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<title>Latest Articles by calasanz01</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/</link>
<description>Articles at Populate.NET</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<title>Learn to Punch First!</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/learn-to-punch-first.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/learn-to-punch-first.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ In the old days, we used to say "make sure you learn how to fight standing up first, and then learn what to do on the ground."  Today, the proponents of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tell us that 90-95% of all fights end up on the ground, so because of this, martial art students should focus on ground fighting. 

As a martial arts instructor and proprietor of a large dojo, I meet many prospective students interested in ground fighting, because of the popularity of mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championships.  Some of them are annoyed at the fact that I emphasize developing good striking skills before I even consider putting them on a mat.

Let me say that I have great respect for the Gracie family who has done so much to popularize ground fighting around the world. When I first saw the Gracie's winning so many fights, however, I wondered what would happen if they started to encounter more and more opponents who were able to deliver hard and fast strikes. Interestingly, I've seen more and more ground fighters pay closer attention to their striking skills in the standing position.

I recently had the pleasure of working with a young man from Georgia who was trained under the Gracie system. While this he was an exceptional ground fighter, the lack of good striking skills put him at a disadvantage.   He was referred to me by a tough boxer I knew many years ago named Vito. Vito and I remained good friends over the years and he sent his friend to me for a one week camp to specifically to work on his striking power. 

Vito and I had a sparring match in the 1980's and he was always impressed with my punching power.  I learned early on in my martial arts training that good striking skills would serve me well.  At the time of our fight, I only weighed 145lbs. in comparison to his 190lbs, but he still remembers my punches!

There really is no official statistic that supports the claim that 90-95% of all fights end up on the ground.  In the September 2008 edition of BLACK BELT MAGAZINE, author Bakari Akil II, Ph.D. studied 300 fights on You Tube to determine if this claim was accurate.  In 72% of the cases, only one of the parties ended up on the ground.  In 42% of the fights, both individuals ended up on the ground. Interestingly, 35% ended up on the ground after being punched and only one of these cases resulted in a knockout due to a kick.  Furthermore, Akil observed that the first person to end up on the ground usually lost the fight!

The moral of this story is to become a well-rounded martial artist. Learn how to punch first! ]]></description>
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<title>Training the Street Fighter</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/training-the-street-fighter.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/training-the-street-fighter.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ When I opened my first martial arts school, a lot of barroom brawlers and street fighters came through my door. Some grew up in environments where they had to fight to survive while others just liked looking for trouble. 

I wasn't necessarily targeting them in my marketing plan.  Most of them were there to challenge me or one of my students to a fight. I earned their respect with my martial art skill which was gained partly through traditional training and partly through my own experiences with street fighters in the Dominican Republic.  

Many of them stayed on as students. As an instructor, I had to integrate these natural fighters into a class with the average martial art student who just wanted to exercise and learn a little self-defense.  

I had a few challenges dealing with street fighters in the dojo.  Some are there to prove a point and you have to worry about them causing a lot of trouble, both physically and legally. So I recommend strict supervision on the part of the instructor. 

In addition, fighting outside of the dojo or tournament setting lacks rules and regulations.  Basically, anything goes for these guys, so the first lesson for the martial arts instructor to convey is the ethics of training in the dojo.  Every martial art style has some form of ethical code and it's the instructor's job to make sure everyone in the dojo adheres to it or they're out!  

There are a lot of positive aspects about training street fighters. They show up with something that you can't teach guts! Just because someone has a black belt doesn't mean they could fight.  There are a lot of black belts out there who would be demolished in a street fight or a real self-defense situation.  They may have a lot of technical skill, but no toughness to carry it out.  

Street fighters have a fighting spirit and that enthusiasm can often encourage and inspire classmates who lack that quality.  I have seen many of them push their more timid classmates to come out of their shells.

Street fighters make good full contact fighters because they have the raw talent needed to get into the ring. The instructor's job is to polish the skills they had when they walked in the door, introduce them to new ones and channel that talent and raw aggression into the ring. ]]></description>
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<title>The Next Level: Making Progress in the Martial Arts</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/the-next-level-making-progress-in-the-martial-arts.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/the-next-level-making-progress-in-the-martial-arts.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ One of the goals of a good martial arts curriculum is progress. Regardless of the style you have chosen to study, all of them begin with the fundamentals and can take you to the level of mastery.  Success however depends on two things: commitment on your part and a skilled instructor who not only teaches you the art, but also challenges you. 

