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Idea/Ideology: Reading an outline of the Marine Raider leadership outline three distinct traits came out that I felt not only apply to military training but also to martial arts training. This is especially critical because the type of training I tend to advocate in martial arts is one toward self-defense where grave bodily harm or even death are on the table.
I found that to teach, to coach and to mentor a practitioner in martial arts for self-defense requires this unique form of teach, training and application. It describes fundamentally how a Sensei, a Senpai and a relationship of the Tori-uke are necessary to provide the level of capacity in expertise to fully integrate the high level of skills and innate talent necessary to apply MA-SD in a challenging, changing and chaotic environment of conflict and violence.
Teaching: this aspect is about building a knowledge base that is ever changing and growing. It is concerned with the teaching of skills with knowledge and understanding. It is a synergic effort instill an environment, the dojo at first, that is open and effective in a more academic environment. It is in a formal yet not formal classroom like place and it means the sensei, senpai and tori-uke models must use their positions as a knowledge base that includes sourcing to other knowledge bases for data-mining, etc. Key to success in teaching is the ability to remain open to idea’s and skills that change constantly along with updates to academic knowledge, etc.
In teaching to build a fundamental foundation and base to build and construct knowledge and understanding you teach not to impress but to inform and deliver as well as receive and update knowledge therefore creating individual confidence and enthusiasm. Teaching is to teach all those aspects toward proper, efficient and productive performances not just academic but also physical, mental and spiritual.
Teaching is one of those things that seems to stand alone in most martial classrooms because, in my view and limited experiences, those classrooms don’t know that teaching alone is not enough for a physical defensive system like martial arts. Teaching is the first of three, a triad of teaching, couaching and mentoring. Sensei, Senpai and tori-uke must achieve a full triad to be sensei, senpai and tori-uke in a dojo.
Teaching naturally requires coaching, the ability to take the knowledge, experiences, understanding and skills of the system and create a holistic whole of the individual practitioner into what makes them a whole martial artists in self-defense, combatives and fighting through a physical, mental and spiritual holistic whole to make a wholehearted practitioner of MA-SD.
A teacher-coach must have the ability to take all the myriad skills, abilities, knowledge and understanding of the system through the user of personal example, experience, motivation and inspiration to develop the techniques, tactics and strategies necessary to transmit the system over just teaching. The teacher-coach must be a participant as well, a player if you will. This is one of the reasons why participation of an active nature is critical in MA-SD, it is how the teacher-coach transmits by example through his or her base of skill, etc., that will build the same in the individuals so that both can “Concurrently” develop, build and apply the system along with creating a cohesive bond thus increasing skills progressively ergo the use of the Sensei-Deshi, Senpai-Kohai and tori-uke relational-training symbiotic connection.
The teacher-coach role naturally requires the final leg for the triad of teacher, coach and mentor, that builds and supports the system into a dynamic whole best suited to build a solid foundation toward a system that will result in higher levels of expertise, experience, knowledge and skill. The final leg of the triad is “Mentoring,” a more individual aspect.
Mentoring is the absolute corner-stone of the dojo, the system and they style that is martial arts self-defense. It is about inspiration of both the mentor and the mentored. The relationship already built becomes solid as if in a brotherhood survival group dynamic that adheres proponents in an physical, mental and emotional connection unparalleled in the nature of group survival instincts and so on. It is one of those connections that comes from an open and cohesive bond between individuals with emphasis on a desire toward professional development, personal interactions more conducive to proper learning and conditioning, and to future aspirations in the profession.
Look at the mentor as the proverbial “Sage,” a counselor to the younger, inexperienced, dojo member. Mentoring is a holistic blend of teaching and coaching aspects of performance overall while cementing a bond that makes for the Sensei-Deshi, Senpai-Kohai and Tori-Uke model in martial arts. It provides a connection built on trust, respect and proper attitude so that communications remain open and accepting in concern for the indificual, the group and the dojo.
It becomes important to anyone seeking out martial arts for self-defense, combatives and fighting to seek out those who have embraced the teaching, coaching and mentoring model. It is a absolute critical aspect of military leadership but also can be found throughout all disciplines of the physical, mental and spiritual.
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