How did you end up with the right instructor for you?

[Fu_Bag]

Hi All,

Just wanted to ask how people found the right instructor for them? I'm talking about that "homecoming" kind of experience where you know you're where you should be. How many instructors did you have to train with before you got "home"? Any funny stories?

I'm a wandering soul at the moment so, while I'm wandering, I thought this might be a fun thread. :)

[Brandon Fisher]

I moved to Indiana from ohio in Oct. of 92 and was looking for a new dojo to train at. A waitress we had at a local restaurant the day I got to Indiana told us about her friend who has been in Karate a long time and was teaching at a local church. We went and met him and I joined that night. Some of the hardest workouts I have ever experienced but he taught us all very well and cared about us. I am going to try to get my shodan with him even though he is 7 hours away from me sicne I moved back to ohio but if I never do he will always be "Sensei"

[stickarts]

I has just joined a school, and while I was enjoying the training, I did not expect that I would make it a long term experience. I didn't think some of the techniques taught were very practical and I didn't find the head teacher very inspiring.
Then one day the sparring teacher came in to teach class and I knew almost instantly that he was destined to be my teacher. He carried himself in a quiet but confident manner, and when he stepped in the sparring ring he was amazing to watch. He also had an explaination behind everything that he did and taught.
Whether it was pure luck, or fate, either way he made all of the difference in my training and future.

[Brandon Fisher]

Frank,
Thats kinda the way my Sensei in Indiana was.

[Kacey]

I ended up with the right instructor through happenstance. I started TKD because the guy I was dating at the time had gotten to blue belt in high school, mostly dropped it while in the Air Force, and wanted to start up again. Since we were looking for something we could do that was organized exercise, he talked me into it trying it when he went back; since we were both in college, we were looking for somewhere to go that wasn't expensive, so we went to a class at the local YMCA, where there happened to be a very good instructor - just how good, I didn't realize until I started visiting other classes. It's been 19 years, and he's still my sahbum.

[stickarts]

Frank,
Thats kinda the way my Sensei in Indiana was.

Cool! How did you find / meet your Sensei?

[Carol]

Hi All,

Just wanted to ask how people found the right instructor for them?

He invited me to his school in Connecticut. :asian:

[tshadowchaser]

I was studying MDK and knew it was not the art or instructor for me. I had been to many tournament and had seen 2 instructors that everyone seemed to respect and say had much knowledge. I changed jobs taking me out of the area I lived in and close to the instructor I kept for 30 years.

[Xue Sheng]

As for CMA apparently I haven't found one yet, but there is hope on the horizon.

[Paul B]

The Dojang opened up a block from where I work so I'd end up driving past it at least three times a day.

Being an *Admittedly Nosy about New MA* person drove me to finally,having never heard of "Hapkido", stop in to see what all the fuss was about. Coming from an Aikido and Kempo background when I saw a class it was like my *perfect* ideal art..and that was it.

[SFC JeffJ]

After I met my wife, she inspired me to get back into martial arts. At first I didn't want to study under her instructors. I wanted to "find my own path". But after searching for comparable instruction, I found that that the Kenpo Jitsu that she studied/taught suited me the best, so I started studying alongside her.

Jeff

[Xue Sheng]

Sorry I was short on time for my last post.

I found my first instructor, Jujitsu, entirely by accident. I was in the Liberty Tree Mall with my parents (this was the early 70s by the way) and came across a Jujitsu demonstration and a friend of mine just happened to be in the demonstration and I had no idea he was in Martial arts. I have been in MA ever since.

[Fu_Bag]

Brandon,

That's awesome to hear. :) Something I'm curious about with regards to the teacher-student relationship is whether or not there's usually a feeling of finding a kindred spirit? Earning a shodan from someone you respect deeply would be well worth the 7 hour drive. I hope you're able to do that someday. Good luck!


stickarts,

It's interesting how things can happen like that in life. That's definitely a tribute to the idea of "just keep going, no matter what". I was just going about my life one day, not really looking for anything (consciously at least), and then * BIP * I meet my future wife and mother of my child. I'm thankful everyday for that * BIP * as it helped to save me from myself by reminding me regularly how much further I need to go in life.


