitors.

The instructor is not skilled in his style.

You would need to do a little homework to reach a valid conclusion.

[MartialArthur]

How do you know he does not have trophies? Most of my trophies are in my closet at home, not in my school. Some experts say that it is not good business to display trophies at the school because it would be intimidating or over-emphasize the importance of competiton.

He really may not have any trophies, which says nothing about his teaching abilities. They don't award trophies for excellence in teaching. A lobby full of trophies says nothing about the quality of the school. Many great tournament competitors are poor teachers.

..

[Fairfax_Uechi]

Talk to him and find out. Maybe he enjoys competition but like others said either isn't cut out to be the top of the heap in competition. If he's a good instructor that's what matters. Look at baseball, very few good managers were outstanding players, but many outstanding managers were average or worse players. The same goes for instructors, as long as his form is decent and he/she can present what you need to learn and help you learn it that is what is really important. Well that and keeping you motivated.

[marie curie]

I, too, keep my trphies and metals in my closet at home.

Also, don't forget that winning tournys doesn't make you a better or worse teacher. He may have the art mastered wonderfully, but be a nervous tournanment fighter.

[karatekid1975]

I am both in an art that's not tourny friendly (jujitsu) and one that is (TKD).

My jujitsu instructor is really good. He teaches privately. I don't think any less of him. He knows his stuff. He is a very smart man when it comes to ANY style he studied (three, I believe).

In TKD, my master instructor did compete when he was younger, but there's no trophies hanging out in the dojang. Their probably in his house somewhere. Do I care? Nope. As long as the training is good.

[shotokanwarrior]

Do you like how he teaches? If yes, What does a trophy have to do with his ability to pass on the Art to another person?

[karatekid1975]

shotokanwarrior, good post. My toughts exactly.

[Son Goku the monkeyking]

Talk to him and find out. Maybe he enjoys competition but like others said either isn't cut out to be the top of the heap in competition. If he's a good instructor that's what matters. Look at baseball, very few good managers were outstanding players, but many outstanding managers were average or worse players. The same goes for instructors, as long as his form is decent and he/she can present what you need to learn and help you learn it that is what is really important. Well that and keeping you motivated.

i am not talkin about a real sifu or sensai that i know or exists i am speaking hypatheticly( i think i spelled that right)

PEACE

[ArmorOfGod]

Well, he may have the trophies and not display them. He may only compete at tournaments that don't give out trophies, but instead give out ribbons and certificates (I have been to one like that).

Also, if a teacher has trophies, how do you know they are real? You can buy a four foot trophy for around $25 at the trophy websites.

Bottom line: overall, trophies are unrelated to quality.

AoG