| With the increase in popularity of the martial arts more | | | | important. Im also talking about other not so obvious |
| and more people are searching for a good karate | | | | qualifications they should have. So instead of just |
| school and a good instructor. There are many great | | | | finding out what degree black belt they are, try to find |
| schools and instructors out there and unfortunately | | | | out other things such as how long have they been |
| there are as many not so good. How do you tell the | | | | practicing the martial arts, how long have they been |
| difference? What should you look for in a good | | | | teaching, how often do they go on courses to improve |
| instructor since the instructor in most cases is the | | | | their own skills? Do they have CPR and First Aid |
| school? | | | | qualifications? |
| Most prospective students think that the most | | | | Other important qualities include,: Do they do |
| important thing to look for in an instructor is content | | | | background checks on their assistant instructors? Are |
| knowledge. They want their instructors karate to be | | | | they qualified to rank you once you get to black belt? |
| dynamic, powerful and impressive in every way. This is | | | | Is their school a part of a larger organization that |
| obviously very important because there is nothing that | | | | offers support and guidance to them? |
| looks worse than a black belt instructor who cant | | | | These types of questions dont always give you the |
| deliver the goods when it comes to content. So this | | | | full picture of your instructors ability in the martial arts |
| quality is definitely high on the list of prerequisites. | | | | and their level of teaching, but they do give you some |
| However there are other things to look for that may | | | | idea as to how seriously they take themselves and |
| ultimately be even more important to you. Here are | | | | their school. |
| some other important points to consider. | | | | What do your instructors lessons look like? Does your |
| Does your instructor have good people skills? This | | | | instructor teach the same thing every lesson? Does |
| might not seem as important at first because after all | | | | your instructor seem disorganized and frazzled? Does |
| you want to learn about the martial arts first and | | | | each lesson flow from one activity to the next or is it |
| foremost and youre willing to put forth the effort no | | | | disjointed and confusing? Some of these things are |
| matter what. But the instructors who have great | | | | signs that your instructor doesnt know what they are |
| people skills are usually the ones who care about their | | | | doing. |
| students the most. Generally with this type of instructor | | | | Instead your lessons should be more like the following: |
| your progress will be foremost in their minds and they | | | | -- A high-energy and positive environment where the |
| will do their best to encourage you, give you | | | | instructor leads by example and models the techniques |
| appropriate feedback and ensure your success in their | | | | or drills |
| program. | | | | -- Ample opportunity to practice the techniques and |
| The opposite type of instructor may well be very | | | | drills in different ways while giving constructive |
| good at the martial arts but often seems arrogant, | | | | feedback |
| aloof and completely disinterested. It seems like they | | | | -- Lessons flows seamlessly from one technique to |
| are more focused on trying to break your spirit for the | | | | the next and one activity to the next |
| purpose of showing you how bad you really are. This | | | | -- The instructor is well-organized and uses multiple |
| may or may not be true, and some people react very | | | | teaching methods such as verbal, visual and |
| well to this type of hardcore training but most people | | | | experiential |
| dont do well in this environment. Instead, they need a | | | | -- Questions are asked and comments are made to |
| healthy balance of tough love and positive | | | | help reinforce the content |
| encouragement. Which type of person are you? | | | | -- Good discipline is maintained in the class so there |
| What are your instructors qualifications? Again Im not | | | | are minimal interruptions and students are held |
| just talking about their technical skill, although this is | | | | accountable for their effort and focus. |