Comments for John Graden's Martial Arts Teachers' Association

Comment on MATA Minute 6 – How to Deal with Student Injuries by Jay

Jay — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:56:13 +0000

Mata minute 6 was nicely done–I like the quality, usefulness, psychology, and especially the ‘modeling’–when you act as if you\’re talking to a real student.

‘Applicable in today’s classes’ is another point I like. I will use this in my staff meeting. The way you explain things is useful in itself, and the information is one more ‘extra’ that will help my Team become even better.

And finally, the teaching has rapport building strategies that are useful in many more situations beyond dealing with student injuries!

Nicely done, Jay Larkin

Comment on MATA Minute 6 – How to Deal with Student Injuries by Kirby

Kirby — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:18:36 +0000

As usual,lots of good advice. I never tell a student to just brush it off, but maybe I\’ve been a little too apologetic. I like the idea of trying to get the student to laugh or smile if its a minor injury.

Comment on The MATA Minute by Kirby

Kirby — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:18:51 +0000

Make a lot of sense. I agree that ranking is very important if done correctly. I really like that idea of including it in the tuition rather than making it a separate fee.

Comment on The Road to Respect Travels Through Pain-ville by Tina Riley

Tina Riley — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:05:33 +0000

I am trying to locate Hank Farrah. It is very important. I have been directed to Florida and Minnesota but have had no luck. If anyone has any help I would appreciate it.

Thanks
Tina

Comment on How to Attract Adults Back to Martial Arts by Santanu

Santanu — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:19:04 +0000

Great points! Very true and astute observation of the industry. You’ve always been an advocate for the fitness and self-defense aspects of adult martial arts involvement, it looks like you’ve taken that to the next level. Aside from the curriculur changes, I’m particularly curious on how you market, to adults, as in the mediums you use and the language you use.

Comment on Establishing Your Martial Arts Schools’ Standard of Excellence by Mr. Leroy Tillman Jr

Mr. Leroy Tillman Jr — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:20:07 +0000

i TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT ABOUT THE QUALITY OF SCHOOL HOWEVER CAN YOU ALSO SET THE STANDAR TO HIGH FOR OTHERS TO ACHIEVE?

I SEEM TO HAVE GREAT STUDENTS AFTER AT ANY LEVEL BEYOND YELLOW, EVEN SOME OF MY YELLOW BELTS ARE EXTREMELY DEVELOPED. HOWEVER WHAT IF OUT OF 25 STUDENTS ONLY 6 MAKE IT BEYOND GREEN BELT?

ANY ADVICE FO THIS CURRENT SITUATION AS YOU MAY KNOW ALREADY I TEND TO HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHITE-YELLOW BELT STUDENTS.

AN MY RETENTION IS GREAT AFTER YELLOW BELT ITS JUST GETTING TO YELLOW BELT, THAT I BELIEVE MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT. I HAVE TRIED BREAKING THE BELT SYSTEM DOWN PARENTS AND STUDENTS SEE THAT AS A GEMMIC OF SOME SORT WHEN ACTUALLY I WAS ONLY TRYING TO HELP OTHERS ALONG.

Comment on Is Your Martial Arts School Guilty of False Advertising? by Mr. Leroy Tillman Jr

Mr. Leroy Tillman Jr — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:49:19 +0000

I agree with a lot of the post above and I understand the concept of self-defense vs fancy moves (I have a lot of those fancy moves). Well my life hasnt been the best of things I was one of those kids got into Martial Arts (1988) as a after school Program and paid $450.00, I paid myself cutting grass, for a Black Belt that I dont have any credit for. An I believed in my Master and still do. All he taught and because of my situation at times used what I was taught at the best of my ability and just so happen it worked. I dont believe it worked because I was a black belt but because what I had in my heart my spirit to not give up. When someone teaches you something dont waste there time and if you dont think it will work for you dont use it in a actual situation but, if you train hard and spend all the necessary time required for you to master a set of skills then do just that. An in that you are a true Master of a set of skills that you have retained.

I have struggled for long hours trying to Master several arts, going from one Master to the next. Until I realized Self-Defense, (Self), Defense. How to defend yourself. So I told myself at the age of 20 I would learn to defend myself yes its based on a lot of things I learned over the years. Training in Martial Arts however I designed it in a way I could learn and defend myself, and later I begin to teach it. So when you learn self-Defense remember you do what you need to in order to defend yourself. Im not a World Champion as much as I would love to be but, I have learned by trail and error how to defend my self and I hope you all are able to do the same now or later.

Sincerely Mr. Tillman Founder of 7th Dan Master Instructor Lee Kwan Musul
4th Dan Taekwondo, and practitioner of many other Korean martial Arts

Comment on Joe Lewis–A Great Man Doing Martial Arts by B S Handa

B S Handa — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:25:08 +0000

Well I was your member long time ago. And now I want to attach with you again. Please guide me so that I can be a member. And bring my club to the top.

With Best Wishes and regards.
B S Handa

Comment on Is Your Martial Arts School Guilty of False Advertising? by JOSE FERNANDEZ

JOSE FERNANDEZ — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:47:27 +0000

This is very true. Im glad someone is humble and realistic enough to acknowledge this fact. I do consider my self a defense expert backed by multiple certifications, years of martial arts and tactical training along with USMC combat proven conditioning and most importantly years of street fighting in the not so nice town of Carol City Miami Florida as a kid. These lessons along with my mental acuteness have served me well in protecting myself and others in real life scenarios. All so called martial arts instructors should be willing ( and modest enough) to step out of their comfort zones to train in real scenario based techniques for not just the good of their students but for the sake if their own reputation.

Comment on Is Your Martial Arts School Guilty of False Advertising? by Peter Freedman

Peter Freedman — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:03:27 +0000

I feel what you wrote here is truth. Most people don’t know the difference between reality combative martial arts and the sport to the fake kind of fantasy systems.. there truly are commercialized schools selling belts and then there are the underground schools teaching true Bujutsu. This is a touchy subject. But necessary to bring up. I have seen people join schools and really believing they are getting a good quality self defense method of self protection when really they are just being ripped off.

With much Respect,

Peter Freedman Sensei Guro
Weare NH. U.S.A.
FreedmansMethod.com