How would you make lessons interesting for beginners?

[yukiko]

Dear everyone!

I am leading figure in my university kendo dojo, as I am the current president and in charge of management and other stuff. Now, I am hitting a wall of difficulty at the moment called "how can i make lessons interesting for beginners?" Most of the beginners who joined in september, are already in armour, because one of the other guys thinks it's appropriate....apparently.But now because of Last samurai and Kill Bill, we have got few new members. One of them is ok as he pays attention to whatever I teach or say. However, the other one is the problem. He is a typical guy who has the fantasy that he can be tom cruise after one lesson of kendo. I dont know how to make it interesting and make him understand tom cruise stuff is a theatrical stuff and not kendo. I have taught many kids from zero in English courses, so i know how to teach and keep students' interest in the lesson, but with kendo, i find it very difficult.

can you guys help me out!?

thanx in advance!

[Hattori Hanzo]

Hmmm tough one because it is so important to get the fundamentals down early lest bad habits develop. Maybe relate the moves to a killing art and explain their purpose if you were to use a real katana and their effect? I remember when my instructor was explaining the concept of the perfect finish it had my interest.

[Old Warrior]

Kendo, like any one of the martial arts is totally dependant on self motivation to improve your skill. If you do not really want to learn and are not willing to do basic exercises a zillion times - there is no point in doing it at all. That's why children, who only show up because their parents want them to learn, are almost impossible to teach. I believe in positive motivation and lots of encouragement. But, I don't think there are any techniques that can make an uninterested participant motivated. I do think that the classes need to be varied to work on varying aspects of the art and the teacher needs to be sincere. Anything else is not required.

[Chopstix]

yukiko - get that renegade to do suburis for 2 weeks! If he doesn't like it - he can always leave.

[Neil Gendzwill]

You can try lots of tricks but ultimately it will come down to whether they like kendo or not, because fundamentally you can't (shouldn't) change what beginning kendo is. No matter how you slice it, there's a lot of hard work and repetitive practice before they can start doing things that are more interesting. The tricks will keep your problem student in class a week or two longer but eventually he will quit anyways, so don't worry about him. Worry more about teaching properly to those who want to learn.

Having said that, I like to teach beginners one new thing each class. Also, keep things moving - less talking, more doing. If you correct a student, pick one or two key points, don't overwhelm them. Remember that sometimes they're not the ones that are bored - you are. They need to get lots of practice on all the basics and if you shortchange them because you think they're bored (or you're getting bored of teaching the same stuff) they will pay in the end.

[Chopstix]

My sensei got the new beginners involved in kiai exercises while doing cuts. That got their attention.

[nodachi]

You gotta get your basics down. If you don't have the patience for that, then your club is probably better off without him because his impatience will only cause him to be a problem and he may even poison other peoples attitudes.

Make it clear to him that there is usually 6 months of training, at least, before bogu. Knowing that after that comes bogu and all the jigeiko fun you want is a motivator for some. You gotta pay your dues, do your work before you get your fun. Make that clear in the beginning so they don't jerk you around and then disappear after months of stress for you. It seems to be a very Japanese training style of getting the basics down well before moving on so you MUST be patient. Give them the example of kyudo where I spent one month learning how to sit and stand up before the sensei would move on. That's just the way of budo.. patience and get it right before taking on too much too soon.

Drills one of my sensei did to keep children interested, and it works for others as well:
After you are able to do suburi at a reasonable level, not perfect, but okay for a beginner, then you can through in some of these drills.

Have the students wait until the motodachi creates an openning for them to hit. It teaches a little of when is the appropriate time to strike and if they take too long to realize the openning is there, then after they hit and run through, you tell them they reacted too slow, do 20 suburi, go to the end of the line, and repeat. It feels game-ish in a small way. Slightly different from just normal suburi.

You can also do things like motodachi pretends to hit men slowly. If they have bogu you can actually hit them, if not, stop before connecting. They have to attack in an appropriate manner before motodachi connects or would hit them. Good for practicing debana stuff and give them some time to practice choosing how to attack back without being a set drill. Sorta like a one hit jigeiko session for beginners. If the motodachi hits first, or would hit first, the student is too slow, 20 suburi, end of the line, repeat. As the students get better, motodachi speeds up their attack so the students have to continue to work on better timing.

Drills like this seemed to keep the childrens interest at my last club.

Also some days doing jigeiko and some days doing shiai practice seemed to keep the kids interested. It keeps some variety to the practices and the kids love the shiai. So some days there are mini tournaments, you make teams, referee it, practice what shiai is like, and that feeling of occasional mini competitions rather than always jigeiko keeps peoples interest up too.

