Why I Teach
Over the years many people have asked me why I teach, especially when they come to understand that in the ten years I've operated a school I have never once made a profit. In fact I've operated at a loss, a situation that has totally irked my accountant over the years. Basically, my accountant gives me the same IRS audit warning every year, as well as the lecture about having a hobby versus a business. However, whether my school is a glorified hobby or I'm just a poor businessman, I go on teaching year after year.
But Why!?
Unfortunately, the answer is not an easy one. Besides my stubbornness and clear lack of sense to give up there are several important reasons I continue on. Reasons I'm sure others can relate to, and for me are of a lot more importance than monetary gain.
The first reason I teach is a selfish one. It strokes my ego. Who would have thought I'd admit that one, especially in writing, but now it's been said. I may not be proud about this reason, but to some degree it is true. I like the fact I know something others don't, that others have faith in my abilities, and that people have a desire to learn what I'm willing to teach. It makes me feel that all my hard work, blood, sweat, and tears, as well as various injuries I suffered over the thirty plus years I spent learning what I know have more than just meaning to me. Clearly, until 1993 I had no thoughts of, or desires to operate a martial art school or teach others. I trained because I loved what I was doing.
Of course this leads me to the second reason I teach. I have a passion for the martial arts. While I hate fighting and sparring, always avoiding both like they were the plague, I love learning new techniques and the science that makes them work. It's the science behind techniques that fascinates me. Why things work, and the subtle changes one can make to make a technique work even better are what I love to discover and analyze.
Teaching has allowed me to explore the science within techniques more in depth. Not only so I can teach better, and clearly teaching leads to new discoveries all the time, but also so I can fully answer questions students may have. As my students improve, I have to improve, and my comprehension of how and why things work must also improve.
Naturally, as I age my body changes, and with youthful injuries finally coming back to haunt me my body doesn't move like it used to. I can no longer kick the rim of a basketball hoop, let alone kick above my belt. I've slowed down, become less limber, and become semi-lazy. Lazy, in the sense that if confronted with a hostile situation I want hostilities to end as quickly and efficiently as possible, with no fluff whatsoever. That means I rely on accuracy and effectiveness over brawn and speed. Knowing how things work, how one's opponents' body will react to strikes and lock, is paramount to me.
Teaching has allowed me the opportunity to examine and re-examine techniques, as well as giving me countless opportunities to discern, disassemble and reconstruct countless variations I was taught by my teacher, and other instructors since them.
The last and most important reason I teach is because of the students. Over the years I have met some wonderful people who have impacted my life. I run a small school, which affords me the opportunity to really get to know my students, many have become good friends. The honest truth is that if it wasn't for the school I wouldn't have much of a social life, and there have been numerous times that these friends have been the only reason I didn't stop teaching completely.
I started teaching in 1993. My first seven students were all teenage girls who after several years became like daughters to me. As much as tried to get rid of them during the first year, and I worked them to the point of collapse each day during the summer, their spirit and unyielding desire to learn set the foundation for my school.
Since then people have come and gone. Some have been serious, others humorous, and some just odd enough that I never quite figured out if that was their real personality or why they were there to begin with. I've dealt with the fighter, the doubter, the chauvinist, the perfectionist, and almost every other personality one can think of.
Some I truly miss now that they are gone, while others were a pain in the butt to deal with. Some were so notable stories regarding them are still shared, while others are best forgotten.
Good, bad, or in between I have learned from all of them. They have all helped shape the teacher that I am, how I teach, and in some cases my outlook on life (personal and political).
This is why I teach, what I gain from teaching. Why I continue on year after year no matter what my accountant says during tax time. Ego aside, passion aside, it's the people who have entered my life that make me want to teach. It's the fact they are willing to share their life, their interests (other than martial arts), and alternative thoughts and opinions I would otherwise never be exposed to.
As a teacher I may be in the role of teaching others, but I have learned more from my students than they will ever acquire from me. For this I am grateful and will continue doing what I'm doing, until I'm no longer physically/mentally capable of doing so.
But Why!?
Unfortunately, the answer is not an easy one. Besides my stubbornness and clear lack of sense to give up there are several important reasons I continue on. Reasons I'm sure others can relate to, and for me are of a lot more importance than monetary gain.
The first reason I teach is a selfish one. It strokes my ego. Who would have thought I'd admit that one, especially in writing, but now it's been said. I may not be proud about this reason, but to some degree it is true. I like the fact I know something others don't, that others have faith in my abilities, and that people have a desire to learn what I'm willing to teach. It makes me feel that all my hard work, blood, sweat, and tears, as well as various injuries I suffered over the thirty plus years I spent learning what I know have more than just meaning to me. Clearly, until 1993 I had no thoughts of, or desires to operate a martial art school or teach others. I trained because I loved what I was doing.
Of course this leads me to the second reason I teach. I have a passion for the martial arts. While I hate fighting and sparring, always avoiding both like they were the plague, I love learning new techniques and the science that makes them work. It's the science behind techniques that fascinates me. Why things work, and the subtle changes one can make to make a technique work even better are what I love to discover and analyze.
Teaching has allowed me to explore the science within techniques more in depth. Not only so I can teach better, and clearly teaching leads to new discoveries all the time, but also so I can fully answer questions students may have. As my students improve, I have to improve, and my comprehension of how and why things work must also improve.
Naturally, as I age my body changes, and with youthful injuries finally coming back to haunt me my body doesn't move like it used to. I can no longer kick the rim of a basketball hoop, let alone kick above my belt. I've slowed down, become less limber, and become semi-lazy. Lazy, in the sense that if confronted with a hostile situation I want hostilities to end as quickly and efficiently as possible, with no fluff whatsoever. That means I rely on accuracy and effectiveness over brawn and speed. Knowing how things work, how one's opponents' body will react to strikes and lock, is paramount to me.
Teaching has allowed me the opportunity to examine and re-examine techniques, as well as giving me countless opportunities to discern, disassemble and reconstruct countless variations I was taught by my teacher, and other instructors since them.
The last and most important reason I teach is because of the students. Over the years I have met some wonderful people who have impacted my life. I run a small school, which affords me the opportunity to really get to know my students, many have become good friends. The honest truth is that if it wasn't for the school I wouldn't have much of a social life, and there have been numerous times that these friends have been the only reason I didn't stop teaching completely.
I started teaching in 1993. My first seven students were all teenage girls who after several years became like daughters to me. As much as tried to get rid of them during the first year, and I worked them to the point of collapse each day during the summer, their spirit and unyielding desire to learn set the foundation for my school.
Since then people have come and gone. Some have been serious, others humorous, and some just odd enough that I never quite figured out if that was their real personality or why they were there to begin with. I've dealt with the fighter, the doubter, the chauvinist, the perfectionist, and almost every other personality one can think of.
Some I truly miss now that they are gone, while others were a pain in the butt to deal with. Some were so notable stories regarding them are still shared, while others are best forgotten.
Good, bad, or in between I have learned from all of them. They have all helped shape the teacher that I am, how I teach, and in some cases my outlook on life (personal and political).
This is why I teach, what I gain from teaching. Why I continue on year after year no matter what my accountant says during tax time. Ego aside, passion aside, it's the people who have entered my life that make me want to teach. It's the fact they are willing to share their life, their interests (other than martial arts), and alternative thoughts and opinions I would otherwise never be exposed to.
As a teacher I may be in the role of teaching others, but I have learned more from my students than they will ever acquire from me. For this I am grateful and will continue doing what I'm doing, until I'm no longer physically/mentally capable of doing so.
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