Training

[Montana]

I've been teaching classes since September of 1978 and I realized early on that few people are willing to make the commitment to training in the arts to become really good martial artists.

Oh sure, you get your students that show up for classes 2-3 times/week and while there, train hard and do well, but I'm talking about REALLY making training a commitment on a daily basis.

Commitment to training in your chosen art shouldn't be a 2-3 days/week, but rather should be something you do daily if you really want to be good at it.

Daily training outside of class doesn't have to be 2 hours of basics, kata and drills, but rather can be something simple.

Every now and then I ask my students..."How much training have you done this week?" Most wilol say "Ive been to very class this entire month!" or such. Which is GREAT!

"But, how much training have you done outside of class?"

As an instructor, I can tell a difference between those students that train outside of class, and those that train only in class. Especially in the early months of training, it really shows from class to class in the improvement in their technique, speed and power.

Martial arts training needs to be a daily routine at some level. Run thru a kata when you get a few minutes. Practice your basics (wax on, wax off) as you go about your daily lives.

Just to give you an example of outside training I do on a daily basis:

I work in an office building (my really job that pays the bills) that has 3 floors. Due to the design of the building when I get to work and leave for the day, I generally take the elevator instead of the stairs. If I'm alone in the elevator, which is the norm, when the doors close I will run thru a kata sometimes, or other times assume a stance and whip out as many punches, blocks or kicks as I can before the elevator stops at my floor.

At home (this drives my wife nuts as she has no interest in the arts) I habitually turn lights on/off at the wall switch with my feet while doing a slow, well controlled front, side and sometimes back kick. I will walk from room to room doing blocks, kicks or punches. I will spontanously do a spinning back kick, backfist or elbow, concentrating on my technique and stance.

My wife leaves for work about 30 minutes before I do. If I'm ready to leave but still have a few minutes, I will run thru a kata or two before I walk out the door.

Doing anything along that line will improve your overall martial arts ability and keep your mind and body sharp and prepared.

Thoughts?

[ps1]

I've been teaching classes since September of 1978 and I realized early on that few people are willing to make the commitment to training in the arts to become really good martial artists.

Oh sure, you get your students that show up for classes 2-3 times/week and while there, train hard and do well, but I'm talking about REALLY making training a commitment on a daily basis.

Commitment to training in your chosen art shouldn't be a 2-3 days/week, but rather should be something you do daily if you really want to be good at it.

Daily training outside of class doesn't have to be 2 hours of basics, kata and drills, but rather can be something simple.

Every now and then I ask my students..."How much training have you done this week?" Most wilol say "Ive been to very class this entire month!" or such. Which is GREAT!

"But, how much training have you done outside of class?"

As an instructor, I can tell a difference between those students that train outside of class, and those that train only in class. Especially in the early months of training, it really shows from class to class in the improvement in their technique, speed and power.

Martial arts training needs to be a daily routine at some level. Run thru a kata when you get a few minutes. Practice your basics (wax on, wax off) as you go about your daily lives.

Just to give you an example of outside training I do on a daily basis:

I work in an office building (my really job that pays the bills) that has 3 floors. Due to the design of the building when I get to work and leave for the day, I generally take the elevator instead of the stairs. If I'm alone in the elevator, which is the norm, when the doors close I will run thru a kata sometimes, or other times assume a stance and whip out as many punches, blocks or kicks as I can before the elevator stops at my floor.

At home (this drives my wife nuts as she has no interest in the arts) I habitually turn lights on/off at the wall switch with my feet while doing a slow, well controlled front, side and sometimes back kick. I will walk from room to room doing blocks, kicks or punches. I will spontanously do a spinning back kick, backfist or elbow, concentrating on my technique and stance.

My wife leaves for work about 30 minutes before I do. If I'm ready to leave but still have a few minutes, I will run thru a kata or two before I walk out the door.

Doing anything along that line will improve your overall martial arts ability and keep your mind and body sharp and prepared.

Thoughts?

Agreed...on all points. Practice as often as possible to excel. Most students do not do this.

[MasterPain]

My nephew stopped by for help with algebra homework. Before he left I said "check out this variation of a guard pass."

[Adonis]

agreed not enough home training. Some people say they don't have time to do any thing. As you said you don't need to train 2 hours ever day like your blocking off time as you would when you go to class at the dojo/gym/school. Really as long as you improve by 1% a day your doing fine and will eventually reach your goals.

That could be simple enough as doing a kata, or practicing a few blocks, kicks, and punches a day, which can only take a couple of minutes or a few minutes out of the whole day.

[Wastelander]

I go through kata or yakusoku kumite just about every day, and at the VERY LEAST I work some kihon every day. You aren't just a martial artist when you're at the dojo

[sensei8]

As instructor's, we can't go home and baby sit our students; it's up to them. Not every student, if any at all, will have the same drive and determination and dedication of their instructor(s). Sure, as an instructor it's frustrating, and it's enough to make an instructor pull her/his hair out by the hand fulls, but, it's up to them to do their part across the board.

They don't want to practice! That's fine! We instructor's can tell, as you've already mentioned, who has and who hasn't practiced. It's ok! They don't have to practice, and I don't have to test them...and I won't. Not because they don't practice, but because their techniques aren't improving across the board.

Our students have to want it!! Just as soon as they want it, they'll be a changed student. Some come around and some just don't want to. I tell my students that any practice is better than none at all, JUST AS LONG AS IT PRODUCTIVE AND SERIOUS!!

After a short while, I'll counsel my students and I'll be point black with them and/or their parent(s), if they don't want to practice, then please don't waste my time anymore...quit...they've already quit in essence by not practicing. So...please just get off my floor!!

Besides...PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!!

[evergrey]

OSU,

Train. Train more than you sleep. Training is essential, outside of the dojo as well as in it. Living the martial way takes more than a couple of hours a week in a class.

Every night, when he leaves, our Shihan always says the same thing:

"PRACTICE! OSU!"

[honoluludesktop]

I started practicing Karate in the late 60s. There is only one student that continues to train today. There are no teachers that can match that effort. Despite all that they may know, none can match the skill of that one student.

[brickshooter]

I think that it's a big mistake to not assign students homework regardless of their age. Something that students can do in a short 20 minutes session in their living room.

Students come to the dojo to train. But they're there also for directions and guidance. I don't think it's enough to say "I suggest that you students practice if you want to get better."

I think that instructors have to be more specific with "Joe, every night I want you to do 100 perfect oi-zuki 20 minutes before dinner, because this is your weakness." Instructors can keep a tally of what individual students need to work on and give them a monthly progress report.

Instructors often complain that students drop out too fast. Well, one of the main reasons is that students don't see themselves improving. So they blame the instructors - by quitting.

Instructors - don't stop instructing when students leave the dojo... And they won't drop out.

[DWx]

Not every student, if any at all, will have the same drive and determination and dedication of their instructor(s).

I think this is important to bear in mind. Not everyone is as obsessive as us lot . Some people are only in it for a casual hobby, and that's ok. While every instructor wishes that their students will practice with the same determination that they do both in the dojo and outside but that's not always going to happen. Sure these students will advance at a slower rate and won't be as good as they would if they practiced everyday, but then that's their choice, not the instructor's. You can suggest that they might want to do some homework but you can't make them..

But yeah I agree that if you're serious about your training it should be something which becomes a part of everything else you do.