So recently my attempts at getting back into the combat scene have been somewhat derailed by a flood of new fighters who want to learn how to hit people with bits of furniture cane for fun and profit.
As a relatively long term newbie to the fighting arts I seem to have become an impromptu teacher for these fighters, which is interesting considering my extremely limited participation in actual armoured combat to date and my long term injuries. It got me thinking, why do these fighters seek me out for training instead of the more experienced fighters? I've come up with a few reasons below, but what do you think? Am I a fraud for teaching them? Should I send them on to more experienced teachers? Should I just suit up in my armour and ignore the newbies? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Why people might be seeking me out for training
- They're intimidated by the long term fighters - I can definitely see this, since I'm still intimidated by them! These fighters seem to prefer the pain-based reinforcement strategy for training where they keep whacking you until you wise up and start blocking them. Effective, but when you have no idea what you're doing, getting whacked continuously is no ones idea of fun.
- I can't help but talk about fighting - GUILTY! Being an old hat at martial arts in general and an avid fan of armoured combat, weapons and armour of the medieval period, I don't really shut up and have an opinion on anything. So if a newbie asks me a fighting question, three hours disappear while I wax lyrical on every subject vaguely related, show every shot and block I can think of and reminisce about the few fights I've had.
- I'm actually a good teacher - Not sure about this one, I'm certainly an opinionated teacher. With my background in Speech Pathology I can certainly talk people's ears off but I don't know that I actually teach them anything practical...
- I'm procrastinating to avoid getting back into armour - Yeah probably... I'm still not confident that I won't break like a dried out twig when I get back into it and the newbies need help and I wouldn't be very nice if I abandoned them... insert increasingly implausible excuses here!
- I'm just unbelievably good looking and charismatic and people can't help but be drawn to me - You keep dreaming there Bechtold...
So, what do you think is the reality of the situation? Advice needed, loyal followers (follower? Can you say followers if you read your own post and force your significant other to do so as well?)
Bechtold (the horribly unqualified teacher of heavy combat)
Plus putting up with me makes you good at working with girl fighters, your teaching mode is activated on a hair trigger and you're just that kind of guy.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you are completely qualified to teach beginners because thanks to our long delay waiting to get armour and the 100 blows challenge we are well aware of the basics. You can also relate to the newbie experience much better.
But if you do want to get into armour yourself, I'll be your bodyguard and throw pouty tantrums until you do.
Or I could teach...badly...
I think it's just your general awesomeness, really. But there's no need to pelican yourself over this. Just make sure you're still having fun too.
Cinara
I experienced the same thing - it is surprising to realise how much you do know when teaching a new person.
ReplyDeleteMy advice would be to only teach techniques you personally use and are your "main" shots. The danger of teaching is passing on a misconception (usually because you don't know what mistakes to look for!).
I went through the same thing when you guys first started coming!