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Kiwikarateka
Kiwikarateka's picture
Teaching Martial Arts With Rotating Curriculums (Combat Learning Podcast)

https://anchor.fm/combatlearning/episodes/CLP12---Rotating-Curriculum-Make-Teaching-Martial-Arts-Easier-Without-Sacrificing-Quality-w-Mike-Massie-eo3lq3

I recently listened to the above episode of the Combat Learning Podcast and found it quite interesting.

I don't run my own club, and while I occasionally think about how I might run my own it's never occurred to me to try a change in curriculum as radical as what is proposed in the podcast

I was wondering if anyone else structures their classes like this, or what you folks think about the idea? Also how you might apply this to a practical karate syllabus

(P.S. I've found the Combat Learning podcast to be quite a good source of information, so I'd recommend checking out a few other episodes!)

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi All,

Kiwikarateka wrote:
I recently listened to the above episode of the Combat Learning Podcast and found it quite interesting.

I’ve not heard that episode yet, but it’s a good podcast!

Kiwikarateka wrote:
I was wondering if anyone else structures their classes like this, or what you folks think about the idea? Also, how you might apply this to a practical karate syllabus

I have no fundamental objection to rotating curriculums. I accept that they can work well for some elements of training, and are very useful for groups where they are required for logistical reasons i.e. limited time and mixed ability students. However, it’s not something I would do because the way the content is approached changes radically as the student progresses. For example, I have students who are new to the Pinan kata, and I have students who have done them for several decades. Although they are theoretically working the same kata, they are working them in very different ways with different objectives. To seek the “average” would not work well.

I also have other concerns too which are covered in these posts in prior threads on this approach:

https://iainabernethy.co.uk/comment/14717#comment-14717

https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/comment/13503#comment-13503

So not for me, but I get they are an option for different groups.

Kiwikarateka wrote:
(P.S. I've found the Combat Learning podcast to be quite a good source of information, so I'd recommend checking out a few other episodes!)

I’ve been on that podcast myself and people can listen to it here:

https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/iain-talks-josh-peacock-combat-learning-podcast

All the best,

Iain

Kiwikarateka
Kiwikarateka's picture

Iain Abernethy wrote:
I have no fundamental objection to rotating curriculums ...
That makes a lot of sense, if you are just teaching kata as a sequence of techniques, and aren't treating them as if they build upon one another, any ordering will be largely arbitrary.

I suppose teaching order of kata that aren't a part of an explicit series can be a bit more arbitrary, but after reading your posts I agree with you that rotating curriculums probably don't work so well for teaching kata when you want each kata to build on the previous.

I wonder what elements of training they would work well for? Perhaps rotating different skill sets (throwing, clinching, newaza), i.e. these two months are focused on throwing (and other skills will be emphasised slightly less).

This doesn't really work if there is no time set aside in class to work specific skills however.

Iain Abernethy wrote:

I’ve been on that podcast myself and people can listen to it here:

https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/iain-talks-josh-peacock-combat-learning-podcast

I was the one who pinged you on Twitter about it, it was great to see that you actually went on it :P