Advice Please Fed Up

[Jay]

I current train in Hung Gar Kung Fu and have been training in the martial arts for a total of 8 or so years now. I used to train in Shotokan and acheived up to 1st Kyu. Im just a bit fed up of the ritualistic training that is present that would not benefit you as much in a situation as proper combat training (I like the JKD ideas). I also do not like the way we are graded its a kind McDojo pay me the money I give you a belt kind of thing. (I looked into other classes and felt the way the club trains was better than the other clubs around). No one has failed a grading and I feel like all the work i had to do to get my 1st kyu is irrelevant when I look at the blackbelts and see how much knowledge and skill they have. Im annoyed to say the least.

If I could I would really love to just train in a similar way to JKD with things relating purly to combat that would be useful. I would also love to teach martial arts but with no black belt to speak off this seems impossible even some of these black belts that have paid there way could go and open a school. I think my technical knowledge of the arts is very good and my physical skill competant although I would still like to improve on it.

Basically there is no way I can teach without a dan grade and I dont want to get one at this school without possibility of failing and then having to work even harder. I would also like to get rid of forms and other things and add some things to my training that I think would benefit me more.

Im not really sure I should continue to train but if I didnt there is no way I can train on my own as I dont have the equipment etc.

How do you think I can work towards becoming an instructor?

Cheers

J

Edited March 9, 2008 by Jay

[Throwdown0850]

best training tip for combat: get a friend and a pair of boxing gloves, have him try to hit you, not hard, but he at least has to make contact if he does hit you, it works, trust me.. it improves blocking skills, reaction time.. I do it everyday for judo and it has helped me a lot.. and I SO KNOW the feeling about the mc dojo.. I left 6 schools before I found one that would actually fail you on the test if you didnt do well... sorry mate..

[NewEnglands_KyoSa]

you know...that's a tough break man. in a way i don't know exactly what to tell you. but, there really is no way to become an instructor with out having black belts in some areas. i'd like to say, youre leaning towards making your own style, or branch off into something of the sort, or atleast thats the vibe im getting. but that means you have to stick it out in some programs, and schools and get 2-3 different BBs. but the EASIER more common sense option is, ditch where you're at, you're obviously not happy. go to another school, test em out, ask some questions and join up, they may make you start at white, they may let you have some rank because of your experience. but anyways, settle down in another style that you're happy with, and if you become happier than you are now something tells me you won't mind spending the time it takes to be an instructor. but good luck, and i hoped this shed alittle light for you.

[ninjanurse]

Good advice. Find another school and/or system that satisfies you and begin training towards your goal of BB and instructor. This plan does not allow for instant gratification which in my opinion is what McDojo type programs feed. Patience and hard work will get you where you want to be.

[bushido_man96]

You say you like the sound of the JKD stuff...is there no class anywhere around you can attend?

Experimentation with a partner, like Throwdown suggested, is a good idea. You can learn a lot by doing that.

As far as wanting to teach goes, I am not sure what to tell you. You could try your own stuff, and get some more people to work out with you, and then you could kind of do a multiple teacher thing where all parties involved contribute.

[JohnASE]

Good advice. Find another school and/or system that satisfies you and begin training towards your goal of BB and instructor. This plan does not allow for instant gratification which in my opinion is what McDojo type programs feed. Patience and hard work will get you where you want to be.

I agree with ninjanurse. Sounds like you're school doesn't offer what you're looking for. Maybe another one in your area does. Schools here in the US vary quite a bit, so there are a lot that offer programs which stress the things you're looking for. I don't know what kind of variety you have in England.

If you're not learning the way you want to learn, I'm sure that's not how you want to teach. If you spend some time in a school that works the way you like, it will help you become a better instructor.

[Jay]

Thanks for your opinions I am not a very patient person but I am working on it and would much rather have to work for something because in the end it will mean a lot. There are no JKD clubs around im at uni I have the choice of about 6 different clubs but I only liked the look at 2 of them originally JuJitsu and Kung Fu. I prefered the structure of kung fu to the JiuJitsu class so I trained in that.

If I dont train in that then I have no other place to go. I may have a look at some of the other clubs but I really want a more free approach to the martial arts rather than tradition.

Unfortunatly I cant train in JKD

[bushido_man96]

What you should do then is go to the classes, and learn what you can, and then spend time on your own with a partner applying the stuff in more of a "free" manner, without the structure of the class and teacher.