new curriculum

[Greenfire54]

how often should you be taught new curriculum and how long should you practice it until you learn something new. For example: would you teach 6 forms in 1 month and 6 forms another month? or do you have a guideline that you use to teach by at your dojo that works for you and the other students? im just helping my friend learn jujitsu and this being my first time teaching someone else, i dont know how i should go about teaching the moves. ( and yes she does have experience in ma)

[tallgeese]

There's no hard and fast rule about how long one should practice a skill before moving on. It really depends on well the student is learning what you're teaching.

Some people like trainees to be able to perform each movement to perfection before moving on. I personally want an acceptable level of understnading with each movement, then continue to chain that movement with others so that repetition continues.

One important thing to remember is to focus on the basics initally. Get them up to speed on the core movements of whatever system you're teaching. Get them to understand the underlying concepts and go from there. Not too much in the way of advanced gimics too early, just solid core movments.

Teaching moments will pop up as you go and you can further instruct in any of the nummerous "what ifs" as they happen. Make the most of those opportunities as well. We'll even stop free sparring or rolling or what ever was going on if a good point comes up that wasn't exactly in the syllibus in my head. Rep it a few times with everyone and start everyone going again.

Addtionally, whatever free training your particular systems does-sparring, rolling, whatever it might be, get them started sooner rather than later. You can use limited engagement tactics to get them to work on specific tools and not overwhealm them.

Good luck. Lastly, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get your training partner invovled with whatever class your attending. Some experiance as an instructor can go a long way to passing on knowledge. Then trainning session with your friend might go futher on it's own than it might otherwise. Just a thought or two.

[bushido_man96]

Solid, tallgeese.

Many schools have a curriculum that is attached to a testing cycle; so, you learn the forms/techniques for your belt level, and then move on when you pass the test. There will be some overlap, of course, but as far as moving onward and upward, many schools do it that way.

Like tallgeese said, though, making sure that someone has achieved a reasonable level of abilty with a technique or series of techniques, then you can begin to add to it, or advance beyond it. You can't expect expertise right away, so waiting for perfection will stop you at teaching someone how to do a reverse punch/right cross. Another important thing is to not hurry things along too much. Take your time, and get it done right the first time.