Losing faith in an instructor

[bushido_man96]

I think that it is possible to get good at the martial arts farily quickly if you are learning it for self-defense purposes. If you are learning the basics of defending attacks, pre-emptive strikes, using simple movements to learn how to defend yourself, it can be done without a lot of years of experience.

If you are talking about learning all of the nuances of a traditional style, such as advanced techniques (jumping kicks, spinning kicks, etc.), then it will take some more time. I won't teach a jump side kick to a student that has trouble executing a basic side kick. Most other instructors think this way as well.

I don't know if this is what you are referring to or not, but this is kind of how I view these different aspects of MA training.

[baronbvp]

BB of C, I totally sympathize. But something doesn't add up here. First, you have been going twice a week for a year, sparring brown and black belts and holding your own, and you are still a yellow belt? There is something wrong. Unless its completely kata-based and you aren't testing for belts, you should have higher rank. This is a reason I am not a belt fan.

I think you need to sit down with your dad and lay out what you really are trying to accomplish in your life, and across what timeline. Lay out your MA goals. Explain to him that your school isn't living up to your current needs. If you've been there for a year, you have certainly met the spirit of your dad's requirement for commitment on your part. If he has some arbitrary belt achievement you need to meet in order to switch schools, explore how you might further advance your training in another environment. This art or school may not be what best suits YOU.

If all of this is a non-starter, then talk to your lead instructor about what specifically you need to do to advance. Armed with that information, buckle down and do what it takes. Don't get distracted until you achieve your goal.

And keep us posted.

[baronbvp]

Wow. Okay. Sounds like you've done your homework.

I got called out in the middle of class in front of everyone

"It's disrespectful to ask your instructor to teach you something.

Two swings and two misses for the instructor who obviously hasn't taken Leadership 101.

I guess you better knuckle down, take your tests when they are offered, and get to black as quickly as they will let you. Look for the lessons in this journey, and work on those other things you mentioned in another location.

[lordtariel]

No kidding... Did you talk to your sensei in private or in class? I could see getting a talking to if you just brought it up in the middle of a class, but if you took some time outside of class to tell him your concerns it in no way warranted a public berating.

I hate to say this, but you may just have to grit your teeth and bear it. Maybe you could work something out at another school where you do work around the dojo to pay for your lessons, but I'd be a bit careful. It sounds like your current instructor might get a bit touchy if you start training in a second art.

Look on the bright side. When you choose a new school, you'll know some things to look for.

[ninjanurse]

There is a lot more to be learned from martial arts than just fighting....patience, humility, respect, etc., are just a few. If these are not part of your plan for yourself then you should definitely find a school that focuses on what you want.

[The BB of C]

Wow. Okay. Sounds like you've done your homework.

Quite. It's a little hard not to do know what's going on when you think about it nearly every day. Good points in the rest of your message though.

No kidding... Did you talk to your sensei in private or in class? I could see getting a talking to if you just brought it up in the middle of a class, but if you took some time outside of class to tell him your concerns it in no way warranted a public berating.

I hate to say this, but you may just have to grit your teeth and bear it. Maybe you could work something out at another school where you do work around the dojo to pay for your lessons, but I'd be a bit careful. It sounds like your current instructor might get a bit touchy if you start training in a second art.

Look on the bright side. When you choose a new school, you'll know some things to look for.

I have talked to my instructor anywhere I could get him. Always the same thing.

I am ready to bite down and bear with their instruction. It's still very frustrating.

You did have a very good suggestion though. Work at another school in exchange for lessons. I wonder if I could pull that off. I doubt my instructor would care if I went to a different school. Even if he did, 2 things; A) He doesn't have to know. B) I don't much care anyway.

There is a lot more to be learned from martial arts than just fighting....patience, humility, respect, etc., are just a few. If these are not part of your plan for yourself then you should definitely find a school that focuses on what you want.

Very true. I'm certainly learning patience here They do try to teach humility and respect but they don't enforce it much and the lower belts don't get much of it from the upper belts. I wouldn't have a problem with it if they didn't previously tell me that "this is a safe, unbiased area where we can learn and practice martial arts." It's in my code (Consistancy). Hypocracy drives me out of my skull.

I'm not looking to learn to fight though. I need to get fit, tough, agile, and fast.

[baronbvp]

Two words, brother: Muay Thai.

[The BB of C]

3 words in reply my friend:

Not around here

I would love to though.

I got really angry at myself one day I went through the phonebook a couple weeks before a tournament because I needed to find a store to buy sparring gear. I ended up finding 20+ schools that I didn't even know were there! Of these are Aikido Kokikai, Shiolin Kung-fu, Wing Chun Kung-fu, Samurai Martial Arts, Bushido-Kai Judo/Jiu jitsu, and a Tae Kwon Do school I wanted to see was any better than the last one I looked at.

[cathal]

There is a lot of great advise here, I'd definitely go with baronbvp here in that you have some thinking to do before going forward with a decision. But regardless of what your goals are, etc if you aren't happy with it maybe you should consider moving to another school. The people factor there may be a bit more agreeable.