Willing to answer a question for a study?

[Lampa]

I'm doing a semi-formal comparitive report on different MA studios in my area. I say semi formal because it has all the restrictions of a formal report but isn't going to be published for commercial reasons.

Because of the format, it seems necessary that I justify my criteria with more authority than just my own as a student. So, I have a couple of basic questions for people here who are instructors on the board and I was wondering if some of you guys could take the time out to answer. I can already guess at to what the substance of these answers are going to be, as they are discussed to death on bullshido. But if I quote this information from an instructor, as he would be considered an expert in the field, I don't have to waste a significant amount of the report justifying my own authority for what is important to evaluate when looking at a dojo. (Yes I also asked my instructor, but I'm out of state right now so I don't know how fast I'll get an answer.)

If you answer these questions and are an instructor just pm me your real name to indicate it is okay that I site you. That should be good enough concent considering this isn't for commercial use. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me speed this along.

"What are some of the things you look for when gauging the quality of a martial arts studio?"

"What do you feel are the most important things a martial arts instructor can teach his students?"

"What types of training drills do you spend the most time doing/having your students do?"

"What types of training drills do you feel are most important with your style of martial training?"


You can give as much or as little detail as you want. And, if anyone feels like throwing something new or controvertial into these questions this would be the thread to do it in. I'm just probably only going to be quoting people with green titles.

[patfromlogan]

If you answer these questions and are an instructor just pm me your real name to indicate it is okay that I site you. That should be good enough concent considering this isn't for commercial use. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me speed this along.

"What are some of the things you look for when gauging the quality of a martial arts studio?"

What the hell... I don't need to pm my real name, I don't give afuck, after all some of us have been putting real names and phone numbers and such for get togethers. Like we found out who Jamoke really was with tons of drama and no one gave a flying...
I'm patrick easterling, ass't instructor under Sensei Pat Smith, Sports Academy Tumbling Gym, Logan Utah. I look first for intensity and hard training. Easy going, talking too much, put me off. In Kyokushin we use to just tell the n00bs to try and follow along, you'll get it if you stick with it awhile. We didn't waste time talking much. Biggest drawback to this group I'm with here is that they tend to blab away and spend way too much time bsing with n00bs that will quit in two weeks anyway. That said, I'm a student of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo and it's very laid back. Sometimes Shihan would walk though a couple times each hour in street clothes and talk to each group about their practice. So in that case I joined because of the depth of knowledge of the Shihan and his ability to kick my ass sparring.

"What do you feel are the most important things a martial arts instructor can teach his students?"

Fighting spirit.

Then to think, don't react in fear or react in aggressiveness, think. Escape, reposition, neutralize, escape. And the self respect thing, like my daughter (bb trad Okinawan karate) could still get raped, but date rape isn't about to happen. After years of training she has aquired a 'this is my space and you are here only with my permission' attitude.' That attitude, backed up by good techniques and the knowledge and skill to use them fast and hard, is what I'm after.

"What types of training drills do you spend the most time doing/having your students do?"

Personally I like putting individual moves together into combos that might work for sd (and sparring). And do them over and over. In the air drilling, then with partner, then increase resistance with partner. Like jab, straight, hook uppercut or turn away (fake it chicken) and then side kick, or windmill attacking/grabbing arms and single leg and punch to groin, or take a haymaker punch into control move spin the opponent around (like with my right on his right wrist and my left hand grabbing his armpit, using the thrust of his punch to continue the motion pulling him forward and to my right) throwing him on his face, going to dislocate shoulder (like use kimura but at submission point in practice don't hold, as they tap drop the arm - in sd you'd of course do your best to injure at this point - and drop punches/elbows on neck, kidney, spine, step back and kick head, ribs etc.

We also teach kata, and I expect people to learn them and then not have to go over them endlessly in class. I like to just have everyone do all the kata together to drill it, with people dropping out as they can't keep up. (I also like to vary the class, sometimes do kata slow as a warm up, then intense. Or start sparring as a warmup. Or whatever, just mix it up) Then sometimes have everyone sit and say, "Josh, peon four."And Josh gets up and shows just how well he has it down. This attitude of mine is like I was taught in Kyokushin, 'run and do situps on your own time, here we train karate.' I've added kata to do on your own time, and I don't really care, if you look shitty, then get off your ass at home. Keeps 'em a little on their toes, knowing that at any time they could be in front of the class.

I'm only an assistant so I do it their way most of the time... It's a friendly school that spars all ranges plenty hard enough for me. I have my ways and I do try to influence the Sensei IMHO toward good methods, but it's his school.

[Wounded Ronin]

It's all fun and games posting your real name until someone decides to Google your name. Then they read your posting on bullshido.net out of context and decide you're a very strange little man.

[patfromlogan]

well I'm a strange large man...

[Hannibal]

As a rule.

If they train hard and do lots of sparing (hard contact) then chances are they are alright.

But pick up on the instructors attitude. Probe him. Ask him questions. Ask him about the things you wish to know. If he is the sort of person that dosen't like answering your questions - go somewhere else.

[Otaku Waffle]

Pls to read post before replying. ggkthx.

Edit: Let's throw something useful in here as well...Lampa, would my asking my instructor these questions and getting the answers to you help?

[Matsufubu]

So, I have a couple of basic questions for people here who are instructors on the board and I was wondering if some of you guys could take the time out to answer. I can already guess at to what the substance of these answers are going to be, as they are discussed to death on bullshido. But if I quote this information from an instructor, as he would be considered an expert in the field, I don't have to waste a significant amount of the report justifying my own authority for what is important to evaluate when looking at a dojo. (Yes I also asked my instructor, but I'm out of state right now so I don't know how fast I'll get an answer.)

You are a glutton for punishment, aren't you Hannibal?