How long are the classes you teach?

[bushido_man96]

Juniors classes are an hour, adults/teens are 1 hour and 45 minutes, and the open sessions are 2 hours.

1 hour classes are enough for the juniors as after that their attention really starts to wander (and you know that you are just being used as a babysitting service), but for the adults and ttens it's too short as by the time you have done warm up there is little time for any real training.

By the way, our warm up lasts for 17 minutes, which is the optimum time apparently.

What is involved in your open sessions? Just work on whatever you want, or something else, not part of the regular curriculum?

[AngelaG]

By open I mean that everyone is welcome regardless of age.

[bushido_man96]

By open I mean that everyone is welcome regardless of age.

So the class is still structured?

[AngelaG]

By open I mean that everyone is welcome regardless of age.

So the class is still structured?

Yes, there is a lesson plan, although sometimes we adapt according to the make-up of the class. (i.e. no point doing advanced kata if the majority of the class is a bunch of 8 year old red belts that need to work on their basics)

And once a week, we run a self-defence/pads style class for the teens and adults, which is structured but in a different way. It's still karate, IMO, but in a more physical, hands-on way.

[bushido_man96]

By open I mean that everyone is welcome regardless of age.

So the class is still structured?

Yes, there is a lesson plan, although sometimes we adapt according to the make-up of the class. (i.e. no point doing advanced kata if the majority of the class is a bunch of 8 year old red belts that need to work on their basics)

And once a week, we run a self-defence/pads style class for the teens and adults, which is structured but in a different way. It's still karate, IMO, but in a more physical, hands-on way.

Ah, very cool. Thank you much.

[Jiffy]

That self defence/pads class sounds like a good idea. A little more relaxed on the traditional side, but a good workout. I wouldn't want to do it all the time, but for something different, would be great!!

[scottnshelly]

That self defence/pads class sounds like a good idea. A little more relaxed on the traditional side, but a good workout. I wouldn't want to do it all the time, but for something different, would be great!!

It’s great to take a break from the formalities of class every once in a while. One school that I taught at had a Black Belt night every Saturday night. It was by invitation only and didn’t have any structure of any kind. We just kind of paired off and worked on whatever we needed, discussed teaching/training methods and ended every night with some vigorous sparring – the type that can only be done with other consenting adult Black Belts.

[Jiffy]

We used to have those high grade classes in my old school, but we don't have the numbers to do them. I would love to do them again.

[bushido_man96]

That self defence/pads class sounds like a good idea. A little more relaxed on the traditional side, but a good workout. I wouldn't want to do it all the time, but for something different, would be great!!

It’s great to take a break from the formalities of class every once in a while. One school that I taught at had a Black Belt night every Saturday night. It was by invitation only and didn’t have any structure of any kind. We just kind of paired off and worked on whatever we needed, discussed teaching/training methods and ended every night with some vigorous sparring – the type that can only be done with other consenting adult Black Belts.

We have around 8 or 10 black belt adults at our school, and a few high brown. I would love to have a class like this, but we don't as of yet.

[parkerlineage]

It’s great to take a break from the formalities of class every once in a while. One school that I taught at had a Black Belt night every Saturday night. It was by invitation only and didn’t have any structure of any kind. We just kind of paired off and worked on whatever we needed, discussed teaching/training methods and ended every night with some vigorous sparring – the type that can only be done with other consenting adult Black Belts.

*sigh*...that'd be awesome.

We're down to a nidan, me, and another shodan that come consistently (I've trained the longest by 4 years) in terms of black belts. Someday I hope to be in a class like that.