Commentary and the occasional rant of a traditional martial artist in a non-traditional world
Friday, October 9, 2009
Curriculame
I hate having to teach a curriculum. But the parents and students brought up in the National public school system think that martial arts instruction should operate the same way.
If there is no curriculum, how does one gauge their own progress?
As Americans, if not all people, don't we set a goal towards which we must accomplish?
If it's broad enough to encompass "When do I get my black belt?" Shouldn't there be a standard to test by?
If it's "When will I understand kata training?" How then can a younger student quantify the product of solo practice? Is it by the sheer number of techniques they can place in a kata? The ease of which it is to place a principle to a certain movement and from there to derive a technique? Or the memorization of technical movements aimed at certain points of the body for debilitating effect?
But by that same token, were all karate masters capable of the same techniques? Were Shuri-te styles as physically fit as those of Naha-te styles with their ibuki breathing?
is the goal of karate to push out cookie-cutter karateka or to create enhanced individuals distinctly different in their techniques?
If there is no curriculum, how does one gauge their own progress?
ReplyDeleteAs Americans, if not all people, don't we set a goal towards which we must accomplish?
If it's broad enough to encompass "When do I get my black belt?" Shouldn't there be a standard to test by?
If it's "When will I understand kata training?" How then can a younger student quantify the product of solo practice?
Is it by the sheer number of techniques they can place in a kata?
The ease of which it is to place a principle to a certain movement and from there to derive a technique?
Or the memorization of technical movements aimed at certain points of the body for debilitating effect?
But by that same token, were all karate masters capable of the same techniques? Were Shuri-te styles as physically fit as those of Naha-te styles with their ibuki breathing?
is the goal of karate to push out cookie-cutter karateka or to create enhanced individuals distinctly different in their techniques?