Teaching JKD

[skinny]

I was just wondering, how many years do you think it would take someone 43 years old who is brand new to MA to study and learn JKD well enough to be able to teach it to others? I would really live to be able to teach JKD but I've only been at it a short time. I was thinking it might be possible to aquire enough skill in about 4-5 years if you train regularly and practice dilligently? Is that a joke? Any suggestions on how to train?

[Cadden]

It's not the amount of years you put in, but the amount of hours of training. If you train 4 hours a day, for example, then I would say 4-5 years and you should be able to teach. Ever sooner for assistant training, and maybe even sooner if you have a knack for it. Casual training, say 4-6 hours a week, will be more around 10-11 years. And that would be of SiFu level, so maybe a bit less for simply teaching.

[Nutz]

For what it's worth, I became a junior instructor after only 18 months experience. However, I was doing it for 20+ hours a week at that point.

I would think you couldn't really put a timetable one something like this. It depends so much on individual variables such as your dedication, natural ability, and things of that nature.

[Skull X22]

It also depends on the school. It's your teacher who decides
how great you are. And how much you know. So, If you learn
the most of the things that the school has to offer, then you
can maby be an Assistant Teacher. But then you need skill too
"...A man who can not do what he is told, cannot do much..." -Skull X22

[akja]

I waited to see what kind of responses would come out and interestingly they were good responses.

I think its a matter of who is teaching you and your natural abilities. When I first started I came from Karate. There was a slight "connection" but for the most part I had to re-learn my technique because of the contrast in execution. My hands were always down, my footwork and stances were off. It goes on and on.

Its a journey and if you want to speed it up, then find a good instructor and train as much as possible. If you truly are brand new to the martial arts, it won't happen over night.

[yenhoi]

DO you have expierence in anything that might have transferrable qualities... like did you play football in highschool how ever many decades ago? Maybe you play racketball or something?

[skinny]

i guess it's going to be a long hauk

Actually the only activity I really enjoyed in my youth was weighlifting. I also liked wrestling but avoided it because i had a monor problem with irregular heartbeat. That is the main reason I got into MA so late. My first doctor used to tell me to cut out all exersise except walking so for thepast ten years I havent done much else. After relocating a few years ago my new doctor assured me that my problem is very minor and not at all life threatening and encouraged me to go out and do more. So I decided to try MA's.

I only picked JKD because a friend that I grew up with who grew up in a boxing family, idolized Bruce and was very proficient at both JKD and boxing. He was alkso very good at Kung Fu and Aikido but always stressed the genius of Bruce Lee. I was taking private lessons so that I didn't feel like I had to keep up pace with all the younger students but my teacher is quite a distance away and I donlt get there very often. I usually take two to three hour lessons twice a month unless something interferes. The teaching is more like a dream not a goal but I figured I would get some good advice here.

Thanks