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Hey guys. So tomorrow I teach my first class (no-gi), then a short hotbox drilling session straight after. I have a lesson planned out, and know what I will be teaching. I have only ever taught single techs etc before really , never a full class, so I wondered if any of you guys had any tips or advice you could give me? Would be much appreciated. Thanks everyone. :)
Keep it simple!!!!! try to stay relaxed and speak clearly.
I'm not an instructor, but I did have to teach class one time. The main issue I had was that everyone would rep whatever I taught two times and then look at me. I had to keep telling them to rep. As a student, I will say this. The best classes and the ones I learn most from are the classes on one position with maybe 3 or 4 moves (subs, sweeps, etc.) that we rep a lot. It's effective because us students actually remember what we learned and feel satisfied. Whenever you teach the moves, it helps if you show them twice and then ask if anyone needs to see it again. Some of us learn at a slower pace. So like Scott said, keep it simple. And don't get nervous because there's no pressure, everyone knows its your first class!!
Have fun and show a ton of enthusiasm, your students will react better and will understand more. :)
I usually plan my lesson in a series. so if I want to teach Gogo Plata from NY then I would teach Full Guard > Break Down > Mission Control > NY > Go-Go. I feel like this gives students the reps they need to be comfortable in a new spot.
As a student, one of the things I HATED was an instructor doing too much in one class. 1 maybe 2 techniques (make sure they're related) is plenty for a standard length class. And LOTS of drilling the technique (more than 20 times) has always seemed to be the most effective for me.
I hate when I go to a gym and what they show is what I call 7 random moves like an armbar from guard, armbar from back leg lock from over here and maybe a pass.
People will stop drilling and start talking a lot I find, not always a bad thing though it can help keep the atmosphere positive as long as they are still getting reps in
No matter how many times you explain put emphasis on small details there will be one dude who cannot remember them usually because he is high... :-P
I like to show moves in 2 or 3 parts that build off each other.
My class tonight will be a kimura escape that leads to lockdown to super stomp to butterfly then part 2 will be that whole starting part but from butterfly youll armdrag to back and RNC. They will spend 40 min drilling this.
Sometimes in beginner classes maybe Ill show 3-4 sode control escapes but they will all come off the same position. Not like a side escape then later a back escape
Always hit the warm up series, everyday every class they are really important.
Teach what you use most and know best first!
Teach a series at a time, that way you can ensure everyone is mastering it before you move on. Don't be afraid to drill the same move over and over until nobody is leaving out some of the small details.
Keep it simple
The best thing you can do is make sure you know your shit and you speak slowly and clearly. Some people prefer seeing the techniques;others need a step by step list to go over while doing moves... so make sure you're catering to all types of learners. Think about what youd want from an instructor and be that instructor.
Know your audience and know what they know before you show them something new. Ya know!?!?! :)
Dont teach something super fancy if most of your student don't know the basics. But also don't teach too basic for your advanced students . Ah, shit.... You're screwed.
^ this ^Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg W
I usually start it off with a very simple movement to demonstrate the principle at play in what we will cover. Then keep it simple with 2-3 techs and a ton of drilling and polishing. We also stay on a position for a week at a time, working further and further into it as the week progresses.
This has already been said, but just keep it simple and have fun. Your students will follow. :)
eddie was talkign about this lil technique in melbourne and ive tried it when showing people stuff at my gym and it really works. for instance if youre showing people a transition into spider web, explain the last move (ie sitting in spider web, deep hook legs properly crossed and their leg controlled) and get them to rep getting the arm bar or whatever u wanna show from there, then we ahve the basic idea of where the are going. then throw in the transition. it sounds weird at first but eddie explained and i agree that if ou show it completly in order then by the time you get to the last bit which is usually the complicated bit or somethign with detail atleast. then they miss bit out. good luck mate, and just remember the students wouldnt turn up if they werent interested. you have the technique and you have the people. making a mistake isnt the end of the world but giving up would be.
I hv bn teaching martial arts from 7 years now, its always good to know ur stuff first, have the answers of questions which may come up while teaching, keep few alternate methods of teaching as not all of the students are same, while showing something try to do a few more reps urself so students can get a better idea of doing more reps and on which speed. keep on paying attention on wht thy r doing, go and work on each individual if required. Keep it fun and fast pace...
Teaching is a part of learning process too for a instructor, so it will get better and better with the time.. Cheers Bro.
I like to break the class down by time also. Plan things out based on time so you can check the clock and know where you're at.
10 min warm up
2 techniques taught/drilled for 20 min each
10 live drills
30 min live rolling
Or something like that.
Thanks everybody. Advice is appreciated heaps.
Will keep you posted as to how it goes when I get back home tonight. :)
also planning to do a certain amount of techniques but then also make sure that you have something extra planned just incase something happens. ie if someone is somehow unable to do the technique or you have some extra time at the end of the class. :)
I notice alot of people new to teaching have the tendency to talk to long, and just over talk in general.
something that einstein said at the midwest camp that has stuck with me is "every step is its own finish line." I think if more people were told this when they started jiu jitsu, they would understand much more clearly just how important drilling is. Oh, and flow rolling is awesome as well. I'd incorporate it as a warm-up, after shrimps/shoulder rolls/ daily warm-up series.
When you demonstrate the techniques, don't stop when they tap, to show how effective it is.
The students will flock to you when they hear about the broken arms and strangulations.
:p
Just messin. I'm sure you'll do great dude!
Class went great guys. Thanks for the advice. 10th planet Kent hotbox!!! :)
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Be flexible in your approach.
and in your legs. rest of your body as well but especially your legsQuote:
Originally Posted by Brian Beaumont AKA Thor
Hey the warm up drills have worked great for us as a base before we get to the real lesson. Listen to Eddie explain the way he does the warm ups for class and they are laid out in mts.
Thanks again everyone. Have read all your advice and will take it on board for sure. :)
Looking good man! Congrats on the first of many great classes!
Thanks bro :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad Clark
:) what I ment was all have specific goals for the class but sometimes the learning needs of the group may take you down another path that will yield a much greater reward than the material you were planning on teaching. Be comfortable enough with your lesson plan that you can divert when nessisary but still finish on task.Quote:
Originally Posted by Isaac Atley
where & when do you teach Sam?
Hi, at the moment I teach a no gi class on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Do like a 45 minute 'hotbox' session after the class too. Also going to be doing a class on Saturdays. Probably won't start that for another couple of weeks or so though. Also the club I train out of is open from 6am until 10pm every day (6pm weekends) so plenty of open mat and stuff if I need it. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete Ford
:)
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Thanks again everyone for the advice. :)
i'm in surrey so maybe when you get a saturday class up & running i might be able to make the occasional trip up to train.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Sales
hit me up on facebook bro. Will figure something out. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete Ford