I'm totally unqualified to teach...

**Yrkoon9** · Posted On: 7/19/2006 4:53pm

It's all perspective.

A blue belt showing a white belt the basic armbar from the mount is okay. That same white belt turning around and showing another white belt that same move might also be okay.

Many times in class someone jumps in late and didn't get to see the formal instruction by the black belt. So the white belt has to figure out what is going on somehow. Another white belt isn't going to be able to go into all the details, but a rough understanding is okay. Hopefully the black belt will have enough time to stop by and correct any mistakes and possibly demonstrate it again. But if not - no big deal. The white belt has an idea and it will be modified or corrected in a future class.

What would be a big NO-NO is what I saw happening at my old school:

Some TMA instructor would take a private lesson or two from my instructor, then go back to his school across town and teach the move. The problem with this is that the guy in question didn't do regular classes, didn't spar, and was spanked badly the few times he did have to roll with other white belts from the regular class. This guy going off to his own school and trying to teach without any sort of support, either from higher ranks or the black belt instructor himself is doing the students a disservice as he is presenting himself as the sole authority in that environment.

For example I have no trouble as a purple belt showing and teaching people things. But I have back up support. There are other purples, browns, and blacks that are readily availible to correct any mistake I might make, or answer any questions that we as a group may have. I am not the sole authority.

**Method2Madness** · Posted On: 7/19/2006 9:22pm

At my school were expected to help teach once weave been training for a couple months. For example if someone newer than you asks how to perform the arm bar, then we are expected to try to help that person as much as possible. If we don't know the technique completely then we are told to either ask the head instructor or a higher belt.

**Phrost** · Posted On: 7/19/2006 9:29pm

Originally Posted by Yrkoon9

It's all perspective.

A blue belt showing a white belt the basic armbar from the mount is okay. That same white belt turning around and showing another white belt that same move might also be okay.

Many times in class someone jumps in late and didn't get to see the formal instruction by the black belt. So the white belt has to figure out what is going on somehow. Another white belt isn't going to be able to go into all the details, but a rough understanding is okay. Hopefully the black belt will have enough time to stop by and correct any mistakes and possibly demonstrate it again. But if not - no big deal. The white belt has an idea and it will be modified or corrected in a future class.

What would be a big NO-NO is what I saw happening at my old school:

Some TMA instructor would take a private lesson or two from my instructor, then go back to his school across town and teach the move. The problem with this is that the guy in question didn't do regular classes, didn't spar, and was spanked badly the few times he did have to roll with other white belts from the regular class. This guy going off to his own school and trying to teach without any sort of support, either from higher ranks or the black belt instructor himself is doing the students a disservice as he is presenting himself as the sole authority in that environment.

For example I have no trouble as a purple belt showing and teaching people things. But I have back up support. There are other purples, browns, and blacks that are readily availible to correct any mistake I might make, or answer any questions that we as a group may have. I am not the sole authority.

IMO something like this would be the best (only) argument in favor of having a belt system as opposed to not having one. If your belt rankings are truly based on individual merit alone, then it can be extremely helpful to a senior instructor with a large class to foster a cooperative learning environment where anyone can tell at a glance who's who.

And obviously this falls apart at schools that promote on anything but merit alone.

**Red Elvis** · Posted On: 7/19/2006 9:37pm

Originally Posted by Yrkoon9

.....For example I have no trouble as a purple belt showing and teaching people things. But I have back up support. There are other purples, browns, and blacks that are readily availible to correct any mistake I might make, or answer any questions that we as a group may have. I am not the sole authority.....

What he said. I teach as much as I can and if I don't fully understand a particular component then I would just ask for the instructor to come over for further clarification. You learn more by teaching and explaining sometimes than by just doing.

Leaving the school at night to teach at your own place though is a little shady.

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 7/19/2006 10:05pm

Leaving the school at night to teach at your own place though is a little shady.

Very shady. That's like taking classes in stats, then trying to teach stats classes at another school.

**Tenebrous** · Posted On: 7/20/2006 5:24pm

Originally Posted by WhiteShark

Yeah I did that one time with the leg Americana from Scarf hold. I actually assumed it was a gimmick but the purple belt said, "If you can get it that's a solid sub."

A purple belt taught that one to my class a month or so ago. It;s a cute one for sure.

**JohnnyS** · Posted On: 7/20/2006 6:34pm

In a formal class you should ask the instructor for help.
At my club during open-mat the rule is to ask the senior most belt for help because we had too many white belts showing each other techniques incorrectly or only partially right. And with two black belts and four browns, plus a number of purples there is always someone qualified to help out.

**PoleFighter** · Posted On: 7/21/2006 3:31am

I show new guys stuff all the time, but only moves that I know well. I figure the sooner they get some moves to work with, the better.

**UpaLumpa** · Posted On: 7/21/2006 9:06am

Originally Posted by PoleFighter

I show new guys stuff all the time, but only moves that I know well. I figure the sooner they get some moves to work with, the better.

This is funny. About the only thing I show new guys is a proper side control and mount escapes.
That's really it.

No I won't show you a twister (not that I know how to do one, I know how to get out of one though). No I won't show you a heel hook.

**Red Elvis** · Posted On: 7/21/2006 7:59pm

Originally Posted by Red Elvis

What he said. I teach as much as I can and if I don't fully understand a particular component then I would just ask for the instructor to come over for further clarification. You learn more by teaching and explaining sometimes than by just doing.

Leaving the school at night to teach at your own place though is a little shady.

Let me clarify... I will teach the move we currently are working on if they don't get it. Not teach a completely different technique. Plus if I don't get it, I ask for help.