Teaching martial arts and the role of a teacher has been on my mind a lot lately, so I thought I’d write a little about teaching in general and my personal journey with it for my post today. There are aspects of teaching martial arts and pushing yourself that are universal as well, and I hope my experience helps you with yours in some small way…
When I started martial arts 16 years ago, I never once thought I’d ever be a teacher or instructor. Not only did my instructors’ skill sets seem so advanced, but they had so much knowledge and wisdom about martial arts and survival and living well. I never envisioned that I would be leading a class, because even if I somehow managed to gain the skills and even the wisdom, I wasn’t sure I could handle the responsibility. Teaching is one of the greatest responsibilities I can imagine; teachers in general train our minds to explore, to question, to investigate, and teachers largely dictate whether we follow a certain path or forever turn our backs to it. For example, I know that if I’d had better science teachers in sixth and seventh grade I would have loved that avenue of study! And the incredible English teachers I had in high school were the reason I majored in literature and so much enjoyed that road.
Martial arts instructors’ responsibility to their students has an additional component since they teach potentially life-saving self defense skills. A poor teacher can turn a student away from martial arts and deny him or her these survival skills, or teach skills poorly so that they fail when needed most. A good instructor is constantly searching out the best information and tries to find new ways to reach students to deliver that information. Yet martial arts teachers still have a responsibility to the roots and history of their arts, to ensure that ancient traditions and knowledge are passed down to future generations. It’s a balance that isn’t always easy when teaching martial arts!
I love the idea of helping people learn lifesaving skills, get healthier, and introduce them to the challenge and rewards of training in martial arts and becoming a martial artist, so somewhere along the way I decided that I would accept the responsibility of an instructor, despite the fact that I’m not a natural teacher. I have never, even as a young child, sought to be the center of attention! Public speaking has always been something I’ve struggled with. It was my biggest hurdle when I started teaching muay thai kickboxing a couple of years ago, and with practice and perseverance it’s mostly gone away. Yet I still don’t have the easy time with the explanations and showmanship that seems to come so easily to others. Therefore every time I step on the mat to teach I have to work on these things, and they’re definitely getting better, but it’s always something that challenges me. Some days are I feel are great, and some days I get very discouraged (more so because I’m not just responsible to myself)! Luckily, the team of instructors at Elite are always positive and helpful with advice and feedback. Each of us has his or her strengths and is constantly trying to improve and find ways to be even more effective. It’s part of what I love about Elite’s instructors…each is trying to be the best teacher he or she can be for the right reasons. But more than anything, it’s the students at Elite that keep me trying so hard! We have such a fun student base made up of so many good-hearted people…you keep us motivated to bring you the very best!
I think there are a few things you may be able glean from my experience teaching martial arts that you can apply to your own life. First, often you have to force yourself out of your comfort zone in order to grow. If you really want something and are passionate about it, find a way to make it happen. It may mean risk or discomfort or struggle, but if you don’t try you’ll never realize your potential. And secondly, never be satisfied with your growth! There are always ways you can improve. Finally, consider who you teach in your own life. Who are you affecting? How can you do a better job? Teaching is an awesome responsibility, and you don’t have to be a formal educator or instructor to affect the people around you, from children to coworkers to fellow students.
I shared my personal story about teaching martial arts with you to illustrate a point about teachers and personal growth, but it’s important for students to understand that all of your instructors at Elite take our responsibilities to you very seriously. We all have aspects we are constantly working to improve, but at the core is a desire to bring the positive effects of martial arts and self-defense to as many people that we possibly can. Thank you, as always, for trusting us.
~Katie Toney
Elite Training Center
1628 South Pacific Coast Highway,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 543-1600
www.elitetrainingcenter.net
