To be or not to be… an instructor of caliber & recognition?
This Shotokan Karate Blog is so full of ideas… & I will keep them rolling as I get so much mail regarding my topics.
If you have any comments please do not hesitate to email me on either of the following addresses:
miguelharker@yahoo.com
miguel@karateacademy.co.za
When I was a youngster, stories of the JKA Honbu Dojo & also the Hoitsugan Dojo were that of legend. Any one who trained there were associated or recognized as masters immediately. Maybe the legend was bigger when I was younger & a lower grade, but to be honest with you, I would still love to do this! More in the line of the KWF SoHonbu Dojo with Mikio Yahara Sensei, Akihito Isaka Sensei, Sakae Ibusuki Sensei and their other instructors.
I have always been some one who values the Japanese, although many people that I know are believers of the new order… that being of the new age instructors, but to be honest, look at who they rate in this order: people who have trained in the SoHonbu & Hoitsugan dojo(s). So what they are saying is they do not want to follow the Japanese, yet they want to do karate. MMMM, is karate not a Japanese word? Maybe I am mistaken.
Ok enough of the sarcasm, but I hope I got my message through.
I believe 100% in the Japanese leading karate, well in this era anyways. There are still greats that trained with Nakayama Sensei & have been apart of the Hornet’s Nest, these guys are the true carriers of karate.
As a youngster I always wanted to follow in the foot steps of the legend stories I heard about Yahara Sensei smashing every one in Nakayama’s classes. “The Most Feared Man in the Hornet’s Nest”, yeah… that’s what I want to be.
In all practicality this will never happen, but one can dream hey…?
I would love to become a trainee instructor in Japan, maybe one day when I win the lotto & I can fund myself…
An Instructors Course: needed or not needed?
Firstly let us ask ourselves two questions:
How would this specifically improve the quality of instruction?
Who benefits from the program, the participant, the head instructor or the students?
The aim of an instructors’ program is to educate senior students further, to enable them to become competent assistant instructors and eventually senior instructors to overall improve the quality of teaching (the service) that a school / system offers.
Here are some ideas I have put together:
REQUIREMENTS
Shodan and above may qualify to be a Trainee Instructor
(to teach under the supervision of a senior instructor, provided the practical requirements are met)
Nidan and above may qualify to be a Trainee Instructor
(to teach with supervision of a senior instructor, may also run a dojo under schools name, provided the practical requirements are met)
Sandan and above may qualify to be a Instructor
(to teach without supervision of a senior instructor, may also run a dojo under schools name, provided the practical requirements are met)
Yondan and above may qualify to be a Instructor
(to teach without supervision of a senior instructor, may also run a dojo under schools name, provided the practical requirements are met)
Godan and above may qualify to be a Senior Instructor
(to teach without supervision of a senior instructor, may also run a dojo under schools name, provided the practical requirements are met)
PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS
The following practical requirements of this program are needed to be a qualified instructor the respective classes.
Time spent training with a senior instructor (for each of the requirements)
100 classes
Time assisting a senior instructor with kiddies and juniors
40 classes
Time assisting a senior instructor with adults
40 classes
(only valid if the assistant has completed the previous requirements and is sandan graded)
Time assisting a senior instructor with seniors
50 classes
(only valid if the assistant has completed the previous requirements and is sandan graded)
There must be a dedicated class for all trainee instructors and qualified instructors on a weekly basis. This must be a “go there and train” attitude.
The syllabus & the schools interpretation of karate must be studied in detail by the all trainee instructors & instructors.
TEACHING METHODS
Various teaching methods are taught for the different age groups, ensuring that correct mannerisms are practiced at all times.
(respect to one’s elders, patience and sternness for the kiddies and juniors)
The 3 main teaching methods:
It is important to know that there are different ways that different people learn things. Some may need only one, others need more than one. The following is a cycle to cater for every person. Instructors must ensure they complete the cycle.
Explanation
An intellectual explanation of the technique(s),
the level of explanation and personal development stage of the student are directly in proportion with each other.
In other words, do not speak to an adult like they are children and do not explain to children how you would to adults.
Visual
Correct physical technique(s) must be demonstrated, so that the student may imitate it.
Physical Repetition
Repetition causes muscle memory. The fact that the student repeats the technique(s) ensures that they imitate the instructor & that the muscle memory is developed.
Additional things to be taught during the Instructors’ course…
CORRECT STRETCHING AND FITTNESS TRAINING
A lecture will also be given on correct and effective stretching and cardiovascular training, by some one in the biogenetics profession.
LEADERSHIP DAY
A day will be set aside on a weekend for a simple leadership lesson.
This will be beneficial to every one, as it will include school leadership and
business leadership.
JUDGING AND REFEREES COURSE
All trainee instructors and instructors will have to attend judge and referee courses.
EXTRA ACTIVITIES
Grading:
All trainee instructors and instructors will be asked to be on the grading examination panels.
A short talk will be given before every grading to ensure that the criteria for marking are standardized and that the schools policy is always adhered to.
Outside Dojo(s):
It is requested that the instructor train at other surrounding dojo(s), at gashuku(s), during normal training times and assist with gradings.
FIRST AID COURSE
A first aid course will be presented at the beginning of each year to ensure that all trainee instructors and instructors can handle all unexpected occurrences.
EVALUATION
The evaluation of the trainee instructors or instructors will be conducted throughout the program by the directorate (shihankai) of the school.
By letting the trainee instructors teach under supervision and by the evaluators giving particularized feedback, they will be given tangible benchmarks by which to measure their improvement.
An official certificate will be issued once the instructor or trainee has fulfilled their specific criteria.
All in all I wish one day to do something along the lines that the greats like Sensei Tetsuhiko Asai, Sensei Mikio Yahara, Sensei Akihito Isaka, Sensei Masahiko Tanaka, Sensei Keigo Abe & Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa did in the past, under the leadership of Nakayama Sensei.
Also I believe strongly in building a school’s seniors & making the group grow from the top & not from the bottom.
Once again I have written a whole bunch of things that I hope will spark someone’s desire to see improvement within their school / system.
Until next time when I get a random idea…
CHEERS!
