Listen

Of course we have to listen to our instructors when they’re talking to us or to the whole class.  If we don’t, we’re likely to be assigned push-ups or we might not get tapped for promotion.  But what about when Sensei is talking to someone else.  Do we get to tune out?  Sometimes, yes.  If we haven’t been told to stop what we’re doing we need to continue to give our full attention to the task at hand.  But what about if we’re just jogging, stretching, or waiting for the next count or for our turn?  If I have the opportunity to listen to my instructor talk to someone else, I do so.  I learn a lot.

Who is Sensei talking to?  If he or she is talking to someone more highly ranked than himself or herself, I pay attention – this is most likely how I myself should be treating those above me.  If the instructor is talking to someone lower ranked than me, I try to remember if I’ve had the same thing said to me when I was that rank.  If Sensei is speaking to someone the same rank as me or higher, I try and see if what he or she is saying applies to what I am doing.  I look for trends – do most people that rank need help with that particular thing?  If there is a trend, do those students improve after a bit of advice?  It’s good to start building a knowledge base before one starts teaching.  If it’s OK with the instructor and the other party, I listen in when he or she is talking with parents, facility managers, and others who are not students.  Someday this might be my gig!

How the instructor is saying something is very much worth noting.  I look at the Sensei’s body language and his or her facial expressions.  I listen to the tone of his or her voice.  If I find myself thinking I would prefer to take a different tone, I make a note of that.  I tell myself I don’t have to be a clone of any instructor.  However, if the Sensei is getting positive results, by all means I remember how he or she is communicating.  Then, if I can, I pressure test it myself as appropriate in training, at work, or with my family.

There might come a time when I will see a Sensei being pressure tested.  This is pure gold.  How does he or she deal with angry parents?  How does he or she handle it when a pissed-off lady marches to the front of the room and glares at everyone (yes, this really has happened)?  What does the instructor do when a child just won’t stop clowning around?  I’ve even seen a Sensei physically attacked, and the response was awesome and didn’t result in any harm to anyone.  Adversity sometimes brings out the worst in a person – if an instructor blows it, how does he or she clean up the aftermath?  Seeing an instructor under pressure is an opportunity for me to learn.

Listening is a part of the discipline of a martial art.  In many Karate dojos, students are pretty much restricted to saying one word – “Ossu!”  during class time.  This actually is quite freeing.  I am free to analyze what the instructor is saying, how he or she is saying it, and the results.  If I’m devoting my brain power to talking, I miss out on a golden learning opportunity.  I miss out on learning how to be an instructor.

Want to read an article that complements what I’ve written?  Check out this article by Jesse Enkamp – This “Shut-Up-And-Train” Challenge Will Laser-Focus Your Karate

Author: Joelle White

I began training in Karate in June of 2014 after a 27 year hiatus. View all posts by Joelle White