Martial Arts - Training For Life: Those that Teach
Montreal, Canada
In the last post in this series about Training For Life, I discussed some issues surrounding what happens when someone has been training for a little while and has reached the cross roads; meaning that they get that restless feeling and need to make a change in the routine. Sometimes that change may mean changing the focus of the training (i.e. concentrating on a certain aspect of training over others, or getting more spiritual, or trying a different art, or teaching).
In this post, I would like to discuss those, when they arrive at the cross road, decide to begin taking students and teaching what they have learned.
Mechanics
A teacher should have a decent understanding of the mechanics involved in the delivery of the techniques in their style - and how to teach them. Some teachers are great martial arts but terrible teachers, and some teachers are terrible martial artists but great teachers. Obviously it would be hard for a student to attain significant level of skill under one of these two types of teachers.
Normally, if a student commits very little mental energy to their training, it takes quite a few years before they understand enough to teach - let me rephrase that - it takes a few years before they should be allowed to teach. Learning how to kick and punch is no great feat - the line between the layman and the master is understanding.
Having said all this, if you have a rudimentary understanding of the mechanics of self-defense, you can still benefit many people by teaching what you know. However, be honest with yourself, know your limitations, and make sure your students know their limitations. As a teacher, you need to model self-confidence so your student will learn to train with confidence. Pinning your heart to your sleeve and openly point out all your weakness is not wise. The idea of knowing your limitations as a mechanical teacher is that you improve yourself and as you improve your students will benefit more.
If a student has committed a great deal of mental energy to their training, they can begin teaching in a very short period of time, but they must still be aware of all the pitfalls I noted earlier.
Ego
Also, there are teachers who have the best of both skill and teaching abilities but are seized with their own ego. People surrendering their will and elevating the teacher over themselves can be intoxicating - unless the teacher has a sense of perspective and humility.
What Are You Teaching?
By asking what are you teaching, I do not mean what are you calling your style/school. I mean are you teaching a balanced program that will put students in shape and give them some skill? If your focus is on just the production of technique then stop teaching. Eventually, even the weakest teacher will produce some level of competence in their students and their students will develop some degree of power. IF YOU DO NOT TRAIN YOUR STUDENTS’ BODIES TO HANDLE THAT POWER PROPERLY THEY WILL HURT THEMSELVES. They will kick or punch too hard and a muscle will tear or a joint displace and it would be your fault because your program did not include enough strengthening techniques. Just so there is no confusion - I am not talking about pushups, situps and jumping jacks. I am talking about exercises specifically designed for martial arts power and body development.
Theory
If you reach the cross roads and want to try teaching then by all means give it a shot. However, teaching usually slows down your personal training and in many cases the teacher does not grow (but they do reinforce what they already know). If you have only been training for a few years and you feel you know all you need then what can I say.
-but-
In just a few years, it is unlikely that a student develops enough understanding of martial theory to be of much use to any students. I do not want to launch into a discussion about theory (the controversial issue that it is), but great fighters necessarily know their theory, people who can fight great do not necessarily.
-however-
If you do not care about theory then good luck.
Final comments
If you need a change in your training routine, try altering your training focus. If that does not work, then deepen your understanding. If that does not work then teach under your current teacher.
The last thing I would recommend is changing styles, unless you are sure you do not want to progress in your current style (but that does not mean you will be a better fighter or martial artist).
Teaching is a big responsibility. Do not demean yourself by adding your name to the list of nameless teachers that have students when it is obvious that they should still be someone’s student.
(However, even a master needs a teacher - but for reasons other than to learn how to fight).
Sifu Troy Marquis
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Kung Fu Self Defense Training Summary 7 October 2007
Montreal, Canada
Today we reviewed in a bit more detail the rolling fist and the sweeping punch.
One of the keys to understanding the sweeping punch is that you must use your
shoulder, and you must use your upper body to effect the swing and the strike.
The fist flies at a 45% angle and the forearm makes contact with the target.
Stances
As a general comment, pay more attention to where your feet are and ensure that your knees are out when doing the horse stance. Make sure your knees are out, make sure your knees are out. Also, be confident in your movements. Step to your opponent with authority and confidence. Do no use the balls of your feet to move, rather push off from the outside edge of the foot when moving. All of you have proper stances when you concentrate so be confident.
Horse Stance
Remember that the Horse stance is done in 4 sections. Do not raise and lower your stance while moving forward. Keep your back straight and head facing your opponent.