Kacey,

Yours is the second story of a great instructor teaching outside of a mainstream dojo. It sounds like you've definitely found "home". 19 years with the same instructor is awesome. I'm not sure if it says something about the instructor when they teach outside of mainstream dojos but maybe it means something afterall. A similar experience I've had while travelling is always finding the best meal at the hole-in-the wall looking place that wouldn't normally attract the usual tourist. This will definitely help broaden my search when I go looking. Thanks!


Carol,

Do you think it's the instructor, the style, or both? I think that the good instructors would be worth staying with no matter what it was that they were teaching. Of course, finding the right art is also a very individual thing... Thanks for the reply. :)



tsshadowchaser,

30 years!! Wow. Congrats! It sounds like the move really paid off!



Xue Sheng,

I thought I read that you have quite a bit of teaching experience on your own. I would think that that would influence your needs and expectations at least a little. I don't really know very much about the Chinese arts yet. Is it generally difficult to find a good instructor? Good luck on that horizon. :)



Paul,

I know what you mean about being nosy. I try to drive as carefully as possible while trying to sneak a peek at new dojos when I'm out and about. That sounds like an art I might look into. Thanks for the reply. :)



Jeff,

Thanks for the reply. I'm having a similar experience with my own wife. It's great when you have support for something that can take up a bit of the quality-time pie. I started out trying to find my own path but now it looks like we're going to walk it together as a family. I'm a very lucky guy. Congrats on finding the right path with your family. :)


Have a nice day/night all.

Fu Bag

[Xue Sheng]

Xue Sheng,

I thought I read that you have quite a bit of teaching experience on your own. I would think that that would influence your needs and expectations at least a little. I don't really know very much about the Chinese arts yet. Is it generally difficult to find a good instructor? Good luck on that horizon.


I wouldn't call it quite a bit, but I have taught for myself and for 2 of my sifus. And yes it does influence what I am looking for. I never feel like I am not a student and to me that is a good thing.

And I am still looking for the teacher for me. There have been teachers that I have learned from, but I still feel there are holes in my training.

Also in line with your post my last Tai Chi Sifu I found also through a friend that came from my previous CMA school.

Thank you for the luck with the horizon.

[Tarot]

Feeling frustrated at my previous school, I went off to search for a new school and instructor. I knew what I wanted in a school and what I didn't, and so I started reseaching and looking around. I found a school that I thought might work out and took some trial classes. After two weeks I was just as frustrated at that school because I felt the instructor gave out false information when I talked to him about his school and his "program" didn't really feel like training. I started my search again and stumbled on a school that taught something I wasn't familiar with. The instructor was one of the few people who didn't get on the defenisve when I asked about his school, so I signed up for some trial classes. After one class I knew that I found exactly what I was looking for. That is a great feeling. :D

[Brandon Fisher]

Frank,
Here is my post from just above yours with how I found him.

I moved to Indiana from ohio in Oct. of 92 and was looking for a new dojo to train at. A waitress we had at a local restaurant the day I got to Indiana told us about her friend who has been in Karate a long time and was teaching at a local church. We went and met him and I joined that night. Some of the hardest workouts I have ever experienced but he taught us all very well and cared about us. I am going to try to get my shodan with him even though he is 7 hours away from me sicne I moved back to ohio but if I never do he will always be "Sensei"


Brandon,

That's awesome to hear. :) Something I'm curious about with regards to the teacher-student relationship is whether or not there's usually a feeling of finding a kindred spirit? Earning a shodan from someone you respect deeply would be well worth the 7 hour drive. I hope you're able to do that someday. Good luck!
Thanks but I am sorry I don't understand what you mean by a kindered spirit.

One good thing about is we have a go kart track that my family owns and operates just 23 miles from his dojo so that helps a little. Problem with it is getting away from my dojo often enough and the fact that I can't drive because of my eyesight. I will try to answer the kindered spirit thing later once you post again.

[stickarts]

Frank,
Here is my post from just above yours with how I found him.



