Private training

[JasonW]

Hi, I have a friend of mine who is sandan in Isshin ryu that is giving me and my family private lessons in exchange for repairs I have made to his vehicles. It is a mutual agreement as I don't want his money and he doesn't want mine but we both feel like we should help each other any way we can. Any thoughts on private lessons? Good or bad all welcome.

[Harkon72]

If you are not paying for them then they can't be bad. I feel I get almost private lessons because our adult class is so small, sometimes there is only three of us. We only pay £4.50 a session.

[FangPwnsAll7]

That's cool. Well, I might not be able to offer much help, but there are 3 to 5 private lessons before you can go to a group class. (If you are going into the group class?) You only have to spar when you feel you are ready. Some dojos might not let a person spar until they've reached a certain rank.

[JasonW]

I know he knows his stuff because he has plenty of trophies and medals from competitions. I kinda feel bad and have offered money cause I know this knowledge is valuable. He won't take it so when I notice he needs something I tend to just bring it to him and tell him I had it laying around and don't need it. For example we have been getting a lot of snow this winter so I brought him a 50 lb bag of salt to put on the walkways so people don't slip. And now I want to find other styles to learn but wonder if he would get upset if I was paying to learn something else too or if he would like if I could return the favor and teach him another style

[JasonW]

He does not want me sparring till I hit green belt. He says by then I should have the control and skill so nobody gets injured due to improper training. He says I am welcome to attend group class but that I will get more out of private lessons.

[JasonW]

I find that true because on my third session training with him I was able to test for gold belt and passed.

[Lupin1]

Nothing wrong with what you're doing-- it's very close to the way it traditionally would have been done. No storefront dojos in feudal Japan.

I think you've found a very good opportunity here. The only drawback you may find is not having different partners with different sizes and styles once you start really working applications and sparring. But you can definitely get up to a decent level with private training and then maybe start training with a bigger group later on, although that's not entirely necessary. And if you've got services he wants and he's got services you want, I see nothing wrong with not exchanging money. People should barter more.

[Kusotare]

I know he knows his stuff because he has plenty of trophies and medals from competitions.

Having trophies and medals doesn't mean that someone has the skills and ability to transmit a tradition accurately.

Assuming your friend knows his stuff (and that's the tricky part)...I'd say you are in great position - learning one on one! Don't knock it and try to internalise as much as possible.

K.

[lowereastside]

In many systems of Kung fu and in other martial arts - private one on one training is essential - Styles that are based on sensitivity for example - need to touch hands with the teacher or seniors who have the touch/juice. When someone gets in with raw power - one can see it - However, when one gets in with a soft energy - you must feel the energy - this can only be done in small groups -semi private or private. JasonW you are lucky to be learning in a private setting - getting to feel the techniques 1st hand - In most karate and even kungt fu schools one is thrown into a large class and your lucky if the Teacher touches hands with you - if at all.

[Nabil Kazama]

You're lucky and fortunate, carry on I say.