These are some things I have observed and practiced. They seem to help. Otherwise, best of luck to you.

[Polemarch]

I'd slip in a little of the historical context perhaps? I know when we are being taught our men cuts we are constantly reminded about how we want to cut correctly into our opponents helmet and move foward creating a good cut. From what I've seen since I started, the thing that gets all the new peoples attention is any mention of Samurai, katana or techniques in their historical context.

I find the sacrificial nature of Kendo very different to my normal western fencing classes. I like the contrast personally, it gives me even more to practice.

Just ideas though and I'm quite new to Kendo myself :-)

[Kendo ISB]

As the Kendo President of my school as well....I have a few suggestions to make.
1. Make sure they are really into it. I can understand if they are interested because of a few movies, but if they are in to fight and just fool around, they are wasting your precious time.
2. Show them that its fun once they are dedicated to it. Kendo is a growing art, and is spreading over the world. Plus it teaches you lessons in life.
3. Just be nice to the newbies, and have fun with them. After all, you are their sempai, just go over practice with them and scream your ki-ai loud so they are impressed. Ki-ai is the way i do it. I tell them its fun to scream. :D

[yukiko]

To everyone who has responded to my post:

Thank you for your advice.
I am aware that it is the most important thing in kendo to get the basic right at the beginning. the exercise is very repetitive, and boring.but they have to go through that stage to get to the next one.I havent told them yet, cuz using the word boring will probably discourage them...

Well, this is what I have done so far:
1.Explaining how to cut, why you cut in certain forms by using samurai example. telling them that when you use real swords this is how you cut, that's why you are adviced to hold shinai in xyz.
2.Explain the manners.Like bow. Cuz English people never bow!!!Unless you are her majesty the Queen!!!
3. In warm up, I make them play with the frezby, so that they can have fun in getting themselves warm, rather than just running in a circle me telling what they have to do.

With teaching English to foreigners, I can do like pair work, group work, and individual work, because it's all about the communication, with kendo, I have no idea how i can adapt it. May be a pair work and try to make them watch out for themselves. Compare the differences?

Haha, I do have to admit I am short tempered, but I am not to people who try their best. It just pisses me off when people are just watching other beginners in armour hitting other people with their shinais, and this beginner fantacising doing that now.I will try to be patient.(may be im impatient because i dont get to practice until the beginners and the motodachis get to kakari geiko. )

Any more suggestions?

[Hai_hai]

... 3. In warm up, I make them play with the frezby, so that they can have fun in getting themselves warm, rather than just running in a circle me telling what they have to do....Any more suggestions?

Ditch the frisbee. Do kendo warm-ups just like at any other dojo.

[Hannabi]

If you as the Sensei are worried about loosing this "fool" (someone who knows nothing, but takes the risk of the experienced one) then his lack of humility will eventually unbalance you. Maybe you should devote your attention to other sincere students. Let them show benefit of your attention and make him jealous. Do not reveal your strategy of silence to him. Let him come to you and ask why you are ignoring him. Keep you answer simple, truthful, calm. He may come to you angry or frustrated and ask, "I pay you good money to you to teach me and you ignore me."
Then, answer him, "I have decided I want students who are more obedient and do not challenge my authority. By the way here is your money back. Pack your things and leave if you do not want "my" lesson.

Dear everyone!

I am leading figure in my university kendo dojo, as I am the current president and in charge of management and other stuff. Now, I am hitting a wall of difficulty at the moment called "how can i make lessons interesting for beginners?" Most of the beginners who joined in september, are already in armour, because one of the other guys thinks it's appropriate....apparently.But now because of Last samurai and Kill Bill, we have got few new members. One of them is ok as he pays attention to whatever I teach or say. However, the other one is the problem. He is a typical guy who has the fantasy that he can be tom cruise after one lesson of kendo. I dont know how to make it interesting and make him understand tom cruise stuff is a theatrical stuff and not kendo. I have taught many kids from zero in English courses, so i know how to teach and keep students' interest in the lesson, but with kendo, i find it very difficult.

can you guys help me out!?

thanx in advance!

[yukiko]

Ditch the frisbee. Do kendo warm-ups just like at any other dojo.
I'm using frisbee exercise instead of making them run in a circle.I make people do the proper kendo warm up too.

[yukiko]

Honestly, I wish i could do that.Here is your money, and now, leave. I do not get paid to put up with these stupid people who associate last samurai and that lot with kendo.This is totally voluntary. Because it is University Club.