Thanks but I am sorry I don't understand what you mean by a kindered spirit.

One good thing about is we have a go kart track that my family owns and operates just 23 miles from his dojo so that helps a little. Problem with it is getting away from my dojo often enough and the fact that I can't drive because of my eyesight. I will try to answer the kindered spirit thing later once you post again.


I saw it right after I posted. I missed it the first time. ooops! sorry!
Thanks for re-directing me! :)

[bookworm_cn317]

I was REALLY lucky! My first instructor WAS the right one for me!

[Brandon Fisher]

No problem I miss things all the time

[Carol]

Carol,

Do you think it's the instructor, the style, or both? I think that the good instructors would be worth staying with no matter what it was that they were teaching. Of course, finding the right art is also a very individual thing... Thanks for the reply. :)



The instructor is more important than the style. There is no art that can replace a motivating, supportive, enlightening teacher. However, to say style is less important does not mean that style is unimportant. Our common interest in Kenpo, Iaido, and the Filipino Arts certainly facilitated and strengthened the connection that we were able to make right away. :asian:

[stickarts]

Brandon,

That's awesome to hear. :) Something I'm curious about with regards to the teacher-student relationship is whether or not there's usually a feeling of finding a kindred spirit? Earning a shodan from someone you respect deeply would be well worth the 7 hour drive. I hope you're able to do that someday. Good luck!


stickarts,

It's interesting how things can happen like that in life. That's definitely a tribute to the idea of "just keep going, no matter what". I was just going about my life one day, not really looking for anything (consciously at least), and then * BIP * I meet my future wife and mother of my child. I'm thankful everyday for that * BIP * as it helped to save me from myself by reminding me regularly how much further I need to go in life.


Kacey,

Yours is the second story of a great instructor teaching outside of a mainstream dojo. It sounds like you've definitely found "home". 19 years with the same instructor is awesome. I'm not sure if it says something about the instructor when they teach outside of mainstream dojos but maybe it means something afterall. A similar experience I've had while travelling is always finding the best meal at the hole-in-the wall looking place that wouldn't normally attract the usual tourist. This will definitely help broaden my search when I go looking. Thanks!


Carol,

Do you think it's the instructor, the style, or both? I think that the good instructors would be worth staying with no matter what it was that they were teaching. Of course, finding the right art is also a very individual thing... Thanks for the reply. :)



tsshadowchaser,

30 years!! Wow. Congrats! It sounds like the move really paid off!



Xue Sheng,

I thought I read that you have quite a bit of teaching experience on your own. I would think that that would influence your needs and expectations at least a little. I don't really know very much about the Chinese arts yet. Is it generally difficult to find a good instructor? Good luck on that horizon. :)



Paul,

I know what you mean about being nosy. I try to drive as carefully as possible while trying to sneak a peek at new dojos when I'm out and about. That sounds like an art I might look into. Thanks for the reply. :)



Jeff,

Thanks for the reply. I'm having a similar experience with my own wife. It's great when you have support for something that can take up a bit of the quality-time pie. I started out trying to find my own path but now it looks like we're going to walk it together as a family. I'm a very lucky guy. Congrats on finding the right path with your family. :)


Have a nice day/night all.

Fu Bag


Yes, it is interesting that often times when I was about to give up or wasn't looking as hard anymore is when I got blindsided with meeting the right person or having the right event happen when I wasn't expecting it to really have it all come together for me.
Its all about patience!

[Fu_Bag]

Xue Sheng,

I hear ya. At this point in my life, I don't even feel like a student anymore. I don't just see holes in my training, I see holes in my entire being. Seriously, the older I get the stronger this feeling becomes. In a way, it really, really sucks but, then again, I seem to be able to learn and absorb things much faster than any other time in my life. I am Swiss Cheese Man!!

You're welcome for the good wishes. It's always nice to see someone find their way home. :)



Brandon,

I guess one way to describe a kindred spirit would be someone who generally thinks like you, believes like you, and that you feel a strong connection to. I was just curious about the kindred spirit thing because it sounds like you have a very close bond with your instructor. I'm sorry to hear about the driving dilemma. Here's to hoping for some good luck in that direction.



