#dojomanagement #instructorinsights #teachingbudo

As an instructor, you probably already recognise that your personality influences how you teach.  Some of us have been lucky enough to have had at least one inspirational sensei who we aspire to be like (and most of us will have identified those that we are determined not to be like), yet it is still easy to lose sight of how our own flaws (yes, even Budo teachers have them) could be directly affecting your students ability to develop and progress.  It is, therefore, critical to be be aware of those flaws and to take steps to mitigate them.   Here are some of the more common traits exhibited by Martial Arts instructors, and what to do about them.

Overconfidence

If you tend to lean towards being overly confident in, say, your own skills or teaching approach, you may fall into the trap of having unrealistic expectations of what (or how quickly) your students can achieve things. Look for the signs that people might be finding things more tricky (than you did) to learn and listen to your assistant teachers, if you have them, or senior students who may be able to spot things in your blind spots.

Impulsiveness

Are you impulsive by nature? Do you see the latest drill on YouTube or see something that interests you at a seminar that you can’t resist racing back and introducing to your students in the next class? If so, try to remember that your students are usually looking to you for structure in their development. If they are working towards a particular goal or a part of your syllabus relevant to their next grading, new “stuff” may have the effect of confusing them.  Don’t be afraid of brining in new things, but do it thoughfully in a way that is complementary, rather than competing, with what they have already learned.

Control Freak

Overly controlling personality types rarely make good long term developers of people so, if this is you, recognise this trait early and try to manage it well. There is a place for order, of course, in the dojo but you run the risk of stifling (and driving away) students if you don’t give them room to breathe. Encourage your students to bring ideas to you. Get them to develop a new training drill, make suggestions to improve the dojo or (shock) ask for feedback on what you might change in your teaching to improve their experience.

Self-doubt

Do you have imposter syndrome? Are you overly concerned about what your students think about you? Are you reluctant to show certain things for fear of being “called out”? If so, stop worrying. Your students don’t expect you to be superhuman – that’s not your job. Being relatable as an instructor (which means being prepared to laugh at your own imperfections) is an extremely effective way of maintaining student buy-in. If you experience a crisis of confidence, think about writing down what you are good at, and share with your students those things that you are working on for your own development.

Above all else, remind yourself frequently that you have earned the right to stand in front of the room - but never lose sight of the fact that being in a position where people want to learn from you the real privilege.