TEACHING
(Posted 2007-05-16 10:32:57 by ArchPaladin)

Went to Aikido yesterday afternoon.  Not too bad.  There was a student
there that I'd never seen before.  He was apparently new, or at least newer
than me and had never tested before, so I think he's new.  Was without a
doubt the most out-of-breath individual I have ever come across.  About two
minutes into class he started noticeably wheezing and didn't stop for the
remaining hour.  He sweat a lot too, which is generally not a big deal,
unless of course he happens to do this cough-shudder-wheeze right next to
you and you get caught in the body fluid splash zone.

It was kind of gross-funny.  I took a shower afterward.

At any rate, I'm reminded how training in that school has affected my
teaching style.  Just recently I was given the opportunity to teach at
Higgins' class a couple of times, and it felt a little awkward stepping
back into the role of instructor.  For the longest time at Aikido I was the
lowest ranking student there, and now even if there is someone below me
there are always black belts to handle the teaching duties.  And the
school's Sensei teaches the old Japanese way: little or no vocal
instruction, demonstrates a technique a couple of times, and then expects
you to learn by imitation.  He will only step in to give further
instruction once in a while.  I've found myself slipping into that kind of
teaching mode when I do teach, but I know that it's rather difficult for
new students to pick up anything that way so I have to try and balance it
with more explanation.  To be honest, I'd very much like to teach in that
manner, but when you're imparting skills that no one has ever seen before
it's not the best idea.  Particularly not in this day and age, where people
don't devote many years of their life to regular training.

I know that people's teaching styles change over the course of their lives,
so I'm not saying that changing is either good or bad.  I guess that what I
am saying is that it's another thing to be aware of.  Another little method
to put in the bag of tricks, so to speak.

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