As an instructor, there are plenty of things which students do which really annoy me. So try to avoid this stuff...
Not drilling...
This is a common one. Sometimes, it's not so bad; drilling for a bit but then stopping to talk, but some people don't even really start drilling, or just drill a technique once. Either they think they just need to see a technique and then they "know" it or a few times people have told me they don't want to drill something because they'll never use it! Simple fact is, you should drill as much as possible; every technique, every class.
Talking about who you tap or what you think of other people's skill...
Your instructor already knows who you can tap, they watch you roll all the time. They are also much better placed than you to judge the ability of others, so I guarantee they aren't going to be impressed overhearing you saying "I'm surprised so-and-so got promoted" etc.
Looking at your instructor during rolling...
This is something which really bugs me, mainly because I feel like laughing when I notice it. Is your main goal in training to impress your instructor, or do you only feel like you've accomplished something if your instructor is watching? Trust me, your instructor has seen a white belt mounting or tapping a white belt a million times... and yes, they've seen white belts tapping blue belts to, it's nothing special. Just get on with rolling, your instructor will be watching you anyway.
White belts teaching...
If I had a pound for every time I'd seen a white belt showing a really bad version of an americana from mount to someone on their first lesson I'd have somewhere in the region of £50, maybe even more. I can understand the desire to help someone less experienced but when you're a novice yourself you are more than likely to be showing poor technique and also have no real judgement as to what someone needs to learn (new students certainly don't need to know submissions straight away). Leave the teaching to the instructors and the higher grades.
Always picking weak sparring partners...
You get better by challenging yourself and sparring with high level students, not by always picking the smallest and lowest ranked students. Jiu-jitsu is about fighting and toughness, not about only picking fights you can win.
Ignoring advice...
If your instructor gives you advice, it's based on their years and years of experience; going through training as a student and training their own students. I guarantee you don't know best, you're not a special case which they don't understand. When your instructor gives you advice take it onboard and act on it.
Second-guessing your instructor...
This ties into the last point, but when your instructor is trying to give you advice don't interrupt them and guess what they're trying to tell you. You're probably wrong, and best option it's just rude.
Acting like you know more than you do...
Another similar point again. There is nothing wrong with being inexperienced, everyone starts out not knowing anything. The people who learn quickly are those who accept their position of not knowing anything and strive to take in as much knowledge from their instructor as possible.
There are no doubt other things which could go on this list, but they're the most common things which happen that I really dislike. Anyone doing them is just putting themselves in a position where I don't want to bother helping them out and certainly won't go out of my way to do so. They're also going to make me much less inclined to promote them.
Yes you are right. All too often people cannot just surrender themselves to a process. They bring into the class their preconceived ideas of what it takes to attain a good standard in jiu jitsu. For instanced they get shown a technique of the day, go away to drill it and stop after a few reps. Or, the worst, show a fricking counter to the move that they have seen on youtube! A counter that too has not even been trained or tested in sparring. I have seen over the years that there is a 'personality' type to these individuals. For instance arriving late to training, then getting slowly changed, dragging their heels like they are some seasoned 6th dan! Or, not quite gelling with the class, so when you say gather round guys to show a technique, these individuals hang back out of view, like what your showing is not worthy.
ReplyDeleteI like to think the process is as easy as it is difficult, and get annoyed at how they cannot see this too. For instance, did they exhibit these traits at uni for instance. A mentality or belief that they knew more than their lecturer. Or do they exhibit these traits at work in front of a director, probably not on both accounts. What they are very good at is disrupting the class or work colleagues at a lower level. Performance only counts when you the instructor or director is watching them. What they fail to see is that people are generally always watching, forming views on them.
I remember attending a seminar a few years ago. A black belt was showing a technique and spotted some guy at the back of the group chatting. His response was abrupt ' oi you at the back, yes you talking, the state of your jiu jitsu means you should shut up and sit at the front of this group'. So his response was abrupt but in my view succinct. This abrupt attitude is something I am finding myself doing more often now. I realise each session is a small but important step not just for my students but for me as well in my development. So I have become less tolerant to the 'me personality' in class.
Ah yes, the "but can't they just do this..." guy who then shows the counter he's seen off Youtube. Defo feels good rolling with them after and seeing if they can make the counter work though, haha :)
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