Credibility of instruction

[ps1]

A common topic of conversation has been instruction. Specifically, who is qualified to give instruction. The most recent manifestation of that topic deals with taking orders from someone younger:

http://www.karateforums.com/taking-orders-from-a-higher-but-much-younger-grade-vt35329.html

My question is this? What do you feel qualifies a person to instruct and what makes their instruction credible?

I ask because I feel this is an area where there is a true rift in the martial arts. I'll explain my beliefs on this later. But I'm curious to see the opinions of others first.

[The BB of C]

True. Big rift. I, personally couldn't put a finger on what qualifies an instructor. Some given qualities are tough love, strictness and ultra discipline. As well as being able to back up his/her own theories proof and a control. Other than that I got nothing more than the fact that I know a good teacher when I see one.

[joesteph]

I'll offer the following, based on personal experience:

An individual who has a working knowledge of a martial art, and who knows how to impart that knowledge--genuinely teach--others.

When I was sixteen, I enrolled in a martial arts school that had an excellent chief instructor, but he was all-too-often absent, leaving instruction to his assistant instructor. I was mistreated, injured during the second month, and did not return to martial arts until I was in my thirties. I was tutored then by a friend who had a green belt in Isshinryu from when he was younger. No katas. All basics and sparring. It was contact sparring, starting bare-knuckled, then minimum gear. His teaching, combined with the weight-training regimen I followed, worked wonders for my self-esteem.

Did he know more than the BB assistant instructor from my youth? I doubt it. But my friend knew how to teach what he did know, and that's what's wanted in an instructor.

[Tiger1962]

A common topic of conversation has been instruction. Specifically, who is qualified to give instruction. The most recent manifestation of that topic deals with taking orders from someone younger:

http://www.karateforums.com/taking-orders-from-a-higher-but-much-younger-grade-vt35329.html

My question is this? What do you feel qualifies a person to instruct and what makes their instruction credible?

I ask because I feel this is an area where there is a true rift in the martial arts. I'll explain my beliefs on this later. But I'm curious to see the opinions of others first.

In my opinion, what qualifies someone to teach and makes them credible is the fact that they have sufficient years of experience in training (which will automatically mean that they are an ADULT) and REALLY KNOWS their material inside and out. They've gone through all the required channels to achieve their rank and could handle and control a class with no problem. Someone who remembers and knows ALL their curriculum and continues to train themselves even though they teach. They also possess the right personality to keep the class interested and motivated.

My instructor has been training for many, many years and can have an entire class full of mixed belt students (or dans) with each rank doing a different form and yet can correct each level although they are on opposite sides of the room. Although my instructor is a high ranking dan, he still remembers the lower level basics and curriculum, explains things in the simplest of terms so it's easy to understand, corrects your technique when it's done wrong and demonstrates the correct way while offering tips on how to execute a move or even how to remember to execute a move.

That being said, I know a "bad" teacher when I see one.

[Wa-No-Michi]

I suppose if you are referring to the term "Qualified" in its professional context (IE teacher), it means that a person wishing to promote themselves as such, should have the appropriate instructors license / recognition by way of certification by a recognised governing body.

However, this is easier said than done and given the diverse number styles, clubs and groups etc that practice their own ma it is very hard to say for sure what is a recognised governing body.

In the UK for Karate alone, there are at least three groups that claim to be the governing body of Karate, when in fact none of them have been recognised by "Sport Britain" the official office of the British government covering the development of sport here in the UK.

Coaching qualifications are one thing, but they are often no substitute for experience, knowledge, technical and natural teaching ability. If these can be balanced with a recognised form of sport coaching qualification, then this is the best of both worlds IMO.

[Tiger1962]

I suppose if you are referring to the term "Qualified" in its professional context (IE teacher), it means that a person wishing to promote themselves as such, should have the appropriate instructors license / recognition by way of certification by a recognised governing body.

However, this is easier said than done and given the diverse number styles, clubs and groups etc that practice their own ma it is very hard to say for sure what is a recognised governing body.

Yes, my instructor is both licensed and certified in his style and has the official documentation that was earned / awarded (or whatever the correct term is) by the official "recognized" governing organization / federation of the style he teaches and trains in.

[Wa-No-Michi]

In traditional Japanese Koryu Jujutsu, as most know, they did no have belts (kyu or dan), but when students were considered to have reached the correct technical standard (and more importantly were of the right caliber), they were awarded a license to transmit (teach) or "Menkyo". This actually took the form of a hand written certificate with ryu-ha's Soke's official stamp (for the purpose of authenticity).

These were not just given away, they were very rare and it was considered to be an important part of the ongoing propagation of the art.

So even "way back when", it seems certification of teachers was seen as an important factor to control / ensure quality transmition of information.

[sensei8]

I will answer you this way. Not all Black Belts can teach! Either you can or you can't! Proof is on the floor! It takes more than platitudes and a black belt around ones waist to teach!

[Wa-No-Michi]

I will answer you this way. Not all Black Belts can teach! Either you can or you can't! Proof is on the floor! It takes more than platitudes and a black belt around ones waist to teach!

Agreed, but what is there to stop someone who is a "naturally" good teacher from teaching things the wrong way (or teaching the wrong things (seemingly) very well)?

Teaching ability has to be combined with correct technical knowledge and the latter perhaps is where the licensing/certification thing comes in.

Agreed though, when it comes to teaching, a dan grade is a belt like any other and does not necessarily bear any relevance to teaching ability.

[joesteph]

Should we all agree to make it a "Given" that the person who is the instructor does possess the knowledge? If we keep re-stating, qualifying that the person has to have the knowledge, we're simply reinventing the wheel. As a classroom teacher myself, it's a no-brainer that if I don't know the material, I can't teach it.

Suppose we consider college professors as an analogy. Consider two professors in the same field of study, each with a doctorate, each having published a book and a number of scholarly articles.

- One is dry as dust. Class is a bore-a-thon. S/he can't explain the material in a manner that her students can learn without a struggle.

- The other is "alive" in the classroom. Attending class is a pleasure. The material is imparted crystal-clear. This professor is a "natural," who keeps his/her students interested.

It's the same in martial arts. A martial arts dojo, dojang, training hall, whatever, is still a school, a classroom. The ability of the instructor to teach is of paramount importance.

The wild card in this is the age of the students. Someone can be a fine instructor of a certain age group, and yet a dud with another. Being able to teach different ages equally well is not common in the field of education. Is it the same with martial arts instuctors, who are, after all, teachers?