Wave of fear at thought of teaching - how come?

Question

I was at a clas slast night and the instructor, who was very good, ended off with a pep talk about how we all could open our own dojo's in the future. Certainly possible and not to far a stretch of the imagination, but it kinda scared me - what that all about?
Typically I know no fear! (joke). Hints, tips, 'own' experiences welcomed T.I. A.

Answer 1

Well, when I started teaching it was a pretty scary experience. You get up in front of a bunch of people who not only expect you to know what you're talking about, but to be able to demonstrate the art and know how to teach.

Hey, just 'cause I can execute the techniques doesn't mean I can teach them, does it?

Fortunately, my temperament is such that I've been described as a natural teacher. I'm not sure what this means, exactly, but it gets me through stuff where I'd otherwise fail.

But if you don't happen to be a natural teacher, you have to work at it, like anything else.

So:

- Maybe you're afraid of the work (doesn't sound like it).

- Maybe you're afraid you will be inadequate. Common, not easy to get over. The only cure is to teach and succeed at it.

- Maybe you just don't really want to teach and are afraid of disappointing your teacher. Okay, well, this one is harder to deal with than most people realize. First you have to deal with your own motivations. Do you *really* not want to teach? If so, is your teacher justified in being disappointed in you (hint: probably not). The rest you just have to work out on your own.

- Are you nervous speaking in front of other people? The first few times you teach it's a bit of a performance. One of my old teachers talked about the difficulty of moving from performing to actually teaching. Having been through it, I can tell you that the "performing" part seems like it would be easier, but in fact once you get past that and start actually teaching it gets way easier.

- Or, it could be much simpler than all of this: fear of the unknown. A natural human reaction. The only advice I can give for this one is going to sound flippant no matter how I say it, so, I'll just be flippant: get over it. There really isn't much else you can do except conquer this silly fear and get on with what you need to do.

All in all, though, teaching isn't for everyone. Even for those who teach, owning your own school isn't necessarily a great idea. Three plus years into owning my own school I'm just starting to get a handle on the business stuff and that's because my wife has gotten involved and is now handling the business stuff.

So regardless of *why* you reacted with fear, you need to decide if you really do want to teach. If you do, you're going to need to root out that fear and deal with it. If not, you need to have a serious talk with your instructor.

Answer 2

I have some experience teaching while falling in for our main teacher. As a senior student I have done that several times when he was ill or unable to come for other reasons and I was the highest in rank. I think to teach you must first understand whatever you are teaching. That doesn't mean that you have to have a black belt since an experienced student usually understands the basics well enough. Don't go over your level.
To run your own club I think that a thorough experience IS a necessity. I study aikido and because of it's high technicity sometimes even people of 1st dan level are not capable of holding their own club.
Teach as you see it. i.e. don't copy your teachers way but develop your own. explain things as you think they sound logical to you and as you think they will be understood.
Be confident of yourself. Martial arts is a great confidence booster but to teach most people have to conquer their fear of public appearance and feel comfortable doing what they do before a large crowd.
and last but not least Enjoy yourself. This is the only way your students will enjoy themselves.

Answer 3

I think a lot of us have a fear of teaching. Are we good enough are we going to make a fool of ourselves etc etc. In my experience in most cases (though not all) I have been taught by people who are much better than me at karate so my expectation in a class is that the instructor will be able to walk the walk. I therefore shy away from teaching classes other than beginners. I will do the warm up in a class of peers but I would freak if asked to lead the class.
ps there is nothing worse than an instructor who is a legend in his own mind and can't practice what he preaches (unless he/she has the humility to acknowledge that his students can do certain things better). I do occasionaly train with one such person who is to arrogant to realise it is only the students good manners that save him from a regular beating

Answer 4

Not all good martial artists make good teachers. But if anyone is really interested I run seminars on all aspects of teaching martial arts and managing your own martial arts schooll/classes. These are certificated and can lead to a nationally accredited qualification.

