While on the topic of seminars there is an additionally point I would like to raise. Although the recent event was well attended (as normal), the seminars have an added effect of showing the character of the students. Not only does it reveal which students are the most determined, but shows who is a ‘dreamer’ and who is serious. Many students proclaim their intention to become masters, but it is through the seminars that the truth becomes apparent. The seminar programme is intense, so only those that really have the ‘inner steel’ are present at all (and in all my time as a student I only missed 1). There are many reasons why a person cannot do something but those that really desire something always find a way. Lethargy and laziness is often at the forefront of being human, but determination, no matter the odds, is the characteristic of a martial artist. It is good to remember that in life ...

Today I would like to write a few words about the seminars in general. While I have written about this before (and there is a page on the website) I believe this is of interest, not least to the large number of students that have joined the schools this year.

 

The purpose of the seminars themselves is essentially twofold: firstly to provide knowledge and training on material not normally available in the classes; secondly to give those that attend a substantial boost to their ability. The knife defence seminar is an excellent example of this. A number of the attendees were beginners who had only recently joined the school; however, by the end of the trai ...

Just when we thought we had seen the last of it, the abundance of snow continues…

 

This Sunday saw the recommencement of the teacher training classes. For those who are new to my Blog, these are the regular intensive sessions which are mandatory for the teachers and are also available to the assistants and a few selected seniors. Its main purpose is twofold: firstly to ensure that the teachers are consistently training and developing their physical skills; secondly to ensure the teachers are familiar with the material and structure for student classes. (It should be noted that, in addition to these, there are separate teacher development modules covering a multitude of different aspects of being a professional teacher. These take place at ...

I’m pleased to say that despite the heavy weather the schools have begun with the determination that I expect: all our classes ran as normal this week. Although snow certainly makes things inconvenient, even dangerous at times, I believe that martial artists should keep as much normality in their regime as possible. This not only shows the indomitable spirit that characterises a martial artist but saves us from wasting the precious time that we have. I have been with my Sifu when he was teaching in halls that were -2 degrees so our nice warm schools are a luxury.

I am sometimes asked why I don’t have the ‘day off’. The answer is quite simple; there are few ways I better enjoy my day than teaching personal students. For a good teacher teaching is a vocation, a ‘calling’ which must be followed. In martial arts far to frequently this is not the case - too concerned with ego people teach for the ‘lifestyle’ or the money or the ‘glamour’ (and I even heard someone tell me he wanted to be teacher so he could have it on a business card! ...