In this Issue
:: Be A Great ‘People-Person’ And Become A ‘Great’ Instructor!
:: The Art of Teaching
:: We Are The Key To Their Success!
June 21st 2007




Be A Great ‘People-Person’ And Become A ‘Great’ Instructor!


I know you have heard it many times that to be a great karate instructor you not only have to have sound karate knowledge and ability, but equally you have to be a good people person. Knowing how to get along with people will make you a better, more liked instructor and that will go a long way to providing our students with the atmosphere that we want them to experience when training in any of our dojo’s.

Here are some tips that may help:

1. Smile. They say it take 72 muscles to frown, and only 14 to smile. So smiling is easier to do, and it gives that welcoming vibe that people need to be greeted with.
2. Remember your student’s names. Make a point of remembering your student’s names. Calling people by their name (especially newer students who will see that you have taken an interest straight away) will make them feel good. People love to hear their own name - it’s their favorite word! Knowing their name will show that you care about them.
3. We don’t get a second chance at a first impression. It’s important that we use some simple yet powerfully effective people skills to cast GKR’s vision to all of our students – whether it’s their first class or their one thousand and first! I had a personal experience recently with a friend from the local gym. He wanted his son to start karate so naturally I made him (I mean, encouraged him!) to start GKR. He took his 7 year old boy to a class in Sydney’s Region 3. The father was very impressed with the instructor’s attention to detail and the way that he made his son feel welcome. He had the rest of the kids yell out a huge ‘hello’ to him at the beginning when he was introduced, and later during some of the activities he made just as much of an effort to make sure that the little boy was made to feel special. He had the kids lined up for line drills and had the new boy pick the line he was wanted to join. Naturally all of the kids wanted him to join their line so they were all screaming out his name! At the end of the class the instructor asked the kids to say goodbye to the new student, leaving him feeling welcomed, cared about and involved. This is a perfect example of the way we want to have all our new students feel about their ‘first karate experience’.
4. Use your listening skills. Listening is a great communication tool. Sometimes people aren’t bothered to listen to you and you can tell by the way they just don’t pay attention to you when you’re speaking to them. This is rude and can only mean one thing – they don’t care enough about you to listen to what you have to say. When your students are speaking to you, make sure that you are all ears and eyes. Show them that when they have your attention, as far as you are concerned, they are the most important person in the room!
5. Know when your students are due and ready to grade. There are stories of some students who just feel that they weren’t paid any attention when it came time for their grading. There was no direction, no grading goal, and no feedback on how they were progressing. You can guess that these people I’m talking about are more than likely ex-students now! There is something to be said about an instructor’s ability to stay on top of his/her student’s progress. The easiest and most effective way to monitor your student’s progress is to be the one to sign them all into the class. This way you are the one to greet them (with a smile!), you can ask about their day or how their weekend went, you can say a quick hello to the parents (where applicable) and let them know how their son/daughter is doing, and you can check the number of classes they’ve done since their last grading. All this takes less than 60 seconds, but it lasts a lot longer than the time it took to smile, ask a few questions, and check their progress!

The one common thread among GKR instructors is a warm and pleasant personality. Added to your desire to provide quality service to the students, this proves that you are concerned for your student’s karate progress.

I am very confident that your Senior Instructor has selected you to be a part of the teaching team because he/she saw something in you that relates to what I’m referring to here. These tips are simple and very easy to administer, and I’m betting that you are already doing all this. Sometimes it’s just good to have a checklist to be able to tick off – knowing that you are on track in every way possible!


Shihan Stacey Karetsian
Assistant Chief Instructor




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The Art Of Teaching

Teaching karate is not only physical. Just because you are a black belt does not make you an instructor. Nor is a black belt instructor necessarily a better instructor then a kyu grade instructor. Instructing is far more then being able to perform a kick, block or punch in front of students then telling them to copy you.

Often I have seen black belts who could never teach as they simply don’t have the drive or desire to do so. A kyu grade instructor can teach a black belt, no question, in fact, I remember years ago when teaching back in Canberra Australia, I had the pleasure of watching one of my students grade to black belt and he continued to develop his karate while being taught by me even though I was still a kyu grade instructor.

My definition of an instructor is: The ability to transfer knowledge from one person to another in a way that allows this knowledge to be understood and acted upon.
A good instructor can take a difficult move or series of moves and explain them in a simplistic and understandable way. This not only puts the student at ease, but also allows them to tackle what’s being taught in a positive way and have the confidence and belief they can learn what’s being taught.

