Bad class?

[Nidan Melbourne]

I'm curious how often do you all find that you just have a bad day in class? Like things you know aren't flowing smoothly, stuffing up pre-arranged sparring etc. or is it sometimes your partner that makes things extremely difficult to do everything because they just don't care or listen (and pay attention)? And why was it a bad class?

Mine was last night, i had a combination of a difficult of an extremely rude, disrespectful and didn't pay attention type of partner and a bad night.

My partner (17 year old male) is 1st kyu going for his black belt end of year, but he doesn't pay attention in class (especially when it comes to learning things that he actually requires for his grading). We went through 4 pre-arranged sparrings (yonhon kumite, gohon kumite, roppon kumite and nanahon kumite). And in each of them he stuffed many of the steps up (yonhon and gohon he had to know to get his 1st kyu), but when i told what to do (including when he missed steps) he brushed me off going "this is my first class back so i dont have to do all the steps and i really dont care", not only did i crack it at him for not having the right approach to training (and deciding to chop and change pre-arranged sparrig) and that with that attitude you will have a hard time doing well at the grading. Also my sensei saw what he was doing (i am the most patient student other than my friend steven who teaches adults now, but when people see me crack it they know it is for a valid reason) and he also told him off.

After the 1st couple of mistakes, i HAD to remind him that he should be taking these classes seriously, and should be doing it like you are at a grading.

Unfortunately i have to be on his grading panel (i am the 4th most senior student which doesn't include my sensei), and we have been told to work them to their absolute limits. And that they have to truly earn it

Before i continue I wish to apologise if that offended anyone. i just had to have a rant.

We only hold 2 black belt gradings a year, both of which are extremely hard to do well if you weren't focussed in your classes the 6 months leading up to it, and also have to do your absolute best at the grading without any slacking off or a bad attitude.

As i have assisted with many, many gradings over the last few years, for kumite and i rarely have to join in. EXCEPT for when there are students that (like the one i had in my rant before) i do join in and make life a living hell. Since i am one of the most annoying guys to fight in my dojo because i am (relatively) an unorthodox fighter. When we go into "light" kumite where we allow takedowns, locks, chokes and grappling i do all those on those students who need that extra motivation to actually try harder and do better. I am not doing it out of spite but i actually want them to do well. If they have been sloppy in one or two areas we give them a chance to prove themselves with me.

I've graded over 150 students, and only 15 of them needed some tough love during sparring. And after they receive their promotions those 15 asked why i chose them and why was it even more difficult. I explained why i chose them and that it wasn't anything personal but they need a massive kick up the butt to get over the line.

But also on top of that i found out that my grandmother had another stroke and was in hospital again.

[bushido_man96]

Sorry to hear about your grandmother. I hope she recovers.

As for bad classes, I've had them before. It usually has more to do with my lack of performance than other people in the class. Some days, I just feel off, and it shows. On days like that, its just a grind through, get to the end, and shake it off for the next class.

[DWx]

Yes sorry to hear about your grandmother - I hope she has a smooth recovery.

You do get bad classes... and unfortunately bad students. With people like the 1st kyu you described, if they don't want to put any effort in, I don't put any extra effort in to help them. Just let them coast along and they'll have a rude awakening sure enough when the grading date comes around.

[mal103]

Bad lessons - as trainer and whilst training - every now and again. Just shake it off and look forwards to the next one. I think the worst I have given was after a medical where the doctor told me I had a heart murmur, I explained and apologised the following week and due to having good students they all said it was fine. The heart murmur turned out to be noise from a busy heart possibly due to training....

Bad students, I hate it when they are not hungry for advancement and to be better, sloppy training and yawning at you.... most end up on Brown belt row and wonder why they never get another grading. I would speak with you Sensei and share your concerns.

I said to my last class that I can open the door and show them the way but if they won't step through and give 100 percent effort they are wasting all of our time.

[kensei]

When I think of bad classes its more about my personal performance. Be it lack of coordination that day, not into it mentally or being a wimp because of an injury. The older I get the more injuries actually stop me from training at my peak!

As for dealing with partners or students, we have one that is supposed to be getting ready for Shodan soon and he is LAZY! the problem is that we wont let him test till he shakes that and it kind of ticks me off that I have to teach this kid and he basically does not care! So, I avoid him...dont teach him and if I train with him I kind of hold back and rest till I get moved to another person.

Because of the vast differences in people we train you simply can not let one sour apple ruin your class.....

Hope your grand mother is doing better!

[sensei8]

I've had my share of them before, and I'm sure that I'll have them again. It's part of the MA and nothing that should be taken serious because I'm not perfect, and in that, I'll make mistakes more often than I care to remember.

Hang in there and push through it all!!

[ShotokanMaster]

1st I want to say Hope your grandma gets better

2nd some student are like that they dont listen To the instructor thats why he or she dont know the technique or the requirement for their belt test and by the time they belt testvthry dont know what to do

[Nidan Melbourne]

Thanks all for your support. she is getting better now.

Well the student that I cracked on about finally got what came to him. He was barred from grading for the next year due to his actions against certain members of the school.

[CredoTe]

I've had my fair share of tough students, as well. Glad to hear you're working through it and things seem to be getting better. All you can do is hang in there and continue to do the best you can with what you have. You can't force any student to learn or to have drive/determination. Teach/coach them as best you can, showing them the best tools to use for the jobs given, but they have to meet you half way. Only they can make themselves do it, only they can make themselves have the drive/determination to improve...

[bushido_man96]

Thanks all for your support. she is getting better now.

Well the student that I cracked on about finally got what came to him. He was barred from grading for the next year due to his actions against certain members of the school.

How the student reacts to this should show something about their character. If they take this punishment, accept responsibility, and continue to train and improve, then I think you've got a diamond in the rough there. Hopefully, this is what they do, and they grow from this experience.