Instructing Tips

Taekwondo is a self-actualizing process. No student should be given any slack because of age, gender, or background. Anyone may achieve their Taekwondo potential through hard work. This does not mean you may not make certain accommodations based on individual student situations. Only injury and actual physical limitations (determined by you) should be allowed as grounds for accommodations.  Do not tolerate a spirit of victimization by any individual or group. Victimization is excuse for shortcomings in character. Victims blame their own shortcomings on others. Do not tolerate students who persists in being victims. Teach them to stand up for themselves and not make excuses for their inactions.

Be prepared to deal with each student as an individual as needed. Try to do whatever is needed to make it easy for the student to train hard without overly disturbing the rest of the class. However, remember that you cannot solve every student problem. Some students experience money problems, but regardless of the problems everyone must pay. However, a student's finances are their own business. Do not get involved in their financial problems. What matters is that they maintain respect for you and that they keep training. Be flexible in payment amounts and due dates, but do not be foolish. Work out something for true hardship cases and temporary embarrassment cases. 

Do the Unexpected. When students begin to anticipate your commands, they plan ahead in expectation for the commands. They may work extra hard at one technique because they expect the next technique to be easy. Do the unexpected so students are kept on their toes.