To some, progression in the martial arts is about earning another belt or stripe. The space between these belts and stripes however is where the martial artist makes his real gains.  This is where all the hard work takes place. In addition to learning the new techniques required by your style's curriculum, you will be tested physically and mentally. 

Increasing your fitness level will be challenging, as you push yourself to become faster, stronger and more agile.  You can learn thousands of techniques, but if you are not physically fit enough to execute them, they will be of little or no use.  This is why it's important for a martial arts curriculum to include conditioning exercises.  Take them seriously because they're part of the whole package. 

You have to discipline yourself to get to the dojo and train hard on nights when all you want to do is go home and lay on the couch.  You may want to eat healthier so you spend more time training and less time digesting! You will have to take all that your instructor has taught you and incorporate it into sparring or self-defense practice.  While you've learned many attacks and counterattacks, you may find that you only use a few. This is where you experiment with what really works.

Now it's time for your instructor to do his part. A good instructor will push you beyond your comfort zone.  He knows that in order for you to go beyond where you are now, he's going to have to make you work.  He's going to have to mix up the physical training so your routine doesn't get stale.  He may change up a workout that you've gotten used to. He may ask you to train with different classmates or to train alone.  He may ask you to work on your least favorite techniques or learn a really hard form. 

Don't get upset if one day he walks into class and turns it all upside down.   His experience tells him that a stale routine stalls your progress.  The only way to get to the next level is to push past whatever is in your way.  Work diligently on what is asked of you.  The day of your test is merely icing on the cake.  All the work necessary to progress is done between the belts! ]]></description>
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<title>Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and the Martial Arts: A Complete Package</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/physical-activity-guidelines-for-americans-and-the-martial-arts-a-complete-package.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/physical-activity-guidelines-for-americans-and-the-martial-arts-a-complete-package.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ On Tuesday, October 7, 2008 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.  The goal is to encourage the American population to add some type of physical activity to their daily routine. 

Daily physical exercise is vital for achieving and maintaining a healthy body.  Scientific studies have proven that regular workouts help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis.  Regular exercise also decreases depression and improves the physical and mental consequences of aging. 

For adults, the guidelines recommend any where from two and one half hours a week of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity, or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity. It also recommended that adults should incorporate some type of strength training into their workouts. 

Training in the martial arts offers adults who would like to meet these federal guidelines a complete package.  A typical martial arts class includes plenty of aerobic activity.  Martial art warm-up routines may include a variety of calisthenics, light jogging around the classroom and jumping jacks.  The class then turns to learning and practicing kicks, blocks and punches in repetition, which is a great way to get the heart pumping.

A martial arts class is also full of opportunities to build up your strength. Classes often include push-ups, sit-ups and light weight lifting.  Bag work, sparring and self-defense practice with a partner helps develop both strength and cardiovascular health and can also be a lot of fun.

Another health benefit to martial arts training is stress relief.  Taking your aggressions out on a kicking pad or punching bag helps you release those emotions. Over time, stress can affect one's health and cause gastrointestinal problems, acne, weight loss/gain, headaches, insomnia, and addictions.  Many martial art instructors incorporate some type of meditation into their classes to help students center the mind and relax.  This means fewer trips to the doctor's office!

As a martial artist, you will not only meet the federal guidelines for physical activity, but you also learn how to defend yourself.  All it takes is a few martial arts classes a week. What you get at the end of the day is everything that the federal government has recommended to keep adults healthy as well as learning techniques that could one day save your life.  Do you get these results from working out at the local fitness center? ]]></description>
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<title>Why You Should Avoid "Style Hopping"</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/why-you-should-avoid-style-hopping.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/why-you-should-avoid-style-hopping.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A prospective student came to the door, interested in martial arts training.  When I asked him if he had any previous experience, he replied "yes, I've studied for about two years."  His training history consisted of 3 months in aikido, 2 months of karate, 4 months of kung-fu, 3 weeks of tai chi, etc., etc.  This is what we call "style hopping"; going from one style to another. 
 
"What's wrong with going from style to style" some students say.  Even Bruce Lee didn't believe in styles. He believed that styles limited one's true potential. As far as styles are concerned, Bruce Lee advised us to absorb what is useful and to discard the rest.  Why can't we be like Bruce Lee and just learn what we want and move on?
 
