tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657543360198531381.post5209342948978006206..comments2023-10-25T03:35:52.205-04:00Comments on Just A Thought: Let’s Start at the BeginningMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317845403611730397noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657543360198531381.post-16303428999486464042010-12-23T08:44:18.972-05:002010-12-23T08:44:18.972-05:00Thank you for your comment!
Stacy: White belt w...Thank you for your comment!<br /><br /><br />Stacy: White belt was the hardest time for me. I think the first class is one of the most important. We are introduced to the basics, the dojo community and the instructor. <br /><br />Noah: Your first class sounds a lot like my introduction to Okinawa Kenpo! :)<br /><br />Felicia: We have our students wear sweats until they decide to sign up. You make a great point about seeing vs doing. Many of our adult students initially sat on the sidelines watching their children take class. Some of the parents even outlasted the children!<br /><br />Chase: I agree....I met some of my closest friends on the dojo floor.<br /><br />SueC: We have started students in regular class or with private introductory lessons. When we have new students, we try to have extra black belts in class.<br /><br />Journeyman: So true..."advanced techniques are basics done better". I use the information I learned in my very first class in every class. :)Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317845403611730397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657543360198531381.post-58813007268024512002010-12-20T18:43:41.135-05:002010-12-20T18:43:41.135-05:00It was a long time ago, and it wasn't Karate, ...It was a long time ago, and it wasn't Karate, but I do remember a few things. The Sensei (my current Sensei) made new students feel welcome. <br /><br />What struck me was that everyone was given individual attention. I was paired up with a higher belt, not much higher, and I was taught my first techniques. What was interesting was that we all started off working on the same things, it was only later that higher belts branched off to work on more advanced versions of the same technique. The Sensei managed to get to every pair and never seemed rushed.<br /><br />This style of instruction prevented anyone from feeling they were holding the class up. And sometimes I'd work on the same techniques as the black belts (my first lesson in advanced techniques being the basics done better, I just didn't know it at the time)<br /><br />I was lucky with the teacher and the other students. Walking into a new dojo can be stressful, but you'll be able to judge if it's for you pretty quickly by observing the teacher, and just as importantly, the students.Journeymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00146093025259375890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657543360198531381.post-82836467476314442392010-12-20T02:58:41.299-05:002010-12-20T02:58:41.299-05:00I started with my husband and sons. The first coup...I started with my husband and sons. The first couple of lessons we were taken to the back of the room by a black belt and shown how to do all the basic blocks, punches and kicks. I've alway appreciated that introduction and now that's my job when we have new white belts in the kids class. I always want to give them as good a start as I had.Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657543360198531381.post-30365555142459016492010-12-18T15:28:49.616-05:002010-12-18T15:28:49.616-05:00As far as i could remember i was dead nervous,afte...As far as i could remember i was dead nervous,after 30 minutes, i had my first real fun in my social life, the people are really great to hang out with.Chasehttp://www.closecombattraining.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657543360198531381.post-43181273614872493262010-12-17T15:18:05.624-05:002010-12-17T15:18:05.624-05:00I wore sweats to my first class. Like Stacy, my ch...I wore sweats to my first class. Like Stacy, my child - all of 10 at the time - showed me where to stand and how to bow in. The warmup was kind of familiar jumping jacks, stretching) and I'd seen the first few katas and a couple stances before (watched for a year before I stepped on the mat), but seeing them and doing them were totally different things, I found...<br /><br />I think you're right about the delicate balance between too much and not enough info, Michele. It's a hard line to walk as an instructor, for certain.Feliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09017194727231120284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657543360198531381.post-37232150807572882582010-12-17T13:57:42.473-05:002010-12-17T13:57:42.473-05:00My first class had the same material as everyone e...My first class had the same material as everyone else's first class in Shuri-Ryu at my dojo back in Illinois--horse stance, uppercut, palm block, front snap kick, and etiquette/bowing. I have to say that I was definitely nervous and excited to finally be starting martial arts after thinking about it for several yearsNoahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08944210654392156093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657543360198531381.post-4564549035336649832010-12-17T12:52:32.405-05:002010-12-17T12:52:32.405-05:00At my first class, my daughter tied my belt for me...At my first class, my daughter tied my belt for me, showed me where to stand and taught me to bow in.<br /><br />Now, I tell newbies not to get discouraged because white belt is the hardest. (I don't care what anyone else says about this.) Think about it, with most of your belts, you have to learn 1 new kata and the bunkai. With the white belt, you have to learn all the basics, how to tie your belt, dojo etiquette AND your first kata (and bunkai) to get your first colored belt.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02588023315483757192noreply@blogger.com