Tag: teaching

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Don’t Believe Anything

Steve Rowe

The passing down of mistakes and bad practice is what destroys martial arts. When asked why something is taught, to answer “because that’s how I was taught” is lazy and a cop out. I ask my students to not believe a word I say, but to pay attention to what I teach, then practice it enough and challenge it to see if it works. If they can’t make it work to come back and discuss and experiment with it here. It’s the only way they can fully understand what I’m teaching and it’s how we all evolve how to learn … Continue reading Don’t Believe Anything

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‘Behind The Door’ Teaching

Steve Rowe

When we begin martial arts study we have to spend time learning the structured basic layers and developing a relationship with our teacher. We are taught using key words and phrases to learn the basic ideas and principles behind our posture, breathing, strategies, techniques, mind, emotions and behaviour. As we develop, the relationship with our teacher deepens to the point where our energy and understanding is in harmony and the methods can go deeper. It’s at this point that what is often described as ‘secret’, ‘behind the door’ or ‘discipleship’ can be offered. Every system has its method of recognising … Continue reading ‘Behind The Door’ Teaching

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Being A Good Student

Steve Rowe

We often talk about what makes a good Instructor and what makes a good club, but what happens when we turn that on it’s head and ask what makes a good student? The one thing that I discovered was that if I knew how to be a good student I could get far more out of my Instructors than anybody else and that as an Instructor I am far more inclined to teach a good student thoroughly than a bad one. The inescapable facts are that many Instructors don’t get to choose their students, sometimes they teach because they feel … Continue reading Being A Good Student

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Teaching Older People

Steve Rowe

  Many of us these days teach people in their 70’s and above and it’s important for us to understand that even if their memory and body is breaking down, they are still a senior citizen and should command respect. Don’t talk to them like they are a child, don’t get frustrated with them, be courteous, polite and break technique down until you find that which they are comfortable with. They deserve dignity, they have often served their country, bought up families and paid their dues. Don’t put your ambitions and expectations on them, often they only want to stay … Continue reading Teaching Older People

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Responsibility Of An Instructor

Steve Rowe

Responsibility Of An Instructor When you’ve been in this game a few years and you’ve seen a few thousand people come and go you tend to be able to categorise people and their actions.  Having said that, after 40 years I am still surprised by people that the Martial Arts “alchemy” has worked with – those that suddenly “awake” and turn from being a waste of Dojo space into spirited, courteous and conscientious Martial Artists. As a Coach we have to lay challenges out for the student in a trail of bite size chunks and see whether they are prepared … Continue reading Responsibility Of An Instructor