Posted by: Anonymous
uncooperative uke's - 01/12/05 01:16 AM
Hi all,
I'm relatively young for an instructor(31yrs.) and I am certainly no master. I helped my instructor teach a class for 5 yrs. after I got Nidan. I really enjoy teaching because you learn so much from it.
In my guard unit noone else does martial arts and I have been asked on several occasions to give basic self defense instruction. It has always went well until this last weekend. I was showing a basic defense from an arm grab and punch when this new guy(to our unit) tried to show me up. He was resisting,trying to grab,and just being difficult.He said show me ,but what he really meant was let me show you.I was demonstrating the movement slow with no tension. We've had difficult students try the same thing.So how do you deal with people like that?
All American Goju Karate
Posted by: Ed Glasheen
Re: uncooperative uke's - 01/12/05 03:32 AM
You juice them...know what I mean. Pain has a way of getting your point across.
I was demonsrating a Sukui-nage type technique when my uke deceided to counter the technique and climb my back...so I dumped him...on his back....knocked the wind out of...he was compliant after that.
Ed
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: uncooperative uke's - 01/12/05 03:48 AM
Hello!
Well, I've had my fair share of those along 24 yrs of MA training. I also served on the Reserves and I taught hand-to-hand combat to the guys. The uncooperative partner can be very unnerving and down right irritating but there is a way around that. Usually, they are the people that are scheptics. In your case, I think since he is a new guy to your unit he might feel that he has something to prove. In my case, I was one of the youngest elements in my unit so the older folk didn't take me too seriously. At my dojo I had some scheptics that felt that what I was teaching was not real or just simply, slaps. I practice American Kenpo. To the untrained it may look like a slap art and honestly, I kinda enjoy that misconception because it allows me to demonstrate on those. That is exactly how I found the "cure" for those uncooperative partners. What I started to do, in my dojo as well as in the unit, was to run the technique slow and explain it. Let the uke do his show, no problem. Then I would cover the "what ifs" that the uke tried to show off with. Last I would demonstrate the technique about at about 1/4 of power. This would either cause the uke to be in great pain or fall unconcious for a few secs but with no lasting effects or injuries (that if you don't count a badly bruised ego). This would not only capture the attention of my class, but also makes them wonder what would happen if I went 100% power on him. The respect of audience and uke was most likely. Actually, my best students started out that way, one of them said in the middle of class that the technique I was teaching could not be effective. I picked him out of the class as my uke. I did the technique at 1/4 power. Once he woke up, he became one of the most devoted students of Kenpo I've ever seen. He never doubted me again. Be careful, many people don't enjoy being slapped around a little. Use your best judgement. You can always choose an uke that is more willing to cooperate. Is funny how when people are learning football they don't mind being hit but in the MA you slap someone and they raise hell. Oh well!
Yours in the Spirit of the Warrior-Scholar,
Carlos M. Roman, H.I. American Kenpo Karate Studios
Orlando, FL
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: uncooperative uke's - 01/12/05 04:26 AM
Thanks for all your advice! It is greatly appreciated!
This guy is in his forty's,a skeptic,a smartarse,and much stronger than me. I would definitely have to hurt him to show him.
He is not a student and never will be.He just made me feel flustered and mad. I told him not to participate if he didn't want to or if he was just going to make things difficult.
If I had continued with this guy I'm sure it would have been a fight.
Thanks ED and whitedragon.
"Train til' you die"
Posted by: JohnL
Re: uncooperative uke's - 01/12/05 07:09 AM
When instructing I always explain that when we're working slow that the Uke should stay loose. (Normally when applying locking or manipulating techniques.) This is because we're trying to learn the mechanics of the move rather than overcome an un-cooperative partner. (That comes later)
If my Uke doesn't comply with that I suggest verbally that they relax to work the technique.
If that doesn't work I kick them sharply in the inner thigh. When that relaxes them I apply the locking technique harder than I would to a cooperative Uke.
Thay usually get the point fairly quickly.
JohnL