Beating the Instructor

[Black Dragon]

Honestly I'll admit NHB my instructor would beat me down, but in sparring classes sometimes I get the best of him. He's not old or out of shape, I dont feel like I'm taking advantage of him. But I dont know if I should hold back for the sake of the other students watching, or keep the heat on in order to make us both better?

[Icetuete]

are u sure u get the best out of your instructor? i dont know ur belt or for how long u have been doing tkd, but if u really think ur instructor isnt good enough for u anymore, why dont u switch clubs? or maybe ur instructor himself holds back?

 

i think it cant be wrong to give ur best - what could happen?

[tommarker]

instructors often spar only at the approximate level of the student.

 

sparring your instructor shouldn't always result in you getting your butt handed to you. perhaps he was trying to teach you some concept by giving you an easy way in. I often do this with our students.

 

When I think they are getting the impression that they are as good as me, I turn it up a bit

[Karateka_latino]

I Remember back then when i used to do TKD, that one of the students, who was very strong, had great stamina and techique. He felt he had the a skills in Sparring higher than anybody else in the class so one day, He tried to K.O. our intructor in a sparring sesion, right in front of all the class.

 

They started to spar and student was REALLY trying to Beat the Instructor Up. Instructor noticed it and raised up a little his level. At the End, Student ended K.O. in the floor.

[Karateka_latino]

Sparring in the Dojo isn't about winning or losing, is about learning.

 

Maybe you should raise up your sparring level a little bit so your instructor raise his. Do it gradually, don't try to defeat your Instructor. By raising up your level gradually, you'll notice how much your Instructor is holding back when he's sparring with you and neither will get hurt.

[granmasterchen]

i always hold back on my students, when they get better i will raise my level up to meet them and give them some more challenges, most likely your instructor wasn't trying his hardest on you, i noticed my instructor going easy on me one time too, but hey that doesn't change the fact that he is still my better in fighting and i still have loads of room for improving, i can say this after all the tournies i have won and all the fights i have been in and the many talented individuals that i have beaten with ease, we must come to a level in our training when we understand that we really dont know everything, that everyone can teach us more, and we must be humbled and accept this fact, so in the end we grow and then become stronger instead of staying on the same platoue and not improving......most likely our teachers dont' let loose with everything they have.

[Icetuete]

we must come to a level in our training when we understand that we really dont know everything, that everyone can teach us more, and we must be humbled and accept this fact, so in the end we grow and then become stronger instead of staying on the same platoue and not improving......most likely our teachers dont' let loose with everything they have.

 

very true...!

[TKDLadyInSC]

I am not an instructor, but in sparring lower ranks in class, I spar like I was their next belt level, whatever they will test for next. This helps bring them up to that level. Little is to be learned by either person by one kicking the other's butt, except in the case where an attitude adjustment is neccesary. I learn something from all of my opponents, lower or higher rank.

[monkeygirl]

Instructors often like to do a little "mental testing". I'm not saying that this is definitely the case, but just keep it in mind:

 

Your instructor may be "letting" you get the better of him in sparring, to see whether you will still respect him afterwards, or if you will run off to another school. Obviously, your instructor is the one who brought your training this far. If you can "beat" your instructor in sparring, it's because HE trained you to do so. It takes a very humble, very big person to train someone to be better than them. After all, many instructors have a competitive nature, too. If this is the case, your instructor deserves an enormous amount of respect from you. And, just because you may be able to "beat" him in sparring, doesn't mean he has nothing left to teach you. There's always somebody bigger and better than you. Your instructor has probably been teaching long enough to be able to keep refining your skills, even when your skills have surpassed his own.

 

That's the difference between being a skilled student, and being a skilled instructor. ALWAYS remember that, and stay humble

[AndrewGreen]

Everyone seems to be ignoring the possibility that he actually can beat his instructor. Instructors can be beat, if you can beat him, beat him.

 

If his ego is so big that he can't deal with loosing in front of his students he shouldn't be teaching.

 

He coached you, he could see your beating him as a sign that he has done his job well. The best thing an instructor can do is help others get to a higher level then they could.