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When teaching students, you quickly learn that while one method of teaching may work for a majority of the students, other students learn more quickly from a different teaching method.

Some students respond to seeing how something is done (visual learners); others prefer to hear explanations (auditory learners), while others prefer to do things (kinesthetic learners). Usually the best teaching method is a combination of the three methods.

Visual teaching method

Visual learners learn predominantly with their eyes; they prefer to see things demonstrated. The majority students are visual learners, which is why there are so many martial art books and instructional videos on the market. During class, visual learners tend to ask, “May I see that again?”

When teaching visual learners, ensure you demonstrate things in a complete, detailed, and clear manner. Demonstrate techniques from different angles so visual learners may see all aspects of the techniques; encourage students to move around and find the best viewing angles. Give demonstrations toward the middle of the room so students may gather around you. Do not rush through the demonstration; show every movement in detail. Visual learners learn from what they see you do, so if you do something incorrectly, they will do it that way.

Auditory teaching method

Auditory learners learn by hearing. Only a minority of students in a class are auditory learners. They frequently follow instructions after only being told once, tend to concentrate better when they have music in the background, and retain new information better when they talk about it. To help process what you are saying, they will often repeat what you have said back to you. They tend remember a series of techniques, such as a one-step sparring sequence, when the series is stated in a limerick or a rap. During class, auditory learners tend to ask, “Would you explain that again?”

When teaching auditory learners, ensure they all hear you by speaking loudly and clearly. Auditory learners learn from both hearing and speaking, so, when demonstrating a technique, encourage them to ask questions immediately instead of waiting until the end of the demonstration. Ask questions of the class to ensure all students are learning properly, including the auditory learners, however, do not make the questions in the form of a test, keep make them fun. Be detailed in your explanations; state everything you are doing, just as you might do if you were teaching blind students. Be descriptive, such as instead of saying "Put your hand here," say "Put your right hand on the inside of the opponent’s left forearm." Use echoing where you have the students repeat back what you just said, such as asking “Which foot move first?” and then having entire class repeat the answer.

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