Worst experience ever?

[Greek Fighter]

I once went to a guy who had no patience whatsoever. He had no emotion and when I was messing up, he got an attitude. I feared he was going to beat me down, and I was completely nervous. You have alot of instructors with really bad tempers. We must have gone through a drill in ten minutes. I felt like I wasn't going to make it, and I never went back again.

I don't remember his name, but all I know that he looked like Jackie Gleason 50 lbs. lighter. He wasn't a bad guy, but when he was teaching he had a bad vibe and when I messed up, I knew he was angry. No smile or nothing. if you ask me how that felt like, I was waiting for him to kick me in the head and have me flying through the window, which I doubted he would do, but I think he wanted to. I even accidentally stomped on his big toe when I was doing a stomp, and he slowly looked up at me and my face turned white.

What about you guys?

Edited January 27, 2007 by Greek Fighter

[bushido_man96]

It sounds like you had someone who just wasn't cut out to teach. Not everyone can do it well.

I've been pretty fortunate. I don't have too many bad experiences with instructors. The worst MA experience I've had was with my one-time pastor, who claimed to be a 10th dan. We got together to work out, and it ended up being a session of him trying to toss me around, and show me how it is done. I had to laugh about it, because he didn't toss me around all that much. We never worked out together again.

[Greek Fighter]

We're you very disappointed?

[Havoc88]

I'm very fortunate with the sensei's in my dojo. They are all great.

Tom

[Shotokan-kez]

I am very lucky also that i have never had a bad experience with sensei's. To be honest i have only had 3, out of them only one i wasn't too keen on. The other two are fantastic (1 i'm still with). I think a little strictness is always important especially with the children but that what you have described i feel was far too much.

I agree with what Brian said about not being cut out to teach, some are just like that. I think if i was you i wouldn'y have gone back either and found somewhere more appropriate. By the way, did you find somewhere else to train?

[jaymac]

The instructor that I have right now is awesome. Years ago, I studied Kung Fu and the instructor at that time I thought was great, but he hit his students. I didn't think anything of it. It seemed normal to me, but being in a dojo now where being struck by your instructor is not the norm, I began to think different about my past. I think though that is how things were done in Martial Arts schools all over.

[Greek Fighter]

Hello, Shotokan-kez! Yes I did find another place to train. This guy is outstanding! He's super nice and he 's wonderful to everybody. He teaches alot of people who are mentally challenged, and has the patience of a puppy dog. He laughs a little too loud, but he's pretty funny. I tell you though when he trains and you mess up, he'll let you do it again until he lets you know it's right. When you're down to yourself, he tells you that's not a positive attitude. You always got ot think positive. He also teaches people not to be opinionated and materialistic as he is totally against that.

His philosophy is "If you have something nasty to say, don't say it. He despises people who are bullies as well. He's always the kind of guy who sticks up for anyone no matter what.

I remember a story he told us in class about using psychology in a self defense situation. When he was younger, he saw a gang of kids beating up a homeless man in the city where he used to work. They we're beating him up bad. He ran up to the guys and pushed them all away from him. This big guy who might have been the leader was at his face. Now mind you that he was already a black belt and he never walks away in a

self defense situation. This was over thirty years ago as he was in his late twenties. The guy pulled a knife and held up to his face saying he was going to cut his face, but Sensei in his heart knew that the guy wouldn't have the guts. He then moved his face up to the blade touching his face and was saying to go ahead and cut if it makes you feel more of a man than you are now. He then started walking closer and the guy backed up. He let the guy know that he wasn't scared as he was moving back even more. Then, very quickly he caught him off guard by knocking the knife off the guy's hand and grabbing it quickily. Then asked him to fight him. The guy had no other weapons and apologized and said it was all a joke.

That's when he got mad and yelled out "You're a dillusional poor soul who needs to find a better living and new friends! You also got alot of growing up to do." He cornered the guy and made it like he still wanted to fight him. He then yelled the other two guys to go away so that he can teach the guy a lesson. I remember him joking like they thought he was going to kill him, so they got scared and ran away.

Now he was at the guy's face and the guy knew he wasn't going anywhere. Sensei then took his jacket off and that's when the guy started crying. He was a teenage punk who put this act like he was all tough and beat up the weak. Now, he was the weakest in the situation and Sensei was giving him a taste of his own medicine. He then grabbed the guy by the shirt and walked him to the homeless guy who had cuts and bruises. The guy was on his own now and apologized to the man. He helped him up, and they both walked the guy to the hospital as it was only a few blocks. After they brought him in, Sensei met the kid outside and the kid walked up and apologized. Sensei was still disappointed with him as he wanted to hit this kid for being such a punk. The kid was jumping words and then started crying, because he knew he was wrong and that he did a bad thing. After Sensei saw him cry he walked away and then stopped. He felt sorry for the kid, and walked back. He went up to him and gave him the knife. The kid took it carefully, and Sensei told him to do something with his life and don't throw it away by crime. He then gave him a hug and left.

The thing was he didn't have to use his martial arts at all to defeat him. The kid was defeated by emotion. It's techniques like that he teaches in the dojo. Forgiveness is another thing I used to lack and after going to him, he helps me soothe my feelings by helping me get over things and situations that bring me down.

[Shotokan-kez]

I'm really glad yoy found somewhere with a great teacher, thats great! Keep up the hard work!

[Greek Fighter]

Believe me, Shotokan-kez. I couldn't ask for a better instructor. I love him like a father.

[bushido_man96]

We're you very disappointed?

I was disappointed. I mean, this guy was my pastor, for crying out loud! But, it taught me that you can never assume anything about anyone, regardless of what their station in life is.