Extra Post: Novermber

Things were again, kinda uneventful this month. There were lots of games this month. The schedule of the month made two classes twice as long as normal, and these classes always end in a particular game that, without fail, incites the kids to start screaming. But I digress.

There was one great thing that happened. I was placed in charge of teaching roundhouse kicks. So I did some actual teaching! Mrs. Sensei (my mentor's wife, secretary, and a black belt) was sadly sick, so I couldn't get any pictures. However, I do remember what happened.

The way the kids learn roundhouse is to place them on a wall for balance. This caused me lots of problems. Sensei was doing sumo wrestling, which is one of the most fun and distracting games in his arsenal. The little kids and the medium kids were distracted by it when we worked the right leg. Anthony was doing self-defense techniques nearby, and it distracted the littles and mediums when we worked left side. It was a pain and I got mad that I couldn't keep them focused. I started to snap at them, to pay attention. It worked...for about 20 seconds. I think this is what I mean when I say respect is important. The younger kids don't respect me, so they don't care about what I say, so they don't learn.

Thankfully the big kids do respect me. The issues with them were mostly feet placement. They did start complaining their legs hurt, which meant they were working, so that was good.

Other than that, I just ran games this month. Nothing else to report. I could talk about all the good things that happened in the older class, but that's not my project.

Like I said I'd get last time, here's a picture of my mentor.

Blog 10: EQ

1. I have reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ

2.a. It meets  the first two criteria but the wording is not very specific
2.b. It fits all three because it is specific, provides research opportunities, and is open for argumentation
2.c. It is not specific and does not allow research opportunities
2.d. Has room for research, but there is a specific answer to it.

3. What is the most significant factor for best teaching karate to children?

Blog 9: Lesson 1 Reflection

1. What are you most proud of in your Lesson 1 Presentation and why?
I am most proud of the content I shared. The main points I wanted to get across about what I experienced I managed to get across.

2a. What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 1 Presentation?
P

2b. Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 1 Component contract.
I believe I spoke clearly. I know I looked at the audience because I didn't have a powerpoint to read off, although I did read my notes a few times. I got the audience to laugh a couple times so they were engaged. I used examples of directing kids in real life for my specific example. I talked about the social and psychological benefits of martial arts I found through research, specifically referencing "A Choice Theory Perspective of Children's Taekwondo." I also talked about experiences in my mentorship and my interviews.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 1?
My different thoughts were all coherent and I explained myself well.

4. What didn't work?
I wish I had more of a visual aid. I only had a few pictures of me with the kids, which also doubled as my prop. Some extra direction would have also been helpful. I also did not end up mentioning one of the sources I wanted to.

Extra Post: October

Much of the same happened this month. Running games, occasionally doing a weapon or kata.

However this month was a tournament. Tournaments are times for the kids to compete in kata and weapons against the other cities. At the tournament I did assist in some more teaching. My mom took several pictures for me. These pictures are the ones I chose to use for my 1st Lesson.

What's going on here is Anthony (the guy sitting down who I mentioned in September) is speaking out the nunchuck form while I am preforming it for the kids to follow, for extra practice before the tournament. I was going intentionally slow to make following easier. In each of these I have my head turned so I can look at the kids and see who is doing it correctly and who isn't. Most of them were doing well. The younger ones who I can only assume are too young to get it were the ones messing up.

My mom left before the tournament started. During the tournament I was a judge for the competitions . I basically shadowed Anthony while he judged. The kids were so young I did the forms while they followed me. The same thing I was doing in these pictures, just one kid at a time, and weapons and kata.

Much of the month of a tournament is dedicated to weapons and kata. While I didn't do much along those lines with the young kids, I did help out a lot with the older kids. (And when I say kids I mean people slightly younger, equal to, and older than me.)

Another part of tournaments is how they are times for people to receive their black belts. I have a little friend with the older students who was testing for it. I spent a lot of time training him in his weapons for the test. He passed the test too! I didn't get a picture, but I will say he is the younger brother of one of us seniors.

