Is my style of martial arts teaching too hard for students?

Question

I teach tai chi, karate and kung fu, having over 20 years experience, and have trained in China and Japan. In those countries, the teaching is very strict, and while I am strict with my students, I do make it fun too, always ask them are they enjoying their training. As in China, I teach in the open air, as to rent a gym is an expense I would have to pass on to students, which I don't want to do.

There has been a dop in students though, particularly as winter starts to bite. I know the trainingis not easy, but I feel it is made too comfortable sometimes, by the coffee house style of some of the gyms / mcdojos I have been to.

I simply wish to raise the standard of training, and to train outside is hard, and yet there are many sunday league football games where you train in rainy, damp, cold conditions.

So what's the answer? I want students to enjoy their class, but benefit too. The only way is hard work, and be regular. Am I way off on this one?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, there is a fine line that must be drawn between proper training and keeping your student base for income consistent. McDojos occur when a system has gone so far to keep enrollment up that the actual method of martial art has been compromised. Also, there seems to be a culture of "instant gratification" in which if results are not typically observed within a short amount of time from students or parents of students that the student will feel discouraged and/or quit.

So, while you see your teaching style as fun, some may feel it is too harsh. Despite your asking if they are enjoying themselves, the students may not be and are not willing to disappoint an authority figure.

Personally, I prefer to teach as you do: out in the open. It keeps overhead down and prices reasonable. I teach because I enjoy it, however, not for a source of income. That being the case, I have only a handful of students, but they are dedicated. The quality of instruction is better as well since I don't need to make any compromises.

I agree with you: to raise the level of instruction is the only way to have students benefit. Students must be willing to put in the hard work and be regular. The issue is, though, how many are willing to put in the hard work and be regular? I suppose this is where dancing that fine line comes into play...

Answer 2

Some people just don't want to train outside, maby after a while they will stop careing but at the start students are usualy self concious, especialy young students, if you have older students then not likeing people watching you shouldn't be a problem

The weather too, it really depends on the students but either way, training outside all the time is not the best idea, like I mentioned, if they are old students they wont care what other people think but if the students are young they proabably will even if they dont admit it

How hard or soft the training is shouldnt make a difference, oh yeah, and I dont know if asking students if they are enjoying themself all the time is such a good idea, in all the places i trained at none of the teachers ever do that, they just let you train, like they are friendly and have a chat with you but they never ask "are you having fun?" all the time because it makes the student go inside and think about if they are really having fun or not all the time, sometimes its better just to leave the students to it

Myabe think about hireing out a dojo and have regular classes there but at the same time have training outside, just not all the time

Answer 3

From what you say it doesn't seem too hard. Remember Here in the USA with young people in particular you are competing with all the other distractions there are. TV, other sports, electronic games,girls, boys, are amongst the great distractions particularly the 12 to 20 year old students.The youth here are in need of discipline but it is not found at school or home so the are not used to it. You are on the right track trying to make it fun and interesting. Keep it up try to build a group of advanced students to help promote what you are doing. See if you can do some demonstrations in the spring or summer at the city parks. Try to make your best students a little famous: this I think will liven up your group and help hold interest. Be prepared to have your group of students expand and contract. It is the price you pay for not being a Mc Dojo. I wish you all the best in your efforts.
I go through this all the time with my scout troop. We have in the last several years been as few as 5, and as high as 25 members. We on the other hand produce a large percentage of Eagle Scouts.
Hang in there and get creative. ;)

Answer 4

Your teaching is not at all too hard my friend. It is up to the student to rise to the teacher not the teacher to lower to the student.

Training outside is a great way to learn about moving on real ground instead of flat ground. Many people want their martial arts training to be easy and do not realize the necessity of hard training. The training at my dojo is not exactly easy but not exactly murder (except in kenshu =D ). We don't use our heating system a whole lot in winter and we warm up the mats by doing break-falls and rolls on them. In a situation like this you gain a smaller but more dedicated student base.

