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Old 09-06-2004, 09:08 PM   #6
Don_Modesto
Dojo: Messores Sensei (Largo, Fl.)
Location: Florida
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,267
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Re: Poll: How important is knowing step-by-step kihonwaza (basic techniques) for beginning aikido students?

Quote:
AikiWeb System wrote:
AikiWeb Poll for the week of September 5, 2004:

How important is knowing step-by-step kihonwaza (basic techniques) for beginning aikido students?
  • I don't do aikido
  • Critically important
  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not very important
  • Not at all important
Here are the current results.
"Step by step"--I think Iwama.

The question hits a nerve with me. I teach step by step and it fits my theory of learning. However, one of the finest teachers I've ever met, Saotome Mitsugi, doesn't do what I'd call step by step teaching. Yet his students are excellent--John Messores, Patti Saotome, George Ledyard, Kevin Choate, Charlie Page, Dennis Hooker, Steve McPeck...

I've just had some Iwama students transfer into my class and they're a delight to have. But at the other end of the spectrum, Saotome's students are excellent, too.

I don't know how to answer this question. Saying it's not important contradicts my own teaching, but then, so does Saotome's teaching...

Don J. Modesto
St. Petersburg, Florida
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