Becoming an instructor

[marie curie]

Leading a class isn't the only way to instruct, though. In my karate class when I started at 11, a 16 year-old taught me my basics and he and a 14 year old taught me my first kata. There was an hour before the class lined up and worked out together for people to practice their techniques, ask a higher rank approved to teach something to show us new katas or whatever.

[bushido_man96]

This can be beneficial, to both parties involved. It helps to keep the forms fresh in the minds of the lower ranks, and can foster the importance of being able to teach what you have learned. Of course, not every school will function this way, either, and the technical level won't be as high as that of the instructor, but that is something the instructor himself/herself can fix.

In our school, the instructor expects each student to be able to help out a lower ranked student if they ask for it on forms or one-steps. He likes for us to stay sharp on older material. When a student can't show a low rank his form, the instructor lets them know!

[Athena]

Bushido..i like your instructor XD

[ninjanurse]

Passion...if you don't have it you won't pass it on to your students no matter how good you are.

[DWx]

Passion...if you don't have it you won't pass it on to your students no matter how good you are.

I hadn't thought of this but I totally agree! There's nothing more off-putting than an instructor who doesn't have any enthusiasm or passion for what they do.

[YoungMan]

I think age plays a big part of it. A forty year old man, even if his technique is not the greatest, will be taken more seriously than a 15 year old with good technique. I've read about 15 year olds teaching classes, and I just cannot accept that. A teenager, by virtue of his age and immaturity, is simply in no position to lead a class with all that entails.

[bushido_man96]

I think age plays a big part of it. A forty year old man, even if his technique is not the greatest, will be taken more seriously than a 15 year old with good technique. I've read about 15 year olds teaching classes, and I just cannot accept that. A teenager, by virtue of his age and immaturity, is simply in no position to lead a class with all that entails.

Look at it this way, though....if a 13 year old Musashi was willing to teach you, would you learn from him?

[bushido_man96]

Bushido..i like your instructor XD

Hehe, thanks!

[ShotokanKid]

I feel that teaching experience makes the best instructor. You can have an amazingly skilled martial artist in his 20s, 30s, 40s, whatever age you pick, and he might not be a good instructor.

I have a good friend who is very young for an instructor, but he is one of the best instructors that I know- he is fair, strict but not mean, he knows how to deal with people and how to get his point across. It all comes down to teaching experience.

[jaymac]

In our school, a person (teenager and older) begins learning how to teach at blue belt. We put these individuals through a series of training periods, written exams and then let them begin working one on one with lower ranked students. This gives them a chance to review their own material and teach some basics to new students. However, let me say that we do not allow anyone but black belts instruct an entire class. I do feel the best way to learn is to teach, but when it comes to paying customers, they deserve to have a black belt teaching their classes.