Opinion wanted

[terryl965]

I would like to get everybody opinion onwhat makes a great class.

1) Is having fun the most important aspect

2) Is learning proper techniques inportant

3) Is being able to fell good about yourself important

4) Is the mind set of loosing weight important

5) Is the fact of having a like able Instructor more important

6) Is having companion important for your workout

7) Is quality important enough to over look the price

8) Or is price a major factor

9) What would be your least favorite aspect of your training


Just wondering from the point of views of thos here.

 

[14 Kempo]

I would like to get everybody's opinion on what makes a great class.

After going through all the questions, I believe that each one has a certain level of importance which will differ from person to person. All are important to me.

1) Is having fun the most important aspect

I believe having fun is very important when trying to support a school, make a living. The majority of people in the arts today, are not traditiionalists.

2) Is learning proper technique important

Of course this is important, without proper technique, your students will not have the chance to grow.

3) Is being able to feel good about yourself important

Martial Arts as a whole will normally make a person feel better internally and externally. A steady dose of exercise on it's own also makes a person feel better.

4) Is the mind set of losing weight important

Most certainly this is important to those that need to lose a few pounds, but to some, although they may need to drop a couple, it may not be as important to them.

5) Is the fact of having a likeable instructor more important

A likeable instructor can certainly help bring people into and keep people in the school. Most important to me is not only the teacher's skills, but how well the person can teach the material. Yes, a person can be a great MAist, but may not know how to teach.

6) Is having companion important for your workout

While this isn't necessary for each and every lesson, it is most definately a necessity in the overall scheme of a person's training.

7) Is quality important enough to over look the price

Quality when lumped with value is certainly a concern when looking at price. If you feel the cost is not surpassing the value, then the price is not extravagant. Otherwise, well you know ...

8) Or is price a major factor

Price is a factor for many, others, not so much. Like listed above, as long as you feel there is value for the dollar, then the price is good.

9) What would be your least favorite aspect of your training

Point sparring, I hate it and therefore I will normally just work on my defense. Continuous or situational sparring is a neccessity.

 

[Jai]

1) Is having fun the most important aspect

Having fun is important to a point, but I personally like the "old school" mentality instructors.

2) Is learning proper techniques important

I think so again to a point, as long as you are doing your best, that is whats most important.

3) Is being able to feel good about yourself important

Without a doubt one of the biggest YES' goes here. If you do not feel good about yourself, it all goes down hill from there.

4) Is the mind set of loosing weight important

For some it could be, for some maybe not so much

5) Is the fact of having a like able Instructor more important

Again another big YES. If you do not like and or respect your instructor, you will not go far.

6) Is having companion important for your workout

I do not personally see this one as being more a important factor. I feel you can work out just as well by yourself

7) Is quality important enough to over look the price

I don't think so. I feel you should find a balance in price and quality. Some instructors that charge high prices aren't as good as instructors that charge less. Of course the prices should be inline with the area's basic economy.

8) Or is price a major factor

See above *smiles*

9) What would be your least favorite aspect of your training

For me currently I think it is the lack of sparring and breaking that we do. My school does not require sparring so it is not done except around tournment times, and breaking is also an aspect that alot of our students struggle with, is required at every testing, yet is not worked on near enough.

 

[HelloKitty]

Hi Terry, I'm quoting and answering

1) Is having fun the most important aspect
It's an important aspect (no one wants to stay in an unpleasant place) but not the most important.

Having fun is important to a point, but I personally like the "old school" mentality instructors.

I agree 100%

2) Is learning proper techniques important
Of course. If I only want to make exercises without taking care of techniques I could take aerobics, run around the lake, etc.

3) Is being able to fell good about yourself important
Yes. I don't think anybody would do extra activities feeling bad with theirselves.

4) Is the mind set of loosing weight important
Not in my case

5) Is the fact of having a like able Instructor more important
Of course. If I have questions, or some trouble, I want to feel able to approach my instructor about. But if he looks like a distant person it would be a lot difficult.

6) Is having companion important for your workout
Yes. You can learn a lot of your fellow students, and they can learn from you too. Besides, most of the times, MA are about contact, so it seems natural to practice them with other people.

7) Is quality important enough to over look the price
I'm willing to make efforts to pay a little more if I really feel my master is good, taking care of us etc, the school have good facilities and equipment, and the fellow students are giving their best.

8) Or is price a major factor
If the price is really higher than the other academies' surroinding and I don't see anything that justifies it 100%, I'd look for some other place.

