Learning to teach,teaching to learn.

Where in the World have I been?

Well Canada but unfortunately not for the last few months since I last wrote this blog. Since then Lun and I have been just teaching and going to the gym ever so often. The class is going fine it’s a small class and that’s fine with us. It gives us more opportunity to analyse their individual strengths and weaknesses. In addition it’s a class I find teaching a learning curve as you have to look at things from the students’ perspective. What may be basic to Lun and I may not be basic to the beginner. We take for example punching such as a jab and cross, although these are primarily basic punches for someone who has done boxing and some Martial Art it might be difficult for one beginner to form a fist and/or get their body mechanics right.

It’s only when teaching beginners as in total beginners with no prior Martial Art experience that you start to have a broader perspective of how well you are teaching. For example I would say that some students are exceeding faster than others and therefore it could be argued that those exceeding are practicing what we teach, however it can be debated whether those not picking up as quickly may need to be taught differently so they can “take in the information”. In my mind repetition is the key but first they got to learn the technique and get it right. As Steve Powell’s JKD Class always use to say when we would do reps in class “Doing one good punch is better than doing ten crap ones”. In addition to this the student has to apply their own mind to figure things out as well, so as Bob Melia said to me recently “Never ever stop learning". In fact I said this in a previous post that I am so grateful and humbled to have trained or attended seminar under so many great instructors throughout the years. As they have changed the way of my thinking in the Martial Arts on so many levels and given me such good advice. Also we are lucky enough to have a fellow instructor Johnny Cowan training with us along with his student Keith.

On a sad note one such instructor unfortunately passed away recently. It was a cold night on the 30th September 2003 when Lun and our friends Paul R and Paul H climbed the steps of a gym somewhere in North Manchester where we were to attend a seminar by Sifu Larry Hartsell. I remember for some reason being quite nervous attending as this would be the first time I have attended a seminar by a direct student of Bruce Lee. When he did come into the room there was an instant presence a kind of aura that’s hard to describe. He was softly spoken and didn’t look totally happy probably due to our English weather that night. But when he did start teaching it was awesome, we did a lot of stand up grappling and I will never forget when he made a point of keeping the left hand up protecting your jaw when you punch or you will get knocked out if you miss and the other guy hits you.
I know a basic detail but the way he said it in his softly spoken American accent for some reason stuck in my mind. At the end of the seminar he took the time to take photos with everyone and was very polite. It was an honour being in the presence of Sifu Larry Hartsell and I am pretty sure everyone else in the room felt that way too. Sifu Larry Hartsell Aug 15th 1942- Aug 20th 2007.


Canada was an awesome experience, along with Elaine and her sister Louisa we went on a scenic tour around the Canadian Rockies in Bannf and also saw Lake Louise and the Athabasca Glacier fields. We then stayed in the City with Elaine’s relatives in Burnaby. They were a very nice family and I can’t thank them enough for their kindness. So on this blog I like to thank Auntie Fatima, Uncle John, Chris and Edolyen and last but not least Elaine’s Grandma for their wonderful hospitality. Being in Burnaby was like being in a massive Chinese community in fact along with the Richmond area that’s exactly what it was and for some reason I felt very much at home. I spoke Cantonese for most of the time we were asking for things and restaurants. In addition things were cheap out there we went to a restaurant on Joyce Street that sold dim sum and plates of other food for $2 that at the current exchange rate is about £1!!!!! On the Martial Arts side of things I managed to take two photos of Martial Art centres, I didn’t attend either but those were only two among many Martial Art places in Vancouver out there I saw a Capoeria place, several TKD places, a MMA gym and also a place called Lok’s Hapkido in Richmond (unfortunately I didn’t have my camera ready for those gyms (as I was in a car or a bus) or I would be sure to take a picture. Another place I didn’t take a photo of however was Dragon’s Martial Art Supplies in Chinatown, the owner there was extremely kind and hospitable to us as we got some DVD’s and books from him. All in all Vancouver was a great place and a great experience.


Now I am back Lun and I wish to take our students to the next level. But we must work constantly ourselves to achieve this. I recently reapplied for my Warriors Eskrima licence and with Elaine moving up I shall look at my own training schedule (as well as teaching Elaine!). Exciting times ahead!….thanks for reading!

Kit