| Teaching Martial Arts takes patience | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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The Martial Arts teaches students many things. One of the most valuable tools a student receives is patience. Instructors must always remember that they must show and practice this instrument every day in every class and especially with every child who walks in the door. Recently, I was the guest of honor in North Carolina at a Martial Arts event. I visited a school, while I was there. The instructor/sensei had no idea who I was. I sat down to observe how he conducted his class. As time grew, I found myself not watching the students, but the instructor and his teaching tactics. I became quite uncomfortable because the sensei was treating the children as if they were adults, and almost yelling at them as if they were in the military. Since I was in a military town and a U.S. Marine Corps base was only a few miles away, I figured these kids might be familiar with this type of behavior. As time passed, I began to see the parents of the students react to some of the actions of the teacher. I listened to their comments. I saw it as an opportunity to learn for myself because I was on the other side of the classroom with the parents not knowing who I was. They probably figured I was a parent or a relative of a student on the floor. The parents comments were not good as far as the instructor was concerned. Every time the sensei yelled, because a child did not move like Bruce Lee, a parent would cringe and obviously get hurt. The sensei could have corrected the child. These kids who look up to this man were also being hurt. This practice and mentality might have worked at the Marine Corps base, but it was and is not a practice to be used while teaching a young child. We as instructors must never use those types of tactics to gain the attention of children. The Martial Arts can and should be taught with patience and understanding < not with a stick in one hand and a closed mind. The fact is that we are dealing with very impressionable minds. The sad thing is that many teachers are using this practice. The problem is this: The children emulate what they see and they want to be like their teachers. There is no doubt in my mind that these same children go home and play teacher and bark and scream at their younger siblings because sensei did the same thing and sensei can do no wrong! In order to teach a child, you must truly love what you are doing, and you must be prepared to deal with the child, who is just that: a child. You must have compassion and patience for these young minds who want so much to be like you. You must never lose your patience because you lack the skills of a true teacher. You also must remember that this little person in front of you has a parent who for the most part is watching what you are doing. They love this child, regardless if his round kick is two inches off the floor or five feet above his head. Every time you lose your patience with a student you lose the respect of the parent who is paying your bills. If you have the same patience you had with this young student that you had when you so eagerly took his tuition payment when you signed him up, you will be a better teacher and a more respected role model for this very impressionable, young person who you are trying to mold. I would be not telling the truth if I said I never lost my patience with a student. We are only human. But, you can lose you patience without showing it, so the student and the parent do not feel like they want to crawl under a rock. It is called self-control, which is something that we as instructors were taught many years ago when we were going up the ranks, if we are true martial artists. We, as owners of schools, must also keep our eyes on our instructors that teach in our places. These junior sensei must be closely watched because they also represent us. To often we are too busy and we forget that the people running our classes might be well-versed in the Martial Arts, but lacking in common sense when it comes to dealing with young students. We should give lessons on teaching and dealing with these young students so the instructors who represent us have the proper tools to work with them. Simply, the fact is that some teachers do not have the skills to work with youngsters. So again, if you have read my columns in the past, be your own detective. These are your children. Watch a class or two and visit other schools before you make a decision on where to leave your child. Make sure this person has the patience that will be needed to deal with your child and you. Grandmaster Buddy Amato operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy, 589 Palmer Avenue, West Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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