9) What would be your least favorite aspect of your training
Classes where the black belts usually invade the colour-belt classes and then the instructors are distracted of their teaching labor. I've seen classes full of parents talking distractedly instead of practising and their kids running around in "adult class" time. And finally, lack of sparring or contact activities

pd: oh yes, I hate point sparring like "14 kempo"! LOL but I think is so necessary to improve.

 

[qwksilver61]

Yes to all those questions except for the price thingy.Don't price yourself out of the market,be fair.I would go so far as to accept some students who had nothing to give but for the desire to learn.
The least aspect; a bully,someone with a huge ego,a person who teaches without patience,lacking
understanding.....

 

[Jai]

YI would go so far as to accept some students who had nothing to give but for the desire to learn.

When I first started at age 5, my family did not have enough money to spare to pay $35 a month for me for lessons. Sensi made a deal with my family. My class was usually first, so I showed up an hour early three nights a week, and assisted with cleaning. As I got older, I did more helping out, and started helping with the new students. This was not an uncommon practice back then. I hope there are some out there that do this out of kindness for others.

 

[terryl965]

When I first started at age 5, my family did not have enough money to spare to pay $35 a month for me for lessons. Sensi made a deal with my family. My class was usually first, so I showed up an hour early three nights a week, and assisted with cleaning. As I got older, I did more helping out, and started helping with the new students. This was not an uncommon practice back then. I hope there are some out there that do this out of kindness for others.

We do at our school we have about 1/3 of the student base that cannot afford anything so they do what they can.

 

[newGuy12]

1) Is having fun the most important aspect
"fun" is a weird word here. If the Instructor cracks a joke, we can all laugh, and so on, but this is TKD school, there is not too much joking around here!

2) Is learning proper techniques inportant
YES!

3) Is being able to fell good about yourself important
Every student that practices hard and persists will feel good about themselves, they will gain skill, power, flexibility, speed, confidence! The feeling good will take care of itself, no problem. It will come naturally, it doesn't have to be helped out by any means.

4) Is the mind set of loosing weight important

Ha! The weight loss will happen, the students get in there and burn up the calories!!! Yes, we love this TKD!

5) Is the fact of having a like able Instructor more important

The Master Instructor IS the school, he (or she) defines it! If the Master Instructor is not a good one, you have no good TKD practice. Likeable? They are likeable, they are worthy of respect! That is what is important. They have trained long and hard and are now passing this practice on! So, respect is called for. I don't think this is like "like".


6) Is having companion important for your workout

Many single people have a good practice. No one needs a wife/husband or girlfriend/boyfriend to enjoy this. Just simply go to the dojang!


7) Is quality important enough to over look the price
Yes. But, sometimes you can have both. More expensive is not necessarily better. But, you pay what you must, it is that good!



9) What would be your least favorite aspect of your training
My least favorite part is when I am not performing to my liking. When I feel that I am not doing a technique as well as I should be able to, then that gives a bad feeling. But, you know, one has to hunker down and persist with practice. Just because I cannot kick some kick as I wish right now, so what? I kick anyway, and try to improve! Soon, most times, we then see successful improvement!

 

[exile]

I would like to get everybody opinion onwhat makes a great class.

1) Is having fun the most important aspect

2) Is learning proper techniques inportant

3) Is being able to fell good about yourself important

4) Is the mind set of loosing weight important

5) Is the fact of having a like able Instructor more important

6) Is having companion important for your workout

7) Is quality important enough to over look the price

8) Or is price a major factor

9) What would be your least favorite aspect of your training


Just wondering from the point of views of thos here.

Terry, I think a great class is one where you have that sudden insight that makes everything clear, sharply defined and attainable. I'm not necessarily talking about intellectual understanding, though it could well be that; but it could also be a physical insight: suddenly, you realize how to do this technique as a single flowing action rather than a sequence of somewhat disconnected separate motions. Or you just see, without having to think about it, just what the optimal application of this previously bizarre movement sequence in a hyung or kata is. Or...

... that kind of thing. A class you enjoy, a class in which you have fun, a class where you feel good about yourself—those can make a good class, a very good class even, and it's unrealistic to hope for more than that 99% of the time, I think. But a genuinely great class, which will come along maybe only a few times a year, is a matter of this sudden understanding that lights up your whole picture of what you're doing... hey, I never realized that before!! I think a class which leaves you with that sense is the one you're going to think of as one of the great ones.

