Coaching/teaching is the death of your personal skills

[YouKnowWho]

How coaching/teaching can cause your personal MA skills to suffer.

You may spend too much time teaching and not enough time to land your fist on your opponent's face.

[MightyB]

You may spend too much time teaching and not enough time to land your fist on your opponent's face.

Quoted for truth!

[Raipizo]

It's okay only went off topic for about 10 years. I understand Dales frustration but critics will be critics, we're all Kung Fu bruddahs so let's act like family. Anyway I think coaching can be the death of your skill or a whole new beginning it all depends on what you make of it.

[SanHeChuan]

In the Marine Corps, when you lead physical training, you have to do everything they do. That way you can't push them harder than you can go (which really does save lives), and they can see that it is possible to keep going.

As a Martial arts instructor you can work yourself into any drill or exercise and do it along with your students. And if you don't find what they are doing is beneficial to you, then you are doing them a disservice.

[ShaolinDan]

In the Marine Corps, when you lead physical training, you have to do everything they do. That way you can't push them harder than you can go (which really does save lives), and they can see that it is possible to keep going.

As a Martial arts instructor you can work yourself into any drill or exercise and do it along with your students. And if you don't find what they are doing is beneficial to you, then you are doing them a disservice.

Agree. This is a good and easy to implement method of quality control. I've never had a problem getting a workout while teaching when I wanted one.

[IronFist]

In the Marine Corps, when you lead physical training, you have to do everything they do. That way you can't push them harder than you can go (which really does save lives), and they can see that it is possible to keep going.

As a Martial arts instructor you can work yourself into any drill or exercise and do it along with your students. And if you don't find what they are doing is beneficial to you, then you are doing them a disservice.

I know of some fat, out of shape senseis who might disagree with your logic

I would never actually voice this concern to them, however, seeing as how they are too deadly to spar with their students, too.

[David Jamieson]

Is it always competition?

You guys don't think you're some sort of society protectors who must keep their skills honed at all times in case of the complete breakdown in society where they are going to call upon you and your ability to box or something?

I bet there are maybe 2 guys on this whole forum that make money from fighting, if that. Ok, maybe one. Wait, maybe none. OK, I'll go one. But there are a few who run schools etc and they make their living that way.

Most people who run schools etc, do it because they love the the arts and have found a way to tie their daily bread and butter to their passion.

I train for the sake of it. It has zero value without me giving it value. The same as how most of you don't practice piano, because you don't value it, or whatever.

When older, you should teach. Impart your skills, give them to others until you and they are gone.

Wrapping it all around competitive fighting is... well it's stupid. That is not the total scope of martial arts. Never has been. You need to compete at a point in your life. That point being when you can and when you want to. It's like advocating that your kid joins the army to get some character even though you never joined the army yourself. Nonsense.

[Snipsky]

too funny. this place seems like its a rubber room filled with society's kung fu "i wish i was" wannabe's but can't really make it in martial arts.

take your meds everyone and you may get let out of those straight jackets soon.

[Jimbo]

Is it always competition?

You guys don't think you're some sort of society protectors who must keep their skills honed at all times in case of the complete breakdown in society where they are going to call upon you and your ability to box or something?

I bet there are maybe 2 guys on this whole forum that make money from fighting, if that. Ok, maybe one. Wait, maybe none. OK, I'll go one. But there are a few who run schools etc and they make their living that way.

Most people who run schools etc, do it because they love the the arts and have found a way to tie their daily bread and butter to their passion.

I train for the sake of it. It has zero value without me giving it value. The same as how most of you don't practice piano, because you don't value it, or whatever.

When older, you should teach. Impart your skills, give them to others until you and they are gone.

Wrapping it all around competitive fighting is... well it's stupid. That is not the total scope of martial arts. Never has been. You need to compete at a point in your life. That point being when you can and when you want to. It's like advocating that your kid joins the army to get some character even though you never joined the army yourself. Nonsense.

Good post.
Although I will say that whether to teach or not isn't really that important for every practitioner. I discovered after teaching my own group for 4 years that while I'm quite good at that aspect, I never felt right being a teacher. I feel much more comfortable (and happy) as an independent practitoner. There's plenty of others who do want to teach.

[David Jamieson]

True, just because you are proficient and understand something with depth doesn't compel you to teach it. That should be a choice. That choice should be backed up by actual ability to teach as well.

[Hebrew Hammer]

Is it always competition?

You guys don't think you're some sort of society protectors who must keep their skills honed at all times in case of the complete breakdown in society where they are going to call upon you and your ability to box or something?

I bet there are maybe 2 guys on this whole forum that make money from fighting, if that. Ok, maybe one. Wait, maybe none. OK, I'll go one. But there are a few who run schools etc and they make their living that way.

Most people who run schools etc, do it because they love the the arts and have found a way to tie their daily bread and butter to their passion.

I train for the sake of it. It has zero value without me giving it value. The same as how most of you don't practice piano, because you don't value it, or whatever.

When older, you should teach. Impart your skills, give them to others until you and they are gone.

Wrapping it all around competitive fighting is... well it's stupid. That is not the total scope of martial arts. Never has been. You need to compete at a point in your life. That point being when you can and when you want to. It's like advocating that your kid joins the army to get some character even though you never joined the army yourself. Nonsense.

Well said DJ, and I'm not sure where it says your instructor has to be a badass or in superior shape to instruct you??? Is it in the kung fu manual somewhere? Hell I've have solid instruction from females...who have no actual fighting experience (that I knew of), probably some males for that matter too...its really all about Transmission of knowledge, the ability to communicate, to challenge and to adapt to students skill levels and learning styles.

If you want to keep your skills honed, participate...spar, lead by example...which usually always gains the respect of those you teach. Most likely if you've chosen to be an instructor, you're either past your prime or are too smart to get into fights on a regular basis.

Martial insecurity always seems to amuse me...is the art or the practitioner?

[David Jamieson]

Martial insecurity always seems to amuse me...is the art or the practitioner?

I enjoy it as well at times. It is not the arts, it is the practitioners. It's always the practitioners.

The art is the jug, the water in the jug is the practitioner. The water can be of good quality or bad, the jug holds both.

[Hebrew Hammer]

I enjoy it as well at times. It is not the arts, it is the practitioners. It's always the practitioners.

The art is the jug, the water in the jug is the practitioner. The water can be of good quality or bad, the jug holds both.

Mongo like jugs.