Encouraged to ask...

[AngelaG]

I'm interested in how the various members of this board train. Are you encouraged to ask questions in your dojo? If not, do you know why not? If you are the sensei, so you expect your students to question as they progress through their training; or do you believe that they should follow the training and it will all become clear eventually?

Angela

[random]

It might say more about me…but if I haven’t understood something then I have asked. When I have taught I have encouraged students to do the same, it keeps the mind sharp. As long as it doesn’t get into a conversation that takes up most of the class.

The question needs to be pertinent and related to what is being taught. Although there comes a point, especially if the student isn’t getting the point, that they just have to do it and hope the penny drops or at least it becomes a little clearer.

The downside of asking is that I have usually ended up being on the receiving end of the demonstration to enable clarity of vision, although it never put me off, except where I suspected it might really really hurt.

[andym]

If I didn't understand something I would ask, we are encouraged to ask. I think my Sensei would rather spend 5 mins explaining it rather than you struggle through, hoping you'll get it right.

[AngelaG]

Does this include if they give you an application for bunkai and you don't like it asking for another?

[andym]

Well no, I would learn what he has told us to do, but he is happy for us to throw alternatives into the pot.

[random]

angelag said:

Does this include if they give you an application for bunkai and you don't like it asking for another?

I never thought of asking for something easier or less painful

[AngelaG]

Or just less demonstrated on you

[random]

Doh!

[Sionnagh]

We will often stop and discuss something because someone has a question or just wants to clarify something. Or an exercise reminds them of something else they had been wondering about.

The other thing is that the person who asks a question on technique is considered to have volunteered for the demo.


Mick

[trevor35]

My Sensei doesn't mind us asking questions. He will run through things and often give examples of where puches, kicks, blocks might be used, usually using on of us to demonstrate on. ;D

[AngelaG]

There's a recurring theme here. Ask question = "volunteer" to be uke! ;D

Cool!!

[Aefibird]

angelag said:

There's a recurring theme here. Ask question = "volunteer" to be uke! ;D

That's definately the case in my dojo. I still rue the day I asked a question about yoko tobi geri.

Still, it's never put me off asking q's.

It was a bit of a standing joke at one point in my dojo about the questions I asked - all requiring deep thinking and long answers! Plus painful demo's too, of course...

Sensei used to say to me that he was convinced I lay awake at night trying to think up the most complicated or 'deep' questions going just to see if I could catch him out...

[miffersy]

Hi,
When we train at my Club I tell my Students that they must never be afraid to ask questions or challenge what I say, as I am never right 100% of the time and sometimes I've even come out with a statement that is utter bilge to my BB's to see if they do accept it or challenge what I have said.

[Aefibird]

miffersy said:

as I am never right 100% of the time and sometimes I've even come out with a statement that is utter bilge

Give that man a medal!!

A Sensei who is the first to admit that he is never right 100% of the time! Shock horror!!


;D

[jack]

I'm jealous of you lot, my instructor doesn't really promote questions, and the only question that I have asked, he didn't know the answer anyway