by Art Rabesa » Sun Aug 02, 2015 12:22 am
Lately, I've been dealing with a small number of students. I haven't taught a large class for quite some time. I get really involved with different aspects of Uechi Ryu, and a large class wouldn't work. If I want to spend lots of time on kata, or kumite, or power hitting or what ever, I can do it with a small group. I can take time to really get deep into the meaning of a particular move in a kata. I have spent 45 minutes on the first two movements of dan kumite. I have to be made aware of the time when I'm teaching. I loose track of it. My class ends when I bow and say " OK that's it". I can not do that at an organized school. There is a time set for each class. Everyone knows when the class ends and can plan their schedule accordingly. That is how all schools operate. That is the right way to run a dojo. That is the way I ran my school. I did have a post class twice a week however. The regular class would finish and those that had to get home did so. Those that remained, tightened their belts and away we went. It was mostly fighting, but there were plenty of times when we worked on other things. That's where I got into that part of teaching when time is not involved. I teach at different venues and I'm respectful of the class time. After all, it is not my school, and they are not my students. HOWEVER!!! When I have that small group that wants what I have to teach them, there is no clock. They know that and expect it. I do play nice when I'm invited to teach at an established school. The class begins on time and ends on time. Everything goes along very well. When I have my tiny group of students at a private back yard dojo, I can do my "concentrated teaching". That's what fits me. You know what? I bet I'm not the only one that feels this way. --------Happy Trails ------Art
Art Rabesa