What makes a good instructor?

[muttley]

I am not going to be specific as to the martial art here, just want peoples opinions.

I finished reading Waking Dragons and am now re-reading The Karate Way, in this book Dave Lowry covers what he see's as being a good instructor. It got me thinking how I would feel if I was training and respecting my instructor to then find out that he had something of a sordid past or that he flirts with females students while married etc.

I have no experience of this as (to my knowledge) all of the instructors that I have had over the years have been people of good repute and I've had no reason to doubt this.

I don't know how I would feel if the person I respected and wanted to "be like" turned out to be not as he seemed. Is it enough that an instructor has studied the art and is good at teaching the techniques involved or should they lead something of a "better" life that puts them above others in society?

In the UK, instructors, by Law have to be subjected to a DBS (Disclosure Barring Scheme) it used to be called a Criminal Records Check. This checks any previous criminal history a person has and is used to safeguard children and vulnerable people. Does any other Country have a similar check for people working closely with such people? Whilst the DBS check is good, it only checks things that the police/criminal justice sector know about, what about the things they don't know as they weren't reported? And what about a persons morals? How does one check them>

I guess when you first start to train under an instructor, it is fairly simple to come away from them if something isn't right. But what about if you've trained there a while and then find something out? How easy is it then?

[JR 137]

MA instructors aren't clergy, and therefore shouldn't be held to the same standard as them IMO. As to your last paragraph, I guess it depends on the offense. If an MA instructor does things I don't agree with, it doesn't matter to me, so long as he/she doesn't make it my business. I don't want to hear about it, I don't want to see it, and I don't want it changing the dynamics of the dojo, and I don't want it effecting my reason for being there.

I don't agree with people cheating on their spouses, but it happens. I don't pass judgment on them because I don't know what they come home to everyday. I think if it's bad enough at home to go out and cheat, then leave. Easier said than done when so many factors are involved. But it's not my business, therefore not my problem. So are my feeling towards just about any other immoral things people do.

If my instructor was a child molester or sex offender, that's a whole other story. I'd never be able to look at him/her the same way again, so it wouldn't be a difficult decision to leave.

It's all about what the instructor brings to the floor. And the rest of the dojo.

[sensei8]

Great topic, muttley; thank you for starting it!!

Above all things...Listening skills!! If an instructor doesn't have at least that, there's no reason to darken the dojo floor; not now or anytime soon, for that!! Not just in able to hold a conversation, but to be mindful of each and every single students needs, as well as accomplishments. For the most part, instructors see everything they need to see, but without listening skills, you'll become blind to the entire student body, and that sense, listening skills is paramount!!

As to the criminality scope of things, yes, NO CHILD MOLESTERS...and for that fact...NO SEX OFFENDERS!! Children must be protected at all times, and so does the adults. If an instructor isn't willing to protect their student body, they've no right to teach. After all, in all things, TRUST must be earned, and if the student body can't trust the instructor, then there's no need to open and operate a dojo!!

Skills, techniques, and so on and so forth, well, that's the no-brainer part of being an instructor. If you can't, neither can the student body!! It's one thing to have the ability to execute near flawless techniques and the like, but if you can't express yourself and get your meaning and intent across to the student body, then reassume your respectful place IN LINE, wherever that might me, with the other students, and let someone else teach who CAN.

Oh, one more thing! Not all black belts can teach, nor should they try!! They can have everything going for themselves, but if they can't teach, there's no use in assuming a position that their not qualified to possess!

But what about if you've trained there a while and then find something out? How easy is it then?

If I don't like what I've found out, then, I'm out of there, no matter how long I've been there. Dojo's are a dime a dozen; I've other choices, and if there are no other choices, well, then there's no other choices...I'm fine with that! I choose whom I want to train with, and who I want to train me! Not the CI...not the governing body...not my family and friends...no one!! I must WANT to be there in order to be there!! To me, and I've been doing the MA for quite a long time, the MA is a want, but it's not a need!

[The Pred]

I agree with the not all black belts should teach. With that said, since all black belts shouldn't teach, should those people only go up to a certain rank and no further.

[sensei8]

I agree with the not all black belts should teach. With that said, since all black belts shouldn't teach, should those people only go up to a certain rank and no further.

That's an individuals choice, imho, because it's a personal choice!! Having said that, hopefully, one didn't learn the MA just to teach MA; that's limiting, imho!! I know countless MAists that don't teach, yet they're Senior Dan's in their respective MA...teaching just isn't their bag.

