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Post by fujicolt on Mar 22, 2012 20:50:47 GMT
It is very obvious that we have, amongst the OSS Membership, a host of experienced and long served Karateka. Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to start a 8-)thread where we can all leave 'Hints and Tips' regarding techniques and approaches to teaching Shotokan Karate that we have found to be useful and productive having tried and tested them over many years (sometimes even decades). PLease add your 'Hints and Tips' here so we can pool and gain from that invaluable collective knowledge. I'll start with a little snippet of advice below - please add your own A great but simple way that you can enhance your ability to transfer info to your students is to understand that fundamentally humans 'learn' and absorb info in 3 basic ways: Audio: we hear it and this of course includes verbal instruction. Visual: we see it and this of course includes demonstrations of technique etc by the Instructor. Kiniesthetic; We 'feel' it and this of course includes actually practicing the various Kihon, Kata and Kumite drills under the watchful eye of an experienced Instructor. Research has shown that people will generally have two out of the three that (for them) are more dominant and thus better ways of recieving info - I for example am Visual and Kiniesthetically dominant in my way of absorbing info - you may be Audio and visual or any other combo: all very normal and healthy. A great way to enhance transmission of information is to ensure that at every class you (the Instructor) have either a Blackboard and Chalk or a Whiteboard and the special easy wipe pens that are used with whiteboards. By the use of diagrams and other forms of written info you will find that you can offer your students further clarity that vocal and demonstrated input won't quite cover. If you have a permanent Dojo - attach your Board to the wall. If not invest in a folding board and trestle - not overly expensive and well worth the outlay in the long run. Good Luck!
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Post by malk103 on Mar 22, 2012 21:39:03 GMT
I feel I might be one of the ones to benifit most from this topic but will offer up the best thing I have been taught and put into practice.
Always finish the lesson with a few fast combinations that should include kicks and maybe something different. This gets the blood pumping and the endorphines going so we finish on a high, bowing at the end of a lesson whilst still out of breath is my goal.
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Post by fujicolt on Apr 12, 2012 20:53:08 GMT
interesting idea Mal but i do hope you include a suitable 'warm down' before ending the class to help students avoid a whole host of problems. As a new instructor if not sure go research the importance of this vital process after any major exertion
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Post by jimlukelkc on Apr 13, 2012 9:43:02 GMT
On the back of that, Steve is quite right. Loads of problems can be avoided by a warm down at end of class, even if it is gentle kata . I like to loosely structure a lesson as : Warm-ups, mostly ballistic, with little or no static stretching, to induce breathlessness and perspiration. : Kihon to further warm the appropriate muscles, any static stretching should be done well into the class but I tend to avoid box-splits due to stress on the hips and also some research suggests this exercise can be counter-productive : Kumite or other high-impact exercise would be mid-session and then either gentle combinations, stance work or kata to finish by way of a warm-down.
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Post by malk103 on Apr 13, 2012 10:20:32 GMT
Good point(s), although a lot of our lessons are short and a few of the students need a lot of pushing to get really out of breath. I will consider a 5 minute slowing down near the end and advise then to stretch etc afterwards. I remember discovering adrenaline during the lesson and the impact it had on Kihon/Kata afterwards so this may be worth considering early on in the lesson.
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Post by fujicolt on Apr 13, 2012 13:09:54 GMT
On the back of that, Steve is quite right. Loads of problems can be avoided by a warm down at end of class, even if it is gentle kata . I like to loosely structure a lesson as : Warm-ups, mostly ballistic, with little or no static stretching, to induce breathlessness and perspiration. : Kihon to further warm the appropriate muscles, any static stretching should be done well into the class but I tend to avoid box-splits due to stress on the hips and also some research suggests this exercise can be counter-productive : Kumite or other high-impact exercise would be mid-session and then either gentle combinations, stance work or kata to finish by way of a warm-down. Mal - James would be a good one for you to correspond with - he knows his stuff and is a very imaginative Instructor - especially so with Kids classes
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Post by Bob Davis on Apr 13, 2012 14:02:55 GMT
I have to say I do the same with my kids class, typically pad work or exercise games because they typically only remember how much fun they had in the last 5 minutes.
BUT what I would say is that it's important to remember that you are running a karate class not an aerobics class (although there are times when "pushing" students is important), if the lessons are short then all the more reason that the time is spent on learning rather than practicing, to throw in the old quote "here is where you come to learn, at home is where you get good!"
Like all things it's about balance I suppose, and with my lot once it's obvious they've had enough "learning" for one session I'll fall back on the "work them hard" concept.
