As a martial arts instructor, you have a significant impact on your students' development, and this influence often surpasses that of parents and teachers. If your students were to emulate your behavior, would that be a positive outcome? If the answer is “no” for any aspect of your behavior, it's crucial to address this issue. To effectively teach character traits and leadership, you must first model the behavior you wish to instill.
The Guiding Principle: Actions Over Words
A useful principle to remember is that students are likely to replicate about half of what you do right and twice what you do wrong. While this may not be accurate in every case, it serves as a valuable guideline to help instructors stay aware of their behavior. Your students are keen observers and often mimic the actions they see rather than the instructions they receive.
The Difference Between Showing and Telling
Students learn by observing. For instance, if a master-level instructor notices a recurring mistake among students, it often reflects a similar error by the instructor. This highlights a fundamental issue: students will emulate what they see. This principle is illustrated by motivational speaker Zig Ziglar's experiment. When instructed to clap after counting to three, students are more likely to follow the clapping action of the instructor rather than the verbal cue.
The Impact of Your Actions
An adult telling a child not to engage in certain behaviors while engaging in those behaviors themselves will have minimal impact. For example, a parent smoking and advising a child not to smoke sends a contradictory message. This “Forbidden Fruit” syndrome can heighten a child's curiosity about the prohibited behavior.
In the context of martial arts, it is essential to be the role model you want your students to follow. Even minor vices or behaviors should be kept away from the training environment. For example, if you smoke or drink, avoid doing so in front of students. Children are impressionable and may use your behavior as justification for their actions.
Setting a Positive Example
To effectively teach character traits, you must first embody the qualities you wish to see in your students. Demonstrate the behaviors you expect, and then provide clear explanations about why certain actions are right or wrong. For instance, explain that alcohol impairs control and that a martial artist should always be in control. Emphasize that while moderate drinking might be acceptable for adults, getting drunk is never appropriate.
Conclusion
Modeling behavior is a fundamental aspect of effective teaching in martial arts. Your actions will have a significant impact on your students, shaping their behavior and attitudes. By setting a positive example and aligning your behavior with the values you wish to instill, you can guide your students towards becoming well-rounded individuals and responsible martial artists.