What Do Our Students Choose??

[sensei8]

Training allows our students the ability of discovering the unforeseen chink in their armor so that the flaw can be smoothed out, and then polished to the luster that's hiding beneath.

Do we, as instructors, force our students to train? And if our students do not train often, or at all, do we punish them some how and someway for whatever reason(s)?

Do we treat our students with an indifference that cuts them to the quick? Do we favor the students that train as though their very lives depended on it?

Is our job to teach or to punish/reward personal choices?

A great deal of questions, to be for sure. But without questions, just how can one begin to know the depth of ones own mettle in the course of ones MA journey?!

Furthermore, training, to do so or not to do so, is part of a personal journey that can't be denied, nor should it be rewarded. Not in a manner that's not befitting of an ethical instructor, and not in a manner that cast a darkened shadow where light is fighting to shine through.

Whether our students choose to train or not isn't because they're in accordance with any rules or standards for proper conduct. Therefore, if our students choose to train or not to train, an instructor seems to mean that one is in favor of ignoring general practices and principles because they are given to do so.

I encourage my students to train their every fiber within themselves so that their mettle isn't a questionable enquire to themselves. I must be that example of training! If my students see that the manner of which I train, and that it's my own desired choice to do so, and quite often, then, my students might then choose to train of their own accord.

I don't punish, nor do I reward on training ethics: do it...don't do it...I don't give a bent-pins care if my students do or do not because I don't own them, and its their MA journey, and how they choice to walk upon it, is entirely up to them.

When my students fail any given testing cycle, it's not because I'm punishing them because they don't train/practice...no, that's the furthest thing from my mind, but what's evident in my eyes during any said testing cycle is that their techniques aren't up to the expectations that I've laid out, now and forever.

I see what I see, and I judge how I judge, but it's never a question, to me, that my student standing before me has either trained or hasn't trained, it's more of a question if what I'm judging based on what I see, if my student's improving in his/her effectively applied knowledge across the board from when I've last seen them before.

Training can't be imposed; it must be chosen. And when practitioners of the MA are given the choice, I can only hope that they choose training. It is the harder thing that I choose to do because the easier thing to do isn't a part of my make-up.

Imho!!

Your thoughts, please!!

[sensei8]

I suppose what I'm asking,

Do students choose to train?

OR...

Are students forced to train?

[Archimoto]

I think it's a fascinating question.

In my humble opinion, and in an ideal scenario, a student chooses to train and the instructor inspires them to the point that the student wholeheartedly chooses to come back. This cycle repeats itself, relationships are forged, challenges are overcome, and through blood, sweat and tears, on any given day it is the student that's given every opportunity to inspire their instructor to teach him or her more.

Does that make sense?

[Lupin1]

One of the first things they taught us in teaching school is that we can't force students to learn. We can't force them to do their work, to study or to behave. Every choice they make is their choice. Even if we punish them and nag them and threaten them every step of the way, they can still make the choice to continue what they're doing despite the punishment (and in fact, the more we use threats and get into power plays, but the more likely they are to fight back and make the wrong choices).

All we can do is set a good example and make a good case for why they should care and why they should want to put forth the work and lead them to making the right decisions. You can never force a student to train-- they could come to class every day and sit against a wall and refuse to move until you finally just kick them out and there'd be nothing you can do to force them to do otherwise. All you'd be able to do is show them how much fun you and the rest of the class are having training, how beneficial it's been and how much you and others have gained and improved by training hard or even the consequences of not training, and hope that they make the decision to get up and join you.

[hammer]

I suppose what I'm asking,

Do students choose to train?

OR...

Are students forced to train?

Students are paying for classes and making the effort to show up so I'd say that they choose to train (except for kids whose parents are dragging them to class).

[sensei8]

One of the first things they taught us in teaching school is that we can't force students to learn. We can't force them to do their work, to study or to behave. Every choice they make is their choice. Even if we punish them and nag them and threaten them every step of the way, they can still make the choice to continue what they're doing despite the punishment (and in fact, the more we use threats and get into power plays, but the more likely they are to fight back and make the wrong choices).

All we can do is set a good example and make a good case for why they should care and why they should want to put forth the work and lead them to making the right decisions. You can never force a student to train-- they could come to class every day and sit against a wall and refuse to move until you finally just kick them out and there'd be nothing you can do to force them to do otherwise. All you'd be able to do is show them how much fun you and the rest of the class are having training, how beneficial it's been and how much you and others have gained and improved by training hard or even the consequences of not training, and hope that they make the decision to get up and join you.

I suppose that it's the...Can lead a horse to water, but can't make the horse drink the water. It's a mindset that the student wants to do, and when a student want to do something, well, they do it. On the other hand, if the student doesn't want to do something, they won't do it or they won't do it gladly and/or well!!