Phases of learning in the martial arts(the Black Belt blues)

[marmaduke]

"I agree! There are few things as rewarding as teaching"

I saw your comment and I just had to butt in. Teaching is not everything.

My son got his Black Belt December 16. I'm very proud of his achievement. He's 16, has been training for 9 yrs and is the youngest Black Belt at the Dojo. Currently, there are 2 other "resident" Black Belts. And 4 others that come and go.

When my son got his Black Belt, I was expecting a whole new world of studying and training. That has yet to happen. My son was presented with a set of Kama's as a Christmas present from the Sensei. With an understanding that he would be training with them. Going on 4 months and still waiting. Right now, the only thing my son and the other 2 Black Belts are doing are taking turns teaching all the classes. My son is at the Dojo 9AM Saturday morning and doesn't leave until 3PM if not later. Teaching. I do enjoy watching him teach and he does get a kick out of training the little ones.( I made a joke once of teaching the white belts Bassai dai to make it interesting and he actually started it without the Sensei noticing.) But you got to admit, 4 months of teaching without learning anything yourself is kind of a letdown.

The only thing that makes it work is that I don't have to pay for him anymore. As long as he puts in 11hrs a month teaching, he's free. Otherwise I pay by the month. Boring, but makes it worthwhile.

He's reached a "plateau" and it looks like he's camping there.

[ShoriKid]

I swear I thought I posted here last night, computer must have been hungery.

Teaching will cause you to break down the technique like nothing you've done before. I know that a lot of a guys like to toss out the old saying, "those who can do. Those who can't, teach." But, it's goes against a quote kept on the dojo wall, "If you would know anything thoroughly, teach it to others." by Tyson Edward{I think}.

The original post wasn't about receiving external motivation and gratification. It was a way of really looking at the progress you make when you STOP getting that external feed back. When you don't learn two new ways to kick or earn another belt. You have to look at what your doing, and I mean really look at it in detail, to see the progress. The reason for that is staying motivated and being focused on your training gets harder then. This sort of self examination can provide some motivation and keep your training going in the direction you want it to.

marmaduke,

I feel for your son. About six months after my shodan I get stuck in the same rut. Teaching the kids classes, which was fun, and teaching along side my sesei during the adult classes. The deal was that as long as I taught, I wouldn't have to pay for training. nearly six months later, I was still waiting on the training part of the not paying for training deal. I wasn't asking for much. A few minutes here and there. A bit of a critique on my kata before or after class. Perhaps 15 minutes of time a class for myself. It didn't get there. I hinted, and then plainly asked. I got put off and told we would get on my training, "soon". Soon didn't happen so, as the only non-instructor black belt, I quit teaching the kids. I showed up early every time, but I wouldn't teach. In the adult class I worked out, but wasn't getting instructional time. I still helped with the adults as I could still get in my work out. When my sensei confronted me about not paying for the past few months since I'd quit teaching the kids, we had one of those uncomfortable discussions. Meaning, I told him I'd pay him for the instruction I didn't get as soon as he paid me for the teach I did. Things were tense for a few months, but I finally got my training started, so I started teaching again.

The meaning of all of that? Not sure. But, sometimes the sensei can get so caught up in having the help in teaching, they have to be reminded that they didn't just hire another assistant instructor. That he has to follow through on his part of the "you teach the kids, I teach you for free" part of the deal. It can be a touchy conversation to have. Congradulation on your son earning his belt. One of my girls gets old enough and trains, I'll be floating if she gets her shodan.

[marmaduke]

This is a little off the topic but cute. I noticed a lot of new Black Belts are called Shodan. The Black Belts in my sons Dojo are salled Sibak. I just checked Wiki. Shodan is Japanese and Sibak is Chinese. And you'll never guess what Sibak means...teachers assistant. Go figure.

[DWx]

Teaching will cause you to break down the technique like nothing you've done before. I know that a lot of a guys like to toss out the old saying, "those who can do. Those who can't, teach." But, it's goes against a quote kept on the dojo wall, "If you would know anything thoroughly, teach it to others." by Tyson Edward{I think}.

