Energy in a class
A style as thick and rich with tradition as we have, it is very easy for us to get highly focused on precise technique. This is simultaneously our greatest strength and our biggest weakness. As such, it presents an interesting challenge for any class.
The detail and structure of our curriculum is not only beneficial to the student’s capability of defending themselves, but it is also our way of preserving our rich tradition. That being said, we have to be mindful that there are certain reasons why students came down to class that day.
Generally, the reason is not because they want to learn how to get better at Sanchin!
So, it is very important to make sure that at the end of every class they walk away feeling like they have learned something that’s going to help them today, tomorrow, or the day after.
The other thing to bear in mind is, no matter how good a class is, or how beneficial a class is we have to make sure we plant the seed for their continued training. This may sound like a sales gimmick, but in reality, it is the essential element of our students fully benefiting from the practice.
Having great energy in a class is Paramount!
In the 90’s, the mantra of a fantastic martial arts class was to leave them sweating and smiling. While this is a good thing to still do, it is not the only way to make sure people walk out of a class fired up and anxious for the next class. But, the mentality of which the sweating and smiling mantra was preached was spot on! No one is a great martial artist after five classes and everyone is a good martial artist after 100,000 classes. One could argue that making sure the students being fired up for the next class is more important than what is accomplished in the current class.
That is an extreme thought process, of course, but - needless to say - It’s important to make sure that every class is MEANINGFUL AND ENERGETIC.
Great energy can come in many ways, but it is not exclusive to people getting a physical workout. A physical workout is a fantastic way of keeping the blood flowing in everyone and getting the energy to a higher level. That being said, there are many scenarios where it may be impractical or actually hinder what it is you’re trying to accomplish.
Sometimes the makeup of the class, where some people have physical disabilities, prevents us from going “all out” doing push-ups and sit-up and jumping jacks. But this doesn’t mean you cannot get them sweating and smiling anyway. Also, great energy doesn’t necessarily have to come from a physical energy. Great energy can come from humor, interactive training, or mental stimulation.
Additionally, an energetic class is the best way of encouraging people on the outside to get into the training and benefiting from what martial arts can provide.
No matter which way you look at it, an energetic class is paramount to the success of a student, is paramount to the success of a student body, and certainly paramount to the success of any school or style.