[The Pred]

I agree with the not all black belts should teach. With that said, since all black belts shouldn't teach, should those people only go up to a certain rank and no further.

That's an individuals choice, imho, because it's a personal choice!! Having said that, hopefully, one didn't learn the MA just to teach MA; that's limiting, imho!! I know countless MAists that don't teach, yet they're Senior Dan's in their respective MA...teaching just isn't their bag.

Very solid point !

[Lupin1]

In order to be a good instructor-- you have to know how to teach!

Yes, some people are "naturals" at teaching just like some people are "naturals" at martial arts-- but it doesn't mean that person doesn't have to be taught and put a lot of work into mastering that art!

A serious martial arts instructor should take the teaching part of their job as seriously as the training part-- they should do research on effective teaching methods, practice new methods, and constantly reflect on what they can do to improve.

Teaching is an art in and of itself. Not everyone can be great at it, but everyone should always work to get better.

[armanox]

I agree with the not all black belts should teach. With that said, since all black belts shouldn't teach, should those people only go up to a certain rank and no further.

That's an individuals choice, imho, because it's a personal choice!! Having said that, hopefully, one didn't learn the MA just to teach MA; that's limiting, imho!! I know countless MAists that don't teach, yet they're Senior Dan's in their respective MA...teaching just isn't their bag.

Depends on the organization - in the organization that my school is part of when you reach the upper dan ranks (7th and up) you are graded on teaching/your school. At one point it was explained to me along the lines of "the first 5 dan ranks are what you get from the style [graded on your ability]. The next 5 are what you give back." At 4th dan a individual is allowed to teach on their own. By 7th they should have their own school. All the 9th and 10th dans that I know of in the org are overseeing multiple schools (and 10th dans are few and far between)

[Spartacus Maximus]

A martial arts instructor, as any teacher should not be held to any higher moral standard than anyone else trusted with passing on knowledge or skills. No matter what level of skill or depth of knowledge they may have gained, they are still people with qualities and flaws. Expecting them to be different is just not realistic. Only a fool refuses a diamond because the vessel containing it is stained. If an instructor is skilled and can teach well, the rest should be of no concern.

[Luther unleashed]

So 9 months ago I started my own program. Prior to that I was at a studio where I worked very hard to "learn to teach"! Was something my teacher saw in me as he approached me to be on the "CIT" or certified instructor program. I had a dream to teach since I was 17, so it was a great honor for me and very exciting. I had trained in quite a few martial arts but never really learned to teach.

I took my class as a student on Tuesdays and Thursday's, and taught for 3 hours a night on Mondays and Wednesday's. I also went to monthly CIT classes on Saturdays or Sunday's to practice teaching and teaching alone. At the meetings there were times I had to do things I didn't like, such as role play. Teaching a technique or group of technics front of the other instructors and CIT members. Was embarrassing and nerve racking. I also learned how to handle different situations in a professional manner, things like parents that have attitude problems, or students that have the same. I watched my instructor teach with an incredible amount of professionalism.

So, after a very hard caught year to become an instructor, I was running full classes, and next thing you know, I opened my own program at a recreation center. I have gone from 7 students (in month one) to 37 students (in month 9). Certainly some type of measure of my success. Financially I still struggle because it's a low income area and I'm pretty cheap, but finances are starting to get better, through it all I still teach though. I nEver let finances determine my drive to become a great teacher, and never let it become part of class. They are an after thought and a positive side effect, this is my mind frame.

Now, as much as I don't want to talk all about myself there's a reason I am. My story is 100 percent true and still happening but most would have to acknowledge my successful journey to become a teacher. I believe I am a bit of a natural, i believe I'm a confident person and that comes across to people, BUT do you know the secret to my success??? DEDICATION, COMMITTMENT, PUTTING IN THE TIME ON THE MATS, SACRIFICE, and the willingness to learn weather I feel I'm a natural or not.

"What is a good teacher"? Somebody willing to be open to learning to teach. Somebody who has the martial arts skills, but more importantly the In-depth knowlage and comprehension of technuiqe, and most of all, somebody with a very high level of commitment to growing and reaching for more. I leave every class feeling I could have done better, and believe it's why my program gets better as time goes by. This is because I reach for perfection each and every night on the floor, because if I reach for perfection, I hope to achieve greatness.

My personal feelings about the topic, thanks for reading.