 

[tellner]

I would like to get everybody opinion onwhat makes a great class.

1) Is having fun the most important aspect
No. But if you don't fundamentally enjoy what you're doing you won't stay interested or focused.

2) Is learning proper techniques inportant
Technique is technique. Everyone who has been at this for a few years has more technique than he can remember much less use. What's important is having skill coupled with understanding.

3) Is being able to fell good about yourself important
It is important to know that I gave a good, honest effort and am progressing overall. "Work without hope draws nectar in a sieve. And hope without an object can not live."

4) Is the mind set of loosing weight important
If I want to lose weight I'll change my diet, get more sleep and do more aerobic work. Martial arts is martial arts. Calisthenics are calisthenics. I can get better exercise and fitness instruction in a gym. In martial arts class I'm there to learn the teacher's specialty - martial arts.

5) Is the fact of having a like able Instructor more important
You have to have an instructor you can trust. And if you just can't get along with him, once again, your mind will wander and you'll find somewhere else to train or something else to do. But you don't have to be friends.

6) Is having companion important for your workout
We're social animals. See above. You need to be comfortable and relaxed around them or, once again, you won't be able to learn as well or practice without needless restraint.

7) Is quality important enough to over look the price
Depends on the quality. I'm getting the deal of the century training with Guru Plinck. I'd rather pay him double than almost anyone half. When you're doing something that is a standardized product taught more or less one way the distinctions aren't as important. Old martial art is something much different.

8) Or is price a major factor
Between schools of the same quality, all else being equal, yes.

9) What would be your least favorite aspect of your training
Sumatran leg exercises. Anyone who has done Harimau will know exactly what I'm talking about :uhoh:

Also the tedium. Sometimes you just have to do the same darned thing again. And again. And again. It gets old after a while.

Just wondering from the point of views of thos here.

 

[MBuzzy]

1) Is having fun the most important aspect
No - although it is important, learning and improving my skills is the top priority. BUT, if it stops being fun....that may change how I feel about it.

2) Is learning proper techniques inportant
Definately. If I were to find out that the things that I'm learning aren't right or can be done better...I want to know.

3) Is being able to fell good about yourself important
To a point, this is important to everyone. A lot of your life and personality is based on your self image - martial arts does ALOT to improve that.

4) Is the mind set of loosing weight important
Its a good side effect....

5) Is the fact of having a like able Instructor more important
Being good technically and a good instructor is more important, although I would worry about a non likable instructor going out of business.

6) Is having companion important for your workout
There are definately parts of the art that cannot be done without another person, although I learned a lot in one on one lessons....an instructor works for that too. I like having other people around once in a while though.

7) Is quality important enough to over look the price
Depends how high the price gets...

8) Or is price a major factor
I think there's a line. Up to a point, its not a factor, past that, I wouldn't pay no matter what I'm learning. The line is different for everyone.

9) What would be your least favorite aspect of your training
Not moving fast enough. There is so much that I want to learn and I want to learn it as I'm READY for it - not based on some arbitrary system saying how long I have to have been around to learn something.

 

[Jai]

We do at our school we have about 1/3 of the student base that cannot afford anything so they do what they can.

Excellent to see that this practice hasn't gone away over time. This proves that not everyone who teaches is in it for the money.

I worked at a casino for a few years, and I offered a women's street defense course free of charge to any of the ladies that worked there. There had been a rash of attacks on women in the area and I simply decided to do my part to help out. When I teach it's for the love of teaching and seeing the art continue on.

 

[terryl965]

Excellent to see that this practice hasn't gone away over time. This proves that not everyone who teaches is in it for the money.

I worked at a casino for a few years, and I offered a women's street defense course free of charge to any of the ladies that worked there. There had been a rash of attacks on women in the area and I simply decided to do my part to help out. When I teach it's for the love of teaching and seeing the art continue on.

Believe me I like money but sometime you just have to give back to the community you live in. Glad to see you are doing the same.

 

[DArnold]

I would like to get everybody opinion onwhat makes a great class.

1) Is having fun the most important aspect

2) Is learning proper techniques inportant

3) Is being able to fell good about yourself important

4) Is the mind set of loosing weight important

5) Is the fact of having a like able Instructor more important

6) Is having companion important for your workout

7) Is quality important enough to over look the price

8) Or is price a major factor

9) What would be your least favorite aspect of your training


Just wondering from the point of views of thos here.

These are all over the board.
What are you getting at?