Some times at the end of those intensive lesson when everybody is pushed to the limit some of my students come to me and congratulate or thank me for how good the lesson was. Curiously this happens more often when I happen to run a “low tech” lesson with simple and immediate techniques that simply require intense and fast workout.
Some martial arts can be a hard and sweaty job: repeating many times sequences of punches and kicks and other strikes at a fast pace can surely be a physically demanding task. At the same time those who feel that a good lesson should be just the one that makes you sweat profusely I suggest to go for a run, do a round of circuit training.
My main goal as a coach is surely to prepare students in most aspects of performing martial arts, including teaching and improving techniques, combinations, balance, foot work, guard, strikes, defence and so on. When sparring there are also aspects like release tension and being relaxed while having another person in front that is there to punch and kick you. In certain cases an individual gets stuck in a situation where a certain kick or punch doesn’t work or it is not as efficient as it could be. These are the times when the expert teacher or coach can really help to get things working.
To some extent when I enter more complicated areas of training, explain or practice a difficult set of combinations it seems that a smaller number of students find it useful: is it perhaps because the others don’t really grasp the full essence of the lesson?
Great title. This post struck a chord with me. My idea of a good class does not always match what the students feel is a good class. I enjoy examining bunkai and the nuances of movement. I like when questions lead to discussions. Sometimes, I feel disappointed by the lack of enthusiasm for details.
@Michele: Thank you for your comment. I find hard myself to get students to really appreciate the intricate details of certain techniques while many seem to enjoy the more aerobic part of the training.