Sunday, July 28, 2013

Why Are There No Seminars For "Basics"?







  I was recently looking at a list of available seminars (from various schools and systems). I didn't necessarily see anything that interested me, but I was intrigued by the listed subjects (of what was to be taught).
 Being that my own main focus is on the instruction of students, I was viewing the advertized content/subject matter of the impending seminars. What I noted, was that they all tended to stress some manor of “advanced” training.
 My initial thought was, what about the beginning student? What is it that they are supposed to get from some manner of “advanced” training seminar?
 Of the last 6 seminars that I've had some manner of (human) feed-back on, they have all focused (whether actually, or imagined) upon “advanced” motions and/or applications.
 Why are there no seminars that are (specifically) designed for “beginning” students? Seminars that teach the beginning principles and reasons why a system teaches motions and techniques in the manner that they do?
 I have never seen one being advertized. Every system just “assumes” that their beginning students (already?) know why and for what reason that they do everything,...right?
 Well, actually it's the majority of instructor's that (either) don't know, and/or won't admit to not knowing/understanding those basics to begin with. What's worse, are those that believe that they (already) do, but never attempt to confirm/dispute those beliefs (for what-ever reasons).
 As it presently stands (in the industry as a whole), the majority of “instructor's”, can't provide logical, practical reasons for the majority of what they are teaching. 35 years ago, “I” could have (easily) been accused of the same behavior (and at the time, wasn't even aware of doing so).
 How often is it, that students are expected to (blindly?) follow what ever an instructor tells them to do, without being allowed to question that instruction?
 What makes me laugh the most, is the instructor's that believe that “they” (of course) already know all the answers (to everything).  Knowing the motions of a kata, only means that you are training your body to do those motions, it doesn't mean that you know what those motions (originally) represented.
 When I watch the average (Japanese/Korean/Chinese?) “karate” (type of) class, the things I see them doing (and are attempting to “justify”) are amazing (to me). And not, in a “good” way, LOL.
 I was watching a video (on “U-tube” of course, LOL), where the individual was “teaching” Naihanchi Shodan (a common kata, practiced by numerous systems). This “instructor” was emphasizing a “shimmy-shake” (of his hips) for almost every hand motion being performed within the kata.
 As if this weren't (embarrassing?) bad enough, he then “justified” the motion(s) with convoluted “hay-seed” science that a 3rd grader would laugh at. The ridiculousness of his statements (evidently) didn't even make themselves apparent to him after viewing the video (thus, it's being published on “U-Tube”, for the whole world to see how incredibly ignorant that instructor is about that subject).
 The vast majority of “instructors”, need to (learn how to?) concentrate on understanding the “basics”. Unfortunately, most tend to believe that they, are now “experts” (because somebody gave them a piece of paper with their name on it, and it says they can wear a “black-belt”,...whoopee!).
 In my own opinion, That Yudansha ranking, only means that “now” your able to concentrate on understanding how everything that you've been practicing is supposed to work.
 This is why the majority of systems don't recognize you as an “instructor” until 3rd Dan, but (of course) that will vary from system to system as well.
 I've seen dozen's of “Tuite”(like) classes being advertized, and have even spoken with people going to, as well as conducting those seminars. What was shown was always (supposed to be) “advanced” applications. Uh, what about the beginning principles of application/function? How many 9th kyu (or Godan for that matter) know what to look for when a technique is failing? How many can tell you what is being done incorrectly by just watching you attempt the technique? And more importantly, How many are too ignorant of what makes a technique work, that all they can say is that the technique won't work because of “somebody” being an anomaly? (read elsewhere about that, LOL) Anyone who uses that response (more than once in their life), is too stupid to be teaching that technique (or Tuite in general).





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