Children in the Dojo

 5-15-2001

 

Sharon Hayakawa discussed her caring for Mr. Oyata’s children in the dojo.  That brings memories back to mind.



Most of the time instructors are reflections of how their own instructors taught and were taught themselves.



My original instructor studied in Okinawa under Shimabuku Tatsuo, but to be more exact most of the time Senior Students (Okinawan and American) did most of the instruction in Okinawa, under the eye of Shimabuku Sensei. Then if he felt a student was working hard enough he would descend onto the school floor and demonstrate something new for the student.



When I was a beginner, my instructor and a large group of his black belts (2nd through 5th dans) did all of the instruction, most of the time his black belts running a large piece of the class, under Sensei’s direction.



Then about 23 or so years ago when I began to teach I was the only instructor I knew who was exclusively teaching children. (in the ensuing years I’ve spent about 2,800 hours just teaching youth, and about 1,800 hours teaching my adult program, with 99.99% of those hours my own directly teaching).  I vividly recall my fascination with the early instructors of Okinawan Te, a fascination that continues to this day.  I was always most interested in what things were like before large group instruction became the norm, and have tried to pattern my dojo on what I believe were those origins, when a one to one relationship with the Senior was held throughout one’s karate career.

 

When I was a beginner, there was not a separate program for youth.