As part of my training at green belt for the "second time", I was assigned to grow a plant from a seed. Now--I am not a plant person. Animals of all shapes and sizes--you bet--I'll care for them. But I've never been called to care for plants. I'll do it, but have not felt the reward that so many gardeners describe. To me, it does not compare to a tail wag.
But, I thought this sounded fun and roped Erica in on the project as she actually seems to like this stuff (I did not make her do any work, but just got her watching and interested). Things went pretty well for a while, but the plants did not make it past the cotyledon stage. Through the process I was thinking about how growing a plant was a lot like teaching students.
Below are some reflections on that.
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Intermediate Martial Arts Teacher; Novice Gardener.
Lessons learned from seed to sprout.
An Internet search, a Northwest seed company, a decision made. Blue Primrose. Delivered via US mail. White seed packet. Yellow envelope. Green and blue plant. A lesson plan.
Seeds, full of promise. Germinate in a cool room. A bed of soil, water, daily checks. Line up your class, show them where to stand. Help them tie their belts, then step back.
For a while, no change. Only dirt is visible. Their side kicks and round kicks look identical. "No...the OTHER left foot". You worry you are not getting through.
Then, one sprouts. Finally, someone gets it. You watch the growth. Cheering on each millimeter of growth; each small change.
A room with a window. Southern exposure. I think they’ll like that!
A few others emerge. Yippee! Now things are really moving. You have a group gaining strength and beauty.
One seedling has a hard time pushing through the soil. Should I help move the dirt? No, that correction was too much. The seedling was knocked down. You might lose that one. You wish lessons learned were not sometimes at the expense of those under your care.
Too much water. You risk overwhelming. You realize that sometimes less instruction is better. They have to do some on their own. Look for the spot to move in at just the right time and only give what they can absorb.
They have tiny leaves and are reaching for the light, but now the growth is slowing. There is not enough energy as the days are short. A full spectrum light and a heating pad. A good class for the teacher; a chat with a colleague for ideas. Now they seem happy. A few late bloomers even start sprouting.
The seedling that emerged first is now bent over. You suspect the roots are not deep enough. Was the soil not right? Was there too much pressure on your "star student"? Can it be corrected?
Ultimately, the group stops progressing and they all move on. Thankfully, this teacher has never lost a whole group of students in a similar way, but it is easy to see how it could happen. Teaching, training and gardening all require the right set up, some inherent potential and the right combination of active intervention and letting go. Watching those under your care wither is hard. Experiencing stagnation as a student or teacher may lead one back to the beginning.
One more time.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Bumps, Bruises and a Lesson About Fear
As part of our test, Master Evans gave us a written assignment. The assignment was to discuss sparring, specifically as a Quantum yellow belt. At Quantum, sparring becomes an important part of the curriculum at yellow belt. (white belts do not spar and high white belts may spar with no contact).
The following is an excerpt from my paper
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Fear is the emotion most expressed by students after sparring class. Fear can take many forms. Among these is the fear of personal pain or injury as well as the fear of injuring another person.
When facing a partner trying hit or kick you, fear of personal pain or injury are usually the most immediate fears faced by a new yellow belt. This fear is not completely unfounded as bumps and bruises are common. However, sparring with experienced practitioners is no more likely to result in injury than participation in many other sports such as skiing, soccer, or football. It is the fact that another human being appears to be trying to hurt them that makes sparring different from these other athletic pursuits. Yet it is also the fact that they are engaged with another human being that facilitates the student’s ability to examine what is truly injurious pain and what is simply a bump or bruise.
The Quantum sparring rules dictate that it is the responsibility of the more experienced student in the round to create a learning environment for the less experienced partner. As students begin to see this, they realize that they are actually in control of the situation and begin to see which of their fears are unfounded and which are more real. It is the ability to see what is real and true that is one of the lessons we hope practitioners are reaching for as they become high intermediate and advanced students. Yellow belt students have the opportunity to engage with intensity using powerful straight line techniques. As they do so and find that they are not injured, they begin to learn the skill of facing one’s fears and dismissing those that do not serve.
The following is an excerpt from my paper
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Fear is the emotion most expressed by students after sparring class. Fear can take many forms. Among these is the fear of personal pain or injury as well as the fear of injuring another person.
