Discipline

[kazon33]

I would like advice on enforcing discipline when teaching martial arts classes. Personaly I enjoy myself more and I feel like I am more productive when the class is more relaxed. however in my experience most students need structure and discipline and as soon as they get away with something they take advantage of that opportunity to missbehave.

I would appreciate anything you can tell me about your methods of enforcing discipline and how strict you think classes should be. also should kids be treated differently than adults?

[8stepmantis]

Thats an interesting question. By nature I don't like disciplining adults, but then again, if you don't, they get lazy, talk and you can't bring out the best in them. If they are taking is lax and not respecting each other it can lead to serious injury or even death. They clearly aren't tired enough. Increase their workout. It will take the steam out of them. For kids, you can talk and teach about behavior, but most adults find it pretty demeaning. I don't talk to adult students about behavior unless they are an advanced student who I care about and give them advice I know they can handle and will make them stronger. Its definately a difficult balance. The best I can think of is to be consistant with the rules and lead by example. If I break the rules in class, I follow the same punishment as students. Push up etc. Make sure its not a clash of egos, but rather the discipline of the school helping everyone, yourself included.

[Birmingham]

it's a problem i've thought about before, and i haven't really found a solution.

[KarateOx]

Wow, didn't realize this was an older thread.
In my experience, usually the adults are pretty good. I mean, some joke around or whatever, but if I just kind've "keep going" with what I am saying or teaching, they usually get the point. Or I just work them out as has been already stated, harder. Teens and children I am strict with. I stop the small stuff from getting big. Talking, laughing, slacking, etc. Everyone is in the moment, in class, and nowhere else. No day dreaming either. However, I have never really had to discipline an adult. The ones who train with me usually WANT to train and learn, so they are there for a reason.

[Tant01]

Students (regardless of age) need discipline. If the instructor is teaching (speaking or demonstrating) the students should have the courtesy to stop what they are doing and listen or observe.

Or not...

[KarateOx]

Students (regardless of age) need discipline. If the instructor is teaching (speaking or demonstrating) the students should have the courtesy to stop what they are doing and listen or observe.

Or not...

Absolutely, and as far as my case is concerned, all it takes is a look for them to catch themselves. Then I'm usually good to go for the rest of my class.

[chillaplata]

Also, I think it's important that the senior students set a good example. New people who join with the right attitude (i.e., who want to learn, fit in, have fun and be good training partners) will naturally look up to these students as role models. By always being attentive, respectful, etc., the senior students can really help set the appropriate tone.

[Scott Bolinger]

well, desipline doesn't mean you have to resort to old school slap the knuckles with a ruler thing.


when i'm teaching a class if I have a bunch of kids that don't want to pay attention, then we do cercuit training. Minute drills. Or a quick mile or 2 mile run, sometimes settles them down and there more reseptive.

Team drills on bags is helpfull. It keeps the kids pushing each other to do well.


but, you can work with a kid, be creative in the disiplining and tactics and if all fails, then sometimes a suspension may be in order. One or two kids slowing down your intire class can sometimes be harmfull, exspecially to the ones who are serious about the training. But, kids parents can have some influence on behaviors, after all there usually the ones paying for the classes.

doing speed drills or circuit training as a consiquence for not paying attention and settling down usually does the trick. And a simple bowing in and out of class, maybe a little thing, but it shows the respect to the gym and the instructors.

[Scott Bolinger]

there are times were , when were running kicking of punching drills that if I have a kid that keeps on disrupting the class, then I restart the count. Usually after 40 ro 50 times on the same combination the get the idea that if they continue to be diruptive, we'll restart with 1 again.