Customer Reviews

Teaching Martial Arts

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you want to teach martial arts, this is a great introductory book. A quote from the author says it best: "If you flip through the ads for your local martial arts schools you might get the impression that being some kind of champion is a prerequisite for being an instructor. In reality, what you are is more important than what you have done in the past. To be a good instructor you have to do more than teach. You have to understand and relate to your students. You must have a sense of mission and motivation for what you are doing. You must have knowledge and experience as well as a sense of professionalism. Above all, you have to believe in what you are doing."

Absolutely true! In a well-managed Dojo, all students are actively engaged in instructor-led activities or self-directed practice at all times. Not only do they know what they are expected to do but teaching styles have been thoughtfully selected and communication techniques appropriately tailored such that they are generally successful at doing it. Students feel that they are making progress daily, learning something new, no matter how small, at each training session. There is little to no time wasted due to confusion or disruption. A work-oriented tone prevails, but within a relaxed, pleasant atmosphere.

Innate teaching methods are largely determined by an instructor's character, cultural-heritage, personality, and martial arts background. This means that there can be as many different teaching methods as there are teachers. Regardless, there are fundamental formulas that can be applied to anyone's teaching style to make it as effective as possible. Dr. Kim's book outlines many of these formulas, offering practical suggestions to improve anyone's teaching skills. While it's certainly not the end-all, be-all of instruction books, it is well worth the read. I found Sang Kim's work invaluable research for my own book, Martial Arts Instruction.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

A exellent book on teaching with a non political veiw. I was very impessed with the author's over all out look. This books teaching technique's can be applied to any style.

This is THE book on teaching martial arts. I bought the first edition when it came out many years ago and I love the additions that have been made in the second edition. If you are an instructor or hope to be some day, this the first book you should read.

I have been teaching Taekwon-Do for the last three years now to both children and adults,ranging from people just interrestet in the fitness aspect of the sport to people currently on the national team. This book covers all aspects of instruction and student managing that you will need. To me alot of the contens was not completly new, but even the things i already knew was put into a system that made it easy to relate to and i know for sure that buying this book has had a positive effect on my instructor and coaching skills, wich my students have benefitted from. It covers a lot of teaching methology and alsoe includes a chapter on the buisness aspects of opening a martial art school, with budgeting and practical things that you have to do in regards to ensurance, advertising and much more.

I taught classes at my instructor's school for about a year before going out on my own. While I knew a good deal about teaching, I'd never really been taught how to teach in a systematized way. This book helped me organize my knowledge and fill in the gaps of what I'd missed out on learning "on the job" as a black belt. Wether you're a new instructor or you've been at it a while, this book is a great "road map" to solid teaching fundamentals.

I bought this book, mostly prompted by the other reviews to this product. And they were right, it does contain a lot of practical and useful information that is important for teaching. My problem is this: if you've reached the point where you are interested in teaching martial arts, you probably have enough experience in a class setting to know most of the basics. Stuff like teaching methodology, elements of a good teacher, student management and more are all useful, but not covered here in enough detail to really bring anything new to the table of someone who's been involved in martial arts long enough to think about teaching. I myself have about four years of experience (less than most people when then start teaching), and the time that I spent watching my sensei more than covers this stuff, as I'm sure watching any experienced instructor would. The book is useful because it covers a wide range of topics, but only if you don't have any experience in that area (i.e. if you've never taught children before, then you would benefit from reading the chapter on the differences between child and adult students). The other group of people who will benefit greatly from this book are people who are 'book-learning' martial artists. I personally have a friend with a strong background in kung-fu, but despite his broad experience, his situation is such that he has learned a lot of what he knows from books (of course, with coaching from various instructors). Thus being deprived of signinficant experience in a dojo setting, he would benefit from a book like this.

Again, not to mis-state - the book is good, but it isn't the be all and end all of teaching martial arts that the other reviews make it out to be.

This is a great resource for martial arts instructors. It goes over everything from teaching methodology to curriculum development, and from student management to equipment. I thought that this book was very helpful when I was teaching martial arts. It is well organized and easy to read. It covers many business practices which apply to any business, not just teaching martial arts.

Overall, if you are just starting out as a martial arts instructor or are thinking about becoming an instructor, I think that you will find a lot of useful information in this book and that it will be an aid in starting your classes and staying organized. The start up worksheet alone would be very helpful to a new instructor. Even if you have been teaching martial arts for years, this book probably contains some helpful tips which you haven't thought of before. Check it out...it is a good resource!

Bohdi Sanders, author of Warrior Wisdom: Ageless Wisdom for the Modern Warrior

I was searching for a book that would not change the style of teaching that I am learning from my professor. And I am pleased with what I have read thus far. As an apprentice instructor there is no way to gain the full 30 years experience of my professor in a few years. This book has some nice ideas, some I may incorporate others I may not. I recommend this book to other beginner instructors.

great for any instuctor who truly seeks to master his teaching skills

Sang Kim has a very good knowledge on how to teach the martial arts. His ideas can be applied to all the major styles. This book teaches you how to teach and will make any skilled or amature teacher learning from the book. Many good things in this book.