Bruce Lee's advice is good for someone who already has a good foundation.  Before experimenting with other styles, Bruce Lee studied the art of Wing Chun with Yip Man for approximately 5 years.  He had an excellent foundation before he ventured into other areas.
 
All traditional martial arts were developed after many, many years of experimentation and dedicated study.  Most traditional martial arts when studied with sincerity and regularity, will prepare you for expanding into other systems.  Committing yourself to any one of these is the first step.
 
Focusing on one style at the beginning of your training will prevent confusion.  At this level, you don't have the sophistication to separate or integrate the different techniques and philosophies.  But you start by developing strength, endurance, and flexibility.  You can learn how to stand, kick, punch, and block.  You can learn footwork and forms.  You can learn how to react by sparring and working with a training partner.  You can challenge your body and mind by progressing through your style's curriculum.  You can learn the principles of your art and the foundations of its origins. 
 
Let's face it.  If you commit yourself to one style and study it faithfully until you have at the very least achieved black belt or black sash level, you will have developed a good foundation.  

In reality, earning your black belt means that you mastered the basics of that system. A black belt is only the beginning of your martial arts journey.  Once you've reached this level, then you can explore other styles.  At this point the trick is to be able to have an open mind to the new styles and see the weakness in your foundation style! ]]></description>
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<title>The Eyes Have It! Eye Contact and the Martial Artist</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/the-eyes-have-it-eye-contact-and-the-martial-artist.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/the-eyes-have-it-eye-contact-and-the-martial-artist.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ In The Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi admonishes Daniel-san for not looking him in the eyes.  In Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee points to the moon and tells his student not to concentrate on the finger or he will lose all the heavenly glory.  Some martial artists, however, spend a lot of time working on their basics, polishing their forms, but little or no time developing proper eye contact and focus.  Why are the eyes important in martial arts training?
 
The eyes are a declaration of your fighting spirit.  What kind of self-confidence do you exude if you can't look your attacker in the eye?  Is your sparring opponent going to take you seriously? Are you looking away? Are you looking down?  Look him right in the eye at the start.  This type of body language says you mean business!  This is particularly important in self-defense situations on the street.  The eyes can be weak or hold the intimidation factor you will need to defend yourself. 
 
The eyes show respect and gratitude.  When bowing to our opponents, we maintain eye contact as a courtesy.  When we shake hands before and after sparring or working on self-defense, we thank our partners for their participation in our growth as martial artists.  That technique you had to use on the street was honed in a school with the help of a partner willing to practice with you.  Look him or her in the eye and thank them for being there. There are no second chances or "re-trys" with an attacker on the street. 
 
The eyes tell you where the attack is coming from.  The boxer has to worry about two hands.  Martial artists are concerned with four limbs and a variety of attacks.  It is important to maintain your eyes on the centerline, drawing your focus on the upper chest or collarbone.  This will give you a good scan of the entire body. Developing good peripheral vision is also important.  Practice looking out of the "corner of your eye." This may help you avoid that roundhouse kick headed for your skull!
 
The eyes can telegraph your next move.  Don't look at the target or you might as well tell your opponent where you're going to hit him so he's good and ready for you!
 
The eyes can trick your opponent by looking in one direction and striking at another.  Fake a glance at his thigh and strike at the head instead.  Bruce Lee, for example, deceived his opponent by looking him straight in the eye and dropping him to the ground with his famous foot sweep.  They never saw it coming!  
 
So remember, next time you're in class working on sparring or practicing with a classmate, don't neglect the eyes.  Applying these principles will add a new dimension to your training. ]]></description>
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<title>Don't Empty Your Cup, Just Check Your Ego At the Door</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/don-t-empty-your-cup-just-check-your-ego-at-the-door.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/don-t-empty-your-cup-just-check-your-ego-at-the-door.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ First you must empty your cup.  What martial artist hasn't heard this piece of Eastern philosophy at one point in his lifetime?
 
Here's how the official story goes.  A professor of philosophy visits a well-known Zen master.  The professor is full of his own opinions.  The master, being a good host, serves the professor a cup of tea.  As he fills his cup, he just keeps pouring until the cup starts to overflow.  The professor could no longer stand it.  "Stop!" he said. "The cup is over full. No more will go in!"  The master's response went like this: "You are like this cup.  How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?" 

The moral of the story is that you can't learn something new if you are full of your own ideas and pre-conceived notions. 
 
