tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post2734487917472182574..comments2023-10-22T16:13:55.130+01:00Comments on My journey to black belt: Some karate teaching conundrums....Sue Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-16256425796622258692011-12-29T17:15:10.369+00:002011-12-29T17:15:10.369+00:00And the occasional adult!And the occasional adult!Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-30775789703845871292011-12-29T14:42:26.440+00:002011-12-29T14:42:26.440+00:00My own experience tells me that the majority of sm...My own experience tells me that the majority of smaller children require constant attention to keep on task. This, unfortunately, holds true for older children and even teenagers. <br /><br /><br />-BrettKyokushinblog.comhttp://www.kyokushinblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-31657363201622178062010-09-24T08:09:57.743+01:002010-09-24T08:09:57.743+01:00Ronald, 'where there is a will, there is a way...Ronald, 'where there is a will, there is a way', so true! Thanks for commenting.Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-77973238083056861382010-09-23T21:23:15.158+01:002010-09-23T21:23:15.158+01:00Well, I think if you have the will to learn martia...Well, I think if you have the will to learn martial arts or karate focus in not going to be a problem. That is also what I told to my kids when they decided to enroll in karate class. It should be within their will so that nothing we go along their way while training. As the saying goes if there is a will, there is always a way.Ronaldhttp://www.martialartstraining101.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-58012627412948383182010-09-13T07:56:27.573+01:002010-09-13T07:56:27.573+01:00Sandman, one kid distracting all the others is def...Sandman, one kid distracting all the others is definitely a problem as you end up giving more attention to the least deserving kid and less to the ones that want to learn. Trying to keep the main distractor a little seperate to the others sounds like worth a try - thanks.<br /><br />John, 'teaching is an art not a science' - I have to agree, it requires a lot of creativity! Children are such unpredictable things - I think a trial and error approach is often needed so 'flexible and adaptable' sounds like good advice. Thanks for commenting.Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-40019226438774061932010-09-13T07:38:57.267+01:002010-09-13T07:38:57.267+01:00Hi Sue. My two bobs worth. It wasn't until rel...Hi Sue. My two bobs worth. It wasn't until relatively late in my teaching career I started teaching children's/teenager's classes. I didn't have a repuation for relating all that well with this stage in the development of a human being. Much to my surprise I found it rewarding and a learning experience for me. One thing I got out of it was a real lesson in teaching is an art and not a science. What works for one kid doesn't for another, for one group doesn't for another, for the same group or kid one day doesn't for them another day. I learnt to be adaptable and flexible. It challenged my teaching and technical knowledge as I had to develop and modify the approaches I'd experienced and used before. The only suggestion I'd profer is to be adaptable and flexible. ... As an aside, I was quite surprised how many of these age-challenged students responded positively to discipline. At the Jan de Jong Self Defence School, my teenager class had the longest average length of membership of any class in the school. The average length of stay I calcualted at about 6 mths and virtually the entire class of that class had been members for 6+ years. That was definetly rewarding.John Coleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14634192254115557179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-25812199397048292362010-09-12T14:43:04.425+01:002010-09-12T14:43:04.425+01:00Leading large groups of kids is especially challen...Leading large groups of kids is especially challenging - a lesson I've been getting plenty of experience with lately. We have a group of about 7 young ones - ages 6 to about 9 - and all 10th to 8th kyu. I've been called on to lead them in katas a handful of times lately, and let me tell you it is not easy. They are all "wiggly" to some extent, but a couple of them are especially so - to the point that they distract the others. One night I ended up having the biggest offender sit out for most of the lesson after getting on to him several times. The next night I tried instead just to keep him separated from the other "wiggly" ones and just ignored all of his wandering and bouncing. That seemed to work much better - he wasn't distracting the other kids anymore and I was able to give the kids who were trying the attention they needed.sandmanhttp://www.sandmantraining.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-52022967129597788712010-09-10T08:02:31.328+01:002010-09-10T08:02:31.328+01:00Hi Matt, using the more confident or advanced stud...Hi Matt, using the more confident or advanced students as 'leaders' is a good idea so I'll give that one a try next time. Unfortunately I didn't have anyone available from the next class to pair up with my 'odd student' so I should probably have got him to rotate with one of the other pairs. We live and learn! Thanks for your advice.Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-22777294200944649352010-09-10T04:33:15.550+01:002010-09-10T04:33:15.550+01:00You bring up some very interesting and common situ...You bring up some very interesting and common situations here Sue. When practicing kata, it sometimes helps to let the ones who know it best be the "leaders". It is ok for the others to copy, as long as they don't depend on it. If the leaders help the others, it will make it less boring for them and more challenging as they strive to help the others. Probably better to let them all go together and use this method if you have one or two that really stand out. If you have any helpers, it's better to break the group up, but in this case it appears you did not.<br /><br />Regarding the odd numbers, I try to get someone from a later class to stand in and balance the numbers, or if you have a helper, they can. Helpers are worth their weight in gold and there are lots of things you can do to encourage people to help. In the absence of any help, I would let your students take turns being the odd person out and practice their kata or something until they can cycle in.SenseiMattKleinhttp://karate-kids.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-76133109108133160502010-09-09T08:49:17.831+01:002010-09-09T08:49:17.831+01:00Shibo Saru, Avril - 'focus on the kids', I...Shibo Saru, Avril - 'focus on the kids', I'm hearing it loud and clear! It must be the best advice since everyone's saying the same thing. Thanks for commenting.<br /><br />Matt - '..a ball rolling forward', I like that! Keep them busy all the time - exhausting but true!<br /><br />Felicia - I know what you're saying, I need some 'love' too! Adults definitely need feedback and praise occasionally. I agree with you that children often rise to the standards of conduct and achievement expected of them so letting them know that practising alone for short periods is mandatory not optional sounds like a good strategy. Thanks.Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-48499600970041634662010-09-07T19:51:22.948+01:002010-09-07T19:51:22.948+01:00I think anyone who's ever taught adults and li...I think anyone who's ever taught adults and little ones together has similar issues. It's hard to watch and do, but sometimes the situation calls for doing both. Sigh...<br /><br />I kinda agree with your sensei, but I think the adults need some "love" too. We know the younger set has to be almost constantly engaged or their attention will stray, but karate is about discipline and they hafta learn to follow both verbal and non-verbal commands and cues. Personally, I've found that sooner I let the younger kyus know that they are expected to not waste time and follow what their seniors (regardless of age) do in the "off" (as in away from sensei) time, the sooner they understand that and at least try to follow suit, if that makes sense. In other words, whatever we expect from our young ones, we usually get - be it wandering minds or earnest participation.<br /><br />I agree with Shibo Saru that It's easy to stray focus-wise, but learning how to get back on track can start with 7-yr-old yellow belts, too, IMHO...<br /><br />Sounds like a good class, though, Sue. Your school is lucky to have you...Feliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09017194727231120284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-48868354357253821842010-09-07T18:52:03.337+01:002010-09-07T18:52:03.337+01:00It's funny, when teaching kids I like to keep ...It's funny, when teaching kids I like to keep the sensation of a ball rolling forward. The kids should be working or in transition at all times, because giving them a moment to be stagnant will immediately turn to conversation or play.Matthttp://www.ikigaiway.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-5793157726008303852010-09-07T17:45:42.118+01:002010-09-07T17:45:42.118+01:00Hi Sue
I also agree with your Sensei - spend more...Hi Sue<br /><br />I also agree with your Sensei - spend more time with the children, esp the younger ones. <br /><br />At that age childrens' attention spans are not very good so ideally they need as much supervision and direction as you can manage. <br /><br />Adults' attention on the other hand can easily be refocused and redirected verbally to the task at hand.<br /><br />AvrilIndomitable Spirithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12496296877865809486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-34219025733736769672010-09-07T17:05:37.454+01:002010-09-07T17:05:37.454+01:00Keeping everyone's focus is a difficult task. ...Keeping everyone's focus is a difficult task. Even for upper kyu and dan ranks, if left on their own, end up chatting. I often find myself in the middle of a good conversation during kata practice. The trick is to recognize you strayed and pull yourself and other around you back into practice.<br />I agree with you Sensei. Focus on the kids and the adults can choose to work or not. It'll show in the long run who chose to work out.Shibo Saruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12763801339399951488noreply@blogger.com