Based on some of the discussions we've had here, I was curious as to when people started teaching in their martial arts career.

Based on the first time you taught a class solo, i.e. no one of higher rank around to help you out, please answer the following questions.

Thanks

Laura

I was 22 when I started teaching "officially", as I had been teaching some friends on the side for a while before that. I had about 6-7 years of training at that point.

My first class was a supervised lesson at age 14. My teaching continued in a supervised fashion (as assistant instructor) until the age of 18 when I stopped training TKD. At the time I'd been training for 10 years. Despite this, I never felt up to the task of teaching a class and was uncomfortable with the prospect. I would have benefited greatly from a coaching course but they were restricted to instructors aged 18 or above. By that time, teaching was not an issue and it continues to be a non-issue to this day. I've no intention of returning to teaching any time soon because I do not believe that I have the experience with constructing lesson plans, managing a class, helping students get motivated, understanding students' difficulties in their training and bridging the gaps between their current skill and their goals. Perhaps in 12 years or so, when I've got a bit more experience in various arts, I will start a small Dojo for teaching whatever MA I know.

Leo, slightly confused on how you worded it, were you 4 when you started training or 8?

Thanks

As for myself, I was 28 and I had 2.5 years of experience when I ran my first solo class. Its been almost a year since then, and I now have my own class, 5 to 10 year old beginner/novice youths and its been quite the battle. I also work with several of the other classes, assisting when necessary, and occasionally cover for the mixed teen/adult class.

Its odd, Leo, that they would make you teach, yet not give you the instruction on how to teach. My instructor still observes many of the classes I teach and I get constant feedback on how I am doing, but more and more I am being left alone, but I still get extra training on how to teach.

Laura

Sorry for the ambiguity. I was 4 when I started learning TKD and 14 when I started teaching. My bad experiences with being thrown in the deep end have certainly affected my opinion of teaching and I now strongly support formal training in the skill of coaching of all instructors (this skill is very important in terms of helping students develop their potential). Having read up a great deal on coaching theory and practice since I stopped training TKD, I realise that a little bit of formal training would have changed my experiences for the better. Unfortunate as it is, that's how things worked back where I trained. Formal instructor training was not available for people aged 17 and below.

My first lesson involved teaching over 40 students from the beginning to end of the lesson (many of them older than I was, ranging from children to people in their late 20s). That is an intimidating experience for a 14 year old.

I did, admittedly, get tips from my instructor after the fact but he was always more into the "just give it a go and learn while you're at it" school of thought.

Thanks for the clarification. I agree whole heartedly that anyone who is teaching should have some form of training and support system, even if its just your instructor giving feedback afterwards. Even a short seminar which teaches how people learn and how to best communicate ideas to people of varying ages is better than nothing. As a new instructor, having an idea of what should be covered in a class helps as well. As you get more experienced, its easier to improvise.

Laura

The thing I wish I'd learned most is the formulation of a lesson plan. I hate having to think on my feet and keeping things varied from lesson to lesson without a plan.

Have only taught twice on own. First time was last year (summer of 2005) or so where the Instructor took all of the higher belts to teach and I was asked to teach the lower belts. Was a little nerve racking but he thought I was up to it so I did it. I taught had strikes that day as requested. I was a Red Belt at this time.

The second time was just a short while ago (month) where all of the black belts were taken for training and I took the rest of the class. I taught grappling skills though I was very relaxed and enjoyed this. My grappling skills are far greater then my TKD skills and I enjoy grappling more. This was taught at Red/Black Belt level.

I'm 38 and have been doing TKD/BJJ for 4 years 4 months ... though the BJJ only for about 2 years solid whereas prior the training was more sporadic.

As a Black/Red belt is it a requirement to teach more classes in preparation for Black Belt. I haven't really pushed the TKD training and have been doing more grappling as I knew I was going for knee surgery (tomorrow). As I've already delayed testing due to injuries prior, the surgery and recovery will set me back further but I can always test another day ... no biggie.

That is a tough skill to learn. My instructor is very much a "fly by the seat of his pants" kind of instructor, so he's had a hard time coming up with a solid lesson plan for each of his assistant instructors. What we have now is a theme for each class, kicks, blocks, self defense, patterns, etc. Along with a description of some of the common drills and variations we might do. Its then up to us to figure out how we want to teach it. Half the learning experience is just trying it and seeing what works and what doesn't.

Laura

I started helping out in class when I was about 14 or so and had 3 years experince. I would just do things like hold bags and maybe teach some of the newer kids in class. When I was 21 I had my own class and had about 10 years experince at that point. I had to shut it down after I had my son. I didn't have the time that a class required. I continued to help out with my instructor's class and really don't want to have my own class again.

Casey