When teaching your students...

[don bohrer]

What areas in your students training do you find the most difficult to teach? What lesson, or concepts have you found particularly challenging to get across? How has this changed as your students progress from beginner to advanced?

don (el paso)

[Brother John]

What areas in your students training do you find the most difficult to teach? What lesson, or concepts have you found particularly challenging to get across? How has this changed as your students progress from beginner to advanced?
don (el paso)

What an excellent subject for us to discuss!! Thank you Mr. Bohrer!

What are the most difficult lessons to empart, in my estimation?

#1: The crucial importance of proper attitude!
Which I generally define as a "Proactive, positive state of expectancy"...
in other words, the belief that:
a. It's up to me.
b. I can do it.
c. I Will do it.

#2: That class time is important but training on ones own, consistently, is VERY important!

#3: That there is No-one who has MORE or LESS potential as a martial artist, only more or less commitment, passion or perseverance. (and EACH of these is a Decision!)

#4: That memorization and repetitive paroting of their instructor (though important steps/stages) do NOT equate understanding and competency!

#5: That there is NO 'magic bullet', only hard work and attention to detail.

#6: That though the "advanced stuff" IS cool! ..(and it is).. the BEST stuff is the basics, and it's the small stuff that matters the most.


In my estimation, NO student goes from beginner to advanced without first getting these things down pat.

Your Brother
John

[gakusei]

Hard work. Students should not treat it as boweling night and just show up and go through the motions. Hence my signature line. Shugyou means pursuit of knowledge, austere training, and discipline.

[jdinca]

Brother John, great reply! On the mental aspect, I really don't have anything to add. I almost think this should be a two part question with the second part devoted to physical skills.

In the physical aspect of your students training, what areas do you find most difficult to teach?

[John Brewer]

As a student I think Brother John has nailed it!

[don bohrer]

Brother John,

Something tells me you've been at this for awhile! When I first started training I would have confused enthusiasm for proper attitude. While enthusiasm is great it doesn't allow a student to recognize his personal responsibilities towards their training. I might add too that a healthy and well balanced school will help set the boundaries for Proper Attitude.

All of your points are very good. Most instructors do touch on these points but rarely have an effective method to promote a long term change in their students and junior instructors. Any one else want to chime and share their experience and touch on brother johns points?

don (el paso)