Beating the Instructor

[CrazyAZNRocker]

You should start pumping it up. Your master then will start heating things up aswell. When ever I would spar with my master I would go with everything I had, and he would give it right back... and more so... alot more so. Its that kind of * kickin you like to get for sake of a good workout.

[Sens55]

I can occasionally best my instructor. That, by no means, means I am anywhere close to his level of expertise or that my knowledge exceeds his. Far from it. However, I'm 6' 300 lbs, very strong and relatively quick. My instructor is 10 years older than I, 3 inches shorter and 125 pounds lighter. He punches and kicks WAY harder than I do. However, part of our art involves throws and submission holds. And if I can catch him, I have a chance to use my weight and strength advantage to get him down. It's also worth noting that some techniques don't work on everyone, and it sometimes takes "real-time" training for that to become evident. He's put me in holds that would work on most people, but I'm able to muscle my way out of them.

 

The difference is, he's a better martial artist, because I can only beat him in one way. He beats me in dozens. But he's not afraid to try a technique on me to see how it works, and it sometimes doesn't, to his (temporary) demise. I'm just stronger. And, to be honest, me winning is the exception, not the rule. But I only wanted to point out that beating your instructor shouldn't be the "end all", or in my opinion, a goal of your training.

[KwicKixJ1]

i think if you're TRAINING and you're looking at your situations as BEATING your instructors, then there's a lot of wrong ideas going around. Fact of the matter is that you're still labeling him as your instructor. not your equal. just cuz one of my students gets a point here and there doesn't mean by any means that they should leave. IF you find another coach who you feel could make a world of difference in your abilities, then MAYBE think about changing academies. BUT... please, before trying to "wandering warrior" your way through the world searching for temporary "best" coaches... try and remember why you started training in the first place. i highly doubt you walked into your school and said to yourself: "i wanna beat that guy"

[Icetuete]

good points @ Kwic & Sens

[Black Dragon]

Dont get me wrong, I dont respect him any less or act as such. I just wanted some opinions on whether or not to try to beat him if I can, while other students of his are watching.

[Sens55]

If you think you can, try it. Taking it up another notch may be good for both of you. Of course, if you let fly with one, be prepared to receive a few (or maybe more than a few). If you can take 'em, then you're prepared to give them. However, after taking a few, you might realize how far you still have to go. I know I wish I could generate the equivalent power of my instructor with the same efficiency, I'd be devestating. Maybe someday....

[Ben]

i would agree that if you think you could, then try it. if your only concern is making him "look bad", for the use of a better phrase, i wouldnt worry. if you do succeed then you can take it up a level, and progress further. if you cant, then you still not to work on it some more. maybe its an approach he sometimes takes - testing to see how much you are thinking and feeling about the situation.

 

it could be anything - but no one has the answers for you. do what comes naturally

[KwicKixJ1]

a lot of the time, i found that some students refuse to go all out on the instructor for 2 reasons.

 

a.) they're scared that their best will be someone else's worst.

 

b.) they're afraid that by doing their best, they might hurt people and this causes other people to reject them and shun them for lack of control. -basically dislike them.

 

dunno which case it is here. but your relationship with your instructor is a very important one... and in every relationship, the key to a healthy one is COMMUNICATION.

[Sens55]

KwicKix,

 

I kind of know what you mean. One of our asst instructors is awesome. His form is great, he's quick, he has power, he's smart on his tactics, he's the complete package. But, for some reason, he has a mental block with the master (he's admitted to such). He just falls to pieces. And the truth is, he's good enough, he could take the master on a few occasions, but he hasn't, and unless he loses his mental block, he never will.

[Cyberclown]

Most of my adult blackbelt students are better than I ever was on my best day. In fact, that is my goal when I train them.

 

When a great oak tree ages and drops it's acorns many will spring forth. However, very few of the seedlings will make it to maturity. For any that do, to grow to a broader height and wider canopy than the original oak tree would be a testament both to the old oak and the younger tree.

 

When I have a student who prevails easily over his classmates I will double -up on him, (two students attacking at once) or even invite a fellow martial arts friend or student over to give my student a good workout.

 

I take my students and travel to other schools as well as inviting other instructors and their students to my dojang from time to time and find that alleviates the problem of a student with no one to match them with.