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Post by nathanso on Apr 14, 2012 3:36:31 GMT
... Warm-ups, mostly ballistic.... If by this you mean ballistic stretching, my understanding has been that ballistic stretching should generally be avoided as a part of a warm- up, as it tends to induce an antagonist reflex that counteracts the stretch. FWIW, I like to include burpees near the beginning of a warm- up so that people actually can get the muscles warmed up.
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Post by jimlukelkc on Apr 15, 2012 12:56:23 GMT
I am not purporting to be an expert in this but I personally would avoid heavy-load exercise like burpees until the class was fully warmed up. Ballistic stretching should not be full stretch until warmed up but this type of stretching , according to several books I have read on the subject is favoured over static stretching for kicks and static stretches should not be attempted to any great extent until fully warmed up.
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Post by fujicolt on Apr 15, 2012 15:30:34 GMT
As I have stated elsewhere flks - if you want to learn about good, safe and very productive stretching regimes you have to invest in a copy of Tom Kurz's 'Stretching Scientifically'. It explains everything, shows what to do, when to do it and Why. It ensures you avoid injury (if you follow the Instructions) and you will get stronger and more supple as a result.
Very importantly it shows you how to gauge what results your body ( Skeletal and Musculature etc.) will be able to achieve (we are all different!) and how to achieve it.
I have seen Old VHS copies available very cheap and even the full DVD set for sale now IS WELL WORTH THE MONEY! as it has shown the test of time and the results are consistent IF you Follow the program.
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Post by ruestir on Apr 16, 2012 12:06:59 GMT
Jim, I may be mincing words, but I would warn away from doing ballistic type stretches in favor of what Kurtz describes as dynamic stretches. The differentiation being a ballistic stretch is "throwing uncontrolled" the limb out to its maximal point and letting it "bounce back" as opposed to dynamic stretching which uses the antagonist muscles to deliberately pull the limb out to a point where a comfortable stretch is reached, holding it for a second or two and then releasing it. Ballistic stretching is rather unsafe causing muscle tears and ligament damage that can take a long time to heal.
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Post by malk103 on Apr 16, 2012 12:57:09 GMT
Taking the above on board, and the little that i know and have researched, what would be the ideal lesson layout? Taking an hour as a typical lesson:
First 10 minutes warm up, moving all joints about and gradual exercises to get the blood pumping. 5 minutes of dynamic(?) stretching, or fast exercises - knees to chest sort of thing. A few minutes of static stretching Kihon/Kata/Kumite - maybe something early on to get the adrenaline going, mixture of teaching and doing, maybe end with something fun to keep it interesting or SD techniques, mat & bat work. Last 5/10 minutes gradually slowing down maybe finishing with a few static stretches.
Would that be the best approach or changed around a bit - I did like to finish on a high but that would be bad if someone got cramp in the car on the way home. In theory we are responsible for their well being during and after the lesson, also not too good if they can't move in the morning because you've over worked certain muscle groups. I suppose it also depends on who you are teaching and the general level of fitness.
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Post by jimlukelkc on Apr 17, 2012 12:09:21 GMT
Alex I think we are indulging in semantics here a bit. I would say any " throwing out of a limb in an uncontrolled manner" should be completly avoided. I therefore bow to your choice of wording. Lets call it dynamic stretching which should of course be used in a controlled manner. Often difficult to illustrate by this medium but much less likely to cause injury. On another subject, do most of you generally only train for an hour at a time? My senior sessions are 2 hours and I often feel we have "run out of time".
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Post by malk103 on Apr 17, 2012 12:38:29 GMT
I would like to try and extend our evening classes but its very difficult, most younger members would be happy to start earlier and a few seniors would be happier training until late. By the time everyone gets home from work or the kids have been fed the best start time is around 6:30/7pm, most families training together need to call it a day around 8pm to get the kids home.
It also depends on hire times and costs, a lot of emphasis is then given to condense stuff for the students to practice at home.
Weekend sessions are ideal but you are competing with all the other clubs and Zumba lessons that want the halls and the costs of hire double.
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Post by fujicolt on Apr 17, 2012 14:19:26 GMT
I have noticed this change to 1 hour classes and sympathise with the reasoning why. However, especially with adults, for progress to be made 2 hour classes X 3 per week are essential if you are to hit the 3 months between Kyu Grading requirements.
I see far too many middle kyu grades whom have been over promoted and haven't gained the required foundations within their Karate performances.
Karate requires sustained effort if real progress is to be made IMHO!