An instructor’s role is a very challenging and rewarding one. You must always be ahead of your students needs, so your personal training at weekly senior classes is a key point to both your personal karate training, but also development as an instructor. On top of this you all have a personal life and day time work etc to fit in, so time management is important.

Whether you are stressed, tired, angry, happy, full or energy etc, it will show through your teaching. When you enter the dojo, all that has happened in the day should be left at the door, so you can give every student 100% of you. Imagine every student in your class as a black belt; how would that feel knowing you have taken a class of beginners through to black belts?

The above is a great example of your state of mind as an instructor as students will only be able to progress with your teaching. A negative attitude equals a negative out come. A positive attitude equals a positive outcome.

Students also see their instructor as a friend, and for many, a person they can come to with personal issues etc. Students develop a deep respect for their instructor which means we have an obligation to fulfil this expectation to the best of our ability. So often I hear about strong friendships being made, ones that will continue for years to come. Karate is the reason a student and instructor come together, but over time it becomes far more than just this bond.

My final point is about communication. A successful instructor must have great communication skills. Your ability to deal with a child through to an adult will determine your success as an instructor. Most people possess these abilities; many simply have never taped into them. There are many books out there on improving your communication skills, the art of teaching, leadership etc. If you can take some time to develop yourself more through reading and education, your students will grow and benefit, as will you. It’s a win-win situation, the ultimate out come for any instructor.

I strongly believe that if you ensure all bases are covered as an instructor, you will feel so satisfied with what you have and are achieving within the class you teach, that you will look forward to the time you have each week to stand in front of others and develop them in ways they could never of imagined. I see teaching as a path of enlightenment, for both you and the students you teach.


Sensei Jason Wright
Regional Instructor, UK



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We Are The Key To Their Success!
As an instructor with GKR, I am ever amazed at the depth of influence we have over our students and sometimes neglect to recognize. I think back to when I attended my very first class, walking into a strange building that was right in my own backyard. I was greeted by a guy who smiled broadly and extended his hand in friendship and support. Had this person not welcomed me and made me feel at ease on my first class, my entire life would not have changed. As a direct result of my first impression I got about GKR, I now enjoy a lifestyle in Houston, Texas as the RM of a fulltime Dojo.

On a daily basis we instructors don our gi’s and teach students of all varieties. But do we really understand the impact we have on our students? Right now, take a minute to reflect on your students and I can guarantee that you can all name many that have evolved not only as karate-ka but in the other aspects of our craft. I am talking about the hidden benefits such as self-confidence, self-control, discipline, courtesy and respect. As a sensei you have the power to change someone’s future for the better just by teaching them what you love.

The key to being able to keep on giving these gifts, is being able to retain and grow your student base. By doing this you can have consistent positive influence over time which multiplies the benefits exponentially. We already have a fantastic format in place which takes care of the karate and gives us all a vehicle to pass on the necessary knowledge for our students to progress. All we need to do is add the excitement and mystery to keep them coming back.
Firstly consider this, “You have been selected by your Senior Instructor to teach on your merits.” This alone is your basis to build great classes simply because you have earned the right!

Recognition is the key!
As humans we are emotional, some more than others and we all love to be put on a pedestal now and again. By praising someone in public you lift them up, not only in there eyes but also in the eyes of their peers, which in turn encourages the other students to strive for recognition and train harder, pay attention closer or even get to class early! As you teach your classes, look for the positives in your students, instead of seeing it as an opportunity to assert your knowledge. Your students understand that corrections will be made but don’t let them feel like that’s the only thing you are there to do. Try this; before you teach your next class write out 4 certificates for areas such as Great Etiquette! Most Improved Long Stance! Fantastic Front Kicks! and Awesome Kata! Show these to the students and let them know they are up for grabs, which will excite them and help you focus on positive traits in their karate and behavior. You will be amazed at how good your students really are, and possibly haven’t noticed it because you have been looking for an opportunity to correct their techniques, not reward them. Take the time to correct of course, but ensure that you come back to that student and praise them for effort as soon as possible. This will leave them with a positive memory and not a feeling of, “I can’t do that very well.”

Remember that your students will be a direct reflection of you both in the dojo and out in the world. If you have that positive perspective and the discipline to succeed, then they will follow your lead. By helping your students in the dojo, you could very well be the one who changes their life substantially just like my instructors did for me.


Sensei Todd Robinson
Regional Instructor, USA

Funny - I think back to this brainwashed tattle tale who went around dobbing instructors in because they didnt 'follow the format'. I see arse kissing got you far.


Usually being able to walk and chew gum will suffice. I know it was in my case

Didn't know you had to be able to chew gum AS WELL!!

Well that's my chances out the window!