NEW STANCE INTRODUCED
Bow Stance
Remember that the bow stance is accomplished by shifting your weight on to one leg until you reach the limit of your ability to weight transferrence, then twist the hips and shoulders so that they are square to your target. You might not have noticed but the movement moves up from the foot of the leg that is being straightened, transfers to the hips and then rotates out the shoulder, along the arm, and out the fist.
There is no stepping to an opponent in Bow stance. You must always pass through Horse stance - even if the transfer is slight.
All you need to know to understand how the bow stance is effected can be known by dissecting the elbow strike that I gave you in connection with the bow stance. The better you understand the bow stance and how to do it, the harder your elbow strike will be.
Question: Can anyone fill in some details regarding the elbow strike; how it is done; what are its possible targets; how is the strike/blow distributed through the body of the target.
Encouragement
This has only been the 3rd training class and look at what you have accomplished and what you know. Not bad.
REMEMBER:
Next Saturday’s class is cancelled. Practice this week and do your punches in the quantity I told you to do them.
EA - Have a good trip…
Sifu Troy Marquis
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Kung Fu Self-Defense Training Summary: 6 October 2007
Montreal, Canada
Today’s training began with the usual warm up exercises.
Warm Ups
The only addition to the warm up exercises was to put your hands behind your
backs when doing side-lung stretches. Also, I gave a little more explanation about the tiger claw.
Stances
No new stances were introduced.
Advancing in horse stance
Remember that advancing in horse stance involves four basic steps. Each movement should be done smoothly and your weight should shift evenly throughout the movement with a slight inclination towards advancing due to being in motion. Try not to raise your stance when stepping through. Also, it is preferable to sink a bit lower as your foot steps forward to advance. Keep your eyes forward, looking at your opponent.
Punches
Straight Punch
Rolling Punch
Sweeping Punch
Backfist
Backforearm
Using our stances we continued to practice the straight and rolling punches. Remember that to reach targets at different heights one might have to adjust the angle of your arm (i.e. the elbow and shoulder) to attain the target without compromising your wrist.
The routine, straight, rolling, sweeping punch was practiced in series.
Straight punch flies out, rolls over in rolling punch (which is a small circle movement), then drops down and opens up into sweeping punch (a large circle movement angled at 45% downward, forearm strikes).
Backfist flies out from the elbow and one must never, never…never lock out the elbow. For training purposes, one hand covers the ribs (flat, fingers pointing up, thumb not sticking out), shoulder down, elbow inline with the shoulder and aims at the target.
Backforearm, same basic set up as the backfist, except that one changes the striking surface. Generally this strike has more power and hits deeper into the target, but it is not always possible to strike with this fist.
Questions?
Can anyone tell me what I mean by small/large circle movements?
Can anyone explain the details of the backfist, its delivery and possible targets?
Sifu Troy Marquis
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Kung Fu Self-Defense Training Summary: 30 September 2007
Montreal, Canada
Today’s Class was held at Westmount Park.
The class began with some warm-ups from the Daily Exercise Routine’s.
I introduced a few different stretches as well as a stretch kick exercise (for balance and stretching).
STANCES
Lady Stance
Horse Stance
We studied the lady stance in static, as well as how to move from a standing position into the lady stance. From the lady stance we moved to the horse stance. I explained proper form for the legs and the upper body.
PUNCHES
Straight Punch
Rolling Punch
While in lady and horse stances, we practiced the straight punch for several repetitions; we also practiced a straight punch rolling punch combination.
I explained quite a bit of theory as to how these punches are effected and how they are applied to the target.
MOVEMENT
We examined advance and retreat while in horse stance. I explained proper movement and how to verify your alignment - WITHOUT LOOKING AT YOUR FEET. You should be able to know if you are off-line by other bodily indicators. Practiced several repetitions.
Q&A
For the final few minutes of class, I entertained questions.
STUDENTS - please fill specific details and write any comments in the comments section. Make sure you put a small rubric so the readers know about which part of the class you are commenting.
NOTE: It is in your best interest to record and discuss specific details in your comments. I gave out a lot of material and theory. If you write down your comments and discuss them, it will aid your memory and help you to train on your own. If you are lazy and do not write anything then what I taught you might be forgotten, but not by me.
Sifu Troy Marquis
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense
Montreal, Quebec, Canada