Comments on: A Conceptual Blueprint for Preparing to Teach

By: Kenneth Brown

Kenneth Brown — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:01:46 +0000

In reply to Nick. One of the concepts that has influenced me a lot is that practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes habits. So that book sounds like it would be relevant to my interests. I'm going to check it out, and I'll probably add it to my reading list.

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 14:23:51 +0000

Being a full time instructor I always like picking up new reading materials that could provide helpful insights into teaching and my Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I will definitely go check this book out. Another cool book to check out if you haven’t already done so is The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. Very cool book. When I read it I gained insight into the formation of habits, how to understand our habits and how to change them. The cool part is you can use this to adjust habits that aren’t conducive to your goals in life and you can also use the principles to changes your habits on the mat. By habits on the mat I mean your rolling and techniques. When you think about it, when we drill we are merely setting up habits that are trigger by triggers. When someone pushes up on your chest from the bottom of mount like a bench press then you they have activated the trigger to go for armbar.

Anyways, thanks for sharing the book info!

By: Kenneth Brown

Kenneth Brown — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:29:07 +0000

In reply to The Ghost. That's the goal. It's a suggestion that may inspire you to innovate and improve.

By: Kenneth Brown

Kenneth Brown — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:27:46 +0000

In reply to Natan.

I hope that the book helps you out. If nothing else, you’ll definitely learn some methods that may help you become a more effective communicator. One thing that I have been doing lately is taping myself when I teach in order to notice the little things I’m doing unconsciously that may effect the delivery of instruction.

As far as affiliates goes, yes there are some here and there to Amazon and Budovideos. It’s mentioned on the About page. You should read it.

Oh, and I don’t envy you for teaching kids. That’s a whole different animal.

By: The Ghost

The Ghost — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:02:16 +0000

Great write up, it really got me thinking about how to communicate differently. I like the systematic approach.

By: Natan

Natan — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 12:47:13 +0000

Ken,

Thanks for posting this. I’ve been routinely helping out the teaching staff at my academy (which may or may not become permanent) and have been having difficulty here and there with the pre-teens/teens in our fundamentals class. The difficulty isnt coming from explaining and/or demonstrating the technique, but rather in keeping a group of kids engaged that just want to spar and try that inverted reverse flying gogoplata they saw on YouTube rather than strip all the layers off the sit-over sweep.

Defining the outcome and point has never been a problem, its finding the relevance. I’ve been trying to offer up examples of the when, why, and how of what we’re teaching is applicable to a particular person’s game. For example, “Last time we rolled, Billy, I caught you with X. Remember that little wrinkle I showed the class yesterday? Thats your way out.” It’s a poor example, and one thats only applicable on an individual basis, but similar to the approach I’ve been using. I need to find a way to express that relevance to the whole class, or at least the group of kids I’m mentoring.

I just downloaded As We Speak and will be digging into it over the next few days. Thanks again.

Nat

p.s. Is the link in this post an affiliate link? If I had known that prior, I would have gone through here. Next time!