INTRODUCTION
Sometimes
class instructors can feel
taken advantage of or find
themselves in a bad situation
on the dojo floor. Sometimes
sensei rely too much on their
junior instructors, ease out
of teaching the classes &
things can start to fall apart.
A while back I was contacted
by a fellow Uechi-Ryu stylist.
We were friends, although
not at the same dojo. She
asked me for advice as she
was having some problems at
the club. She was feeling
miffed, used, and I think
on the border line of Karate
burn-out.
I
saved the email and decided
to post excerpts of the conversations
with my responses. To be quite
honest I really didn’t
know how to respond to the
situations or the questions
that were asked. Perhaps that
is why I decided to write
this article in the first
place; as a means of to help
me come up with the right
answers for my peer.
The
names have been left out.
I am not trying to write any
type of inflammatory article;
I am just hoping to pass on
this conversation in hopes
that Sensei will stop and
ask themselves if they are
relying on their junior teachers
too much; and to check how
their club is running if they
are seldom on the mat. We
all train because we love
the art form. What a terrible
situation it is when a regular
teacher feels used by their
sensei; and the quality of
training drops.
Email
#1
“It’s
been about a year since I
have seen ***, a year since
I have seen ***, a year since
I have seen awwwww hell anyone
for a class….excuse
my bitterness, but it’s
the truth, I teach A LOT…”
“They
have been these ranks say
for about 9 months…there
are Yonkyu’s that can't
even pronounce their kata
(Seichin) let alone even take
the first step into it yet
they have the rank. It doesn't
make sense; all the kids do
is kick and punch, never Sanchin,
or Kumite 3, 2 or 1, NEVER,
they all....well....suck.
That is VERY harsh to say
I agree but the worst part
is that it is partly my fault.
They haven't been taught it.
What happens is *** will decide
one night a whole bunch of
people will be tested, none
of them even have time in
their rank, or they are way
overdue, he just randomly
selects using his memory of
who he thinks was tested last.”
“I
notice if he has a few students
doing their kata that they
are looking around at everyone
else, but he'll still promote
them, then he'll ask me what
I think and I’ll say
“no”. But he does
it anyways. Now I am never
asked to assist in tests anymore,
he'll get *** to help because
they do what ever he says.
It’s sad really. But
all of this is really starting
to show, no one know what’s
going on.....what do I do?”
Reply to Email #1
Hi ***
It’s great to hear from
you, although it’s too
bad that you’re having
a rough go right now. You
ask me what you are to do.
Well I first have to say that
it’s obvious your club
is in trouble. Shoddy form,
neglected techniques and undeserved
promotions are the makings
of a really bad joke. Remember
at camp when we had that talk
with *** about McDojo and
crappy clubs?
If you really want to fix
the problem, then address
the problem. Talk to *** and
see what’s up. Maybe
grab a coffee outside of class.
Maybe he doesn’t have
time to prepare class or he
is preoccupied with other
things. Either way you need
to point out what you told
me. But hey, if you do not
want to teach classes…then
don’t! Take a few nights
off or show up late so someone
else has to take the class.
This is volunteer right?
What do the other BB’s
think about classes?
Email
#2
“I haven't been
tested or even seriously looked
at since my black belt test.
Never in Sanchin, never in
Kanshiwa, never in Kumite.
I guess if you are our club
and you are a BB then there
is no need of being tested
anymore. Well I believe that
is the total opposite of what
should be happening. And the
mirror at home, well you can
only pick out so many things.
I practice at our club about
4 nights a week (teaching
3 of the 4) it’s pretty
bad I love to teach, but I
love to be picked on.”
“Well
last night I taught karate,
yet again. But last night
at the end of class a student
came up to me who is a brown
belt and told me that I focused
too much on the basics last
night, that person feels that
if I am "going on about
the basics" there isn't
going to be a good workout.
Let me tell you *** I was
really crushed. But at the
same time I was put in a very
uncomfortable position. The
person said he doesn't think
that he should be paired up
with another brown belt to
work on Kanshiwa Bunki with
two white belts as we did
last night.
I don't think by coming up
to your instructor after class
and politely say "your
class sucked and it wasn't
a good class" it is showing
any type of respect. I could
imagine if it was all the
time they were expected to
work on "the basics"
with white belts than sure
he has a point. But, if it
wasn't for higher ranks such
as myself and you for example
then he would even know it
to teach. Frankly ***, I was
and am very offended, and
I have the least of self esteem,
I am taking a break from teaching
for a while. I think that
*** & *** can handle the
load quite easily. I can't
focus teaching a class knowing
that there are people thinking
that way about me. It hurts.
And yet again I ask for your
advice, am I wrong for feeling
like this?”
Reply
to Email #2
Hey
***;
Listen you do not need to
be putting yourself through
this garbage on a regular
basis. There is nothing wrong
with feeling upset by this.
You should take a well deserved
break. While students should
show restraint if they found
a particular class boring,
they should also try to make
the most of it and work on
methods or techniques fitting
their level, even if they
are working with a lower rank!
You
really need to talk to ***
to see what’s what.
If you are noticing a lack
of direction and organization
to the club, then its up to
you and the other BB’s
to bring it to ***’s
attention. Demand things get
sorted. Either that or you
can drive down here and train
at the center with us!
CONCLUSION
Sensei
have to realize that while
they may be the senior rank
& hold whatever degree;
but unless you treat your
instructors well your school
will suffer.
Sensei
take the time to talk with
your instructors if you do
not teach regular classes.
If you want competent teachers
then lead by example!
Just because you have a strong
club membership wise, this
doesn’t mean your school
is producing strong Uechi-Ka.
Students can likely pick up
when a class is unorganized
or a teacher is having a bad
workout. I can only imagine
what the older students must
have thought if they seen
my friend having a stressed
out evening when the Sensei
didn’t turn up (again).
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