Which of these training methods would you favor?

Question

Our main instructor had to cancel last night, so one of the senior students taught the class. I'd worked with this guy before. I train in aikido, by the way.

Usually, we do a lot of exercises and our main instructor doesn't really seem to care to connect it all together. We do learn a lot of stuff with him, but sometimes I wonder how it all fits. I've got to admit whatever he's doing, he knows what he's doing, because then we get to the more complex stuff and somehow, we know what to do by just putting all of these bits together and I kind of go: Oh, O.K., now I get it! But for long periods of time, we do these exercises and sometimes I have to wonder: What's this all about?

The other instructor, which I've had a chance to train with a lot in the past is a sandan and what he does is he'll just go right through the technique over and over again and he'll adjust the students as he goes along and by the time class is over, we've only gone through one thing, but we can do it...

...through and through and we know that at least, we've got that thing down pat. And it certainly makes me feel like I've learned something a lot more concrete that day.

I'm hardly qualified to judge these methods myself (I'm only a gokyu), but I'm wondering how more experienced martial artists, perhaps instructors, feel about this issue.

Answer 1

This is a good observation and question to pose.

I would suggest that both are valid, valuable, and legitimate for a number of reasons - but from an instructors point of view, the most important reason would be that students learn in different ways. Some are visually oriented, some are tactile oriented, and some are cerebrally oriented, while some will be a varied mix of these. Thus, as a good instructor, your ultimate desire to vary the way you attempt to impart information and correction so that everyone will have an opportunity to aqcuire and process it.

Both methods have their place. In our system our typical construct for new techniques or concepts would be something like:

1) Introduce the topic (technical name, group it belongs to etc.)
2) Discuss briefly the use of the technique, concpet etc.
3) Demonstrate the use of the technique or concept
4) Discuss similarities to other techniques and highligh differences to others also
5) Establish your expecations of the students as they work on this new technique or concept
6) Break the technique down into readily managagle component parts, demonstrate the part, and have the students repeat.
7) Provide feedback and corrections, and repeat
8) Add a new part to the technique or concept when you are satisfied with progress.
9) At the end of the alloted time for the technique, provide an overview of progress, items to work on etc.

It sounds as though your instructors are on the right track as far as I can tell. It is certainly beneficial to have a variety of instructors avaialble to teach classes also, as each will approach topics from a slightly different perspective, and that can help students to suddenly understand something that seemed complex beforehand.


Ken C
9th Dan HapMoosaKi-Do
8th Dan TaeKwon-Do
7th Dan YongChul-Do

Answer 2

I use two main methods to teach students. One is to have them do repeated exercises or drills. Some times this gets boring: I know I've been there. and the other is to spend a lot of time focusing on detail.
I spent 1hr last night with an advanced student just going over a form. We were both sore from the repetitions.
repetitions is important to build mussel memory or automatic response.
You want the automatic response to be correct so you also need to spent a lot of time on detailing out the moves.
I find that the majority of our students learn better this way.
Some students also learn better by seeing a move and doing. Some learn better by hearing it explained and doing.
So we try to use as many approaches as we can to insure everyone is keeping up the best they can.
Good luck with your training.

Answer 3

I have had both types of instructors, can't say who I would favor because both have a lot to offer, I seen that you just got what you were writing ? you also said that you were not to happy about just learning or going over one move, as martial artists we must remember the most important lesson of all and that is to keep an open mind, fill your cup so you can empty it, I have taught like this too if I felt the class was not getting what I was trying to teach so sometimes this happens, and besides I would rather be good at one move than sloppy at 10000 moves, doing moves over and over are just to build muscle memory, and if you focus on what you are being taught and what your doing you won't have time to be bored. hope that helped you and good luck.

Answer 4

They both have their advantages. I think a good mix of both is the way to go.

MayB the best way is to get ur instructor to go through everything (excercises) and he could explain everything to you as u go along. And he can also adjust the students who are having a really hard time with it.

And while he's adjusting this student you can watch and see if ur doing it right. And if ur having really serious trouble with it, u could ask mayB after the class or maYb ask 4 help the class (if u hav problems remembering sum things lyk I do!! LOL).

Also, you instructor can explain everything you're doing clearly lyk how it all goes toegterh and everything. This is help further ur understanding of the move and wat situations it should be used in.

So yeah, jus basically a good mix of both methods; repitition & adjusting and explaining how everything goes together. Well dats my opinion N E way. =D ^^

Answer 5

Repetition develops instinct. Instinct means you never have to worry about what you are going to do in the event of an attack.

Your body will know. This is why kata training is so important. All the techniques are there.

The movements you do in Aikido are kata too. Just that they are not joined in a long sequence.

Repetition is the best... it is the old way... Koryu.

Answer 6

I have always tried to "ingrain" a move or a sequence of moves into my students.
When every student has it down pat,I have them perform a move from the past,correcting as necessary,then one from three or four weeks ago,correcting as necessary,then back to the current move or sequence being taught that night.
The goal is to make moves or sequences a natural reaction.

I use "humor","examples","short stories",& "mental lessons" to round out the nights training.

Answer 7

Personally, I'd probably prefer the first method. But that's probably because our sensei uses the second method and after three and a half years of non stop repetition, it makes you wish for a brick wall to bang your head against just for the novelty of it : P

Answer 8

I've seen that it is beneficial to do the reps up front to get the basic technique, then diversify to see how the basics fit into a broader approach. This way you have all the basics that you know well, and you use them as tools in your tool box, depending on the situation.

Answer 9

the first is training your body first then training your mind-the second does both at once-by using the first method dont you know when you do something where it came from instantly-the revelation that your learned something gives a person confidence---it is a very good method that allows a student to know they have learned it and not be told----just my thoughts-smile and enjoy the day

Answer 10

My favored form of teaching is repitition (muscle memory). But I've used this primarily with adults. With children, you have to "jump around" because they get bored real quick. I mix it up, but one learns by doing (at least I do).