what would you do?
I'm very recently appointed as the teacher for one of the classes in my dojo (a mere shodan):o . and some of the new students told me that they're not very sure that Aikido really works without too much strength.. what would you do if you were told that?:rolleyes:
I'm sure that my Aikido works (thanks to Sensei for teaching me well):cool: so I was thinking of letting them attack me seriously, but I'm also afraid that they'll get hurt and it will become a big trouble for me.:( |
Re: what would you do?
Rule 1: Don't hurt beginners. Even if they ask you to... :rolleyes:
Ultimately, the question is unanswerable, but depending on how it is phrased you can chip away at it. Sometimes, someone will clamp down and refuse to move, thereby demonstrating that "aikido doesn't work." My answer to this is to point out all the openings created by clamping down, and demonstrate how being more fluid gives uke more opportunities, including perhaps the opportunity for a reversal. Sometimes, someone will have a particular scenario in mind, and won't see how "aikido technique" would work in that situation. Here, I would walk through the scenario and show how aikido principles continue to apply even if what happens doesn't look like kihon waza. If there's a more senior person available, you could demonstrate how trying to use strength grounds the attacker and is counterproductive, while a softer touch works. This demonstration can be risky with beginners because they have very little structure and are easy to throw the "wrong" way by mistake. As a shodan, be aware that *your* aikido probably *doesn't* work in every situation that your students could dream up. "I don't know" is a better answer than confidently making a claim that you can't personally back up. Good luck! Katherine |
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In Aikido your technique is as limited as your attitude. I, for one, have used aikido in self defense and I am still here to tell you that it works. But the right frame of mind helps. I have used it, for real, in Viet Nam and when I was a deputy sheriff---more than once. Keep a positive attitude and train as if your life depended on it. Aikido will work for you if you stay focused.
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Re: what would you do?
when you say "one of the classes", does that mean the class in question has a specfic emphasis?
as a new teacher are you trying to lead in advanced, technical stuff? if not, simply lead at the level you're at instead of going there with beginners. tell them that beginners should not be focusing on such questions, as it may serve to prolong progress in the early stages. emphasize the loooonnng road ahead, and focus on basics and principles. i agree with #2: its okay to say 'hey im only a shodan, im here to help with with basics and simple stuff' |
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For this reason, and also for the OP's own training, I think it's important to have a level-appropriate answer. Show the student what to expect on the road from "brand new beginner who can't even stand right" to "competent martial artist." Katherine |
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A beginners experience with aikido usually is that it doesn't "work" without strength, becayse they can't do the techniques correctly, and so the only times they have some kind of success against another struggling beginner is when they throw in some additional strength. One way to approach this could be to forget "no strength" for now, and focus with them on "less effort" . Often you can show people how if they do technique more correctly it will cost them less effort. And that gets the beginners working in at least the right direction. Throw in a joke about how aikido is for lazy people and you're good to go. :D kvaak Pauliina |
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I would show them how it does work with little strength at all... very slowly and very definitely. I must say though, when I was at shodan level, I was not completely confident that I could make aikido work, at least not in the way that I can now. Confidence does have a pretty big part to play. Quote:
regards, Mark |
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I really like that approach of "let's break it down togeter." One of my sempai who teaches a class was asked about rear bear hugs and he worked through it with the person. The "new" guy was fairly tough, something even folks with little or no formal training can certainly be, so it didn't look pretty. It was a good teachable moment for everybody, and in a number of ways! Quote:
Take care, Matthew |
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Katherine |
Re: what would you do?
A simple and practical suggestion:
a. Ask you teacher. b. Ask another Shodan to come to class, and demonstrate more realistic situations, higher intensity etc with him - to keep things safe. c. You can extend b, and ask your students to suggest situations for you two to show Note, b&c the above assumes your Aikido really works, and people practicing other M.A. would have said the same thing watching you. Are you sure of this? Amir |
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If I ever heard one of my shodans say to people/students that "I am just a shodan and am here only to help with the basics simple stuff", he'd be a white belt again so fast he wouldn't know what hit him. When you put the black belt on, you did something to earn it. If your instructor(s) have enough confidence in you to promote you to shodan, you'd better be able to show that confidence when you are teaching. If you don't know the answer to a question, it's perfectly acceptable to tell them you don't know BUT will find out the answer and get back to you. That's a leader and shows confidence. You'll get a lot more respect like that rather telling them that "I am just a shodan.............."
You don't have to prove yourself to anyone on the mat. If they ask me if aikido works, I usually tell them it depends on your attitude and how hard you practice. What you put into it is what you get out of it. Just because it doesn't work for you doesn't mean it won't work for someone else. If you radiate confidence, believe me the students will read it. "I am just a shodan..............." is the ultimate disrespect to your instructor(s). Why would your instructor(s) promote you if you didn't know anything???? All I can say now is God help the student of mine that says that and I hear it. |
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if that was me, i would have said. I'd ask you for your patient. I'll show you what i know. we work through the aikido basics. and we can find the answer to that question and other questions you have together. and if the answer is beyond my capability, then we can ask my teacher(s). |
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it occured to me, that the response in the scenario would depend on different things, and thus, there cannot be one blanket answer for this. i am reminded of the concept of paradoxical teaching, wherein a teacher says seemingly contradictory things to different people to teach the same thing, and the idea is that each person needs to hear something different to get them to understand. i think, with this in mind, i would revise my first comments to include other possible responses, suited to the person/people asking. regardless, i am confident that my sensei would not take such a thing as an 'insult' to the rank ive been awarded; we come from the 'shodans are just beginners' school of thought, as well. -dave |
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We had a weekend seminar with Saotome Sensei last weekend. Monday night, I unexpectedly found myself teaching the class. I asked for requests, and a couple of people asked to work on "that exercise Saotome Sensei was doing."
I'm not him. I can't do what he can do. That's just a fact. But I could say: here's what I think was going on, and here are some exercises that should get you headed in the right direction. Let's work on this together. Katherine |
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It's actually easier once you accept the challenge, though. That is, avoiding the question -- whether it be "how does aikido handle real attacks" or "what was Saotome doing" -- looks defensive. But once you say "I don't know, let's explore" it feels to me like there's a lot more freedom to try things that don't "work." (And by the way, trying something that doesn't work in front of a class will not cause you to die of embarrassment. I know this from first hand experience.... :o ) Katherine |
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