The original post wasn't about receiving external motivation and gratification. It was a way of really looking at the progress you make when you STOP getting that external feed back. When you don't learn two new ways to kick or earn another belt. You have to look at what your doing, and I mean really look at it in detail, to see the progress. The reason for that is staying motivated and being focused on your training gets harder then. This sort of self examination can provide some motivation and keep your training going in the direction you want it to.

I agree with this. Even at school I am told the best way to revise and learn a topic inside out is to the point where you can explain it to others and they understand.

[pittbullJudoka]

On the subject of teaching helping your own skills. I find this has been one thing that helped me in the past couple of years of my training. I feel I'm very adapt at learn new technique. But I've helped my Sensei teach kids, private students and adults alike. And I usually see some small hidden something somewhere within what's being taught.

Like one night last week I was working with a fellow black belt most of the class was a discussion revoling around our most basic kata and and bunki within in that kata. We compared our own prespective and the traditional. I find classes like this very good finding out how others see and interprit the same pattern of movements that I am reveiwing.

I think that no matter how long I train. There will be something new to find. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I find something that I see as new. I'll share it with on of the older black belts in the dojo and they here me out and adknowledge my findings then show me their finds and drive me deeper in just blowing me away. Since earning my shodan I just seem to notice little things within technique. The amount of matterial slows but not the learning. I am fortunate to have a very knowledgeable Sensei and an equally knowledgeable nidan I can train with and turn to in the times I need them.

[bushido_man96]

"I agree! There are few things as rewarding as teaching"

I saw your comment and I just had to butt in. Teaching is not everything.

My son got his Black Belt December 16. I'm very proud of his achievement. He's 16, has been training for 9 yrs and is the youngest Black Belt at the Dojo. Currently, there are 2 other "resident" Black Belts. And 4 others that come and go.

When my son got his Black Belt, I was expecting a whole new world of studying and training. That has yet to happen. My son was presented with a set of Kama's as a Christmas present from the Sensei. With an understanding that he would be training with them. Going on 4 months and still waiting. Right now, the only thing my son and the other 2 Black Belts are doing are taking turns teaching all the classes. My son is at the Dojo 9AM Saturday morning and doesn't leave until 3PM if not later. Teaching. I do enjoy watching him teach and he does get a kick out of training the little ones.( I made a joke once of teaching the white belts Bassai dai to make it interesting and he actually started it without the Sensei noticing.) But you got to admit, 4 months of teaching without learning anything yourself is kind of a letdown.

The only thing that makes it work is that I don't have to pay for him anymore. As long as he puts in 11hrs a month teaching, he's free. Otherwise I pay by the month. Boring, but makes it worthwhile.

He's reached a "plateau" and it looks like he's camping there.

I am sorry that your son is being taken advantage of. However, it may be part of his requirment as a black belt to do some teaching. It sounds to me, though, that he may be doing too much teaching. If that is the case, then he needs to discuss his situation with the instructor, and figure something out.

Teaching is a valuble form of learning. However, teaching is not for everyone. This is something that also must be considered. Saying that, I do also think that it is possible to learn something from everyone.

[bushido_man96]

I think that no matter how long I train. There will be something new to find. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I find something that I see as new. I'll share it with on of the older black belts in the dojo and they here me out and adknowledge my findings then show me their finds and drive me deeper in just blowing me away.

I agree here. Along with my TKD classmates, two of them are also Aikidoists, and talking to them about what they do in that class, and what they have learned, is always enlightening and educational. Along side them, I have a partner in Combat Hapkido and Defensive Tactics who used to be in TKD, but isn't anymore. We always have good classes and conversations covering various aspects of the Martial Arts. Always a good time.

[ninjanurse]

But you got to admit, 4 months of teaching without learning anything yourself is kind of a letdown.

One of our precepts is "Teach and Grow"...a concept that some have trouble with but one that stirs the "martial soul". Sensei may have motives here other than free instructors.