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Post by ruestir on Apr 17, 2012 17:18:56 GMT
Alex I think we are indulging in semantics here a bit. I would say any " throwing out of a limb in an uncontrolled manner" should be completly avoided. I therefore bow to your choice of wording. Lets call it dynamic stretching which should of course be used in a controlled manner. Often difficult to illustrate by this medium but much less likely to cause injury. That's why I phrased it the way I did. I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth, but clarifying. Oh, and bowing isn't necessary. A simple kiss of the ring will do. Hour classes seem too short to me. Like we're just getting warmed up when it's time to quit. I do an hour and a half, which feels about right with the one student I have. I'm sure at times he wishes it were shorter. When I had multiple students I still felt like I was cutting things off short at 90 minutes. I think it depends on who and what you are training.
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Post by fujicolt on Apr 18, 2012 7:20:05 GMT
I think Alex is spot on about the who and what issue re: Class duration. Moving the point on slightly - When you have a guest Instructor do they tend to Drill you physically very hard or do they slow the pace and 'teach'? and: How many Hours do you tend to book them for?
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Post by malk103 on Apr 18, 2012 12:04:42 GMT
We haven't done guest instructors for ages but here's some thoughts.... If the average age of students was low then 2-3 hours would be sufficient maybe with a break midway. Or seniors for 3-5 hours or 2 sessions. There would need to be regular drilling to keep people warmed up, I would be disappointed if it was all drill though. On the other hand if someone talked for more than an hour it may not sink in properly so a fair mixture of show and do with the odd talking point would be good.
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Post by fujicolt on Apr 18, 2012 13:39:50 GMT
Thanks for your thoughts Mal - just to be clear though when I said 'Teach' I meant far more than just talking would be interesting to hear the thoughts and experiences of others though so pls post Guys and Gals as this kind of info helps us all.
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Post by malk103 on Apr 30, 2012 20:54:18 GMT
I assumed the "teach" bit was more than just talking I hit on something tonight that was simple and effective, I started picking out some Kumite moves from the Kata and asked if they could name the Kata. This just added a spark to the younger members who obviously loved to answer a question correctly so I carried on the theme. After each one they practiced it with a partner but it seemed to go better as they were competing to get the next one. It was fairly limiting as most only knew 3 Kata but thought I would share it as it added an extra element.
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Post by fujicolt on May 1, 2012 1:38:16 GMT
When exploring what the Kata may be 'Implying' that the movements could be used for be very conscious of NOT assuming that your opponent/s are in front of you. Think laterally not literally and look at the trajectory of the movements you make. Remember that a great deal of Shotokan Techniques use an Hikete motion and this can be a technique (or part of a technique in itself. Also remember that not all techniques require the Hikete motion to be affective - so in essence what originally maqy appear to be one technique may be applied as two techniques occuring simultaneously. Often the opposing direction of the limbs may be utilised as a trap, Restraint, throw, Strangle etc - it really is limitless and 'opens' up with practice. Experiment and if some ideas don't pan out - nought is lost just keep exploring!
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Post by jimlukelkc on May 23, 2012 14:39:10 GMT
I give my students homework. Even if they do not get the right answers it keeps karate on their minds between lessons and generates more questions after they search online. For instance I asked them for the Japanese for palm-heel strike which brought up queries about Enpi and Jutte kata.
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Post by fujicolt on May 23, 2012 18:45:41 GMT
This is an important thread folks and is producing some great advice (see above) - so considering the hundreds of visitors we are getting daily/weekly whom are slowly (very slowly HAAHA!) actually joining in please continue posting your excellent little chunks of advice
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Post by jimlukelkc on Jun 11, 2012 13:37:40 GMT
To continue this thread, I have a junior class which I keep separate from the main class and which caters for kids between 4 and 10 roughly. With the very young, we make a lot of the training focused around games and I only ever spend around 5-10 mins on any one task at a time. This ensures their attention does not wander. If the task is making an important point, we may return to it later but again only for a short time, this reinforces the lesson and keeps it fresh. For member retention purposes , always try to end the class with a "fun" activity, as this tends to be the thing they remeber most, and ensures they come back for more.
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Post by fujicolt on Jun 14, 2012 22:17:35 GMT
I have personally witnessed Jim's approach to these 'Toddler Classes' and although not a totall unique approach I can say it definitely does create a very enjoyable training environment for the youngest members and by simply keeping them coming back it does open an opportunity for slowly moving them on towards more 'mainstream' approaches to teaching Karate. However, it has a major problem - it requires immense patience (not only with the Kids but also with parents! it is, in this sad litigeous climate we live in, open to many problems IF not planned to avoid problems due to accidents etc BUT (if you have the Likes of Jim running it) it is a model that can work extremely well! Sadly, Jim is a bit of an Extra - ordinary Karate Instructor and many would not IMHO have the skills or patience to make it work without - at least - some guidance on how it does! Maybe inviting Jim along to give you that guidance (or if he writes it all up in some nice articles for the OSS Forum could be a way forward. But be warned - working with children - even with the best intent IS a potential nightmare! Be careful, get good advice and insurance, Solid CPP and very strict rules to cover areas outside the Dojo, changing rooms etc, that are (obviously) outside the Instructors view and focus. As I said = a minefield!
