“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” – Japanese proverb ??
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Teachers undoubtedly have the ability to change the lives of their students. Most of us can remember a particular teacher that helped shape who we are today. An inspiring and informed teacher is among the most important factors influencing student achievement.
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There’s no problem with students diligently studying on their own. Students need the time and space to reinforce the concepts they’ve learned in the dojo, and this is done on their own time, away from the dojo.
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The problem with the “thousand days of diligent study”, is that students aren’t introduced to anything new and instead, end up embedding mistakes into their techniques, kata and routines. Learning from the Youtube sensei is not the answer either.
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For example, if the student has the bad habit of doing something they don’t understand, then over a thousand tries, this habit – their mistake – becomes a part of their routine.
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Here, “one day with a great teacher” makes all the difference. Teachers are more than vessels of transferring knowledge to students, and offer students a way of thinking about the content they’ve studied in new ways. They allow the students to think for themselves.
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Teaching isn’t all about the content. It’s about how the content is delivered, and how readily the students comprehend and implement it. This is something “great” teachers understand from the beginning, as they are more than purveyors of information.
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However, a balance of both is required. It’s the teacher’s responsibility to convey the knowledge in a manner that the student can accept and understand, while reducing the effort they have to put in on their own.
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It’s also the teachers responsibility to keep the students motivation going. To complement all this, it’s the student’s responsibility to revise diligently, and make sure they’re preparing themselves to apply the knowledge taught to them in any walk of life, and in a positive manner.
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So find a “great teacher”, be humble enough to listen and learn, accept the ideas and principles, and feel the passion that a great teacher provides.
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? image of Minoru Higa 10th dan Shorin Ryu Kyudokan & Tatsuya Naka 7th dan JKA Shotokan