Anyone with any common sense (there’s not a lot of it about) knows that in self-protection, if you have to fight, you fight to flee, to escape. Not to stand there and “win”.
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Just being told to “run” is not the answer, and with many instructors being extremely overweight, and many cases obese, it would seem that they couldn’t teach it anyway.
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Unfortunately a fit body is not a requirement if you want to to teach the martial arts.
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The teachers I had were great advocates for karate and were in good physical condition, which in my opinion, should be a qualification if you are to teach in this field. Otherwise it would be hypocritical….. wouldn’t it? You should apply your education to yourself before giving it to others.
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The problem with the martial arts is that many instructors teach subjects out of a book, or from YouTube. If the teacher teaches a class by telling students to do things which they themselves cannot do, then it makes it harder for the students to comprehend the subject.
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The point of a teacher in a dojo (I would hope), is to teach a subject while choosing the best and easiest way to allow the students learn. This means that if a student asks the teacher to demonstrate how to run (flee), or spar heavily, or anything else for that matter, and he is not able to….. then that is a problem.
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Of course being overweight or obese can be a genetic factor, or an injury could prevent you from training sufficiently, and age can slow you down, but there are many instructors out there, many still quite young, that do not show a good example to their students.
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Instructors become role models, which can give students the ability to obtain confidence, focus, leadership skills, and respect for others and oneself. These instructors might be one of the only positive role models a child, or young adult, has in his or her life, or they might be the person a teenager listens to for advice.
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A good instructor is someone who possesses wisdom and is able to guide an individual on their path to success. Someone who not only leads by example and communicates in a positive manner, but also motivates others by living what they teach.
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I constantly warn my students on the dangers of alcohol, drugs, smoking and the necessity for eating healthily. How can I be taken seriously, and my lessons be effective, if my students see me smoke, drink, do drugs, get fat, lie to them, or be deceitful? The best example for others, is to live your life as a constant example….. You really need to practice what you preach.