tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post3956560709871844055..comments2023-10-01T10:41:23.092-05:00Comments on Going my Way: Giving adviceMirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-35508224243545888442007-10-08T05:00:00.000-05:002007-10-08T05:00:00.000-05:00That's so TRUE, Colin. Where does the responsibil...That's so TRUE, Colin. Where does the responsibility truly lie when it comes to personal progress? Our coach/Instructor can only point out the various aspects, and information, but it is up to the individual to put forth physical, and mental energy towards their goal. I believe that this can translate to any endeavor. It really lies up to the student to actively work towards achieving success.Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-91807792588399321122007-10-08T04:58:00.000-05:002007-10-08T04:58:00.000-05:00Becky, you touched on an important point here when...Becky, you touched on an important point here when you said "I want to try to remember it on my own." That's so true.. in fact, I bet you that the energy, and struggle of trying to remember will help cement, and strengthen the learning process. If someone keeps providing the information automatically, you will not dissect, and manipulate it enough to understand it more deeply. Sometimes the struggle to learn is necessary to achieving the skill. How would we have ever learned to walk if someone always helped us with our balance?<BR/><BR/>I Like how you described the moment of watching someone working on their kata, and offering advice. That's great.. It gives a balance of being available for further instruction, but also respecting that other person's right to work it out.Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-30464547788454432722007-10-08T04:34:00.000-05:002007-10-08T04:34:00.000-05:00A lot has been said of the instructor's role. How ...A lot has been said of the instructor's role. <BR/><BR/>How about the role of the student? Where possible should the student just be a vessel in which only the instructor can fill? The best students spend time in the dojo looking, learning, and understanding.<BR/><BR/>Outside the dojo, he goes over the material, practices what he has learned, and plans to get feedback on stuff he is not so certain of. He writes all of this down in order to reference it in the future. <BR/><BR/>He then spends some time on the internet looking for resources in which to 'fill in the gaps'. <BR/><BR/>The next time he's at the dojo, he's looking out for the major stuff to see if he's got it right, and focusing on those parts he doesn't as yet understand. <BR/><BR/>How many students do this? You'll be lucky if the student spends 5 minutes thinking and internalising stuff they've learned in the dojo outside of their training session. <BR/><BR/>To this then there is a benefit of having the junior 'sempai' being more of a slave driver - drilling the student into repeating stuff over and over again in order that some sticks. <BR/><BR/>But at no time should the head coach be hands off. <BR/><BR/>ColinColin Weehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01777513509370303056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-64961727838523410412007-10-06T19:00:00.000-05:002007-10-06T19:00:00.000-05:00Good post. I know that even now, when I am learni...Good post. I know that even now, when I am learning a new kata and I have to stop and think about a move, it bugs me when someone else jumps in to show me. I want to try to remember it on my own. <BR/><BR/>As the highest ranking consistent student, I often give advice to lower ranks, but I don't just go up and start saying, "You should do this or that...", and I will <I>never</I> interrupt them in the middle of a kata. <BR/><BR/>What I usually do is watch them, and when they are done, go up to them and say, "I noticed a few things about your kata. Would you like me to go over them with you?" <BR/><BR/>I'm also aware, as Colin said, that too much information at once is overwhelming, so when going over kata with someone, I try to just focus on one aspect--stances, for instance--at a time. Once the student has that down, we move on to some other aspect. <BR/><BR/>You make good points here, and I will definitely keep them in mind.Becky Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10901212090175780900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-27790562966552866022007-10-05T10:27:00.000-05:002007-10-05T10:27:00.000-05:00Hey, you're it!Hey, you're it!Mathieuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06914289317924626891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-57217611968011892162007-10-05T04:33:00.000-05:002007-10-05T04:33:00.000-05:00Colin, Liraenfae's posting seems to be more inclin...Colin, Liraenfae's posting seems to be more inclined towards "distracting talk during class training." I've faced this problem more than once as I've trained. For some reason, instead of physically doing the exercise, some people would like to discuss it, or sometimes they discuss off topics like the weather. I believe that we have limited time to train, usually an hour or so, and that there is no time to discuss much, the focus needs to be on learning the skill, or improving the skill.Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-65701696484592950432007-10-05T04:13:00.000-05:002007-10-05T04:13:00.000-05:00That's a good point, Marks, that not everyone can ...That's a good point, Marks, that not everyone can perform the same techniques as good as someone else. (Welcome to my weblog) No matter how many times a higher belt could correct my kick and insist that it needs to be head high, there is no hope that my left leg will make the height. I usually have to lower the kick, but strive for the best technique possible. We each have our "issues", and we have to create our own karate based on our strengths and weaknesses.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I love how you have arranged your weblog. It's well organized, and chock full of great topics. I do not have time to visit right now, but in the future, expect me to come, and read your blog.Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-63206657189712207472007-10-04T21:08:00.000-05:002007-10-04T21:08:00.000-05:00A related post http://lirianfae.typepad.com/karate...A related post http://lirianfae.typepad.com/karate_talk/2007/09/do-you-fuchi-mo.html?cid=85189782<BR/><BR/>ColinColin Weehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01777513509370303056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-29509336730370221132007-10-04T12:38:00.000-05:002007-10-04T12:38:00.000-05:00Well put! There are have been lots of times during...Well put! There are have been lots of times during my training when higher belts have tried to get me to do certain techniques certain ways, and the reality is that not everyone can perform the same techniques as good as someone else. Its hard to not be rude at times like this but sometimes it helps just saying"thanks for the advice but im happy doing it my way"<BR/><BR/>Good post<BR/><BR/>Marks markschat.blogspot.comMARKShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04380622177307391580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-49435885891221955782007-10-04T04:48:00.000-05:002007-10-04T04:48:00.000-05:00I agree Mat, that everything has it's place.There ...I agree Mat, that everything has it's place.There has to be balance. It wouldn't be very proper for someone with experience to ignore the needs of a lower belt because it isn't worth their time to bother to help. However, forcing one's own opinions, goals, and information on another because "I'm the senior student" is also incorrect.Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-1293715249135451722007-10-04T04:46:00.000-05:002007-10-04T04:46:00.000-05:00It took awhile for me to understand the concept, C...It took awhile for me to understand the concept, Colin, that the Sensei is the main "coach", and director of learning. I realized that when a student goes forth to represent the dojo, it is the Sensei's reputation that is on the line. From what I've noticed in a tournament setting, if a competitor goes up and does a poor performance, usually the comments I hear are "Who is that guy's Sensei?" not "Who is that guy's sempai?"<BR/><BR/>Ha ha ha I remember you mentioning the whole Brown belt "teaching the pattern" experience before, and I totally can sympathize with what you had experienced.Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-89964766969698099532007-10-03T12:22:00.000-05:002007-10-03T12:22:00.000-05:00Side dishes, exactly!I had problems accepting that...Side dishes, exactly!<BR/><BR/>I had problems accepting that.<BR/>Things have changed, that attitude is gone.<BR/><BR/>My new interpretation of this:<BR/>Help if you are required to do so. Unless you are --> General advice: shut up, put that ego where it belongs.<BR/><BR/>:D<BR/><BR/>I believe that working on our skills should be the center of our training, like you mention. And that helping others is part of the way. But, everything has it's place :D<BR/><BR/>Be well!Mathieuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06914289317924626891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-31591919113765981602007-10-03T09:50:00.000-05:002007-10-03T09:50:00.000-05:00It is true - the best scenario is that the beginni...It is true - the best scenario is that the beginning student should have one effective coach. All others that have a hand with this student should take the lead off that one coach. This means that training can be kept constant. Too much and the student gets overloaded. <BR/><BR/>I remember one related instance where a brown belt was tasked toward teaching me a form. I had been a black belt in another style for maybe 5 years. He began the form and into the first two or three steps started telling me all these little things for everything he did. It started to overfill my brain!!! Thank goodness my instructor comes along and says to just show me the form, I'd be able to learn without explanation. <BR/><BR/>From that point forward I think it took me maybe just another 10 minutes to nail the form. But if it came with any more brown belt 'explanation' I'd sooner kill myself.<BR/><BR/>Nothing against brown belts, of course.Colin Weehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01777513509370303056noreply@blogger.com