When facing a partner trying hit or kick you, fear of personal pain or injury are usually the most immediate fears faced by a new yellow belt. This fear is not completely unfounded as bumps and bruises are common. However, sparring with experienced practitioners is no more likely to result in injury than participation in many other sports such as skiing, soccer, or football. It is the fact that another human being appears to be trying to hurt them that makes sparring different from these other athletic pursuits. Yet it is also the fact that they are engaged with another human being that facilitates the student’s ability to examine what is truly injurious pain and what is simply a bump or bruise.
The Quantum sparring rules dictate that it is the responsibility of the more experienced student in the round to create a learning environment for the less experienced partner. As students begin to see this, they realize that they are actually in control of the situation and begin to see which of their fears are unfounded and which are more real. It is the ability to see what is real and true that is one of the lessons we hope practitioners are reaching for as they become high intermediate and advanced students. Yellow belt students have the opportunity to engage with intensity using powerful straight line techniques. As they do so and find that they are not injured, they begin to learn the skill of facing one’s fears and dismissing those that do not serve.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Humor
This post is not specifically rank advancement related, but sometimes these serious blogs need comic relief.
When you look at martial arts through our American culture eyes, there are some things that are kind of funny--funny in the way we laugh at awkwardness. I mean, we run around in white outfits that don't necessarily fit us properly, as we learn stuff we may move with all the gracefulness of a foal taking its first steps and we shout these guttural sounds while we do it. Then there is the counting in Korean (badly). It's kind of funny.
So, about a year ago I was thinking about our one step sparring drills. It occurred to me that when you start these drills it is kind of like a knock-knock joke. The attacker steps back in a specifically outlined preparation for attack and kihaps to single that he/she is ready to attack. The attack can proceed when the defender kihaps. However, the defender does not have to kihap until he/she is ready. In that way, one steps are like a knock-knock joke.
In that joke, the "who's there?" person holds all the power. The joke cannot go on without that question. Similarly, the defender in a one-step exercise holds all the power. The exercise cannot proceed without that second kihap.
So, next time you are doing one-steps, think "knock knock". It's funny.
When you look at martial arts through our American culture eyes, there are some things that are kind of funny--funny in the way we laugh at awkwardness. I mean, we run around in white outfits that don't necessarily fit us properly, as we learn stuff we may move with all the gracefulness of a foal taking its first steps and we shout these guttural sounds while we do it. Then there is the counting in Korean (badly). It's kind of funny.
So, about a year ago I was thinking about our one step sparring drills. It occurred to me that when you start these drills it is kind of like a knock-knock joke. The attacker steps back in a specifically outlined preparation for attack and kihaps to single that he/she is ready to attack. The attack can proceed when the defender kihaps. However, the defender does not have to kihap until he/she is ready. In that way, one steps are like a knock-knock joke.
In that joke, the "who's there?" person holds all the power. The joke cannot go on without that question. Similarly, the defender in a one-step exercise holds all the power. The exercise cannot proceed without that second kihap.
So, next time you are doing one-steps, think "knock knock". It's funny.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Humility
Well, I've been obviously delinquent in writing here pretty much all summer. I suspect I am not the ONLY blogger ever to have started strong and then shown up with a "sorry I have not written in a while" post. :)
But I have had subjects for this blog rattling around in my head for a while. Here is one. Though I am now wearing my yellow belt, the idea for this post started as I was ending my time as a white belt for the 2nd time:
Humility
In our school as in others, the red belt represents fire. Personally, though it is clear to me that the element I channel best is earth, I have always been fascinated by fire. I know I am not alone in the being drawn to the duality of this element. Fire can injure but also can help avoid damage done by cold. It can be destructive and also beautiful. Fire is both feared and admired.
In our dojo, at red belt you are darn near the "top of the heap". You are encouraged to take control of your own training; you help run the school; you enter sparring class with the freedom to fight on your feet, on the ground and at any distance; and you take on the responsibility of ensuring that other students are ready for rank promotion. In short--you're a big shot and like fire are approached with both caution and admiration.
Putting on a white belt again changes that. While some of the teaching and assisting responsibilities remain, you return to the back of the room and no longer have many of the freedoms enjoyed at red belt. For me, this has allowed me to take another look at the duality of fire.
