Instructor's Corner

From time to time, within this Instructor's Corner, I will write my opinions and views about various subjects and topics. Of course, my views are exactly that, mine, and are not meant for you to follow or model after. I only hope that you will accept them as mine and of course, then respond back to me via the contact link located on the first page of our website.

Recently, I had a parent inquire about my class. She had the usual questions. You know, what rank are you (as if rank is any indication of someone's skill these days), how long have you been practicing, what is your art about? I explained to her that in today's world you cannot gauge the skills of an instructor by the rank he or she carries. As many of you are aware, just by searching the web you are guaranteed to find some organization somewhere that is willing to GIVE you any rank that you are willing to pay for.

Instead, I told her, "Look at and evaluate the instructor, his/her physical skills, his/her knowledge, how does the instructor interact with the class, does the teaching method of the instructor make practical and common sense? Does that instructor show why a technique is to be done a particular way, or does he/she just want you to do it a particular way because he/she says so?"

I could see her mind beginning to store these questions, so I continued on. "Even more, take a look at the students. The instructor may have excellent martial arts skills, but have students who are terrible. Do you want to train there? Of course not, because this shows that this instructor is a good practitioner, but not a good instructor."

When selecting a school, ask them if they supply you with free introductory lessons. If they do not, then ask them why. If they do not give you the free classes, then ask the instructor if they will allow for you to sit and observe at least two classes. Again, if they say no, ask them why. More importantly, you should be asking yourself why. You are buying a service, a product. Would you buy your brand new car, spending your hard-earned money on it without ever having a test drive? Also, ask to speak with students within the class. Of course, you should be allowed to pick out the students from the class that you wish to speak to, without the instructor picking for you thereby ensuring you will receive the answers he/she wants you to receive.

Pay particular attention to the techniques being taught. Are they practical or traditional? There is nothing wrong with tradition, but you must make the distinction between tradition and today's reality. If an instructor is teaching only that which is "required" due to years of tradition, then how can he/she assure the practicality of those techniques when meeting the confrontations of today's world? This has become more and more evident by the many "Mixed Martial Arts" schools that have come about in last 10 years or so. In a sense, these schools, as well as my school, teach what is effective and throw out that which is not, which often times is the many years of tradition. Remember tradition is good to know for "The Arts" and to preserve the integrity of the original "Art", but it is not always practical on the street. I choose to teach techniques that can help PRESERVE YOU and allow the techniques to change as today's street realities change.

I have heard it said to me many times: "We learned this technique in class, but we know that in reality we would do it differently." WRONG! You will fight the way that you train and you should train the way you will fight. Do not think that magically when you are on the street that you will re-create a "traditional" technique that you have been practicing for many months through hundreds of repetitions. It won't happen.

Ok, I've gotten a little bit off the subject. We will continue that discussion at a later time. Now back to choosing a school. Look at the techniques taught to the students who have been there under a year. Is the instructor teaching them knife fighting, handgun and shotgun disarms, elaborate weapons, etc? If the instructor is, than I would wonder why. Of course some instructors will say it is a part of their "Art". Let's put "Art" aside and look at practicality instead. Should I learn to fight with a knife when I cannot fight with the natural weapons of my body yet (hands, elbows, head, shin, feet, etc.)? Should I learn to take away a handgun and a shotgun when I have not yet learned fully how to deflect and redirect each punch or kick? Should I learn to stick-fight against an opponent who also possesses two sticks, when I cannot fight against a single attacker who grabs me? It's all about common sense, not tradition.

At Calvary Family Hybrid Hapkido, I look at myself as being more than an instructor. I am a trainer, taking training techniques from various other activities and sports and bringing them into our school to insure that you not only learn techniques, but that you also possess the conditioning both mentally and physically to apply those techniques. For the many instructors that I know now, and have known in the past, who have told me that they do not need to teach conditioning and that they do not teach this series or that series of techniques due to a bum shoulder, hip, or some type of ailment, the street has this to say: "NO EXCUSES!" The assailant doesn't care if you have a bad leg or arm. You must defend yourself and your family to your fullest abilities. By allowing yourself to bring up excuses, then validating them within your own mind, also allows for you to let your students bring forth excuses as to why they do not practice certain techniques.

I will not give to you all the hype that you usually hear and see with many other martial arts schools. Instead, I offer for you to come by and experience my class first hand. Let your questions be answered by taking the class and feeling the effects of what we do and how we do it. I am the first to say and acknowledge that I do not know everything. Should you find an instructor who says he/she does know everything, then you need to look elsewhere. I am forever a student, continuing to learn, and continuing to share with those with an open mind also willing to learn.

I look forward to seeing you.