Is your instructor approachable?

[powerof0ne]

I love my students, but just because somebody does one lesson under me doesn't mean I consider them my student. I have my own "trial period" to make sure the student is dedicated enough. Nothing like years, or anything, but just an indicator that they have the dedication and loyalty to me.

Many years ago, and I believe I've talked about this before. Somebody who I'm not as good of friends with anymore started training MT/kickboxing under me, he originally started under somebody for maybe 4-5 lessons, max. He trained with me for about a year privately and would tell people his first instructor was his instructor, and I wasn't. Well, he'll never be my student again, and this is the first time that has ever happened, and will be the last time I ever let something like that go on for that long (has never happened again). I believe the problem was, I was friends with this individual, we would go out to bars and clubs very often..so he never gave me the respect as an instructor.

With my current students, I enforce respect in training, but to think of me as a normal person, just one that has something to teach them. If they want to learn from me, they have to train, and treat me as their instructor. If they don't, they won't progress. Two of them were at a surprise BBQ late birthday celebration (I really knew but had to act surprise LOL) my girlfriend threw last Friday. I think it's safe to say they consider me a friend and during class I have told them if they ever have any issues they can talk to me privately. I have most of my students phone numbers, emails, facebook profiles, and they have mine..they usually let me know ahead of time if they can't make it to train!

The relationship between students and an instructor is beneficial to everyone. It's very hard for an instructor to teach those that don't put in the effort and don't want to be there. As Gary has put it, "energy suckers", that just have no spirit that suck the energy out of you! I know, speaking for myself, that I am the best instructor I can be when I have students that want to learn, and just TRY!

I truly think that the "dark ages of the dojo" are over where it's forbidden to ask the instructor questions about training. However, for this to end, an instructor needs to "open the gate" and seem approachable to begin with!
Osu!

[senshido]

I agree, Instructors need to be approachable... the dark days when we were afraid to talk to our Instructor should be far behind us

[meguro]

Wouldn't train with an instructor I couldn't have a drink with. I've been lucky in this regard.

[MMX]

Very true. I am fortunate that my instructor is not only a great Sensei but also a very approachable and down to earth guy.

Osu!

[hangtime]

I agree with you, Meguro. Not only that, I've had drinks with everyone up the chain, including our co-directors and Soke Yamamoto!

OSU!

[powerof0ne]

In knockdown karate, it seems that the common theme is after a hard dan grading, gasshuku, shiai, tournament, etc. is that it's time to go out for beers afterwards! Even if I'm not in that organization, I'm still invited to to go out for beers with other karateka, sensei, and shihan afterwards!

In some of the "more classical" styles such as goju, shito, shotokan, etc. this isn't as often my experience, if ever! I can remember going out for sushi after a couple of tournaments with my sensei, but to have a shihan, kancho, soke invite me out, never happened.

When I was primarily only hayashi ha shito ryu kai I did get to talk to Soke Hayashi (RIP) a few times and remember him being pleased at how hard I hit my opponents in a private session to train the '96 National judges. However, he never invited me to socialize with him afterwards. Shihan (Soke?) Demura of demura ha shito ryu (formally itosu-kai) was a bit more sociable towards me when I would run into him but overall..all the goju ryu, shotokan, shito ryu high ranking people I have known have been off limits.

Which is kind of funny to me, when I got into more full contact martial arts, such as BJJ, Muay Thai, and knockdown karate this definitely was not the attitude! Was really a time where some of my now best friends today and for life are martial artists of those disciplines. I never had that connection with my shito ryu and goju ryu comrades..which is kind of sad, the more I think about it because I hold dan gradings in both of those arts!
Osu!

[seattle]

I agree PO1, in general the most friendly MA's usually a full contact type of art.

The first time I met Shihan Roman, I was going to his tournament. Some of my party had travel issues, I was alone. He sent his daughter to fetch me from the airport and took me out to dinner with Kancho, a few other of his Shihan friends and his family. It was like I was part of the family.

It was exciting and intimidating at the same time.

[GJEC]

The worst type of instructors are exactly like the worst type of officers, the ones where you never know from one day to the next how they're going to behave.

I worked for some great officers, some friendly and some not, but the thing that made them great was consistency and fair behaviour. I couldn't be doing with the ones who had their little cliques or would laugh at something one day and bollock you over it the next.

With instructors, I've found the same principle applies. I'm not saying I always achieve that myself, but I do try my best to be fair so long as people are making an effort.

Gary

[yoshukai]

I agree GJEC. An instructor should be consistent. It's a good thing our students know that I have a tendency to fly off the handle. ;D

Don't get me wrong. My students can talk to me about anything. However, they know that during class time, training comes first. If they do not put forth the effort, then they all know what to expect.

Osu!

[fatjoe]

I have honestly found School Sport coaches to be a lot worse then any MA instructor I have ever known. I have seen wrestling coaches maim athletes who were not "applying" themselves.......and then the parents follow it up with a secondary berating. I have watched American football coaches terrorize their 15,16 and 17 year olds. Have them beat down so hard ambulance take them away from the "Practice" field. I have also been in boxing gyms (years ago) and watched kids got the snot beat out of them and never spoke correctly again!!! SERIOUSLY!! So if it is perceived that the Martial Arts are to be a combat sport, I can see how so many instructors have gotten away with being Sadist pricks! I have known a few "abrupt" instructors, but generally the biggest schmucks were the least talented. Overall most of the instructors I stuck with were approachable.

There is one issue i do currently have at one dojo and that is the language barrier. There is definitely a camaraderie amongst the ethnics where I train, and very little dialogue afterwards. So it makes the question of Approachability vague. Usually there is a round table discussion in Polish and ZERO review in English.....its usually, "Would love to chat but have to run". However Sensei is on Speed dial and is most accommodating to a phone call or text message.

Where as at Dents dojo, time is my enemy ( 1hr there from work - 2 hrs home.....I usually get home around 1 AM)....luckily I have him on Speed Dial, Quick Text, E-mail and through the forums. This allows me to ask questions and he can answer at his leisure.

Just a different perspective on the issue.

Osu!