What qualifies someone as a instructor?

[SamuraiJack]

I dont know much about TKD.

[clyon]

to me the question is "Is anyone really a Master? No matter where you are in you MA training you are always learning. So to me, I guess a Master would be the founder of a style (Legitamate Style) or someone who has reached top rank in a style and can no longer go up in rank. Of course this would all be a tecnicality since you never stop learning and with that type of knowledge who knows what you can come up with.

[SamuraiJack]

Not even my master desires to be called a master.

[Fluffy]

Ditto-


Years?
Information?
Physical Ability?

All of the above, plus the ability and willingness to share knowledge freely without too many strings. As a school owner I understand that we all have to eat. The old days of "I'm a Black Belt, so I must teach...." has ended. You must understand the differences between a child and adult understand the differences between a woman and a man and be able to communicate the same set of techniques to all evolved in a way all understand.

I teach my leadership students the 10 class management skills:

1. Set mood and tone of class - you are in charge the students will fallow your lead.

2. Create positive climate - old school scream at the students does not work anymore. People shut down, people quit.

3. Personal approach/individual contact- make the student feel as if you are talking directly to him/her, even a controlled pat on the back is motivation.

4. Set direct goals - In this class this is what we want to achieve

5. Give thoughtful feedback to student response - keyword "thoughtful" (empathy)

6. Reinforce positive behavior - Positive reinforcement

7. Give realistic praise - Both kids and adults see thru false praise, but that's not enough. Praise must be specific for educational benefits (ex. Your foot position is good!)

8. Give positive correction rather than criticism - (I think your chamber position is great, if you pivot your foot a bit more you will get more power.)

9. Refer to students by name - Very personal, shows interest in that person.

10. Teach concept of personal victory - "Who conquers the is great but who conquers oneself is mighty" and "Never mind what others do; do better than yourself. Beat your own record from day to day and you are a success.

Once you can practice these skills without thinking about it, I feel you are ready to teach.

I also recommend reading the books, "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" and "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."

[Fluffy]

Not even my master desires to be called a master.

Hey sir.

In my org (Hwa-Rang Taekwondo Federation) if you do not go by your title you are misrepresenting yourself and thus disgracing the org. If it were to become known that I was going by Adam (or in this case Fluffy) I could get into some trouble.

Just a heads up, your master may not want to be called "Master" but if he has earned the title, deserves it.

[Rick]

Ditto-


Years?
Information?
Physical Ability?

All of the above, plus the ability and willingness to share knowledge freely without too many strings. As a school owner I understand that we all have to eat. The old days of "I'm a Black Belt, so I must teach...." has ended. You must understand the differences between a child and adult understand the differences between a woman and a man and be able to communicate the same set of techniques to all evolved in a way all understand.

I teach my leadership students the 10 class management skills:

1. Set mood and tone of class - you are in charge the students will fallow your lead.

2. Create positive climate - old school scream at the students does not work anymore. People shut down, people quit.

3. Personal approach/individual contact- make the student feel as if you are talking directly to him/her, even a controlled pat on the back is motivation.

4. Set direct goals - In this class this is what we want to achieve

5. Give thoughtful feedback to student response - keyword "thoughtful" (empathy)

6. Reinforce positive behavior - Positive reinforcement

7. Give realistic praise - Both kids and adults see thru false praise, but that's not enough. Praise must be specific for educational benefits (ex. Your foot position is good!)

8. Give positive correction rather than criticism - (I think your chamber position is great, if you pivot your foot a bit more you will get more power.)

9. Refer to students by name - Very personal, shows interest in that person.

10. Teach concept of personal victory - "Who conquers the is great but who conquers oneself is mighty" and "Never mind what others do; do better than yourself. Beat your own record from day to day and you are a success.

Once you can practice these skills without thinking about it, I feel you are ready to teach.

I also recommend reading the books, "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" and "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."

Yes, Ive seen this somewhat, and those books are great...............

[Rick]

Not even my master desires to be called a master.

Hey sir.

In my org (Hwa-Rang Taekwondo Federation) if you do not go by your title you are misrepresenting yourself and thus disgracing the org. If it were to become known that I was going by Adam (or in this case Fluffy) I could get into some trouble.

Just a heads up, your master may not want to be called "Master" but if he has earned the title, deserves it.

I think he maybe speaking in terms of humility and he may be in more of a personal relation with his teacher other than paying student.

[Fluffy]

Not even my master desires to be called a master.

Hey sir.

In my org (Hwa-Rang Taekwondo Federation) if you do not go by your title you are misrepresenting yourself and thus disgracing the org. If it were to become known that I was going by Adam (or in this case Fluffy) I could get into some trouble.

Just a heads up, your master may not want to be called "Master" but if he has earned the title, deserves it.

I think he maybe speaking in terms of humility and he may be in more of a personal relation with his teacher other than paying student.

Yes sir, now that I re-read the post I can see that. My bad.

[Rick]

No worries. I personally know him like many others here. It is easier to undertand a person knowing them like this. It is hard to understand what someone is truly trying to convey in words.

[Ron]

I think what qualifies someone to be an instructor is vision; not just the ability to relay information but the ability see potential and direct that potential toward a specific end. Anyone can punch and kick and some can innately punch and kick well, same goes for grappling and forms. A good teacher isn't spouting rhetoric or cloning their experiences but should always be striving to make their system and their students better.

[tsingtaoster]

yeah. most good teachers dont even talk about their styles or accomplishments

[westbfella]

Hi everyone

I realise that I'm very late into the debate but as a good school teacher I feel I have something to offer. I only say I'm a good teacher because as a teacher I have to be observed and graded quite alot and I always acheive a GOOD or OUTSTANDING grade.

I feel that people often get confused by teaching and coaching and to me they are two very different things that share common principals - A teacher imparts new knowledge whilst manipulating that knowlege and pre-existing knowledge, whereas a coach works with pre-existing knowledge whilst imparting new knowledge where relevant. The art of teaching relies on multiple techniques of helping someone learn (often new things). Once that knowledge is there, a coach or teacher can work with it to maximise progress.

You have to be taught to swim (usually by parents). But a coach can make that swimming better.

Martial Art instructors have to teach because the students will often have no knowledge of the art when they work throught the doors. The question is will they be any good at it? My instructor was not a good teacher in the sense of making me learn to the best of my ability by words alone - he was an amazing martial artist who could perform every technique to the highest standard. Teachning involved me copying the best I could and at that point he would correct me and make it better - he could work with the knowledge I had but struggled to vocally give it to me. He is a coach, not a teacher.

Over the years he got better at teaching - through experience. But he still makes brown belts and above into the best martial artist they can be. Whereas I (and I hate teaching martial arts) can make a person learn a kata or techniques in a very short time by the technique of teaching.

What qualifies someone to be an instructor?
Someone who can teach and coach successfully - ideally a teacher who is a good coach. Or a coach who can teach.

Good training everyone

[Rick]

Wow. VERY Impressive.

[westbfella]

Hi Rick - thanks for the welcome. I intend to post many things.

Let me assure you, nothing about me is impressive ! hahah

Good training

[Rick]

Hi Rick - thanks for the welcome. I intend to post many things.

Let me assure you, nothing about me is impressive ! hahah

Good training

Modesty is a good martial art virtue.