Corrections During Class

[JAzze]

If you are an instructor, how much individual correction do you do during class? I'm referring to fixing small problems with technique, such as adjusting stances, fixing hand position, slapping loose fists, etc. If a student is advanced, do you tend to let them figure things out on their own more often?

When you work with a beginner, do you have to struggle with the urge to try to fix everything in one day?

As a student, sometimes I just want to try to copy Sensei and make incremental improvements in each class session through observation. Other times, I can't see that I'm doing something wrong and need to be fixed "by hand." I'm always impressed at how a skilled instructor knows when that's needed.

I've noticed that as I gain experience, I get better at copying my instructor when he demonstrates a technique. If I could give any advice to beginners, it would be to look for details outside of the obvious elements of the technique being demonstrated. In other words, if your teacher is showing a punch that you practice in every class, one day watch his hands and copy them, but on the next day watch his hips, then watch his foot position, then watch his head, then see which way his knees are pointing, etc.

I still see new details that I missed every time I train. It's a tall mountain to climb.

Osu!

[Dent]

Osu!

I think each person teaches differently, and each class may have some variation too. I admit that when I take a class, my own feel for the days training come out. So, if I feel like hard and fast, so does everyone else.

Individual correction also depends on the person being corrected. Some don't listen, while some need lots of feedback.

Osu!

[Nix]

When doing kihon, I usually correct the class, and let my assistant take care of the individual students. But I do also correct the individual student if I happen to stand next to him/her. Also, I think I correct the higher graded students more often, since the tiny details are more important, and thus the mistakes are more specified.

[intwominds]

I am not an instructor but as a student I actually prefer to be corrected rather than continue to do things wrong. I tend to be corrected quite a bit, but I have noticed that our sempai also corrects the higher grades more than the others, so as a student I find the individual attention welcome, it means I can fix my mistakes.

The only thing I would say is that I am naturally uncoordinated, so when we are learning something new sometimes the count is too fast until I get the hang of it. Last training session we were learning something new and I just couldn't get it in class no matter what. When I got home I slowed it right down for 4-5 counts and then got it straight away so could speed it back up to normal. I often wonder how the others in the class are coping, but as I am usually in the front row don't see what they are up to much.

[Spirit]

For the most part, I usually don’t have assistants in the class unless it is a bunch of new students say 8 or more or kids of both young age and grade.

As for correcting, I correct everything on every grade or rank… if a godan is in my class and they do something wrong I will correct them though a bit differently than I would a gokyu. I will give the lower ranked B/B some respect. It is up to the instructor to always correct and never give up on the student even if they do.

As for following sensei it is far better to observe and learn then improve on, than to copy him/her. Since each person is a bit different copying could easily hurt you improve, as well one will not learn to build and improve on techniques by coping. Though your point on coping [really observation] is great …

If finding out what you have done wrong or right is what you seek then train in the mirror each time you’re at the dojo it can’t lie!

Levels that you make improvement also fall on the shoulders of the sensei. If he/she wishes you to learn something quicker than you wish to they will force the class to learn by repeatedly going over it each night. Students should follow the teachings of their sensei to the letter until around sandan

[Spirit]

Originally Posted by intwominds

Last training session we were learning something new and I just couldn't get it in class no matter what. When I got home I slowed it right down for 4-5 counts and then got it straight away so could speed it back up to normal. I often wonder how the others in the class are coping, but as I am usually in the front row don't see what they are up to much.

So why would you not do that during class then????

[MilkManX]

I welcome the instructors to correct me. I really like it when they get right on me.

I also notice if I cant get it right away when I get home if I do it slower and repeatedly it burns in.

[intwominds]

Originally Posted by Spirit

So why would you not do that during class then????

Because the instructor sets the count, and I don't want to appear to not be trying by being two steps behind everyone else. As an instructor what would you think of me if I was slower than everyone else (not trying to be cheeky, just honestly want to know).

[Aunty Ichigeki]

Originally Posted by intwominds

Because the instructor sets the count, and I don't want to appear to not be trying by being two steps behind everyone else. As an instructor what would you think of me if I was slower than everyone else (not trying to be cheeky, just honestly want to know).

I'd think you were from Tasmania But it's probably best you ask your own instructor... especially if you're in the front row. If everyone worked to their own pace the class might be chaos but if you're alone you might get away with it.