This philosophy is fine if the person is walking into a martial arts school for the first time and is clueless about training.  I don't agree with it however, for those who've had previous martial arts experience.  

Realistically, a martial arts school often encounters new students who've studied different martial arts.  A Japanese karate school for example, may have within it, students who have trained in aikido, boxing, judo, jujitsu, kickboxing, kung-fu, tae kwon do, tai chi, and even the occasional high school wrestler or street fighter! 
 
What do you do with these students? Tell them to "empty the cup" by asking them to forget everything they've ever learned?  Instead of "emptying the cup", ask them to "leave your ego and shoes at the door."
 
If you are a martial artist training in a new style, be respectful of your new style and instructor.  Don't be arrogant by constantly saying "this is how we used to do it in my old school." Don't go in there trying to prove something. Keep your comments and questions to a minimum. This is rude and obnoxious.  Be respectful and professional. Remember that you are there to learn and keep in mind that this school may do things differently.
 
When looking into a new style, a prospective student should look for an instructor who welcomes people from other systems. If they trash other styles, try another school.  You don't want to end up in a martial arts school that is like a cult.  Avoid places that say our way is the only way; our style is the only style.

A good instructor accepts his students as a wonderful package of human experience.  He will help the student integrate his previous knowledge with his new found skills.  

For example, let's say the student had studied tae kwon do for five years before switching to an Okinawan style of karate like Goju-ryu.  Tae kwon do is known for its kicks which come at you from a variety of directions given the talent of the student.  A good instructor will encourage the student to add the Goju-ryu kicks to expand his kicking repertoire and not to discard his tae kwon do techniques.
 
So don't empty your cup!  But check your ego at the door, conduct yourself with professionalism and appreciate the new learning experience. ]]></description>
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<title>Dealing With Troublemakers: Rival Schools and Street Fighters</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/dealing-with-troublemakers-rival-schools-and-street-fighters.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/dealing-with-troublemakers-rival-schools-and-street-fighters.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you're going to open a martial arts school, please beware that you will have to deal with troublemakers.  You know what I'm talking about.  You've seen the martial arts movie where a karate teacher is busy teaching class for example, and all of a sudden, a bunch of clowns from a rival school show up and want to fight. If you think this scene only happens in the movies, you are sorely mistaken.
 
It is not uncommon to have challengers come into a martial art school looking for a fight.  As the proprietor of a martial arts school, I have seen troublemakers come in many forms, some subtle, some not so subtle.  If you plan on running a martial art club, you really need to understand how this can happen and what to do about it. 
 
We once had a rival school send a drug-crazed maniac who walked into a class with the purpose of hurting people.  Another sent two women who openly wanted to challenge our female instructors. One of these women actually lunged at me! These people are dangerous intruders bent on violence.  We have not hesitated in resorting to legal action by calling the police and getting our lawyers involved.  As the head instructor, you are responsible for the safety of your students.  Send someone else to call 911, while you try to calm the situation down before the police arrive.
 
Most troublemakers don't come in packs like they do in the martial arts movies.  Very often, a rival school or local street fighter registers as a student with your club and his primary goal is to challenge your students and pick fights.  These people are not interested in forms, technique, or fitness.
 
Martial art schools don't like to turn paying students away, so I take a "wait and see" attitude.  If a perspective student is so obnoxious, you are within your rights to reject him as a member of your club and tell him to go elsewhere.
 
Street fighters want to prove themselves. They are there to fight.  I usually handle these people myself or delegate their training to an experienced fighter/instructor who will be able to handle him skillfully.  I built my first school on local street fighters who came here for a challenge and ended up being loyal students.
 
Individuals from rival schools are there to cause trouble.  They are either sent by their instructors or are there on their own.  Their mission is to check out your operation and cause disruptions.  This comes in the form of challenges to you or your students. They will also berate your style or the way you do things.  Again, I usually handle these people myself or pair them off with a skilled fighter/instructor. 
 
Whether it's the blatant challenge or the Trojan Horse, always be vigilant.  While the challenges are not as dramatic as they are in the movies, they do exist.  This is a business that tends to attract this type of element. ]]></description>
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<title>The Fitness Alternative:  Choosing Martial Arts for Your Exercise Routine</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/the-fitness-alternative--choosing-martial-arts-for-your-exercise-routine.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/the-fitness-alternative--choosing-martial-arts-for-your-exercise-routine.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ You paid good money to join a health club and what did you get in return?  Having to put your name on a sign-in sheet just to use the cardio machines, televisions blasting, cleaning up sweat off of some piece of equipment because the person who previously used it didn't have the courtesy to wipe it down.  A singles club atmosphere complete with uninvited attention, waiting to use the free weights because some clown is spending way too much time primping in front of the mirror?  This is hardly a refuge for most busy men and women looking to get fit!

