To What End?!

[sensei8]

Students in regular or private schools, for one reason or another, carry a full load of academic classes, and then they do extra curricular classes on top of that. Staying up late, and often times, they're up all night doing homework.

From 7th grade and up, the load a student takes is more than overwhelming, and when the sun rises, and they've still not been to bed yet, not all of their homework is finished.

MA students are faced with a different kind of stress, but stress nonetheless!! And at times, MA students take on more than they can handle, yet, they can't find the time to smell the roses before the next whatever it might be over the next horizon.

When the tale-tale signs are staring you dead square in your face, the time to intercede is right then, just not in an overbearing way, but in a subtle and caring way, yet not intrusive.

[JR 137]

Teaching can be very rewarding. I am pretty cheap cost wise and still do pretty ok, the hours are much less then my last career which was 50 a week, and it's a rewarding job. You can still offer affordable classes and not hurt people's wallets too much. You won't make as much per student but you just have to take care of peoe and be solid in teaching and most of all ENJOY IT! People can see you enjoy it and the energy is contagious. You will get more students to make up for your cost. This is how I do it and my way of thinking anyways. Not a pusher, just see the interest and wanted to share.

I can't remember exactly what you study, what do you feel you need to be ready? I realize we are getting off topic but not too much. This conversation is also a reflection of the topic because as we teach and demand, students can see what we put into it and why. I have only been teaching about a year but I can tell you that you are ready when you teach good martial arts and people enjoy your teaching. The most important approval is the students, they pay the bills and keep you teaching. Don't forget that!

I teach middle school science and have taught physical education. In a good way, you're preaching to the choir about the virtues of teaching. I'd rather teach physical education full time, but I am where I am due to the job market. No complaints though.

I just started training again in February. I'm studying Tadashi Nakamura's Seido karate, which came from his legendary Kyokushin days, although it's not full-contact and competition oriented. 15 years ago I was getting ready to test for 2nd dan in a system that was founded by a former Seido and Kyokushin sensei. Had to leave when I went away for graduate school. My former career (sports medicine) left zero time to train; I averaged every other Sunday off and typically worked 10-8 during the week. My family was my biggest motivator for leaving the field, and karate was number 2.

My at least 10 years figure comes from I wouldn't feel comfortable opening a school until I reach 3rd dan. Not from a number of stripes on my belt thing or impressing prospective students thing, but a body of knowledge standpoint.

I'm not sure what Seido's minimum qualifications are for opening a dojo. I haven't seen any CIs under 3rd dan, coincidentally. My old sensei pushed me to teach. He thought another student and I would be very good at running our own dojos when the time came. He wouldn't have made any money or gained anything other than pride from us opening our own dojos, so it wasn't like it wasn't genuine. The other guy is a cop in the next town over and doesn't have the time to do it.

I'll start to put a plan into action the day after my 3rd Dan test, if that's where life takes me. Until then, I'm going through all the ranks all over again. Getting my skills up to where they once were, improving my knowledge of them them, and all that fun stuff. 10 years was a ballpark number. Could be more, could be less. At 3rd Dan, if I'm not ready, I'll probably never be ready.

To bring it back to the original topic...

When I open my own dojo, I won't make it too overwhelming!

Seido link...

http://www.seido.com

Nakamura was/is respectively William Oliver's and Charles Martin's teacher. If you've never seen the movie Fighting Black Kings, definitely check it out. Amazon Instant Video has it for about $7. It's about the first World Open Full-Contact Karate Tournament in Japan. 70s blaxploitation meets Bloodsport, only its real. It was a Kyokushin propaganda film, but it's still great. I can't stop watching it.

[CDraper]

Sensei8,

I see it more as a buffet then a plate lol. There are things on the buffet that you need but wouldn't necessarily eat, but the Sensei takes that plate and makes sure you are learning all aspects of your chosen art.

Overall in my opinion the stress from MA is not bad. It's mental exercise to go with the physical. It is half the fun working to meet those expectations.

I don't think I've not satisfied my Sensei in general. I'm sure there are times when he wished I got something right quicker or remembered something but I've never seen any indication he is unsatisfied. As long as your out there on the mat trying your best your good to go. That being said I come down on myself harder for my mistakes then my Sensei does, at least it feels that way.

Hope this helps.

Ramble off

Chuck

Speaking as a student I think it is why students stop training at various points. Once they reach their limit they stop and those times vary by student. Each person has their threshold. That being said that is one reason why we come to martial arts is to learn where those thresholds are and to see if we can over come them. My humble opinion.

ChuckD

Thank youm CDraper, for your post; very solid!!

As a student, do you feel that your MA plate is way too full, and does that add to the stress levels of trying to reach and meet expectations all of the time??

Do you feel that you never satisfy your instructor??

We tell students if they ever feel overwhelmed don't quit, just come to less classes, until they're ready to do more.