One slightly warm Seattle summer Sunday, several of us met to do forms in the park. One of my red/white belt training partners and I were the senior students in this informal class and after working the forms we knew, we worked with others on their forms-review, refining and teaching new material. I had the joy of working with a wonderful young man who is a blue belt (now high blue) who has been training longer than I have and was in Seattle on summer break from college. As I worked with Anwar, I was filled with a sense of humility. Though my academic knowledge of his rank form was more extensive than his, Anwar is physically my superior. He is a phenomenally strong man who has maintained a lot of flexibility through training more than half of his life. Here I was, wearing a white belt, showing this very advanced athlete what to do next.
In that moment, the verbiage of my teaching changed. Instead of "no, the chamber for that technique is this way" I said things like "when I do that move, I try to remember to chamber palm down". I started simultaneously looking for things to compliment as well as areas that needed improvement and was able to see that nearly every move had a little of each.
If we pass fire on to another person, we do not hand them a large burning log. Rather we pass along a small stick with a small flame, or even a gently burning ember. These smaller versions of fire still contain everything needed to build a large fire which can harm or protect. Yet it is in the passing of the smaller version that we set the recipients up for success and allow them to take the fire we give gently and build it in to their own.
But I have had subjects for this blog rattling around in my head for a while. Here is one. Though I am now wearing my yellow belt, the idea for this post started as I was ending my time as a white belt for the 2nd time:
Humility
In our school as in others, the red belt represents fire. Personally, though it is clear to me that the element I channel best is earth, I have always been fascinated by fire. I know I am not alone in the being drawn to the duality of this element. Fire can injure but also can help avoid damage done by cold. It can be destructive and also beautiful. Fire is both feared and admired.
In our dojo, at red belt you are darn near the "top of the heap". You are encouraged to take control of your own training; you help run the school; you enter sparring class with the freedom to fight on your feet, on the ground and at any distance; and you take on the responsibility of ensuring that other students are ready for rank promotion. In short--you're a big shot and like fire are approached with both caution and admiration.
Putting on a white belt again changes that. While some of the teaching and assisting responsibilities remain, you return to the back of the room and no longer have many of the freedoms enjoyed at red belt. For me, this has allowed me to take another look at the duality of fire.
One slightly warm Seattle summer Sunday, several of us met to do forms in the park. One of my red/white belt training partners and I were the senior students in this informal class and after working the forms we knew, we worked with others on their forms-review, refining and teaching new material. I had the joy of working with a wonderful young man who is a blue belt (now high blue) who has been training longer than I have and was in Seattle on summer break from college. As I worked with Anwar, I was filled with a sense of humility. Though my academic knowledge of his rank form was more extensive than his, Anwar is physically my superior. He is a phenomenally strong man who has maintained a lot of flexibility through training more than half of his life. Here I was, wearing a white belt, showing this very advanced athlete what to do next.
In that moment, the verbiage of my teaching changed. Instead of "no, the chamber for that technique is this way" I said things like "when I do that move, I try to remember to chamber palm down". I started simultaneously looking for things to compliment as well as areas that needed improvement and was able to see that nearly every move had a little of each.
If we pass fire on to another person, we do not hand them a large burning log. Rather we pass along a small stick with a small flame, or even a gently burning ember. These smaller versions of fire still contain everything needed to build a large fire which can harm or protect. Yet it is in the passing of the smaller version that we set the recipients up for success and allow them to take the fire we give gently and build it in to their own.
Monday, June 21, 2010
It makes us all better
On Thursday and Saturday I had my first experiences every sparring as a white belt. When I first "went through the belts" students started sparring at yellow belt. Quantum has since changed and has allowed high white belts (and the occasional experienced white belt) to spar with no contact in sparring class.
When you are supposed to be working straight line and distance techniques, you only have a few tools in your bag. Inside grappling and even closer in techniques such as hook punches are not supposed to be the focus at white and yellow belt. Strikes are supposed to be focused on the torso only. So, with not many offensive options, defense and footwork become key.
I had a couple of sparring partners comment about how watching us "recycled white belts" gives them a new study in footwork and an ability to really work on that with us. As we focus on our footwork but can make no contact, it gives them the opportunity to consider their own footwork without fear that a misstep will get them nailed. Another partner commented on how when trying to work straight line techniques, working with me showed him what he was leaving open in doing so.
Honestly, I never considered that I would be a useful sparring partner to my training friends as a white belt. Selfishly I guess, I assumed it would be all about me and me learning more about no contact sparring with others being able to use more varied techniques than I. I also kind of thought it was amusing to spar and say "you can't touch me (hee hee hee)". What an unexpected and wonderful surprise it is to witness the effect that myself and my training partners going back to our basics has on raising the level for the entire school.
