Drawn Out Explanation!!

[OneKickWonder]

Perhaps 'lied to' is a bit strong. But I tend to be quite literal in my thinking and if somebody tells me something and we both know it to be untrue, it is a lie.

I should be clear. I intend no disrespect to my instructors or anyone else. I kind of understand why they sometimes lie. Lying provides an opportunity to keep up a simplified pretense which might work for some, especially younger students with no life experience. I guess it's easier to explain to a child that you have to do this and this to generate the power needed to block a kick, than it would be to explain that this technique serves no purpose in itself but trains many different principles that form part of the foundation upon which everything else is built.

So I understand the potential reasons for the lies. But I also wish the custom would be to say 'it's this and more', and maybe introduce more practical applications earlier to keep the interest and to provide an opportunity to train these things earlier in partnered drills, rather than waiting til higher grade, and noticing that this new advanced technique you've just been taught is actually just principles from basics assembled into something simple yet powerful.

Or maybe not. Maybe half the magic and excitement comes from making these observations for ourselves.

Quite fair enough!!

Has your instructor ever "lied" to you, especially when it came to what he was/has teaching/taught you??

That drawn out explanation potentially enforces the simplification, in that what a beginner is taught versus what a intermediate is taught versus what a advanced is taught versus what Senior Dan's are taught/teach varies how they are addressed.

Without doubt. On all counts.

Then why stay his student??

I can't stand thieves and liars; I've no use for them, ever!!

Because he's a very good teacher. But nobody is perfect, and even if they were, there'd be an imperfect student that thinks otherwise

His approach works for most. And compared to other martial arts teachers I've encountered over the years, my current one speaks almost pure truth. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've heard from others over the years.

[sensei8]

Perhaps 'lied to' is a bit strong. But I tend to be quite literal in my thinking and if somebody tells me something and we both know it to be untrue, it is a lie.

I should be clear. I intend no disrespect to my instructors or anyone else. I kind of understand why they sometimes lie. Lying provides an opportunity to keep up a simplified pretense which might work for some, especially younger students with no life experience. I guess it's easier to explain to a child that you have to do this and this to generate the power needed to block a kick, than it would be to explain that this technique serves no purpose in itself but trains many different principles that form part of the foundation upon which everything else is built.

So I understand the potential reasons for the lies. But I also wish the custom would be to say 'it's this and more', and maybe introduce more practical applications earlier to keep the interest and to provide an opportunity to train these things earlier in partnered drills, rather than waiting til higher grade, and noticing that this new advanced technique you've just been taught is actually just principles from basics assembled into something simple yet powerful.

Or maybe not. Maybe half the magic and excitement comes from making these observations for ourselves.

Quite fair enough!!

Has your instructor ever "lied" to you, especially when it came to what he was/has teaching/taught you??

That drawn out explanation potentially enforces the simplification, in that what a beginner is taught versus what a intermediate is taught versus what a advanced is taught versus what Senior Dan's are taught/teach varies how they are addressed.

Without doubt. On all counts.

Then why stay his student??

I can't stand thieves and liars; I've no use for them, ever!!

Because he's a very good teacher. But nobody is perfect, and even if they were, there'd be an imperfect student that thinks otherwise

His approach works for most. And compared to other martial arts teachers I've encountered over the years, my current one speaks almost pure truth. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've heard from others over the years.

Solid reason!!

And yes, I would believe some of the stuff!!