Have you ever considered the martial arts alternative?  Many adults are disgusted with the run-of-the-mill fitness centers and have looked to the martial arts as a way to get into shape.  Martial art training can provide you with all the benefits of physical exercise without the circus-type atmosphere of the average health club. 

The traditional martial arts curriculum is designed to develop your overall fitness level.  Classes always include some flexibility training in the form of stretching exercises.  The various movements and techniques that you practice during class help develop your cardiovascular health, as well as stamina and focus.   The modern martial arts instructor welcomes students who are looking for a fitness alternative and has gone out of his or her way to incorporate strength training either with lightweights and/ or resistance exercises. 

A martial arts workout has more benefits to offer then a gym workout.  In the gym your pretty much limited to working on strength and endurance (cardio).  In a martial arts workout you get not only strength and endurance, you also receive flexibility, balance, coordination, body unity, alignment, hand eye coordination.  Plus your body can get used to a gym workout very quickly, which means our progress will level off.  Martial arts constantly makes your body guess what's next which will keep it moving towards higher levels of fitness,

When you go to a gym, you may get a few sessions with a personal trainer as part of your membership package.  Once that's finished, you're basically on your own unless you want to pay for more sessions.  What's nice about martial art training is that as you advance through the curriculum through some type of belt or sash grading system, more is expected of you physically.  By following the curriculum laid out by your instructor, you progress to higher levels of fitness.  In the meantime, you are learning to defend yourself!

Martial arts classes are also fun! Working through the various levels in the style you have chosen is both challenging and exciting.  You'll have a sense of pride and accomplishment that you'll never get jogging aimlessly on some treadmill! ]]></description>
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<title>Martial Arts and the Perfectionist</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/martial-arts-and-the-perfectionist.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Sports/martial-arts/martial-arts-and-the-perfectionist.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ I appreciate martial arts students who want to do everything perfectly.  They are usually very committed and hard working. They sign up for classes ready to train and full of enthusiasm! 
 
Unfortunately, this enthusiasm disappears very quickly.  The one problem is that perfectionists worry themselves to death!  They start off with a very positive attitude, but set the bar so high that they get depressed and disappointed if they can't meet their expectations. 
 
Students with such high anxiety also tend to ask a lot of questions and over-analyze.  Instead of enjoying their martial arts training, it becomes stressful.  Some don't want to take promotion tests because in their minds, they are never really ready!  Nothing they do is ever good enough.

When students are over thinking and over analyzing they are stimulating the wrong part of their brain for learning martial arts.  Some thinking is involved, but for the most part with martial arts as in all athletic endeavors learning comes by FELLING your way through things.  If a student is working their way though a new movement and standing still thinking, scratching their head, talking to himself or herself, calculating, without any movement - step in!  Get them out of that habit and make them move and feel their way through the movement.
 
I've taught martial arts for over 30 years because I love teaching.  I don't like to give up on the perfectionists.  They can be superior athletes if trained properly.  My best approach is to:
 
* Encourage them to lighten up!  I have to constantly remind them not to be so hard on themselves.

* Limit the amount of questions I allow during a class.  I can't ignore all questions, because some are legitimate.  A martial arts class however should not consist of a lot of chitchat.  Most people want to work up a sweat and learn the art.  Too many questions can also annoy other students so focusing on everyone getting a good workout is important.

* During open workout sessions, I specifically direct the perfectionist on what they should do for that hour.  Some students are so self-directed that they show up to an open workout with an agenda and can keep busy for an hour.  Perfectionists need a plan. Give it to them!  They'll rise to the occasion.

* Don't be afraid to correct perfectionists because you feel it will upset them.  An instructor who feeds into this is not really teaching.  Constant praise is counterproductive and doesn't help the student learn.  Make constructive corrections and tell the student how to improve!

Above all, focus on the overall learning experience.  When directed by a knowledgeable instructor, perfectionists have the potential to be outstanding martial artists.  Encourage them to enjoy the journey! ]]></description>
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