Carol,

That's a really cool combination of styles you're doing. How would you describe how that all comes together? It sounds like it'd be pretty kick-butt.

[Carol]

Carol,

That's a really cool combination of styles you're doing. How would you describe how that all comes together? It sounds like it'd be pretty kick-butt.

It doesn't, except in my head. There are many similarities between Kenpo and Modern Arnis, but I learn them from different people. My Kenpo instructor teaches me Kenpo (and a bit of Iaido) and my Arnis instructor teaches me Arnis. But fortunately for me my Arnis instructor is also accomplished in Kenpo and Iaido. It makes for a fantastic match, even though I cannot train with him anywhere near enough. :)

[fireman00]

I had 2 interviewed to instructors before I met my first instructor and inspiration, as soon as we started to talk I was interested and his attitude, demeanor and teaching methods had me hooked.

After we moved it took me almost a full year of interviewing instructors before I met my current teacher who is a female version of my first instructor. Its been 4 years and I'm very satisfied.

[Fu_Bag]

Carol,

LOL @ "It doesn't, except in my head.". That's pretty cool. It sounds like you're getting really good training. Congrats on finding the right combo. :)



Fireman,

That's interesting how that worked out. Did both of your instructors have the same instructor? Carol had a good point with what she said about good instructors. Thanks for the reply.


Fu Bag

[Carol]

Carol,

LOL @ "It doesn't, except in my head.". That's pretty cool. It sounds like you're getting really good training. Congrats on finding the right combo. :)



The credit goes to my Sensei for understanding that a student can't train with him regularly, yet still reaching for me anyway. :asian:

[Brandon Fisher]

Ok I see what you are getting at. Let me share this a bit. Might become lengthy but I will try not to.

When I moved and went to him in '92 I had been training for 8 years at this point. I was ranked as a San kyu but my technique did not reflect it at all. It was this Sensei that corrected my basics and got me on the right track. He was the first to teach me kata even though I supposedly had been training in a shotokan based system. He opened doors for me that I couldn't even imagine could be let alone behing there. He helped build confidence in me that I didn't have. His patience, sincereity, kindness and his abilities in both karate and as teacher I had not ever seen anything like it.

Today my theory is totally different as what it would have been. I am very traditional in my thoughts and practices even though I founded Seijitsu Shin Do and its a newer system. My teaching, technique and practice is traditional. This all came from Sensei. He truly was the turning point in my martial arts career. Unfortunetly I didn't see it until many years later. I thought it was with my first instructor, nope wrong. It was Sensei that opened his doors to me 12 years after I originally left with open arms. The connection between us is different because I am not in Indiana much. But I leaned on him for support this year and he helped me. I can't ever thank him enough for his support.

[Thunder Foot]

I would have to say that I still haven't found a "home" for my training. I'm still wandering, though I do belong to a gym. I suppose I still need to find an instructor who shares the same Martial Ideals I do.

[jks9199]

I was REALLY lucky! My first instructor WAS the right one for me!
Yep!

Same here. I got lucky; the first formal training I got was with my instructor. 20 years later -- he's still my teacher.

[matt.m]

Dad told me to go back to class. He said "Begin Tae Kwon Do". It is awesome physical therapy for me. Anyway, I looked at some schools. They were Black Belt factory McDojo's. I went to Moo Sul Kwan, the organization I am familiar with anyway. I didn't know what to expect from the Grand Master or the other teachers. However, it is the best thing I have ever done.

The instruction is great, they are fair and patient. There is an explained reason for everything. Total package is complete. I have never, with the exception of my dad, had such a great instructor as Grandmaster Hildebrand.

[Flying Crane]

I had studied capoeira off and on for a couple years, at a low level. Then I graduated from college, ended up in the bahamas for a couple of months teaching scuba diving. That gig fell apart and I ended up back home (Wisconsin). Worked in a restaurant to make some money, and moved to San Francisco because this is where most of the good Capoeira teachers in the US were, at that time. Came out here and began studying with a teacher that my group in Wisconsin had been under. He turned out to be insane, so I left his group, very disillusioned. Thought about quitting capoeira, go do some aikido instead.

