You might ask what’s the link between Jose Mourinho, the
legendary manager of Premier League Chelsea and now Manchester United, and
karate? Perhaps more accurately what’s
his link to teaching at Zenshin dojo?
The answer is a simple one, Mourinho and other famous
coaches did not necessarily personally excel at their chosen sport. Quoting from Wikipedia, he (Mourinho), “lacked
the requisite pace and power to become a professional and chose to focus on
becoming a football coach instead.”Throughout my personal martial arts journey I have met many “masters,”
many talented and impressive karate ka but, very few who were excellent at
coaching others.
So what’s the difference between an “instructor,” “coach,”
and “teacher”? The Cambridge dictionary
defines an instructor as, “a person whose job is to teach people a practical
skill.” The definition of a coach as, “someone whose job is to teach people to
improve at a sport, skill, or school subject.” And a teacher as, “someone whose
job is to teach in a school or college.”
All very similar and for many readers this could just be a
case of semantics. But on closer examination the difference between an instructor
and a coach seems to revolve around the latter focussing their attention on
improving a student, rather than simply taking a novice and introducing them to
a new skill.
The definition of teacher is an interesting one because it
suggests teaching children or at least young people.Anyone who has undergone academic training in helping fully
mature adults learn will recognise that “teaching” adults is entirely different
to “teaching” children. Sounds obvious
doesn’t it? I mean you wouldn’t expect an adult to respond in the same way as a
child, if taught within a class of 8 year olds? Which is why I can never understand the
rationale for junior and adults being taught karate in a mixed age, class
environment? Anyway, to each their own.I’m not here to judge others, but all this informs the
approach to learning and development of students within Zenshin dojo. First we instruct, then we coach.
But who
coaches the coaches? A question we take very seriously. With that in mind the second to third dan
assessment process is not merely a karate based exercise. It’s not solely about the
candidate demonstrating advanced kata, or the application of complex
technique. Yes, there is an element of the
above, but it is at this level that much emphasis is placed upon the coaching
skills of the candidate. Third dan is a senior grade within the club, (fifth
dan is the highest level), and there is a belief they should be in a position
to act as a role model to others and be effective at developing, “coaching,”
others.
One candidate, Phil, is presently moving through this
process. As part of his “examination” he has to formulate a lesson, spread over
two consecutive weeks. His task is to deliver karate material designed to
improve both novices and dan grades alike. The class is of mixed ability, from
white to black belt, 18 to 62 years, men and women, in total, normally approximately 20 people. After each session the candidate, in this
case Phil is assessed by those very same students. Their opinion is recorded on
structured feedback sheets and form the basis of a debrief session with Phil by
a more experienced “coach.”
Although not perfect, Zenshin dojo members see how
important their learning, development and improvement is to the club and, to a degree have a responsibility,
and involvement in, its, and consequently their, evolution.