Second of all, there are two other guys who can help me out here to teach the beginners. However, one of them does not want to help me out, because he wants to have good time when he is practising. I totally understand. I allow him to come to my university club, because he is an x-student of this university club, but if i want i can easily kick him out, because he is not student of this uni any more. The other guy is very busy so he doesnt normally turn up on time, and by the time he turns up i'm half way through the lesson. To be honest this first guy, not to name him, but he is in what we call selected team, outside of our dojo. Though he is on so called selected team he is not good.He has the tendency to lean forward with his butt sticking out.And i always tell him you have to keep your posture straight!especially with your back being straight. He wants to be in charge of teaching the armoured students because he can show off his techniques that are, in my opinion crap but in his opinion, great.

Anyway enough bitching. In this situation(i.e. me wanting to practice, but have to manage the lesson), what can I do?
Because to be honest, I had too many injuries from other professional sports that i do, last year and was off kendo and I really want to spend some good time to train myself rather than teaching these beginners who have just started.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Honestly, I wish i could do that.Here is your money, and now, leave. I do not get paid to put up with these stupid people who associate last samurai and that lot with kendo.This is totally voluntary. Because it is University Club.

There's no need to kick him out. But there is no need to make a special case for him. You don't have to cater to the lazy, the stupid or the deluded. Just teach proper basic kendo. Eventually only the serious ones stay. Adding frills just delays the agony for those that will quit eventually.

[Kirin]

Because to be honest, I had too many injuries from other professional sports that i do, last year and was off kendo and I really want to spend some good time to train myself rather than teaching these beginners who have just started.

Hi Yukiko
Helping and looking after beginners can be great practice for you too.
I used to look after my old dojo kohais in Japan, where I spent time from age 7 to 13, and I learned so much things. Also, I was able to re-work on my footworks and kamae.
Now, 5 yrs later, I am looking after several beginners again here in US.
Again, I can work on my footworks and kamae!

Dont think as you are teaching.
you are looking after your kohai, or practicing with them!
Working out with beginners can be serious hard workout... after an hour practice with them, I am all sweating. (one hour of nothing but basic and proper footwork, kamae, suburi ...etc)
Keep this for 2-3months, you will start seeing diffrence in your own kendo!


just my 2 cents,

[nodachi]

"In this situation(i.e. me wanting to practice, but have to manage the lesson), what can I do?"

You could always decide amongst those who are supposed to teach on some sort of curriculum or lesson/drill structure for the beginners each day. Alternate who teaches the beginners and the advanced each lesson.

Or some dojos have the advanced students take shifts teaching beginners throughout the lesson so they get some teaching from different people, but the head teacher decides what drills they do and the current person teaching them just works them through those drills. Alternate every 15 minutes or so. This way they get instruction, but you don't hold back your advanced students because they are always teaching.

These are some things I've seen. There are pros and cons to each, but they are possible structures that prevent one person from killing their own progress for the sake of improving the beginners. Everyone has to grow, you can't forget your own training.

[yukiko]

Right, nodachi san, you are right, that i should not forget my training.
Til 3 or 4weeks ago, I did not have this problem, because there were enough people to have different classes in 2hours, beginners and advanced. Now that this guy, let's say guy A wants the beginners in armour to be training with the advanced people, it's only the two beginners who just came around couple weeks ago. What I have been telling those beginners to do is basic foot work and upper body movement. What I really want to avoid is ignoring the lazy one completely. I do respect your people's opinion that why should dedicated person waste his or her time on lazy person, but I'm not only here to teach, but to advertise Kendo as well. Kendo is not something that is major in this world and people go WOW, when you say oh i play kendo. I am here to tell everyone what is kendo, as well as teaching.I'm representing kendo, and i hope everyone in this kendo world forum feel this way.because you are.

Well, I will try to think what i can do with Kirin san's advice.

Thanx

PS.if there are other suggestions, I'll be more than happy to listen!every single suggestion counts!

[Kendo ISB]

as a prez myself....i thought id make some more comments...
Fun is not all about kendo.....when i try to make it enjoyable, usually they have to master their basics first.
If they are interested in fighting, I show them what its like for a newbie to fight an advanced. The newbie may think its cool, but once they find that their men, kote, and do, keep missing, they will discover the BASICS is all what its about. Fighting is cool, but you gotta earn your way up there.
2. Another reason- just tell them when they master the basics, they can fight. But make sure it is good :P
As for warming up, just make them ki-ai louder. Its a great moral boosts in dojos.

