How Do You/Your Instructor(s) Teach?

[sensei8]

How do you/your instructor(s) teach?

Most karate instructors I know focus on the Correction method, with some Demonstration method mixed in to save time. I also know of quite a few instructors who try to use technical explanations, but lack the knowledge or ability to form coherent explanations. Often, teaching methods are blended, such as explaining to a student how/why a technique should be performed a certain way, while demonstrating and correcting the student as he or she tries to do as the instructor explained and demonstrated.

Having said that, one should also be aware that no matter how you/your instructor(s) teach; students fit into 3 distinctful categories as to how they learn from you/your instructor(s):

*Analyzing theory...This type of student learns by asking questions.

*Duplicating what is seen...This type of student learns by repetition of techniques.

*Feeling...This type of student learns by feeling/experiencing the techniques.

Knowing how students learn is important, and in that, it shouldn't be ignored, but at the same time, it's not tantamount to how you/your instructor(s) teach. You/your instructor(s) teach in the methodology that they do because it's effective; it works! Students, imho, must adapt to how you/your instructor(s) teach if they want to learn the martial arts from either.

Your thoughts?

[ninjanurse]

I use a blend of teaching styles and adapt as needed to the group but a majority of my classes are centered around experiential learning and guided discovery....students are given parts of the puzzle and guided towards putting the pieces together through drill or discussion so that they internalize the concepts more readily. This also helps them to learn movement analysis skills that will help them when they transition into teaching others.

[sensei8]

I use a blend of teaching styles and adapt as needed to the group but a majority of my classes are centered around experiential learning and guided discovery....students are given parts of the puzzle and guided towards putting the pieces together through drill or discussion so that they internalize the concepts more readily. This also helps them to learn movement analysis skills that will help them when they transition into teaching others.

Heidi, that's a very, very solid teaching approach!!

[Lupin1]

I use a blend of teaching styles and adapt as needed to the group but a majority of my classes are centered around experiential learning and guided discovery....students are given parts of the puzzle and guided towards putting the pieces together through drill or discussion so that they internalize the concepts more readily. This also helps them to learn movement analysis skills that will help them when they transition into teaching others.

That sounds almost exactly like my philosophy of education. I like it!

[Blade96]

How do you/your instructor(s) teach?

Having said that, one should also be aware that no matter how you/your instructor(s) teach; students fit into 3 distinctful categories as to how they learn from you/your instructor(s):

*Analyzing theory...This type of student learns by asking questions.

*Duplicating what is seen...This type of student learns by repetition of techniques.

*Feeling...This type of student learns by feeling/experiencing the techniques.

Agreed and I learn by all 3 of those techniques.

[Rateh]

When working with adults I introduce them to new techniques by demonstrating the technique and explaining some of the main technical details of the technique, step by step. Then I run them through repetitions until they understand the general motions and can do them smoothly on command. After that I start helping them gain power, speed, balance etc by demonstrations and explanations, and of course lots of repetitions and drills. I make sure they understand how correct technique and body positioning will help them achieve the best results. I am a very detail oriented instructor and correct all students constantly throughout all drills. Of course I also praise their hard work, improvements, and skill. I do not, however, give them little white lies. I will never say "perfect", nor will I tell a student that their technique is excellent just because they tried hard, I will compliment their effort, or tell them that they are improving. You can always find SOMETHING to praise them on, but I will never tell them that their technique is better than it is, I am always honest.

With kids I start with a quick demonstration and step by step explanation with them following along, followed by repetitions until they understand the motions. Sometimes they need to do many repetitions following along before they are ready to try on their own. I try to use creative drills with and without equipment to enforce correct technique and teach speed, balance, power, etc. I keep technical explanations short and age appropriate to the students. I try and use phrases that would make sense to them. Just like adults I use constant correction and praise, though with kids I have to correct and praise behavior as well. I expect kids and adults who are testing for the same rank to meet the same minimum standards, so I train the kids with this in mind.

How much or little explanations, demonstrations, repetitions, corrections, etc I do is completely dependent on the students. I plan my classes ahead of time, but for each drill I use my own intuition to decide what is right for the students at that moment.

Many techniques I break down into smaller pieces and teach them independently or building on each other. Then I combine them into a greater whole after the students understand the basic parts. The younger the student, the more of a chance I'll start off by teaching the technique in pieces (my youngest students are 3). Other techniques I break into different types and teach the easiest one first (for example: teach front leg roundhouse kick before back leg roundhouse kick).

[JiuJitsuNation]

The visual learners are the ones that can watch and instantly do. With very few reps they seem to understand it 10 times better than everyone else and are more likely to apply the technique right away during live training. I incorporate repetition and thorough explanation of the techniques so that everyone may pick up. The most frustrating people to teach are the ones you can show something to many times and give an explanation and when you say go they don't even know where to start! I have to go over and say this here, this here, this here and this here. They seem utterly lost even after several examples and demonstrations. I mean like they can't even show me where the first hand goes and sometimes they start in the wrong position?? Is this just nerves? Is it me? I wish I could jump in there head and see through their eyes just so I could understand how the receive the information.

[isshinryu5toforever]

@ JiuJitsuNation: Some people just aren't wired the same for physical activity. You have to take a slower, more methodical approach. Show them a single part of what you want them to do, have them repeat it until they're reasonably certain of it, and then add the next part. It may take longer, and it may seem frustrating, but once this type of person has a technique, they'll remember it a lot longer than the people who can see and repeat and move on. They don't tend to practice as much, and often forget things sooner than those that have to work harder. If you get frustrated, and it comes through in the way you're trying to teach them, that might affect their performance as well. Patience is probably the biggest part of teaching.

[sensei8]

Patience is probably the biggest part of teaching.

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!

[isshinryu5toforever]

I like to take a step approach to things. It works from beginners through the advanced ranks. For the basics, it's teaching them the basic punch from a relaxed position first, then moving them into a stance, then getting them moving in the stance. Depending on who is in the group, that can take a whole class. Same with kicks, relaxed position first, then into a stance, then moving while kicking last. Take it one technique at a time. I generally take things apart as much as possible to make the chunks more digestible. Same thing with kata.

You do have the visual all-stars (I was one growing up), who can watch a whole kata once or twice and reproduce it. Those people can sometimes get bored, but I challenge them to make everything perfect while everyone else is still learning. They can go through the motions, but they aren't always clean.

This works for building basic combinations until people get more comfortable as well. To take a TKD example, you can start someone with a fast kick. Throw only fast kick moving down the floor. Then add a roundhouse after the fast kick, so it's fast-kick, roundhouse. Then add a double. You have fast kick, round house, double. Then add another fast kick to the end. Fast kick, round house, double, fast kick. It's a good way to introduce people to the idea of throwing more than one kick when you spar.

I guess, in a basic fashion I break everything down to digestible pieces as I said before, but the way I teach it varies by age, ability, etc.