question about teaching?

[Chris Herzog]

To me, the real challenge is teaching the "stupid" people. Zog is right, if your good it can be done...but good god I struggle at this the most. Stupid people are usually not "stupid" they are just ignorant. And ignorant people with their EGOs out of check are probably one of the biggest challenges teachers face.

.....and the one of the biggest rewards when you succeed.

[Joe Durham]

^word^

[Brian Morency]

Thanks. I have seem a few people that stay away from jj and rely on their athleticism of wrestling and am ignorant to jj. I guess I just have to jump. I'm confident in what I have to teach. Just shy on the processes of putting it all together.

[Charlemange August K.]

no such thing as a bad student only a bad teacher

[Chris Herzog]

Its a life long endevor, not something you can just do. Its takes hard work like everything else. Study, reps, execution, review, change, rinse and repeat. Its not just regurgitating techniques you learned from someone else, you need to study kinesiology, human physiology, sport phychology and coaching. I've put more into developing into a coach than anything else I've ever done. Training for high level competitions was easy compared to being a coach, all I had to worry about was what I had to do to win. I now have to do that for everyone that walks in my door or has me at their school. Its not about teaching them your game, its about teaching them a game that will work for them. Very few of my students move and roll like me, a good coach will guide a student on their own journey, not one that tells them how they will move and react.

[Cody Kietzman]

I think its important to mention the importance of having a clear grasp on what you are teaching. You have to know the ins and outs of what you are teaching. Example: Can I do a heel hook? Yes. Am i qualified to teach a heel hook? No. It's because I lack the level of skill required to pass the intricate details of the hook onto another person. It's really important to focus on knowing your own game and own technique really well before you can dream of passing it on. IMO there are only a few things worse than bad teaching/teaching out of your ass.

[Scott Philips]

Make them WANT to learn....by wuppin that ass.

[Jason Hyatt]

Its a life long endevor, not something you can just do. Its takes hard work like everything else. Study, reps, execution, review, change, rinse and repeat. Its not just regurgitating techniques you learned from someone else, you need to study kinesiology, human physiology, sport phychology and coaching. I've put more into developing into a coach than anything else I've ever done. Training for high level competitions was easy compared to being a coach, all I had to worry about was what I had to do to win. I now have to do that for everyone that walks in my door or has me at their school. Its not about teaching them your game, its about teaching them a game that will work for them. Very few of my students move and roll like me, a good coach will guide a student on their own journey, not one that tells them how they will move and react.

I have a sincere love for education and educational theory and coach hit this right on. Far too often, we view teaching as a natural byproduct of being good at something. Being really good at something is not the same as being really good at helping other people learn how to be good at it too. Teaching is its own discipline with its own techniques, methods, research, and theoretical underpinnings. Developing a curriculum with specific intent takes a lot of time, effort, and thought. The craft of teaching isn't about the subject matter, its about the subjects. You have to not only understand your discipline, but you have to understand how people learn and how they apply what they've learned in practice.

[bobby rivers]

I've always coached and paid attention to developing and improving my friend's games. It's half selfish for me to be honest. For me to be the best I can be, my training partners have to be as good as possible. And when we go out and rep at tournies or fights, its my team thats on display so I want to have the best product possible. Its a sense of personal pride that all of us are strong grapplers, or becoming so.

But none of that compares to when a lil' Tom Petty lookin hippie^^ and a badass 17year old rack gold every time they enter. Plus the way it positively enriches their lives. People are good man. Help them and help yourself in turn.

[David Rosado]

Great posts in this thread.

no such thing as a bad student only a bad teacher

Not sure if I'm nitpicking, but from my experience (I did substitute teaching for a bit), there IS such a thing as a bad student. It's a student who absolutely refuses to learn no matter how many times you try to reach them. But I suppose in the context of martial arts, that person wouldn't exactly be considered a student, would they?

Its a life long endevor, not something you can just do. Its takes hard work like everything else. Study, reps, execution, review, change, rinse and repeat. Its not just regurgitating techniques you learned from someone else, you need to study kinesiology, human physiology, sport phychology and coaching. I've put more into developing into a coach than anything else I've ever done. Training for high level competitions was easy compared to being a coach, all I had to worry about was what I had to do to win. I now have to do that for everyone that walks in my door or has me at their school. Its not about teaching them your game, its about teaching them a game that will work for them. Very few of my students move and roll like me, a good coach will guide a student on their own journey, not one that tells them how they will move and react.

Great post. I appreciate those little details that help guys like me. From the fat whip when I didn't have enough core strenth to do a proper whip up, to that foot on the hip to get the extra distance to be able to play rubber guard. You're a great coach. I know one day I'll be able to bring home a gold for the team.

I think its important to mention the importance of having a clear grasp on what you are teaching. You have to know the ins and outs of what you are teaching. Example: Can I do a heel hook? Yes. Am i qualified to teach a heel hook? No. It's because I lack the level of skill required to pass the intricate details of the hook onto another person. It's really important to focus on knowing your own game and own technique really well before you can dream of passing it on. IMO there are only a few things worse than bad teaching/teaching out of your ass.

I posted a drunk post on this a while back. I'm what I jokingly call a youtube blackbelt. LOL. I've watched hours of youtube vids on techniques. I THOUGHT I knew what I was doing...until I started learning from Coach Herzog. That's because I know in theory how to do certain things...but Coach know in practice and with a record of great results how to do things RIGHT. Good post Cody.

I have a sincere love for education and educational theory and coach hit this right on. Far too often, we view teaching as a natural byproduct of being good at something. Being really good at something is not the same as being really good at helping other people learn how to be good at it too. Teaching is its own discipline with its own techniques, methods, research, and theoretical underpinnings. Developing a curriculum with specific intent takes a lot of time, effort, and thought. The craft of teaching isn't about the subject matter, its about the subjects. You have to not only understand your discipline, but you have to understand how people learn and how they apply what they've learned in practice.

I have nothing to add to this. Just quoting for truth.