How do you accomodate new bees?

[taebot]

We know everyone here.

 

The problem is to get the newbies to respect you and take you seriously...

 

 

ESPECIALLY the ones who have known you a long time and seen you do some realy dumb things over the course of the years!

[aes]

In the dojo I go to adult beginners are together with everyone. The newbies are usually taken aside after warm up and stretch and shown the basics by a high ranking student. It can be very intimidating especially since the class starts with formalities like bowing etc and they don't know this yet.

 

Child classes are divided into three catagories. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Same strategy but the fitness drill is a little more liberal in the Beginner class than it is in the adult one.

 

I recall feeling very intimidated. My adult class is full of higher ranking belts and a few lower ones. I am a perfectionist in many ways and felt so stupid not knowing the basics of bowing etc and the learning of my first basic blocks was very confusing. I however learned this pretty quickly. The Sensei’s are supportive and tell you not to worry about not getting it right away.

 

That being said, it is funny... my 19 month old baby girl goes to the Dojo with us often and watches her big sister do her training and often me. She now can count to 10 in Japanese and does a pretty good side kick and this is just by watching and listening. I wish I could learn it this fast. LOL

[ramymensa]

Our newbies are put among the other beginners. The instructor is there to show them how to do correctly the technique and always praises them for the effort. Some of us higher ranks go help them. It's a relaxed atmosphere and they are taken in the group the moment they arrive, are being told everything would be OK, they are welcome and it'll be fun.

 

Works like a charm