Take Note!

Do you know what the problem with me is? I think,...                   (I know I know, "lay down before you hurt yourself!" ;-) students are not taught to practice well enough.... The reason for this may surprise you. It is mainly because the instructor does not do their own homework. (waiting for the dramatic hurumph of you all)

Just hear me out. I have talked before about the difference between practice and training. Training being what you do with an instructor or coach and practice is what you do all by your onesies.

How often does an instructor or coach tell a student, "Now when you go home, I want you to work on X." And then come the next session of training, does not even remember what "X" was?  This is a poor habit of many instructors. 

Part of being a good teacher is knowing when the student has hit a wall and then determining how much is enough to push. Once there, we should recommend some homework for the student to practice. Preferably something that will re enforce what needs to be bolstered in their technique.   Too often, we as instructors get ourselves into head-spaces that are not of value to the student. For instance, we are in the moment with our student and once they walk off the matt, so goes their particular moment in time and training. We move on to the next challenge (thats what we instructors kindly call you guys!... Kidding :-)  or change our focus for the next class ect.

As an instructor, I feel you need to take notes on sessions for every class. Do not rely on your memory or your styles system to let you know where you left off. A better way to think of it might be to look at every day being the last you teach. What will you leave for the next to be of value to your student. Could another instructor pick up where they need to and help this student in their journey? 

On this point, how many times as students did we walk from one instructor to the next and hear a completely different piece of advice on what we should do with a technique.  I am not saying we should all be complete copies of one another. Variety and different perspective is not only good but necessary to help a student develop depth. But our own consistency in teaching will cause less confusion. And hopefully will allow the student to practice at home what will ultimately be useful to them when they come back to train. Not to mention give you a great reference to see if they actually are practicing.

So I advise you to take notes, and take notice of not only the place in time but direction of your training. This is for students as well. How better to go home and remember what you were suppose to be working on! Show that instructor that you are a challenge worth taking! (We tell you that because we want you to think you are doing well :-)

Take notes! Train hard, and be Knightly 

Syr Gemini    

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