White belt who has absolutely no enthusiasm, drive, or interest in karate.
Brown belt who's suffered a brain injury and has been away from training for five or six years.
I got together with the brown belt, and we went, step-by-step, through the Seisan kata. It's great helping others with their kata, because I learn a lot myself, as I show and explain. He was grateful for the help, and I asked him what was going on with his belt... It was tied like a bathrobe sash. We fixed it, and he thanked me for my help, and I thanked him for the opportunity to help. Very gratifying....
White belt also ties his belt like a bathrobe sash, and has done so since he started coming to class, a couple of months ago. I offered to show him how to tie it, but he said, "Oh, I know how to tie it. I was just in a hurry and worried about being late." He didn't fix it, didn't let me help him, and blew me off. I tried to help him with a basic drill that we were doing, a few weeks ago, but even when I showed him how to do it, and demonstrated how to place his arms and hands, he still just did it the way he felt like doing it, which was basically to half-ass it and continue to do it wrong and project the absolute utmost lack of interest.
Screw it... I'm done helping him. If someone else wants to help him, fine... They can waste their time. There aren't words enough to even begin to describe my level of utter apathy, as it now applies to him.
*shaking my head....*
Home
5 years ago
Posts
Yeah, we have kind of the same thing going on in our class now, Frank. One guy outright told everyone he wants to learn 'cause of some movie he saw, and I didn't really think he was going to be serious at first, but you know what, he's not the most in shape guy and he's struggling with the concepts, but he's been showing up at every class (even the unofficial meetups) for months, and he keeps asking questions. So good for him, says I! I don't mind helping him out, and it's awesome when one of us helps him understand something new, he gets a kick out of it and of course we all do, too. :)
ReplyDeleteAnother guy showed up from who knows where, and it seems all he wants to do is screw around and pretend he knows things with his friend. I tried to explain to him how to improve his techniques but training isn't fun for him, so he continues to blow everyone off and not improve. So okay, that's his decision.
I worked with him with some attack and defense drills last night. I had to stop every five minutes because he got tired, or because his forearms got sore, etc. I stopped when he needed but I told him outright, "if you trained properly, you wouldn't get tired." I figure that if offering help doesn't work, he's just going to have to learn on his own what happens with poor training.
Right on, Jimmy. For the brown belt who's trying, I can be as patient as the very mountains, and I'll go over whatever I can help him with, as many times as he needs. It's truly my pleasure to help him out. I love doing it.
ReplyDeleteThe two slugs that we have, can't even be bothered to return a simple greeting... I supect that the white belt is being forced into it by his mother. Whatever... Not my problem. He's blown me off twice now, and that's once too many. I'm done offering him any kind of help, whatsoever. I honestly couldn't care less if he continues to show up or quits. (And if he's not going to shape up and bother to try, then I hope he quits.)
Anyway, I'm putting my energies into my own training, and where my help is accepted and appreciated. It's just simple economy.
Hi Frank, your white belt needs to learn some respect for rank, not to mention good manners and common courtesy towards adults! Shame on him - he would get a 'parental' style dressing down from me for his poor attitude and bad manners let alone his apathy towards training. My kids wouldn't get away with so I don't see why anyone elses should! (I'm such a dragon):-)
ReplyDeleteNo... I agree with you 100%, Sue! It's disrespect, all the way around. His attitude shows no respect for adults, for the class, for the other students who are training their hearts out, for the dojo, for Sensei, and no gratitude towards people that try to help him. His mother sits in the observer galley for the whole class, when he's there, so she obviously sees it.
ReplyDeleteThere are seven pillars of Bushido: Respect, benevolence, rectitude, honor, courage, loyalty, and honesty. Respect is right at the top of the list. The first thing we do, as we enter the dojo, is bow in respect. The last thing we do as we exit the dojo, is bow in respect.
Hrmmm... This feels like another blog. ;-)