Creative Martial Arts Teaching

I couldn’t believe this …

The Oregon Coast got 6-8 inches of snow on March 13, 2012. That’s not what I couldn’t believe, although it is very rare. (They hadn’t seen snow that late in the season since 1951.)

What I couldn’t believe is what I saw and heard on the news: Some young teachers on the coast couldn’t really teach their classes. Why? Because some schools lost power.

And …

THEY COULDN’T TEACH WITHOUT THE INTERNET!

The comments during that news piece absolutely floored me. Are you kidding? No teaching possible without going online?

When I was a high school teacher, I could teach anywhere, any time, with or without materials, with or without chalkboard or whiteboard, with or without computer.

It didn’t matter; you just taught … and you got creative … for the students’ sake.

Teaching Martial Arts

I have had to get creative teaching martial arts, too. Classes have been held at parks, in rec rooms, in dojos, on cement, in the grass, in the dirt, on carpet, in the dark, in full sunlight, in the water, on land, in cramped quarters ….

I mean, what do you do when you teach out of a double garage, and that night 12 students, with their guests, show up to class? How do you fit them all in the garage?

The answer is, you get creative.

If you have a martial arts teaching problem, let me know. Maybe I could provide a creative suggestion or two….

Tags: can't teach without internet, creative teaching, teaching martial arts