Post by dj on May 14, 2012 1:30:52 GMT
There seems to be a move these days to compromise on everything. Compromise in itself is OK and nearly everyone compromises to some extent on many issues throughout their life. Where the debate begins is on the level of compromise that is acceptable whilst maintaining the definition of what is being compromised.
Catarina Murphy's article on teaching martial arts to children is one such article that may have over-stepped the mark. Bouncing around a padded floor wearing baggy pants and a broad coloured belt around one's waist does not make one a martial artist. Compromising on technique to the point that the techniques endanger the participants and others in not acceptable, but too often we see children throwing kicks about endangering their own toes because they have not been taught the correct technique.
Promoting a martial art is not the same as promoting physical exercise, even if both include similarities. TaeBo is not a martial art. Being "traditional" does not mean that one fails to take into account that children are not adults. If you compromise so much that every child enjoys your classes means that you have compromised too much. Playing games occasionally can encourage children to develop certain skills, but playing games every session means that you are no longer teaching a martial arts class but a games class with perhaps MA overtones.
No all innovation is good, so just because you have an innovative class does not mean that the class is good or that you are remaining faithful to an Art.
Shades of grey, I'm sure there will be more discussion.
Catarina Murphy's article on teaching martial arts to children is one such article that may have over-stepped the mark. Bouncing around a padded floor wearing baggy pants and a broad coloured belt around one's waist does not make one a martial artist. Compromising on technique to the point that the techniques endanger the participants and others in not acceptable, but too often we see children throwing kicks about endangering their own toes because they have not been taught the correct technique.
Promoting a martial art is not the same as promoting physical exercise, even if both include similarities. TaeBo is not a martial art. Being "traditional" does not mean that one fails to take into account that children are not adults. If you compromise so much that every child enjoys your classes means that you have compromised too much. Playing games occasionally can encourage children to develop certain skills, but playing games every session means that you are no longer teaching a martial arts class but a games class with perhaps MA overtones.
No all innovation is good, so just because you have an innovative class does not mean that the class is good or that you are remaining faithful to an Art.
Shades of grey, I'm sure there will be more discussion.