ON THE PATH. DOER's. PARTNER's. GOOD PARTNER's. TEACHER's - Martial Arts in Thibodaux, LA
In any martial art, there are four essential roles needed to create an environment conducive to learning.
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THE DOER
DOER's are newer students or individuals that have not learned to relax. These individuals will use every bit of energy needed to accomplish THEIR goal. They are hard chargers, gritty, and tough. All are great qualities but hinder learning if it's the only tools they have. Naturally more aggressive, DOER's must learn to relax so they can know what to DO and when to DO it. Relaxing can take years to learn, but it's needed for developing technique. A DOER that learns to relax becomes a good training partner.
Pros:
hard worker
high grit level
task oriented
Cons:
attribute reliant
lacks calmness
moves without thought
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THE PARTNER
The PARTNER is sometime more passive by nature, and unlike the DOER more willing to relax. They want to learn but can be overly passive in their attempts to do so. At times they lack resistance and wilt during training. This happens because they are trying to be to good of a partner. The PARTNERS natural willingness to work with people is a great quality for improvement. However, they need to learn how to work properly with their partners. Being to passive is as problematic as being overly aggressive. The PARTNER that learns to give the correct resistance becomes a good training partner.
Pros:
willing to work with partners
wants to learn
Cons:
might lack grit
might lack pressure
sometimes to technical
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GOOD PARTNERS
GOOD PARTNERS understand how to be the DOER and PARTNER, and are capable of playing both rolls during training. Understanding the importance of being the GOOD PARTNER, they are; unselfish, relaxed, technical, and gritty. They've learned to control their output level making them capable of reading what their partners need through pressure. Everyone wants GOOD PARTNERS.
Pros:
high degree of self control
relaxed
technical
unselfish
gritty
creates good training partners
team player
Cons:
will be taken advantage of at times
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THE TEACHER
Responsible for setting the tone of an academy, the TEACHER knows the difference between a DOER and PARTNER, and builds them into GOOD PARTNERS. TEACHERS are not always the most capable individual in the room, but they have the respect and generalship of the room because they've walked the road their students are on. They are not only on THE PATH, they live it.
Pros:
has been the DOER, PARTNER, and GOOD PARTNER
excellent fundamentals
gives back to students
Con:
sacrifices body for his academy
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THE PATH is the way to finding yourself, and not specific to martial arts. Your choice of path is defined by your personality and interest. It can be through carpentry, music, dancing, etc. All that's required is knowing how you walk it. One step at a time. No short cuts. No stopping. THE PATH has no end and is forever walked. It's your walk to self discovery and excellence.
