| Have you ever felt like you are teaching the same | | | | forms training as a warm-up, then move to partner |
| thing repeatedly? Have you been frustrated by using | | | | work drills and finish with basic techniques. |
| the same old practice drills every week? Do you | | | | There are several ways that you can change the |
| sometimes sense that your students are getting | | | | order of your content and thus make each lesson |
| bored or are losing interest? Often one of the | | | | appear to be different despite teaching essentially |
| biggest challenges for a martial arts instructor is | | | | the same material. |
| coming up with different ways to present the same | | | | 4. Adjust the pace and focus of the lesson. Another |
| material and create varied lessons each week. | | | | easy way to make your lessons different while |
| Finding a balance between teaching the required | | | | covering the same content is to first change the |
| content and making classes fun and different is not | | | | pace of your lesson and then adjust the focus. For |
| always easy. | | | | example if you want to teach punches in two |
| Rest assured that you are not alone. All instructors at | | | | separate classes, the first class could focus on a |
| some point in their development feel the need to | | | | detailed explanation and practice class on the fine |
| take their classes to the next level and change things | | | | points of each punch and the second class could be a |
| up a little bit. | | | | fast-paced workout with multiple repetitions of each |
| Therefore, if you are at this point but are unsure | | | | punch. |
| how to inject some fun and excitement into your | | | | To adjust the focus you might want to use line drills |
| classes, then start today by implementing these five | | | | in your first class and pads and targets in your |
| simple tips for making each lesson different. | | | | second class. There many other ways to adjust the |
| 1. Brainstorm all of the different training drills and | | | | pace and focus of your lessons. |
| teaching methods that you currently use in class and | | | | 5. Alter the context in which you teach your content. |
| write them all down. Now you have a starting point | | | | A simple change in the context of your lessons can |
| for organizing your content and your delivery | | | | very easily make two lessons that appear similar |
| methods. Next, organize these drills and methods into | | | | have a very different theme. Let's take forms |
| similar categories such as basic training, forms training, | | | | training as an example. |
| sparring drills and additional content. | | | | In the first lesson, your context could be to teach |
| From here, you now know what your base content | | | | Form #3 of your style, focus on the performance of |
| and methods are and you can gradually begin to build | | | | the movements, and relate this to tournament |
| your teaching repertoire and incorporate new drills. | | | | participation and demonstration. In the second lesson |
| 2. Make a monthly schedule of what needs to be | | | | on Form #3 of your style, your context could be to |
| taught each class and then plug your training drills into | | | | look at the sets of movements within the form and |
| each lesson. By making a monthly teaching schedule | | | | apply the different sets to self-defense situations. |
| of which content you will cover in which lesson, you | | | | So as you can see, these five simple tips can |
| commit yourself to focusing on different content for | | | | dramatically help you design multiple lesson plans for |
| each class and you will not allow yourself to fall back | | | | your students that focus on similar content but which |
| into the trap of teaching what is most comfortable | | | | are delivered in different ways with interesting and |
| for you. | | | | varied approaches. These types of adjustments in |
| This method still gives your students what they need | | | | your overall teaching methods can also lead to |
| and it forces you to stretch your content knowledge | | | | increased student retention and improved skill levels |
| and overall teaching skills. | | | | for all of your students. |
| 3. Change the order of presenting lesson | | | | If you would like to learn more about different |
| components. If you have done steps one and two | | | | teaching methods, then please check out my FREE |
| and you still find that you have several lessons that | | | | Report on "Instructor Mastery: How to Become a |
| cover the same content, a simple way of making the | | | | Great Instructor Right from the very First Lesson". |
| lesson different is to change the order in which you | | | | You can download it at |
| present the content. For example if you are used to | | | | If you have any questions on how to become a |
| beginning with a warm-up, then doing basic | | | | better instructor then contact me today at and I will |
| techniques, then going to forms training and finishing | | | | be happy to help. |
| with some partner work drills, why not begin by using | | | | Good luck and best wishes on your journey in karate. |