Anyway, I checked out the other capoeira teachers, and found one who seemed good. I told her that I was trying to find a job, but didn't have one and very little money yet. She told me that if I posted out flyers every weekend to advertise the class, I could train for free until I found a job and got some stability. I was temendously grateful, and did this for almost 6 months before I was stable enough to pay for classes. She never asked for any money during that time.

I loved my capoeira training and my teacher, and stayed with her for several years. Nevertheless, I was interested in learning some kung fu, esp. drunken kung fu (had been watching a lot of Jackie Chan).

ANother classmate from capoeira had been training with a sifu and learned some drunken. We got to talking about it and later he asked his sifu if he could recomment someone in my area who might teach some. He suggested sifu Bryant Fong. At this time, I never followed up on it.

A year or so later, another fellow capoeira classmate was telling me how he had been studying Chen style Tai Chi Chuan with a sifu. He really liked it, and given my other interests, suggested I might want to check it out. I asked who the teacher was. Bryant Fong. Hmm... that name keeps coming back to me.

So I called him up, got some info, showed up at a class, and I have been his student now for close to 9 years. Still haven't learned any drunken stuff, tho.

During this time I drifted away from capoeira for about 7 or 8 years. Recently I have come back to it again, with the same teacher I had before, and I am feeling quite happy about it all. I was sad for drifting from capoeira, and am happy to be back. I can tell that my teacher is happy to have me back as well. I had been one of the senior students during the time I was training with her.

[Keikai]

It turned out to be really easy. I started because some friends were going to a ju jutsu school so I started going with them. I walked through the door and was hooked on the art and the karisma of the instructor.

He was humble, humerous, caring, friendly and above all very, very good at ju jutsu. His knowledge was boundless and as I got to know him better his love of the martial arts became infectious.

After 35 years with him and 3 years since his death I still have moments when I think "I must ask Jan ... " and then "Oh I can't".

Greg

[RheaHS]

Not so much the right instructor, but the right style.

During the line up in the first lesson, I felt strange, like there was power in the dojo. Could have been nerves...
I wasn't sure about the first lesson, but after the second, I was hooked! The power and simplicity behind the techniques, and the instructor's obvious love of the art and style made me return.

[Fu_Bag]

Carol,

That's great. I think it says a lot about a teacher when they treat their students that way. :)


Brandon,

That's awesome. :) Congrats on the system and best wishes for its prosperity.


Thunder Foot,

I know what you mean......ugh.. Did I say ugh? Oh yes...Ugh!!


jks,

Congrats! :) OK. I'm a little jealous but in a good way. :)


Matt,

That must be an interesting dynamic having had your father being your martial arts instructor as well. Actually, in many ways, it sounds like a really, really good thing. Congrats on getting back into it. :)


Flying Crane,

Your Capoeira teacher sounds like a really good teacher. You really have to love teachers like that. It's interesting how home is home. It doesn't matter how far you venture away, or how long you stay away, home is always home. :D Very good to hear. :)


Greg,

All I can say is....wow. Respect man, respect. Hmm...looks I can also say "Respect man, respect". ;)


Rhea,

That sounds awesome. I don't know that I've ever felt anything like that. Maybe someday..... Congrats. :D


Thanks for all the replies everyone.


Fu Bag

[Brandon Fisher]

Thank you I appreciate that..

[Shotochem]

Hi All,

I was fortunate in finding a home completely by accident. I had no desire to begin MA. My son who was 6 at the time was studying Shotokan at a youth center close to home. The Sensei and his assistant convinced me an over weight out of shape 30 yr old at the time to come and take a class witha few of the adults. He convinced me to do what I never thought I could or would do. I dropped over 50lbs and have been training ever since.

Sadly he passed away suddenly before I had even been studying a year. It is a tribute to his effect on me that I am still training today.

I Have had other Senseis who were excellent and I have become close to and will always be my Senseis. but he was the one who inspired me to do what I do today.

I have now switched to Kempo after my second attempt at finding a place to fit in and so far I'm starting to feel at home again.