TEACHING STYLES
(Posted 2011-05-09 09:33:57 by ArchPaladin)

I once had a discussion with an assistant instructor over how best to
approach a student who was having difficulty managing a particular turn in
a kata.  The turn was a 360-degree pivot on one leg done on the ball of the
standing foot, and the student was having problems with keeping balance due
to one leg being markedly shorter than the other and having some impaired
ability to extend the foot to bring her heel off the ground.  She would get
perhaps halfway round before her balance gave out and she would either have
to seriously compensate (ie. stop short) or fall over.  My opinion was that
the best method was to have the student find a way to slightly pivot the
entire leg before turning or (less desirably) find a way to spin on the
heel instead.  My assistant, who I acknowledge knew this student better
than I, believed that this was impossible because the student "couldn't do
it".

Today I came across this article [
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html
] [online.wsj.com], and my mind came back to this discussion.

I can't recall a time in my life where I have ever been of the mindset that
a physical or mental limitation should inhibit one's ability to meet the
demands of an art or lifestyle that one tries to pursue.  If you are trying
to perform a kata and the kata requires a certain type of movement, it is
your responsibility to find a way to make the movement happen even if your
body doesn't want to agree.  Mind over matter - it's that simple.

Like Chinese mothers, I prefer to approach those I teach assuming that they
are strong enough to stand up against criticism, rather than acquiescing to
weakness.

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