a not very good teacher

[HAPKIDO-KID]

He may have mastered the techniques of his art, but may not be a fighter. Perhaps he is not agressive!

How much a fighter you become is the testament of his TEACHING skills! Not how many tournaments he won!

[jaymac]

If this is a hypothetical question, I don't think that it would really matter to me. I live in a town where there are quite a few dojo's. Most sport large trophies out front. I specifically chose a school that did not sport trophies won at tournaments because I wanted to train in a Martial Art that did not focus much of the training on competing in tournaments. Later I found that my instructor in his earlier days had competed quite a bit and won all the time. I didn't know this because he never talks about it or never displays his awards. I found this out through another high ranking black belt he used to train with. Now I am not saying that I havent ever gone to a tournament. I have and luckily always done well, but I just didn't want to focus heavily on competing.

[patusai]

Trophies are just something to polish. Some have a great deal of trophies. I knew an instructor, since deseased, who only displayed the trophies of his students and not one of his own.

[italian_guy]

A good athlete is not necessarily a good teacher and vice-versa. Forget about trophys and look at the quality of the instruction.

Read this beautiful and inspiring story:

http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2005/10/15/the-master-and-the-champion/