[James]

Hi Yuki,

I am not sure of the grade set-up in your dojo.
If there are higher grades around they should help you shoulder the burden of teaching the beginners whether they like to or not.
As the president of the club you should be able to delegate. Talk to them.
Don't neglect your own kendo practice.
Rotate the teaching so one person is not teaching the beginners all session as previously suggested.

I understand that this may be difficult if there are no higher grades around as is often the case in University Clubs.

If possible talk to your sensei, or sempai about this.
It may be a good idea to invite another sensei to come and take a practice at some time.

You don't have to kick people out, but if they are not paying attention etc. let them know, give them some harder tasks etc., if they resent this they will probably leave sooner or later - if not you will be improving them.
You don't have to pander to their sense of boredom.

To me it sounds like you are properly concerned and teaching them well anyway,
James

[Ginsbork]

Yukiko Sensei,
1. Ask the http://www.kendo.org.uk/ for help. Hopeful they can have a Yondan or higher visit your dojo.
2. Have a open door policy for other dojos to visit yours.
3. Run a traditional Kendo practice, tricks and gimicks are no substiute for the basics.
4. Anime and Tom Cruise movies are in the Zen-perspective FALSE like the rest of life.
5. If nothing works thne get them into Bogu and run them through basic two-man strike drills until they faint, out of breath or vomit. You'll either get there attention or you'll have get more members.
6. You are there to TEACH not to be their entertainment.
7. We practice Kendo because we want to not because we have to.
8. Kendo is a commitment to yourself, a battle with yourself and the defeat of yourself.
9. You have challenge to hold to true to the traditions of Kendo. Will you strike without thought or think before striking and die at the hands of your foe?
10. Remember:
The Concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana (sword).

The Purpose of Practicing Kendo is:

To mold the mind and body, To cultivate a vigorous spirit, And through correct and rigid training,To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo, To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor, To associate with others with sincerity, And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.

This will make one be able: To love his/her country and society, To contribute to the development of culture And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples.

("The Concept of Kendo" was established by All Japan Kendo Federation in 1975.)

Thank you.

Surrender to Kendo and never let anyone steal your dreams.
Gins

[canadasword]

Yukiko-san: Yoroshiku...
About your problems, interesting issues.

I do not get paid to put up with these stupid people who associate last samurai and that lot with kendo.This is totally voluntary. Because it is University Club. No pay? Then don't worry about feeling you have to make it fun. You are there to teach, not babysit. If they don't want to learn, kick them out. Remember, YOU are the teacher. It's your way or the highway. Focus your attention on the ones trying hard. About the fantasizing guy, leave him in a corner and let him fantasize all he wants. Tell him he doesn't need to come back. When he is ready to practice, make sure he apologizes traditionally (with bow on floor like in Japan) first before he rejoins the group.

About the assistant teachers:

one of them does not want to help me out, because he wants to have good time when he is practising. Tell him "bye-bye!" or "mata ne!" He can have a good time somewhere else. Don't put up with that crap. By the way, I am a teacher too.

I totally understand. No, you are too understanding. He is walking all over you.

I allow him to come to my university club, because he is an x-student of this university clubSo what? He still needs to show respect to the teacher. If not, he can leave. Bye, bye!

if i want i can easily kick him out, because he is not student of this uni any more. Yes, do it. He will come back eventually and with a better attitude. If not, you don't need him.

The other guy is very busy so he doesnt normally turn up on timeBye-bye! You need to set the rules and then consistently enforce the rules, otherwise they will walk all over you. If he is working and can't get out of it, OK then I can understand.

this first guy is in what we call selected team, outside of our dojo. So what? Everyone has to earn their place everyday. Don't pay any attention to this. You are too sentimental. It's good to be sentimental but not in this case.

Though he is on so called selected team he is not good.Not surprised.

He wants to be in charge of teaching the armoured students No, no, no. It's going to turn out badly and maybe get you into trouble. He is not good enough.

because he can show off his techniques that are, in my opinion crap but in his opinion, great.Kick this guy out or reduce him back to beginner-level.


I really want to spend some good time to train myself rather than teaching these beginners who have just started.
Forget the teaching. Teaching is not for everyone. Go practice. Better yet, use this guy for target practice and teach him some respect! Good for everyone: you get practice, he gets humility. A win-win proposition!

Good luck!:wink:

[PediGree]

hey, i satarted doing kendo becausei wanted to be the best in sword skills, but i got more interrested in kendo(kumdo) when my teacher started to talk about samurais and how they did kenjutsu long time ago, he talks a bout the respect that kendo teaches a u teachers can't be that nice with ur students, don't give choices to ur students like with they r tired, tell them to go home.........u know wut i mean.

