Wednesday, September 02, 2009

The Big Talk

I think I may have mentioned that Teacher and I talked briefly about what’s next in my development.  After class last night we met for an hour and half on what’s expected of me for my Black Belt. 

I don’t think I can put everything into a nutshell, but it felt like a particularly intensive therapy session.  I came in thinking that we’d be talking about physical requirements and how to figure that out based on my age, but Teacher wants to focus on these things:

- be assertive (without being a dick)
- teach portions of the class in a more formal manner
- be more situationally aware

I left thinking I rather have a hard physical test (which he assured me I would) than the above.  Situational awareness can be worked on all the time, but the other things are going to require to me face aspects of myself that are a struggle.  By my very nature I’m easy going to a fault and avoid all conflict.  However I’ll do this to the nth degree; so much so that it creates conflict in other areas. 

Unfortunately there isn’t a syllabus that outlines how do this, but when I started my campaign to stop apologizing all the time it was a very small component.  Next stop – stop with all the self depreciation, and then figure out how to accept that I know some stuff. 

I know that in class I have asked the students if they want to do something instead of telling them.  How’s does one retool one aspect of their personality without changing who they are?  I don’t think I can do a major change, but Teacher says that I will do this without any problem.  Interesting times ahead.

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Two new kids in class.  Several out on injury (not from class).  So a good time that went by quickly.

6 comments:

Lizzie Woolley said...

What style do you study?? I didn't know that you were a brown belt.

Potatoe Fist said...

Tang Soo do. I got my Brown last year. If you go back far enough in the blog I think I've got some details about the test and my perceptions about what it would be like.

Lizzie Woolley said...

How long have you been studying Tang Soo Do?? How often do you train a week?

Potatoe Fist said...

I've been studying a little over 5 years now. Wow, I haven't counted it up in awhile.

We have class twice a week for three hours. The little kids are the first two hours and adults are the last two. We can help out with the kids if we want, but it's not a requirement.

I you're asking generally about training, I try to go to the gym three to four times a week, but during my much needed time off from class I ended breaking patterns with everything, so it's been a hard return to the class and gym. I'm feeling very old and out of shape.

Mathieu said...

damn, I'm late in comments.

Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you.

I often feel that people are too hard on themselves. I often think to myself (when facing newbies) shut up: let me tell you if you're good or not. Stop talking. Stop apoligizing. Just try your best. This is not a looking good class. Stop pretending it is.

I feel once this is left on the side, then training starts for real. :)

keep going

Potatoe Fist said...

Thanks for keeping up with me. Yeah - this whole teaching aspect is a very odd challenge and I share the same thoughts as you.

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