Leadership & Black Belt Training - 05/05/17

This month's sessions will be held on Friday 5th May:

7.00 - 8.00pm Junior Leaders
8.00 - 9.00pm AIs & HIs

This month we will check belt level techniques. Adults are invited to arrive earlier to do their own training quietly at the back of the dojang before starting together 8.00pm.

Learning Through Teaching

Have you every offered to help someone out?

It’s good to help others, and that’s a key goal of every Choi Kwang-Do instructor. Whether that's helping students learn self defence, helping them engage in enjoyable exercise or helping them to realise more of their potential.


Why It's Good To Help Others

When we help others three things tend to happen:

Firstly, we feel good, and most of us like to feel good...don’t we?! In saying that, I mean we like to think that we have done something that we can feel good about. If that something helps someone else...even better. We have done a good deed, if you like.

Provided the intentions of helping others are sincere and genuine, and not merely in order to gain something in return, this can do wonders for a our self-esteem.

Secondly, we will have imparted some of our knowledge to someone else. For some people, one of the most gratifying aspects of learning something is having the opportunity to later share that knowledge with others. Now, this could be viewed as conceited (nobody likes a show off, do they?) but again, if it helps someone else and is done with humility – a core principle of Choi Kwang-Do, surely this is a good thing?

Thirdly, we can better ourselves. In order to teach someone else, you first have to be clear on the details of the information yourself. In the context of teaching Choi Kwang-Do, if you were teaching a punching technique, you would need be clear in your own mind how the body moves during the punch, what part of the fist is used to make contact on the striking pad, the wrist and arm position etc. etc. You would also need to be able to demonstrate the technique which is likely to involve practise too.

Teaching Benefits The Student & The Teacher

This need for clarity causes you to think more deeply about the information that you wish to give out, maybe even question the information - both with others (interpersonal dialogue with fellow students and instructors) and ourselves (intrapersonal dialogue), thus furthering our understanding.

Couple this with the simple act of fellowship experienced in class as students bond through physical training, you can understand why many Choi Kwang-Do students offer to help out at their classes, and possibly even go on to certify as an instructor.

Another side effect of teaching someone else is that you become more confident with presenting and conveying the information. Your communication skills begin to improve and your techniques - both physical execution and understanding - also develop. Not to mention the leadership and social skills you are exposed to.

So by helping others you are also helping yourself; a classic win-win scenario.

Having said all of this, personally, I think one of the best parts of learning through teaching is this:

As you become familiar with the information that you are teaching, you simultaneously appreciate that you have more to learn.

I feel very confident in saying that martial arts instructors around the world, irrespective of rank, style or number of years training...would agree that they are all still learning. So take a moment to think about learning through teaching, and if you think you know it all...think again.

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Jason Wright is a 6th Degree Black Belt and Master Instructor in the martial art Choi Kwang-Do. For further information on Choi Kwang-Do classes for children, teens and adults in Ealing, West London visit www.TheMartialArtForLife.com

Ealing CKD Easter 2017

A Happy Easter to all of our students.

A reminder that there will be no classes at Ealing CKD on Monday 17th April which is the bank holiday. Classes resume on Wednesday 19th April.

Maintaining Your Martial Arts Motivation - Part 1

We've recently completed belt presentations following the first coloured belt grading of 2017. Here are a few tips to keep you motivated as you start learning your new syllabus.


Keep The Habit

We are naturally creatures of habit. Therefore, the habit of your practise is one that we should strive to continue. There will always be occasions when we have to miss classes, but aim to plan them into your week and avoid missing your scheduled classes. If you train one class per week and have to miss a class, plan in advance to attend an alternative class. By maintaining class attendance as a habit (and don't forget practise at home too) in time it will become second nature.


Keep Mentally Focused

Avoid comparing yourself with others. Instead, keep your focus on your own journey and your own development in Choi Kwang-Do. Being mentally motivated is a big part, maybe even a bigger part, than just being physically ready. If helpful, make a note of the scheduled dates for coloured belt gradings and black belt gradings. These dates can help you to chart your projected progress and achievements, and assist with your mental focus and motivation.


Keep Inspired

Instead of just focusing on finding motivation, consider also finding inspiration. Motivation often comes from someone telling us we have to do something, while inspiration is an internal desire to do something. Consider what inspired you to learn martial arts or visit our school in Ealing in the first place?

Think about a student or instructor, or another individual that inspires you (Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi, the founder of Choi Kwang-Do is an obvious choice here. In fact, here's one of my personal favourite inspirational videos of Grandmaster Choi). Maybe there's a piece of music, a book or a film that gets you really inspired? Whatever works for you.


Keep The Faith

If you're a new student it can seem like there is a lot to learn. It can even be overwhelming. Have faith; by following points above, I can promise you that while Choi Kwang-Do will still be challenging, understand that it will get easier.

Read Maintaining You Martial Arts Motivation (Part 2)

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Jason Wright is a 6th Degree Black Belt and Master Instructor in the martial art Choi Kwang-Do. For further information on Choi Kwang-Do classes in Ealing, West London visit www.TheMartialArtForLife.com

Leadership & Black Belt Training - 03/02/17

Our next Leadership & Black Belt Training session for 2017 takes place this Friday 3rd February:

7.00 - 8.00pm Junior Leadership Team
8.00 - 9.15pm Adult Black Belts, Assistant Instructors & Head Instructors

This month we'll be reviewing a set of patterns and speed drills.

See proposed dates for these classes during 2017

Leadership & Black Belt Training - 13/01/17

Our first of these monthly sessions for 2017 takes place on Friday 13th January at the usual times:

7.00 - 8.00pm Junior Leaders
8.00 - 9.00pm AIs & HIs

View scheduled dates for the rest of 2017 

Leadership & Black Belt Training 2017

Please see below dates for Leadership & Black Belt Training and Black Belt Tag Gradings during 2017:

Friday 13th January
Friday 3rd February
Friday 3rd March – Black Belt Tag Grading
Friday 7th April
Friday 5th May
Friday 2nd June – Black Belt Tag Grading
Friday 7th July
Friday 11th August
Friday 15th September – Black Belt Tag Grading
Friday 6th October
Friday 3rd November
Friday 1st December – Black Belt Tag Grading