Download Student Guide - North Wind Martial Arts & Fitness

Section FiveTHE TEACHING SYSTEM IN KARATESENSEI BLACK BELT 2 ND DAN TO 5 TH DANSHIHAN DAI HALF RED/HALF WHITE BELT 3 RD DAN TO 4 TH DANSHIHAN RED / WHITE CHECKED BELT 5 TH DAN & ABOVEDAI SHIHAN RED / WHITE CHECKED BELT 6 TH DAN & ABOVEKIYOSHI BLACK WITH RED STRIPE BELT 7 TH DAN & ABOVEHANSHI RED WITH BLACK STRIPE BELT 8 TH DAN & ABOVESOKE SOLID RED 9 TH DAN & ABOVEThe teaching system is designed to remind us that not all Dans are teachers. The teachers inour system have to be able to instruct the students in basics, kata, bunkai and kumite. Thesole purpose of the teacher is to guide the students in the art as correctly as possible and tomaintain the integrity of the art for future generations. It is said that the teacher learns the mostwhen he observes and listens to his students. A teachers ability can be quickly determined bythe students that he or she instructs. The better the teacher the better the student andconversely the better the student the better the teacher.The advancement of a teacher may change the belt color that they are allowed to wear,however, in the Kita Kaze Bujutsu Kai all belts worn by teachers are either black or theappropriate color for their grade and title. Teaching certificates must be earned.Recommendation by a senior and testing by the Kaicho or Fukukaicho before a certificate isissued. It is each certified teachers responsibility to teach the art and not just instruct the art.If a teaching title is awarded to a Yudansha (a dan grade) he is being honored for his ability toguide students along the path of Karate. Karate is not just physical movement and learningpatterns of physical movement, but it is also philosophy, and strategy, and history, andmeditation, and well just testing oneself physically, mentally, emotionally and while learning alot of stuff, most importantly learning about yourself. Teachers are the life of any traditionalsystem, they must be always on the alert for promising students that are not just goodcompetitors but that also have the ability to teach what they know to the students aroundthem. Students must be mentored as well as instructed; the teacher must do all in his or herpower to bring the student to a realization of not only what they are but who they are. A senioris promoted on their ability to mentor as well as their ability to teach.In Japan or Okinawa, a black belt may warm up the class or instruct the general aspects of eitherkata or technique. The black belt instructor is expected to be on the floor at all times and tobe working as hard as the students are. The instructor is considered to be a teacher in trainingand will always be under the scrutiny of a teacher. Instructors should have the ability to performthe physical aspects of the art but also to have an understanding of the history, inherantstrategies, and philosophies of the art.The teacher is the guide in the art of karate. He must have a full understanding of themechanics of his art and is considered to be the philosophical leader. The teacher must beable to inspire the student to sacrifice his time and effort, often at the expense of his ownpersonal life, in order to bring the student to fuller understanding of what it means to say, "I ama Karate student." The title of Meijin (professor) is sometimes bestowed on a teacher,