Over time, successful battle strategies were passed on. This included large scale strategies for the battlefield and strategies for the individual warrior. With the development of firearms and other modern weapons, battle strategies evolved with less emphasis on ‘hand-to-hand’ combat. In the present day, millions of people around the world practice martial arts that are largely based on ancient combat strategies.
The process of teaching these strategies still happens by experienced individuals sharing their knowledge with others. In the age of technology, there are all sorts of resources available to help people learn, but there is still no substitute for a qualified instructor using proven teaching methods to educate students who genuinely want to learn.
For that to work, the teacher needs to be skilled the areas of knowledge, organization, communication and tolerance. On the other hand students need to posses a minimum level of work-ethics, patience, perseverance, and what is known as ’Coachability.’ This is the ability to hear and follow the instructions that the instructor or coach provides. This sounds like something that would be easy but, too often, this basic mechanism for learning can be complicated and dysfunctional.
Some students may have real physiological issues that make it difficult to hear an instructor or process what they’re saying. Disabilities like Attention Deficit Disorder, Hyperactivity, Autism, PTSD or emotional issues can make it challenging for students to hear or understand the information that is being given to them. These kind of challenges can usually be overcome using intelligent teaching strategies and the basic structure set up in the ‘Dojo.’ Students with more severe disabilities are often better off in a more private, one-on-one learning situation.
Aside from real disabilities, one issue that can complicate coachability is a student’s fear of failure...or success. Sometimes students are so preoccupied with the possibility of failure that they cannot even begin an exercise. But students need to understand that in the martial arts we learn by doing. The basic process consists of a teacher demonstrating and explaining a move or exercise and the student doing their best to duplicate it. Failing at first is actually a natural part of the learning process. Since students generally do not know new techniques or moves they need to do their best to duplicate the movement until they have it, often not having it exactly right at first. Sometimes it takes some time to work it out. A saying in the martial arts is “You win or you learn.” Some students may actually have a fear of success. They may not want the attention or responsibility of doing well. In either case consistency, encouragement and support from everyone in their inner circle is important for helping them adjust and succeed.
Another aspect that can hurt coachability is ‘dysfunctional independence.’ This is when a student has a fundamental lack of respect and trust for structure or authority. Although basic freedoms and independence are great, the structure and hierarchy common to martial arts gyms are in place for important reasons. These include safety, cleanliness, good interpersonal relations, and optimizing learning. Parental support is crucial in helping younger students adjust to a Dojo environment and thrive in their martial arts journey.
Sometimes students will start out following the dojo structure and etiquette, and thriving as an ’A’ student in their chosen art. Over time, as they accumulate experience and status in their art, their attitude may begin to change. At some point they may start to think that their knowledge and experience is beyond that of the instructors who helped them achieve their success. They may feel that the research they do outside of the gym overshadows what actually happens on the training floor. They may begin to value the relationships with friends or other instructors that they’ve met through their main instructors more than their main instructors. Although it is normal for students to accumulate knowledge and gain status in their art it is important to stay humble, keep perspective on their journey, and remain supportive of the people who guided them along the way. Even students progressing to a level of notoriety or furthering their chosen art should continue to give credit and respect to the people who got them started. They should bear in mind that other students will follow their example and it is inappropriate to become ‘toxic’ and corrupt their instructors’ training environment.
So, stay positive, listen carefully to instructors and do your best to follow directions. Following this simple formula will insure constant progress in your martial art, and eventually carry over into all other areas of your life!