[not-I]

.... but I'm not only here to teach, but to advertise Kendo as well.
Hi Yukiko,

You may take my suggestion with a grain of salt. I have only been practicing Kendo for a couple of years, but have practiced Zen Buddhism for several. As a fellow English teacher for foreigners, I can say that the typical (western) teaching methods for languages, schooling, etc. and the (eastern) teaching methods for martial arts / spiritual practices are fundamentally different. In the former, securing and maintaining the students' interest is key in communicating the material -- hence the need for "gimmicks" such as games, activities, discussions, etc. The student is a critical, and in adult education, a willing consumer who expects to be entertained. In the latter, the student's interest is taken for granted and he/she is expected to observe and imitate not only the teachings, but the more general way of life of the teacher. Here, the student is not a consumer, but an apprentice.

While this distinction is ideal, i think it is useful. In the west (and of course, thanks to "globalisation," increasingly in the east) we expect to be able to consume everthing, including "exotic" arts that are centuries-old, with minimal investment. And there are plenty of "suppliers" that cater to this expectation, offering shabby "product" at market prices through marketing machines, while having no clue or even concern about the actual material, only about potential profits. The art is degraded and the students learn little or nothing. I have found that authentic dojo, zendo, etc. don't spend many resources on advertising. Obviously, in the west, we may need to "spice things up" a bit to appeal to kids, but this should never be to the detriment of the art.

In short, I think there is no need to advertise Kendo, or anything else worth doing. Those that are truly drawn to it will find their way there, come hell or high water. As a Zen proverb goes, "When the student is ready, the teacher appears." Why be a missionary when the practice speaks for itself? Of course we love it, and for good reason, but Kendo is not an everyman's activity, it takes blood, sweat and tears, and we can only hope to practice it with our whole hearts and minds, whether as beginners, students or teachers, come what may.

Ok, that may sound a bit elitest, condescending or just plain pathetic, but as many of the other posts attest, kendo is more than just a sport. Teach from the heart, do your best to be an example, don't be afraid to put your foot down, and don't worry about the goofballs. The students that deserve to be called so will appear.

All the best to you in your challenging task.

[swordteacher99]

Kendo, like any one of the martial arts is totally dependant on self motivation to improve your skill. If you do not really want to learn and are not willing to do basic exercises a zillion times - there is no point in doing it at all. That's why children, who only show up because their parents want them to learn, are almost impossible to teach. I believe in positive motivation and lots of encouragement. But, I don't think there are any techniques that can make an uninterested participant motivated. I do think that the classes need to be varied to work on varying aspects of the art and the teacher needs to be sincere. Anything else is not required.

Kendo is a sport, this might be a Kendo sight, however would be nice if some of the folks here actualy sparred mostly with hard wood and no protection, that takes skill. Kendo is a sport, like olympic fencing, sorry ;)

[nodachi]

Kendo is a sport, this might be a Kendo sight, however would be nice if some of the folks here actualy sparred mostly with hard wood and no protection, that takes skill. Kendo is a sport, like olympic fencing, sorry ;)

Umm... many would disagree with you... many would agree too (about the sport part) though... the whole practicing with bokutou (I suppose you mean that when you say hard wood) and no protection is just crazy. Making something riskier does not make it more interesting. The drills and rules wouldn't necessarily change, just more people would get seriously hurt... feel free to disagree though... There are kenjitsu where people only use bokutou but there is no sparing at all, it is all kata, because they understand that we are not learning to fight, we are training our spirit and learning techniques to apply in shiai, but not with the desire to hurt others...

[Wormaap]

Well... I'm a beginner myself, and even though I started out from a 'I want to become as good as I can possibly get, no matter what'-attitude, I can still tell you what would keep a group motivated in my opinion :)
Kiai equals fun. In the dojo where I go to, the sensei even corrects people on their kiai if it's lousy. The result is that the kiais get pretty loud and everyone loves to do so. Also explaining why certain things are done in certain ways can be motivating. After the sensei explaining how a katana would get stuck in the other guy's head and poor samurai would have a huge problem with the next 5 guys, the 'strike-with-your-left-hand-thing-and-don't-use-too-much-force'-thing suddenly made whole lot more sense to the most of the group. Also, when practicing, tell the students what they're doing wrong personally. That can make them see that they're nowhere near perfect yet. And of course, tell them what Tom Cruise and Uma Thurman are doing wrong if their style would've been kendo :P