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Instruction – who is right? No-one knows it all. No one instructor
can claim to know everything there is about kickboxing, let alone the giant
scope of fitness training. If an instructor tells you that their way is the only
way, then I suggest you think carefully about what they are saying. In my instruction there is little or
nothing that hasn’t been taught before but by other instructors. I learn from
my background, my various instructors in many fields, other instructors, my
academic training, my students, personal trainers from the fitness industry,
books, magazines, journals, television, radio and media. All I do is to place my
own personal slant on the subject, and pass the knowledge on. There is very
little an individual instructor has invented. The only difference is the
presentation. I definitely have much left to learn. Train with different instructors. The
more knowledge you take in the better you will become.
Every instructor has their own specialist fields, their own style of
instruction, training, opinions, and therefore benefits to offer. As do styles
of fighting. Unless you go and train with different instructors you will never
see the whole picture. I believe that instructors shouldn’t frown upon their
students training elsewhere as well. The knowledge passed back will help the
instructor learn too. Besides, I have found that by encouraging students to
train elsewhere and giving them that ‘freedom’ actually keeps more students
with me. I may encourage students to train at as many different places as
possible, but I still encourage them to have an open mind with what they are
taught. Opinions are just that and you are all
entitled to them. This article is my opinion. It is my belief. I am not saying
that my opinion is the only one. If your instructor’s opinion varies from
another, then it is down to yourself to form your own.
No one is right 100% of the time. My suggestion is that you should always
listen, learn, and think about what you are taught. Form your own opinion.
Don’t become a robot. Try techniques you are taught. If they work, use them.
If they don’t work, analyse why, because with a slight alteration or
correction it could work. If it still doesn’t work, don’t use it! Don’t
forget this new knowledge though – you may be able to pass it on to someone it
works for. Every year studies and medical research
reveal that many of the training techniques we use in training are bad for our
bodies. In my early Judo years, back in the seventies, we would do bunny hops,
sit ups with straight legs and hands behind our heads, and warm ups involving
rotation of the knees and necks. Today these exercises will raise alarm in
anyone with a basic knowledge in physiology. Look at how the opinions raised in
the study of flexibility have varied over the years, and continues to riase
debate today. Looking forward, are there practices we are doing know that will
be considered dangerous or harmful in the future? Most instructors haven’t
taken specialist course in physiology and therefore must have an open mind to
receive comments in respect to training methods. If you are asked to do an exercise or
activity that you believe to be bad for you, or you have an injury that could be
made worse by an aspect of training, then don’t do it! A good instructor will
understand and help find an alternative. An important note is not to disrupt the
class! I believe that you should look outside
the scope of kickboxing to get the greatest scope of knowledge for instruction.
So much of the martial arts rely on physiology, so read and study teachings on
this. Watch documentaries on various subjects. Take a college course in
physiology. The more input that you can give yourself, the more complete fighter
you will be, and the more complete person. So who is right? The answer is simple. You are. You have your own opinions and thoughts. Only you can study. Only you can question. The most important person in your life is you. So be true yourself, manage your own development, and use the right instructors at the right time for your own purposes. |
(Photo
of Kevin Brewerton by Gary Turner, Seminar, Macedonia)