Why Would People Avoid The Instructor In Charge

[Simfers136 44]

We all have accidents every now and then.

 

[PhotonGuy]

And we're talking about a school culture, which can often be very hierarchical. Don't forget that many early instructors, who founded the schools, initially learned while serving in the military, and brought that culture with them. Others simply try to take the culture of their art to the nth degree.

I suppose it depends on the dojo, and the instructor. With different instructors who run different dojos there is much variance as to how they're run. Was talking to the head instructor frowned upon at any of the dojos you go to, or have been to?

 

[PhotonGuy]

Oh for sure, the head coach is the final authority, and he's been doing this for long enough that his knowledge and experience are unimpeachable. But what I like about his way of teaching is that he doesn't impose his vision. As long as the basic principles are respected, how you do a technique is perfectly valid, as long as it works. So there's seldom a need to go to him to find out "how it's done".

After all, "if he taps, it's jiu-jitsu".

Well if you have a question you want to ask the head coach it might not be how a technique is done although it could be that. It could be a question about something else, such as rank advancement which I've brought up before, or some other question about how the dojo is run, and so forth.

 

[PhotonGuy]

This is how to do it. Didn't you just answer your own OP?

I was the one with the OP not Simfers, he was answering my OP not his own.

 

[skribs135 155]

I suppose it depends on the dojo, and the instructor. With different instructors who run different dojos there is much variance as to how they're run. Was talking to the head instructor frowned upon at any of the dojos you go to, or have been to?

Depends on the culture, too. I could never open a school under my old TKD Master, because he has very strict requirements on exactly what is taught and how it's taught. I would have very little freedom to use my own ideas or interpretations.

My BJJ professor, on the other hand, as long as you follow the theme of the week, you're good.

 

[PhotonGuy]

6. I'm shy/intimidated by the head instructor, so it's easier to ask the person I'm less intimidated by.

What if you ask the head instructor despite being shy or intimidated, what if you ask him anyway?

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf135 1]

That can be a big mistake. Most of your other reasons sound valid but as I said, your reason #6 is a big mistake, I speak from my own experience.

What if you ask the head instructor despite being shy or intimidated, what if you ask him anyway?

You asked why people would avoid the instructor in charge, and I provided you a list of reasons why. I used "I" in my sentences, but that was meant as the reasoning people will use, not me saying that it is my personal reasoning, nor me trying to imply that I agree/disagree with any of the reasons. They are what I've heard, and why I know people make the decision to go to someone else.

But yes, some people will ask anyway despite being shy/intimidated, while others will not. Some people may even go despite their shyness in one situation, and not in another (urgency, importance, and whether or not any of the other reasons apply).

 

[PhotonGuy]

Depends on the culture, too. I could never open a school under my old TKD Master, because he has very strict requirements on exactly what is taught and how it's taught. I would have very little freedom to use my own ideas or interpretations.

My BJJ professor, on the other hand, as long as you follow the theme of the week, you're good.

As strict as your TKD master was with his requirements and on what was taught and how, was there anything wrong with asking him directly about the requirements or what was taught or how to teach it or anything else about how the school was run? Just because requirements are strict and what was taught and how it was taught was strict doesn't mean you shouldn't ask him about them, or anything else, if you're unclear about it.

 

[PhotonGuy]

You asked why people would avoid the instructor in charge, and I provided you a list of reasons why. I used "I" in my sentences, but that was meant as the reasoning people will use, not me saying that it is my personal reasoning, nor me trying to imply that I agree/disagree with any of the reasons. They are what I've heard, and why I know people make the decision to go to someone else.

But yes, some people will ask anyway despite being shy/intimidated, while others will not. Some people may even go despite their shyness in one situation, and not in another (urgency, importance, and whether or not any of the other reasons apply).

Sometimes you might have to clarify stuff with the instructor in charge or you will not get what you want and if you're shy and/or intimidated you might have to ask him anyway. That's what courage is, when you ask anyway in such a situation. Courage is absolutely essential in life, depending on what you want out of life.

 

[KenpoMaster8059]

when i took kenpo karate i ask the head instructor right away and the head instructor answer the question an he said if you have more question you can ask me or the other instructors and we can answer your question and that was it the rest are history my head instructor and i became friends and also the other instructor and they are pretty good at their doing never be afraid to ask question don't avoid the head instructor

 

[PhotonGuy]

when i took kenpo karate i ask the head instructor right away and the head instructor answer the question an he said if you have more question you can ask me or the other instructors and we can answer your question and that was it the rest are history my head instructor and i became friends and also the other instructor and they are pretty good at their doing never be afraid to ask question don't avoid the head instructor

Good for you, it sounds like your instructor was a good instructor, the kind that other instructors should be like in terms of allowing students to ask questions.