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