| Most martial artists and many martial arts teachers | | | | 2. Then in the second stage, you perform the move |
| worry that over generations their styles will weaken. | | | | while the teacher watches and corrects.These |
| They fear that their students aren't learning all of the | | | | adjustments that your teacher makes insures the |
| techniques and principles that they did so long ago. | | | | style is going to be strong for future generations. |
| And they fear even more that their students' | | | | Eventually, you may get to the point where your |
| students will be even weaker at the arts. And their | | | | teacher can't correct the move any more. You are |
| students, weaker still. And so on. | | | | either equal to, or have surpassed your instructor in |
| Eventually, the style gets watered-down into a | | | | this particular technique. |
| shadow of its former self. The martial-arts style | | | | Continued Martial Arts Progress |
| becomes almost ineffective. | | | | Even if you master one move, you still have an |
| Two Martial-Arts Tips for Better Learning | | | | entire style ahead of you to learn. You should only be |
| These two tips, actually steps, are a shift in mind | | | | so lucky that your teacher can continue to find |
| set, while you are learning from your martial-arts | | | | elements of your martial performance to correct. |
| instructor. | | | | As long as he or she can correct you, it will be easier |
| I have been a teacher of martial arts for over 25 | | | | for you to learn. Once those corrections stop, you'll |
| years. In that time, I have been privileged to watch | | | | have to take learning into your own hands. |
| many learning styles. It's curious that so many | | | | Note: If you are worried about the weakening of |
| students bristle when their martial-arts techniques get | | | | martial arts styles, I have another article for you to |
| corrected by the teacher. | | | | read. See if you are in a martial-arts class that has |
| To many students, a correction is equal to a criticism. | | | | this problem -- Are Martial Arts Styles Weakening |
| These pupils get offended ... maybe only slightly, but | | | | Don't Become A Clone of Your Martial Arts Teacher |
| you can tell that they aren't thrilled about the | | | | You shouldn't worry too much about learning every |
| adjustment that the teacher is making. | | | | technique your teacher does. Your take on the |
| I would like to suggest that if you are such a student | | | | martial arts may have a different focus. |
| that you shift your attitude ... for the good of the | | | | Your learning style will be different. Believe it or not, |
| style. | | | | there are probably a few techniques that your |
| It's a two-step process. We want the teacher to | | | | teacher has yet to master. You may find an easier |
| correct us: | | | | time of those. |
| 1. The teacher models the correct martial-arts move. | | | | And there will be some of your teacher's techniques |
| You carefully observe, and do your best to | | | | that will be beyond you. Don't worry about it. |
| memorize all of the intricacies of the move. Of | | | | If you master most of your style's techniques ... you |
| course, the first few times you see the move, it will | | | | will prevent you martial-arts system from weakening. |
| be a broader observation. | | | | Also, always add to your learning from new sources. |
| Still, at this stage, you watch and learn. | | | | For example ... |