I guess I won't "punch ya later" and we will all learn from it.
When you are supposed to be working straight line and distance techniques, you only have a few tools in your bag. Inside grappling and even closer in techniques such as hook punches are not supposed to be the focus at white and yellow belt. Strikes are supposed to be focused on the torso only. So, with not many offensive options, defense and footwork become key.
I had a couple of sparring partners comment about how watching us "recycled white belts" gives them a new study in footwork and an ability to really work on that with us. As we focus on our footwork but can make no contact, it gives them the opportunity to consider their own footwork without fear that a misstep will get them nailed. Another partner commented on how when trying to work straight line techniques, working with me showed him what he was leaving open in doing so.
Honestly, I never considered that I would be a useful sparring partner to my training friends as a white belt. Selfishly I guess, I assumed it would be all about me and me learning more about no contact sparring with others being able to use more varied techniques than I. I also kind of thought it was amusing to spar and say "you can't touch me (hee hee hee)". What an unexpected and wonderful surprise it is to witness the effect that myself and my training partners going back to our basics has on raising the level for the entire school.
I guess I won't "punch ya later" and we will all learn from it.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The belt just holds up your pants
....well, not exactly since have elastic or drawstrings in our uniform pants. However last week I was given the opportunity to really consider this idea.
I helped run a martial arts test at Lake Washington Girls Middle School last week. Running the test with me were a 1st degree black belt and a high red belt. In getting ready the night before I considered wearing my "travelling" red belt for the test. This is my back up belt that I have used for teaching outreach on days that I have forgotten my belt in the shuffle or need to show up for an offsite class at the last minute. My thought process was that since tests are formal occasions, should I not be in a formal uniform? And what about any parents who attended? Would they not think it strange that a white belt was testing their kids? It was nice to give this consideration and know that my teachers and black belts would support me if this is what I had chosen to do.
Then it occured to me that one of the lessons to learn in this process is that the color of the belt does not actually matter. It is the type of martial artist and the type of person you are that matters. As one starts to push up against black belt, one begins to consider reaching the point where you "walk the way" every day. So, as an 8 year practitioner and an advanced student on that day, I charged myself with wearing a white belt but BEING the strong and loving teacher that I can be for my students. It ended up being a lovely test.
I helped run a martial arts test at Lake Washington Girls Middle School last week. Running the test with me were a 1st degree black belt and a high red belt. In getting ready the night before I considered wearing my "travelling" red belt for the test. This is my back up belt that I have used for teaching outreach on days that I have forgotten my belt in the shuffle or need to show up for an offsite class at the last minute. My thought process was that since tests are formal occasions, should I not be in a formal uniform? And what about any parents who attended? Would they not think it strange that a white belt was testing their kids? It was nice to give this consideration and know that my teachers and black belts would support me if this is what I had chosen to do.
Then it occured to me that one of the lessons to learn in this process is that the color of the belt does not actually matter. It is the type of martial artist and the type of person you are that matters. As one starts to push up against black belt, one begins to consider reaching the point where you "walk the way" every day. So, as an 8 year practitioner and an advanced student on that day, I charged myself with wearing a white belt but BEING the strong and loving teacher that I can be for my students. It ended up being a lovely test.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The beauty of simplicity
Today's general class felt much better than Thursday's. Three of us "do over" white belts were in attendance and we received just the right amount of teasing from our black belt and senior students--gentle ribbing with affectionate grins all around.
In class, after the white belt technique was called, I realized that I did not have to pay any more attention to what was said before the word "Go!" This was incredibly freeing and allowed me to just focus on whatever stance I was in. The simplicity of no more than one hand and foot technique together and usually only one was a gift.
Focusing on only a few simple things allows one to see the complexity in each technique, to explore where the power comes from, and which muscles are needed--and which ones are not.
In class, after the white belt technique was called, I realized that I did not have to pay any more attention to what was said before the word "Go!" This was incredibly freeing and allowed me to just focus on whatever stance I was in. The simplicity of no more than one hand and foot technique together and usually only one was a gift.
Focusing on only a few simple things allows one to see the complexity in each technique, to explore where the power comes from, and which muscles are needed--and which ones are not.
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