As to training outside in winter if you live in a place where it doesn't get too cold I'd say go with it but if you're in Canada or a northern US state it's really not a good idea as your students will be too bundled up to train.

Just keep on training and the dedicated students will come and stay.

Answer 5

make it fun while they are incorporating their formats and drills. My brother teaches Martial arts for adults and teens and karate for the 2-15 yr. olds and he does a fun run for the kids. They run around the cones in a circle and he plays music then when the music stops they freeze and if ne one moves they have to go inside of the circle and do 10 push ups or sometimes 5 push ups and 5 squats. Have deals. My brother has a special going on now for new students and for the winter months . Its $99 for 6 weeks and a uniform and a new white belt. Have free seminars for all ages. He also has movie night. Have a sign up sheet with a limit of 15 students or less or more depending on your budget and the size of the place and charge 25 bucks or so and have the parents drop off their for 3 hours. you can entertain them with a movie, popcorn, juice, and fun indoor games such as dogdeball or relay races. Yeah I know its tough It seemed like my brothers place had more students during the first few weeks in september. People go away during the summer and you wont see them for a few months.So these are the things that they incorporate at their studio. Hope it helps.

Answer 6

You're going to get a somewhat cynical point of view here, but my experience has led me to this conclusion -

The majority of americans are lazy and lack the heart/soul/dedication to fully dedicate themselves to the learning of an art that has been passed through generations. The reason is that this concept has no pull on them - they're raised to reach for bigger, faster, now. Taking a lifetime to devote one's self to an art that was valued and nurtured for hundreds of years means nothing, and that's what they give it. They want belts on the month, easy ranking, and fast progress so it can be shown off to their friends. You're right about the training being made too easy, and I love your term 'McDojo'

The answer is you have to find students who want to learn the art because they love it and will care for it as you have. If you're not giving them easy progress, you'll kinda have to expect this in the states.. You're not wrong - the only way is hard work, dedication, and perserverence.

In closing- on a personal note, I wish I could find a dojo with a sensei that believes as you do. It's for that reason that I'm not with one at the moment, and rather am training on my own as my old master had trained me - correctly.

Answer 7

Well i believe theyre benefitting from being outside to begin with, considering the number of obese children that sit inside all day. Anyway, if you have to keep training outdoors make sure they are kept warm by ensuring that they are running about - im sure they are always moving in the football games. I know this may not be part of your training as tai chi doesnt often involve this im quite sure. Another alternative is to speak to the childrens parents and ask wether they would want their children training indoors and wether they would be happy to cover the cost, this would also mean you could continue your training as it is at the moment. I hope this helps in some way.

Answer 8

i love training extremely hard...and i commend you for not being those wimpy schools who just learn a form. But i reccommend you get a building, i like training outside...but alot of people dont at all! and you may want to advertise how your school is operated to begin with , so people wont be surprised. That is why some traditional school are advertising as full contact schools to attract ahrder working students...........but i feel you though....you gotta make a living and not sell-out and be a "MCdojo"...when i start a school ill be in the same boat

Answer 9

Not at all. You are right on point.

The problem is not with you. It lies in convenient America.

This is what you will experience. I recently met a teacher in my city who does this and he said the same exact thing.

You are right about football. It reminds me of people who say that Chinese MA movies are all fake with wires and effects, but they will run and pay $9 to $10 to see Spiderman and Superman... and not use the same standards of judgement.

When I develop a flyer or ad, I include -

"this is NOT tournament/sport karate"

and

"this is NOT kick/punch"

I teach old school, at the YMCA. The kids get basic kata application, the adults get full spectrum. I have to adjust certain things but it doesn't affect teaching content.

Answer 10

Sounds good to me. You have a good attitude.
I train outside myself and the problem is not the winter but the hot summer when the mosquito's love the hot body's.
What we do when its raining hard or blowing gales is find a building with a large overhang or balcony. Try an underground carpark or similar building. It depend on where you live but you could compromise on the really bad days.
I dont think your way off with your plans, see what your senior students think.