1st Lesson Plan

Comments taken from PFS-STX.COM web forum thread on teaching beginners...

I don't have a set '1st lesson' plan. I usually ask a few questions (who/what/when/where/ why) then ask the student(s) to get up and move around - shadow-box, kata, dance - anything. If an individual is shy or otherwise reluctant to improvise, then I might hand them a single stick and ask them to do some figure-8's or draw the alphabet in the air. This can tell me loads about this person's attributes and experience.

For example, if the student has some boxing experience, I'll demonstrate how the slicing motion from Kali relates to a cross/hook combination, and how the footwork can enhance their speed/power. This does a lot of things. First it pays respect to their art and gives credit to their previous training. Providing I show good form, it establishes that I am familiar with their art and that I know what I'm talking about (perhaps more than they do). It also clearly demonstrates how weapon work can improve their empty-hand ability. At the same time I'll introduce the new-comer to a whole new area of practical combat (weapons) that they might have thought they understood, but now realize they need to learn.

Once they get the feel the of weight-shift, flow, etc. with the stick, I might have them apply the same body-mechanics by punching the focus-mitts.

Just when they're getting comfortable punching, I'd probably back out to my 'gate' and demonstrate how, with the right footwork, elbow-destructions can easily render these same punches useless. After they get the destructions down, they can now learn how to use destructions to disarm their opponent and then apply their new-and-improved punches, safely.

This is just a hypothetical class off the top of my head. It could be a little different for a Thai-boxer, Jujitsu-practitioner, etc. Sort of like taking someone on a little journey - ending up right where we started.

"Begin at the nucleus,
Escape from the nucleus,
Return to the original freedom."
- Bruce Lee

Peace,
Makoto


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