Old school vs New Age (MMA)
KyleB65
Posts: 1,196 Member
There has been an interesting and ongoing conversation in my JKD class over the past few months.
Our Shihan is definitely an "old school" type of instructor where he presents us with new things, then watches and corrects as we practice. From then it is up to us, the students, to practice, practice, practice until we know the movements instinctively. From time to time, when thing are complicated or if we have not visited something in a while. The Shihan will give us a review. But, in the end, it is our responsibility as students to learn and incorporate the myriad of things we have been instructed on into a cohesive "style".
What many of the younger people in our classes seem to want is to be shown all the possibilities for every thing we are taught. And, it seems to me that there are way too many questions and not enough listening and doing. I am not being a curmudgeon here. Just saying that for me, I need to try things more than a few times before I can start to ask questions. Not to say that I do not also have questions! I probably have more than most! But, as my father used to say: "You have two ears and one mouth so that you can listen twice as much as you speak!". And, I seem to have no ability to anticipate any issues. All my questions start arriving after I have screwed it up a few times and/or been thrown or submitted.
Back to the ongoing locker room, after class banter. Our group seems to go up and down in number. For the past couple of months we have been less than 10 regulars. It seems that when new people arrive they come to a few classes and then leave because they have not yet been shown how to throw an arm bar or how to put someone in a choke hold! This before they even know how to fall properly!
I have also heard complaints about the bowing, and the multitude of Chinese & Japanese terms we are expected to learn.
For you Martial Artists out there, what is your class instruction like? Do you like it? What would you change?
For me, I like the old school style. Learn bits and pieces at a slow pace that adds up over time. It is not arriving at a certain level of knowledge that I want. It is the interesting daily experience that I am looking for! In the end, all a belt is for is to hold up my pants! :-)
Osss!
Our Shihan is definitely an "old school" type of instructor where he presents us with new things, then watches and corrects as we practice. From then it is up to us, the students, to practice, practice, practice until we know the movements instinctively. From time to time, when thing are complicated or if we have not visited something in a while. The Shihan will give us a review. But, in the end, it is our responsibility as students to learn and incorporate the myriad of things we have been instructed on into a cohesive "style".
What many of the younger people in our classes seem to want is to be shown all the possibilities for every thing we are taught. And, it seems to me that there are way too many questions and not enough listening and doing. I am not being a curmudgeon here. Just saying that for me, I need to try things more than a few times before I can start to ask questions. Not to say that I do not also have questions! I probably have more than most! But, as my father used to say: "You have two ears and one mouth so that you can listen twice as much as you speak!". And, I seem to have no ability to anticipate any issues. All my questions start arriving after I have screwed it up a few times and/or been thrown or submitted.
Back to the ongoing locker room, after class banter. Our group seems to go up and down in number. For the past couple of months we have been less than 10 regulars. It seems that when new people arrive they come to a few classes and then leave because they have not yet been shown how to throw an arm bar or how to put someone in a choke hold! This before they even know how to fall properly!
I have also heard complaints about the bowing, and the multitude of Chinese & Japanese terms we are expected to learn.
For you Martial Artists out there, what is your class instruction like? Do you like it? What would you change?
For me, I like the old school style. Learn bits and pieces at a slow pace that adds up over time. It is not arriving at a certain level of knowledge that I want. It is the interesting daily experience that I am looking for! In the end, all a belt is for is to hold up my pants! :-)
Osss!
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Man.
We're going from people raised on Enter the Dragon and Karate Kid to kids growing up with the UFC. I think that partially, or even wholly, explains what you've seen in your gym/dojo.
On top of that, there's the "Let's skip the basics, and learn the advanced stuff pros do" mentality which is the sure sign of someone who is set up to fizzle out. What do pros, athletes, and others at the top of their game spend so much of their time doing? The basics.
Katas... I think it takes a certain mentality to have the 'patience' for them. I was never a huge fan - I always wanted to be striking something (someone.) Though boxing/muay thai/kickboxing has them too. 1-2-3. 1-2-3-3, 1-1-1-1-2-1 drills are very similar in nature.
Kids and other impatient human beings don't understand that the patterns ingrain the ability to actually use things when you want to. Skipping ahead is just asinine. It's like trying to build a roof before the house.0 -
The vast majority of my learning has come from carefully watching my teacher, with practically no commentary from him. It was a "shut up and train" mentality and for me it worked well in learning to observe. That said, I like both styles of teaching/learning but if I was given one option for life it would likely be the old school. I figure I'll "get it" one of these days and am not in a hurry, in particular as I am off the mat right now
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I am definitely "old school".
Began my training in Okinawa in 1974. It takes years of repetitive training to master technique.If the moment presents itself, that training will generate instantaneous reaction. You won't think about it or consider it, you will automatically do it. You can analyze your movement afterwards.0 -
Okinawa..one of the greatest places on earth.0
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Okinawa..one of the greatest places on earth.
Haven't been back since the 70's, but it was one of the best times of my life. Got into Martial Arts there and got interested in the Culinary Arts as well. Two of my passions now.0 -
I don'k we have much room in the west to criticise the way the teaching of Martial Arts has changed.
Our syllabus is made up in a way that is commercial to western society and does not reflect the traditional ways the martial arts were taught. Even in Japan today for Judo and Jujutsu they will focus on one throw and perfect that before grading. We learn many techniques in west before grading for our first belt.
I study Jujutsu and learn the Japanese and I like the way it is taught.
Commercial it has to be fresh and interesting. MMA the UFC and BAMMA have all opened the world of martial arts to a wider audience and they are excited to learn what they see their hero's do.
To be able to give them a taster and excite them as well instil the respect and discipline needed to succeed in martial arts would be a perfect middle ground for a coach.0
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