As sensei, who do you enjoy teaching most, naturally talented people, or people who struggle the whole way but get there through perseverance, or both.Recentley a young man in the kids ju jitsu class who was a first kyu , quit, he had oodles of natural ability and was a sheer joy to watch, but then another young lad has recently been graded to shodan ho, but had struggled the whole way through all the grades, but he kept persevering he finally got to the start of his journey.Is it rare for people with natural ability to last the course, or is it rare for people top last the course through perseverance.

nice one
I had a student with a condition (I forget the medical term, but his mother called it 'higher functioning autism') who really made classes hard and often slowed the pace down for others. However, eventually I clicked that whenever I was asked about how the class went he was the first person I talked about. When he graded to yellow belt (I had to stand in front of him the entire assessment) it was great. I think I will remember that grading more than any others for a lot longer.

I tend to find the natural athletes often get into cruise mode. They often know they are good and put themselves above others. Okay thats a generalisation, and its also rewarding to see someone just pick up what you are teaching, do it well and improve so quickly.

So....to avoid answering...both are good

You get a certain amount of satisfaction (dunno if that's quite the right word) from someone who struggles a bit when they get those "Aha!" moments and you see the light go on or they finally get something to work just right.

I suppose there is also the consideration of whether you approach teaching them as if they are like clay or like a gemstone.


Mick

Wouldnt clay be dangerous if the sculptor wasnt skilled?

No more dangerous than a gemstone....

I had a young student who had been orange belt for well over 12 months

every week he put as much as he could into his karate (sometimes all his effort wasnt quite enough but he did try).

At this months grading he was good enough to grade on to green belt. and did so with no problems what so ever. the RM said he was as good as if not better than the other 7th kyu students.


when he walked into class the following day wearing his green belt and a great big smile it made the last 14 months all worth it...

A Bruce Lee quote came to mind upon reading you guys words on students and their different speeds of learning and stuff.

A good teacher can never be fixed in a routine... each moment requires a sensitive mind that is constantly changing and constantly adapting. A teacher must never impose this student to fit his favourite pattern; a good teacher functions as a pointer, exposing his student's vulnerability (and) causing him to explore both internally and finally integrating himself with his being. Martial art should not be passed out indiscriminately.

I liked that idea a lot, but I've never come across a sensei that teaches like that. Do any sensei over in WA, or outside of Tasmania anyway, teach each student individually to suit each individuals needs?

Ah, the gemstone approach


Mick

All students are a pleasure to teach, as each and every student has their own challenges and obsticals to overcome (even the naturals - which is most often ego related challenges)

It is the instructors job to not only teach but to know what benifits the students are seeking, then develop the student induvidually even in the group environment. The instructor should know each students personal goals in martial arts (Junior & Senior) and persevere with the student to keep them on track with their goals.

As an instructor and school owner I just love to teach, each and every student is individual and must be treated as such. Mindless classes tell the students that you do not care. Even 1 minute per class per student is showing that you care.

The naturals who quit see the instructor putting in with the struggler, then they see the struggler catch or even overtake them. Why is this? It is soley the instructors fault as they neglected the natural - Why? Because the natural will be OK, the natural knows it and can do it? However the natural needs reassurance just like the struggler, needs attention just like the struggler, needs to know you care just like the struggler. If you got no attention - you would quit too wouldn't you.

At my school there are no naturals, strugglers, male, female, tall, short, fat, trim, athletic, ugly or good looking people - we have students. Everyone gets the attention and tuition that they deserve.

WOW

It's a pity the entire world isn't run like that..



I dont think I've ever come across one of those teachers. Sometimes you find a sensei who will push you for one lesson, and then let it slide for a few weeks..

I guess it is up to the student to take the sensei's instructions, whether he is naturally talented or not, and put in the effort to push themselves, even when it seems like no one is paying attention to them.

I would definitely fall into the "struggling" basket, but I try to push myself each class.. It annoys me when people (naturally good or not) only put in the effort when they can DIRECTLY see the results, ie when the sensei is watching, and can correct or praise them.

Think I'm blabbering a bit here, but if I was a sensei:



I would want either type of person, as long as they put in the effort constantly.

Oh, and




Both matt and susan mentioned strugglers attaining their yellow/green belts, but do many of these type of people make it to black belt?
And if so, would they take the same time/50% longer/250% longer to get there, or does it all seem to even out, with the natural talents getting complacent for a while, and slacking off?

I don't know, but of all the people who start each year only a handful are still there to do BB grading.


Mick

that would be pretty typical of any style though I would imagine...