I have been involved in the martial arts for over 30 years and I still get nervous before a big seminar. I have learnt that this is actually good as I concentrate on what I am teaching so the students have a better experience.

For more information see www.karateinternational.co.uk

Answer 5

I've only ever studied one martial art, Aikido. I had to give up due to health reasons, but of the many things that Aikido taught me it was the value of teaching.

It may be peculiar to the Aikido school I attended, but everyone in our school was expected to teach. If you were senior to the others in your random group of 3 or 4 students looking at a particular technique, even if that meant you'd been to two lessons and the other guy one, you did the teaching.

And boy does it help you learn, if you have to explain it, you really need to understand it. And by trying to explain it you learn it quicker and better...

Go on, Teach. You'll never look back....

Why are you nervous? Could be plain stage fright.. Or could be you're afraid of making a mistake in front of your peers.. Or could be your unconcious knows of the weaknesses in your technique that maybe you conciously don't or can't acknowledge and is protecting you by bringing up the fear....

Whatever just teach.

Answer 6

It's only natural to feel that way as standing in front of the class with all eyes on you waiting for your response can be extremely daunting the first time you try it and for quite a few sessions more.

I personally knew many great students equal to and better ability than myself but ask them to coach a class quite a lot refused due to stage fright.

The key is being confident in communicating with people and not being frightened of making mistakes,I made more than my fair share of simple mistakes during my quest in coaching.

If your good enough to be asked by your instructor to coach then you need to realise technically you have the ability or he wouldn't ask or put you forward to gain coaching certificates.

I jumped at the chance when first asked by my instructor to take a class for a basic warm up ( I was only blue belt )

Eventually I was coaching over 100 students at a course in the kelvin hall sports arena with many more 100's of people spectating yes i was scared but by that time I'd taken more classes than i could remember and just worked on auto pilot.

Believe me coaching people is great as you learn so much about your art when you have to slow things down to teach.

Go for it and if you make mistakes...Don't worry as coaches need to learn too remember.... The more you do it the better you'll get just like being a student.

Good luck ( you can do it honestly )

Answer 7

i don't think it's uncommon to feel that way.

it may be from a couple things.
-maybe you don't feel skilled enough in the art you study.
-maybe you don't feel you are a good communicator.
-maybe you've never seen yourself as someone teaching others.
-maybe you are put off by the business side or martial arts.
-maybe the thought of having to own/rent a large space and deal with marketing/advertising is unsettling.

it's a nice thing to hear from your teacher when he thinks you are ready to teach. it definitely would push your skills further. students will ask you questions about your art's material that you may have never thought of yourself, so it will give you a completely deeper understanding of your art.

i've always viewed teaching as having to learn the art all over again, but in a different way.

Answer 8

teaching a class is at first rather daunting but you will find very quickly that your love and passion for what you will be teaching will shine through.you already have the structure from your own training , the trepidation you feel is totaly natural ,everyone experiences this and it adds to the elation of creating your own thing with your own students .good luck

Answer 9

I love teaching and i am terrified every time i teach.

I say to myself "what am i going to do? what am i going to say?"
and i don't know the answers. I am scared i am just going to look stupid and have to give up.

But invariably i start doing it and i know what to do. And it is a great class.

I do have to prepare lots of exercises and things that i can teach if i need something, and then i know i have something to use if i need it. Then everything is fine.

Answer 10

quite!!! You sited James financial ruin 3. sure, that does talk of earthly know-how verses heavenly know-how. we are able to in reality understand God's know-how once all of us understand Christ as our Savior. After that, we are able to target to each and each day stay extra in accordance with God's will, besides the undeniable fact that we are able to nonetheless sin. a million Corinthians thirteen provides some idea of what authentic love is. The e book of Proverbs provides a lot sensible concepts on a thanks to properly stay each and each day existence. Many imagine that attempting to stay in accordance with God's will, ruins all of your "exciting". yet quite, the added we persist with it, the a lot less difficulty we've!