In the martial arts instructor’s world, so much time an energy is spent on developing the right training program. There is constant discussion and evaluation about how the program is working and what progressions and techniques are the most important. Most of this time is spent examining the techniques themselves, and instructors ignore their own role in the learning process.
When my students struggle with learning certain things, I see that as my fault as an instructor. If most of the students are having trouble with the same thing, then I must not be teaching it right. It is also possible that I am teaching it right, but based on who my students are, it is just not the right thing to teach.
Most martial arts programs are built around who the instructor is, not who the students are. No wonder so many people have trouble learning! A school, class or seminar exists because of the students, not the teacher. Rather than forcing students to emulate the instructor’s skills so that they can one day get close, instructors should put their skills in a context that their students can understand.
All my instructors have at least 15 more years training than I do – how can emulate them? How can I understand technique they way they do? I can’t. I have to take what they show me an relate it to who I am and what my own goals are. It is simply unreasonable for martial arts instructors to build instructional programs around their own skills. This is not teaching. Teaching involves understanding the needs and goals of the students and tailoring the instructional material appropriately.
