Learning To Teach (Part 4)

This installment of Learning To Teach has come out of the recent events of a pandemic. The normal teaching methods used are not necessarily the most practical because of the need to communication through some kind of virtual software to the learner. It has been an interesting challenge to say the least, but I believe it is a crucial step in becoming a well-rounded teacher.

Think of it like this, what we normally do may cause us to become complacent. Complacency leads to the lack of detail and in turn, holes begin to develop in teaching methods. Now as bad as this could be for the coach, the student also begins to suffer. Now the focus of developing someone becomes lost because of the diminished quality of training. How do we prevent this from happening you might ask? The answer is quite simple; embracing change.

By embracing the change that comes your way, you are more likely to develop new ways to present the same material. The new looks can help influence the student to train harder since their lack of familiarity with the style of presentation can help them focus deeper and in turn, receive the training more effectively. The material does not have to change by any means, but the delivery method becomes a useful tool in make the same old material new again.

For example, recently I have taken the idea of those fundamental movements that most gyms do as warm ups and put them on display for a greater purpose. You see, after you start to learn moves like the forward roll, the hip escape, or even the shot, it tends to get a little boring if someone tries to tell you how to do these same moves as a solo drill. Now don't get me wrong, the repetitions are important for development and combining these movements into a flow drill is also very beneficial for developing that second nature mentality. What I'm trying to emphasize is that by taking these building blocks and showing the application and chaining of these movements together, one may develop a greater appreciation for the simple aspects of the art.

These deep dives into the foundational elements have been enjoyable for me to plan out how to teach and they have forced me to dig deeper at new approaches. I am very thankful to have the opportunity to adapt to the changes and see them more as just another obstacle to overcome. The understanding of these moves and their mechanics has certainly made me appreciate how they help in a live application.

Communication development when the voices are fewer and in the form of text has been another interesting development in my teaching style. The ability to be able to talk to a camera and imagine the viewer listening on the other end is super important for you to be able to deliver the material as it should be delivered. Even if no one is currently watching a live stream or the pre-recorded video, having your viewer(s) in mind helps create a better vibe for the future viewer to watch. Boring video, viewer closes out of the video. If you can hook the viewer with the raw passion of the art, you'll be more than half-way to a successful class/instruction.

Be aware of what your viewers are asking from you and keep those promises that you give them. Did you plan to post a video on a certain day? Follow through. Was a question asked about a topic that you couldn't answer on the spot? Find the answer and follow up with them. Are you giving your audience the opportunity to help shape the learning experience? Remind them that they can request anything that they want to know and see; they are your customer. If you aren't providing a product to your customers that they want, then what is the purpose? You may be the teacher, but without communicating with your students, it's harder to be an effective one.

Learning to work with what you have got, has been another big challenge. It has enforced the need for a grappling dummy, but makes me appreciate the time I get to spend with a physical partner much more. The make-shift dummies work great for awhile, but the effort you put into making them is the quality you'll have to work with. There have been countless live-streams where the dummy has a malfunction and the legs completely separate from the body. At a time like this the class can't just stop, so you have to learn to improvise when things don't go the way you expect them to. That's the beauty of teaching, you have to have a plan, but you have to have several back up plans to that plan; it is just like jiu jitsu.

Obviously the more you practice something and the more experience you get under your belt, the better you'll become at that craft. When your confidence boosts because you have the knowledge and wisdom to flow around those roadblocks, you get a greater sense of accomplishment out of the session. Remember that everyone has good days and bad days, even teachers. That's just the nature of an art form and life as a whole. By realizing that mistakes are going to happen along the way and accepting that, you are one step closer to becoming a better teacher or grappler or person.

Just take the trials and use them to shape your improvements. Each lesson you get is there for the purpose to fix those past mistakes and hopefully pass on that experience with others. Take your time to grow and the journey will be that much more enjoyable.