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Copyright © 2003-2004 Phil Elmore, all rights
reserved.
Secrets of Teaching Martial Arts More Effectively
A Book Review by Phil Elmore
Originally, I wasn’t looking forward to reading this book.
When Keith Pascal sent me a PDF “e-book” copy of his Secrets of
Teaching Martial Arts More Effectively, I thought to myself, “How does
this apply to me? I don’t teach, I’m not thinking of teaching, and I’m not
interested in pages of advice on how not to drive your strip-mall McDojo into
bankruptcy.” But then, after a busy week in which there was no time
to get to the book, I picked it up and read it.
I was pleasantly surprised.
Though Keith leans towards the hyperbolic, particularly when writing titles
for his books and the chapters within them, there is much substance to his work.
He writes informally — no, make that conversationally — and always comes
across as friendly. He wants to help; he’s full of useful
information, ranging from random tidbits and self-improvement gems to the
detailed information gleaned from his experience in and love for the martial
arts.
Keith’s background is as a public high school teacher, which really shows in
this book. Throughout, the reader is tempted to think, “Well, that’s
common sense, isn’t it?” Well, in a lot of cases, the advice Keith
offers isn’t common sense — but seems like it should be, once you’ve
read it. “Why didn’t I think of that?” I asked myself more than
once.
The e-book is almost 150 pages. Keith spends a great deal of time on
many different topics, and even admits more than once that he’s holding back.
There’s an incredible amount of information in his head, and he’s only able to
share so much of it in a single text. He walks the reader through the ways
in which a teacher can evaluate a given class to find needed changes. He
describes how a teacher can improve student morale and be seen as nicer while
still pushing students to improve. He warns against becoming too involved
with students’ personal lives, while at the same time describing when it is
appropriate to offer advice and support. And he stresses, more than once,
the importance of setting goals to focus and maintain student achievement.
There’s much more in this book, too. Keith — perhaps winking knowingly
— shares some tips for how to get students to want to come to class,
such as leaving them wanting more. (Teach them a move one class, and then
promise to teach them the counter or reversal in the next class, he suggests.)
He describes the importance of changing the teaching environment so students
learn to fight on different terrain, in different weather conditions, and in
different lighting. He describes simple and effective techniques for
changing student behavior and promoting quick and efficient learning.
One chapter of the book describes how to add variables to teaching without
disrupting class flow, how to motivate students, and how to use class time
efficiently. Another deals with the importance of planning your
changes and implementing them successfully. Still another chapter deals
with optimizing class size, while the following describes how to emphasize
students’ strengths. Keith even spends some time on “Belts,
Certificates, and Blueberry Muffins,” the rewards that entice students to
keep working to advance.
More than once, Keith links the teaching of the martial arts to the teaching
of any subject, be it a high school foreign language class or a seminar on knife
fighting. There are tips in here that would help a teacher of any
subject, I think — not just those who impart martial knowledge. For
example, the chapter entitled “The Best Ways to Use Evaluation to Your
Advantage” should be of interest to anyone who wants to know what his or
her students think about their instructor.
The book contains some interesting appendices, including how to use a martial
arts notebook in conjunction with teaching (or learning). Order the e-book
and you’ll get three bonuses, too: Get Your Students to Practice
Martial Arts Outside of Class, Become a Super Martial Arts Teacher in 72
Hours (one presumes this does not mean Keith can transform a novice to a
great instructor in three days), and 21 Ways to Energize Your Martial Arts
Class.
So why should you, the martial arts student, read this book if you’ve no
intention of hanging out your Mr. Miyagi shingle? To help you get the most
out of the instruction you receive, that’s why. I’ve studied commercially
before, and many times I thought to myself, “I wish my teachers had done
that,” or, “I wish I’d thought to ask for this.” And even
if you’re perfectly happy with the school you attend and the teachers with whom
you train, the guidelines in this book will help you spot teachers who aren’t
working up to their potential — or to that of their students.
You can find a link to purchase Secrets of Teaching Martial Arts More
Effectively
on
this page. Even if only to some small degree, I’m a better student for
having read it.
I think you will be, too.