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Old 05-12-2009, 10:29 AM   #4
Phil Van Treese
Dojo: Tampa Judo and Aikido Dojo, Tampa, Fl
Location: Tampa, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 179
United_States
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Re: Testing or not testing...

I never tell my students when they will test. If they know it, they know it. If they don't, then it'll show. I tell every student that every class is a test---to be able to grab what is being shown, to be able to understand the technique, to push yourself, and, more importantly, to be able to give it back by helping another student etc. Anyone can learn a technique, study it, apply it during a test and then forget it. Not telling them when they test makes them want to retain what was taught and relate to whatever else they have learned. Works quite well. When they realize just how much they know, they always leave the dojo smiling because they have retained a good part of what they were taught.
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