Posted by: senseilou
Seminars and such - 04/15/03 01:45 AM
Just wondering about Seminars in other places than the U.S. or even the east coast of the U.S. First of all how many people attend seminars, either in your art or outside your art. Are they well recieved and how do people feel about going to them?
My observation of the ones I attend are really unique. The Aikido school I belonged to had 2 Shihan come in twice a year, Valentines Day and Labor Day.The seminars were 3 day seminars and covered a variety of topics. What I noticed is that students may try to do what the Shihan was doing , but most of the time went back to their zone of comfort, their way of doing things. If they did try it, it lasted the weekend and most times, were forgotten by the following Monday class. Why take time out of your life to go to seminars if you don't reap from them?
I am a big believer in attending seminars and probably do 7-10 a year, as a student. I am asked to give them about that many times a year also. Most of the Seminars I attend, people are open for information, but are very close minded as to what they accept. Many have pre-concieved notions of what is good and what is not. I have only attended 1 group that is always on the same page as their Sensei, and are open to the way others do things. This is the Hawaiian art of Lua, where the Grandmaster gives you a gift, and tells you to use it as you like. I wonder again, why people attend these if they are not gleaning information. Does this exist elsewhere, or is the seminar circuit as its called more of an American thing. I bet it is because there is money to be made once you have a good reputation. tell me about thoughts on Seminars
My observation of the ones I attend are really unique. The Aikido school I belonged to had 2 Shihan come in twice a year, Valentines Day and Labor Day.The seminars were 3 day seminars and covered a variety of topics. What I noticed is that students may try to do what the Shihan was doing , but most of the time went back to their zone of comfort, their way of doing things. If they did try it, it lasted the weekend and most times, were forgotten by the following Monday class. Why take time out of your life to go to seminars if you don't reap from them?
I am a big believer in attending seminars and probably do 7-10 a year, as a student. I am asked to give them about that many times a year also. Most of the Seminars I attend, people are open for information, but are very close minded as to what they accept. Many have pre-concieved notions of what is good and what is not. I have only attended 1 group that is always on the same page as their Sensei, and are open to the way others do things. This is the Hawaiian art of Lua, where the Grandmaster gives you a gift, and tells you to use it as you like. I wonder again, why people attend these if they are not gleaning information. Does this exist elsewhere, or is the seminar circuit as its called more of an American thing. I bet it is because there is money to be made once you have a good reputation. tell me about thoughts on Seminars