I have several stories to tell from the tournament, but only one has anything to do with the kids. Before each competition the judge does a run-through of the expectations and what will happen. However the group we received consisted of a 5 year old girl, 5 year old boy, and two 6 year old boys. The 5's were asking questions the whole time like "When do we get the trophies?" "How old are you?" "Can I get the big trophy?" Anthony did a good job saying composed during this, but we lost a lot of time for the competition.

After the first round, the pair of 5's came in second. This means they got the smaller medal. No matter how hard Anthony and I tried to change it, the girl could only understand. "I'm not good. I didn't get the big medal. I did bad. I came in last." Anthony said it was his first time judging and someone came close to tears. What a way to be broken into judging. I tried explaining next time it may be better, but I don't think I did a good job doing so.

I know the interview was this month, but I haven't gotten a picture of my mentor yet. I will get one in November.

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

1. What is your working EQ?
2. What is a possible answer to your working EQ?

EQ: What is the most significant factor for teaching karate to children?

• Understanding the material being taught
• Patience in regards to slower children or those who do not want to pay attention

3. What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ? 

My first interview with Anthony-sama has been the most helpful. The extra questions I put in related more to my project. As he is doing almost exactly the same thing I am, his advice was most helpful to me.

4. Who is your mentor, or where are you doing your mentorship, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

I am an assistant instructor under Sensei Walczak at his karate dojo in La Verne. As I am teaching the younger (4-9) kids, I need to know the best way to teach.

Blog 7: Independent Component Approval

As of right now, the best idea I have for the independent component is spending time helping kids prepare for their tests. I say this because Sensei and Anthony do the majority of the teaching I will have to talk to them before I can put this into action. If I am to do this, it will benefit me by being able to spend more time the kids directly. To show proof of my work, I hope to go through with the pictures mentioned in my previous post.

EDIT: After talking to Piggot, I learned that Independent Component can simply be the stuff from the Mentorship. Therefore, my independent component will be the same thing I've been doing, but with a little focus on weapons and kata.

Extra Post: September

Nothing much is different when comparing this month and August. It is still the exact same work: leading groups of kids through the assigned activity. I currently regret that the actual activities very rarely involve teaching. Mostly I am judging games, with the occasional kata or weapon. I am planning to discuss this with my mentor. I hope to work with Anthony and gain a closer understanding of how he teaches.

Speaking of Anthony, he's the person I interviewed. He's a Nidan (Second-degree black belt) who's

 been learning and teaching longer than I. Besides my mentor and his wife, Anthony is one of my better examples for teaching.

The key word is better, because there are other examples for teaching. Specifically, there are 3 other black belts who teach the older kids and adults alongside Sensei, Anthony being among them. Anthony suggested I take as much information as I can from other upper belts and apply their knowledge to my project. I plan on doing exactly that. I hope to interview each of them at some point.

I was thinking a nice way to spice up these extra posts would be more pictures. Specifically of me and the kids. However, I don't think I can right away. The kids are anywhere from 4 to 7 years old. I expect the parents won't want their kids on the internet without permission, even if I don't give names. To rectify this, I'm considering making a permission slip or something. Just to know the parents approve of me putting pictures of their children on this blog. I will probably also have to check the city. I wouldn't be suppressed if there's some law that prevents the photography of underage persons who are being cared for by a business blah blah blah. My point is I want to do this, but I think there's a few obstacles to get around.

Throughout the month, it became harder and harder to find sources for research check that looked like they applied to my topic. I plan on checking out books next. I found a series of children's books for teaching karate that I plan to take notes on, and several books about the history and fundamentals of karate. I see it as understanding the children's point-of-views and knowing what exactly I'm teaching.

All in all, there are a few things I hope to achieve

• More interviews with the other upper belts
• Gain more experience teaching the children by doing more actual teaching
• Read books to gain a larger understanding
• Get permission from parents and possibility the city to take pictures of the kids 

Here's to a fruitful October for everyone!