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Post by jimlukelkc on Jun 15, 2012 9:44:51 GMT
Thanks for the testimonial Steve ! I can give a brief outline of how we operate this class and its requirements. As Steve says, patience is a basic requirement and you must be friendly and approachable with the kids and keep parents updated on their child s progress. We make sure all our feedback is positive and parents have full knowledge of whats expected of them and intrinsic costs etc. Any activity that involves even light contact is tightly supervised and wherever possible we have them partnered up with a senior grade. We encourage them to purchase protective equipment but it is also always available for those who do not own a set. We treat the parents of the kids as our customers and as such we try to deliver a service. That way you avoid the pitfalls of parents thinking they can dictate how their child should be treated. In other words , this is what you are paying for, this is our commitment to you, this is what you can expect from us , this is what we expect from you. We require everyone who registers with us to provide details of any medical conditions and where we stand with medication etc. We had a young chap, for instance, who had suffered a juvenile stroke which limited his mobility. We requested and got a letter from his doctor detailing his condition and a medical opinion that he was fit to take part. A working knowledge of certain conditions like asthma, ADHD and autism is an advantage but not essential. First aid certificates and an accident book kept alongside your first aid kit is essential. We have public liability to a value of £5000,000 and all our advertising gives an assurance that our instructors have enhanced CRB checks. Every hall we train in is risk assessed and all students aware of fire exits etc. As for general training, with very young students it is helpful if most of the activities are treated as a game or have some element of competition in them. Kids love repetition but is is an idea to keep tasks to a strict 5 to ten mins in length and then move on. Do not have an unrealistic expectation of the standard you can achieve as there will be a lack of coordination a nd balance in young students, ( we have one young lad who can fall over coming to yoi ! ) Make it safe and fun and keep the atmosphere light. Also make them understand that they are aiming to be invited to the senior class where things are different, more serious but definitely to be aspired to.
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Post by fujicolt on Jun 17, 2012 0:59:38 GMT
Thanks for the testimonial Steve ! I can give a brief outline of how we operate this class and its requirements. As Steve says, patience is a basic requirement and you must be friendly and approachable with the kids and keep parents updated on their child s progress. We make sure all our feedback is positive and parents have full knowledge of whats expected of them and intrinsic costs etc. Any activity that involves even light contact is tightly supervised and wherever possible we have them partnered up with a senior grade. We encourage them to purchase protective equipment but it is also always available for those who do not own a set. We treat the parents of the kids as our customers and as such we try to deliver a service. That way you avoid the pitfalls of parents thinking they can dictate how their child should be treated. In other words , this is what you are paying for, this is our commitment to you, this is what you can expect from us , this is what we expect from you. We require everyone who registers with us to provide details of any medical conditions and where we stand with medication etc. We had a young chap, for instance, who had suffered a juvenile stroke which limited his mobility. We requested and got a letter from his doctor detailing his condition and a medical opinion that he was fit to take part. A working knowledge of certain conditions like asthma, ADHD and autism is an advantage but not essential. First aid certificates and an accident book kept alongside your first aid kit is essential. We have public liability to a value of £5000,000 and all our advertising gives an assurance that our instructors have enhanced CRB checks. Every hall we train in is risk assessed and all students aware of fire exits etc. As for general training, with very young students it is helpful if most of the activities are treated as a game or have some element of competition in them. Kids love repetition but is is an idea to keep tasks to a strict 5 to ten mins in length and then move on. Do not have an unrealistic expectation of the standard you can achieve as there will be a lack of coordination a nd balance in young students, ( we have one young lad who can fall over coming to yoi ! ) Make it safe and fun and keep the atmosphere light. Also make them understand that they are aiming to be invited to the senior class where things are different, more serious but definitely to be aspired to. ANd the above is a classic example of why this site is such a valuable source of good info, food for thought, interesting info and good advice. Thanks Jim for taking the time to record all that
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Post by fujicolt on Jun 17, 2012 1:01:08 GMT
BACK TO THE THREAD - PLEASE KEEP THESE HINTS AND TIPS FOR INSTRUCTORS COMING - ALL VALUED - THANKS EVERYONE!
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