Heritage Tae Kwon Do
December 13, 2014
Philosophy of Teaching Tae Kwon DoTeaching Tae Kwon Do is very interesting to say the least. Looking back to my beginning as a white belt. Here was a guy forty nine years old starting something really new. Not knowing anything about martial arts, let alone that Tae Kwon Do was a Korean martial art. So much new stuff. So much new stuff to learn. I don’t remember that I ever felt overwhelmed at being presented with all this new stuff to learn. I can now see how someone could feel that way, especially a child in the 6 to 10 age bracket.
Advancing through the colored belts was fun. Sometimes breaking into small groups being taught by higher belts and sometimes teaching lower belts. When I reached the higher brown belt level, Master Hall and Master Slatten would have me lead part of a class now and then. I pretty much led class without too much thought. Going through the movements.
When I became a black belt, classes started to become really interesting. Master Hall and Master Slatten would impart little bits of information, wisdom and teaching philosophy. “Show proper technique, don’t talk too much about it. Don’t expect perfection” and other gems of wisdom. Lead by example.
Through the experience of almost ten years as a black belt, I have come to learn that everyone has a different learning curve which is dependent on age, size, degree of athletic ability, physical maturity, mental maturity, and personal desire to name a few. Through the teachings of Master Hall and Master Slatten I have come to learn that teaching is not just going through the movements. I have to be aware of each person in the room. To learn their abilities, their limitations, their needs and their levels of interest. Teaching traditional Tae Kwon Do with and through the help of Master Hall and Master Slatten my Tae Kwon Do teaching philosophy has has grown to be: Teach by example. Lead by example. Show proper form, proper execution, proper attitude. I will encourage students to master the skills of Tae Kwon Do so that Tae Kwon Do will be a life long adventure. To do this I will also strive to learn the skills of Tae Kwon Do so that I am able to transfer the knowledge of those skills to the students.
Show to the students, when the timing is right, how the skills of Tae Kwon Do may and can be used.
Work with the students as a group but also learn when a student need individual instruction.
Try not to overwhelm a new student, too much.Teach at a level that can be understood by a student.
Let the student progress at their own pace with small nudges to keep them moving, motivated and stimulated.
Knowing that Tae Kwon Do is a martial art, adding discipline when needed.
Try to make class so that the student has fun while learning. Making it so that the student wants to come back to the next class.
Teaching and following the tenets of Tae Kwon Do and the rules of the school so that the student know what is expected of them.
I know that there is much more for me to learn so that I may become a better instructor. A better leader.
Any and all of these teaching abilities that I use when leading and teaching I owe to Master Terry Hall and Master Peggy Slatten. To them, I say Thank you.