I find there are times for correcting stuff & times just to blast on through. New instructors struggle with this & want to correct EVERYTHING the first time they turn to face the class but the result is often a slow session with poor energy. If the energy is good often the problems correct themselves!

[Spirit]

Originally Posted by intwominds

Because the instructor sets the count, and I don't want to appear to not be trying by being two steps behind everyone else. As an instructor what would you think of me if I was slower than everyone else (not trying to be cheeky, just honestly want to know).

A good sensei will see that one is working hard to get it and slowing down is not that bad in their eyes.... though if you make it a habit for all techniques then it would be seen as lazyness.

I often will tell the students I would rather see 5 or 10... very good punches etc than 50-100 bad ones.
Poor techniques are just that poor, and no amount of power, speed or numbers will give anyone anything or benifit.

It is often a struggle between good techn, and good workout for the new and for those who over think. Which brings up another point, perhaps you should stop thinking and/or trying to do as the more advanced in the class and just do it to your ablility at this point. Improvement does come if your true to the techn. Work at it at your bodies pace not others. Learning takes time some people need weeks others months and some years. Sensei should be able to see this and work with you .
Though during most classes you will be struggling through each move, that to is part of training, working to keep up often is the key to learning without overthinking. Work out hard not hard power. Do not hold back but do not get sloppy to keep up, though each week you should increase technique, power and speed

Do not meassure yourself against anyone just the person in the mirror.

[Dent]

Osu!

In our training the first few reps of any technique is done at half speed, and then we pick up the pace with speed and power. During the latter time, everyone is expected to do the best within those parameters. If one, or two, decide to change the pace, soon enough it will be a mess.

Osu!

[Dobbersky]

A good instructor learns from his student

I am at the stage where I am both an Instructor and a Student, I find that when I correct my students I try to either talk to the class as a whole, not actually naming anyone or whispering to them as I walk past, this is to do with pride.

I find that my Dan grade (2nd Dan Tang Soo Do - he used to be my instructor) who is going for his Shodan Ashihara. I am stricter with him, I also have him checking my kata for mistakes and we both dish out press-ups for each wrong move/positioning of hands.

I usually get 0 press-ups but do 30 just to keep me in shape lol.

I also find as an Instructor that my kata practice etc tends to suffer, yes I practice every day and attend my Sensei' dojo but its not the same.

I am also a complete student in my Wado Ryu class, I am only a 5th Kyu there and it is interesting how the Pinan kata move on from each other. The only thing I don't under stand is why so they have kata and 2 man combinations etc. I personally would merge them to form 2 -3 new kata

Osu

[intwominds]

Thanks for the replies everyone, its a tricky balance wanting to keep up with the class for the count, but wanting to do the technique correctly. I do find that technique does suffer if I don't get the hang of it and then I just feel really crappy knowing I can do better. I'm highly self-critical so it really annoys me when I'm doing something a bit sloppy.

Hey Aunty, you wouldn't be having a go at your Tassie cousins to the west would you?

Sorry if I hijacked the thread for a bit.

[EnterTheirMinds]

I'm not an instructor, however, I'd rather be told I'm doing something wrong and be corrected than doing something incorrect for a while and get used to it. For us, generally the assistant tends to someone who's doing something a bit wrong. If, however, someone is way off, then the assistant pulls them from the group and helps him out. We have the sensei of the dojo (6th dan) and 2 other black belts, 1st and 2nd dans, which act as assistant instructors.

Sometimes I may not realize I'm doing something wrong, so that's when it's very nice to be corrected. I view learning/practicing a technique as a straight line; when you've got it 100% perfect, it's a perfectly straight line. Any small errors cause the line to bend. If the error continues, the line goes off course and someone has to help draw it back the right way.

I can say none of my techniques are perfect every single time, so I try as hard as possible to make it straight.

[JAzze]

Originally Posted by EnterTheirMinds

Sometimes I may not realize I'm doing something wrong, so that's when it's very nice to be corrected. I view learning/practicing a technique as a straight line; when you've got it 100% perfect, it's a perfectly straight line. Any small errors cause the line to bend. If the error continues, the line goes off course and someone has to help draw it back the right way.

I can say none of my techniques are perfect every single time, so I try as hard as possible to make it straight.

I like this metaphor, EnterTheirMinds.

[EnterTheirMinds]

Thanks JAzze. Actually, that metaphor can be applied to pretty much everything, not only martial arts.