Soliciting seminar input

[draconis]

As I've mentioned elseJournal, I'm going to be conducting a martial arts seminar on pressure points and extracting combat-applicable techniques from katas (forms), for a group of people who have no clue that forms are anything but complicated dances, and whose idea of pressure points are the eyes/throat/solar plexus/groin. I've got one day to give them the basics -- tall order!

I've been doing this particular brand of martial arts for 11 years now, and various other styles for 10 years before that. I am confident in my own knowledge of the material, and in my ability to teach. The one thing that I don't do very often is work with complete newbies, and even then it's with newbies that I know I will probably see again at the next class, or next week, or whenever, so if I overlook something I can "catch them up" then. I realize that there is a lot of stuff that I know on a subconscious level... and there lies the trap I'm trying to be sure I avoid. This is going to be the equivalent of taking a bunch of Jr. High School students who've had basic arithmetic, and introducing them to algebra and geometry... done by someone who is working on the level of Calculus.

I've already talked this over with my beloved gryphonrhi and with alysswolf, and they made some good points. Now I'd like to throw it open to you.

The basic framework I'm planning is to concentrate only on one very simple kata that they already know. The morning session will focus on what to do and how to do it, then the afternoon session will get into the more advanced topics, like why to do it that way.

If you were to attend such a seminar, what things can you think of that you would want/need to see covered in order to help you understand the material?

Comments

[themouseketeer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was kinda tweaking the Dragon's tail with that one! But, you knew what I was really meaning. And the fact that it is a) useful and b) something *they* can do is something they need to know up front. As you said, not just a load of hocus pocus. Never thought of showing them that it *is* something they can do - I guess that was because I know *you* and I would trust you that if you said I could do it, at the end of the day I would be able to!

Still fascinated by it all. As I can't be there for the class, do please post what you decide to do, and what the final reaction of the class is!

[jcbdragon.livejournal.com]

"Never thought of showing them that it *is* something they can do - I guess that was because I know *you* and I would trust you that if you said I could do it, at the end of the day I would be able to!"

I appreciate that!

Unfortunately, with most of these people, they don't know me from Adam, so I'll have to build that trust. This is especially true in light of the fact that, at least for the pressure-point side of things, it can take people a little while to "get the hang of it" -- mostly, they stay too tense, and it causes them to screw up their own techniques. Until they've managed to do it a time or two for themselves, they can get frustrated, and start doubting A) the legitimacy of what they've been shown, and/or B) their own ability to use this new tool.

Fortunately, there are some very simple chi exercises that anyone can do, and have immediately demonstrable effects. One in particular that I like to use is called the Unbendable Arm (http://www.bodymindandmodem.com/CoolKi/Unbend.html). It is particularly impressive when you've got some big muscle-bound guy who suddenly can't bend a small female's arm. ::G:: But regardless of their relative sizes, it shows them that they can do it. Once they've overcome that hurdle, it also usually opens up their mind to other things.

"Wow! That really worked! I wonder what else I can do?"

There's nothing like empirical evidence to shush the nay-sayers! LOL