Instructor Considerations

Quality of Instructor

A yellow belt walked up to the Gates of Heaven and asked to be let in. "Tell me one good thing you did in your life," St. Peter said to him. "Well," replied the yellow belt, "One time I saw my instructor yelling at a white belt so I stepped up and told him that he should not do that." "When did this happen" asked St. Peter? "Oh, about 30 seconds ago!" said the yellow belt.

Instructors are similar to coaches. They do not have to be able to perform what they teach, but they must have the ability to get students to perform what they teach, and perform it well. Some instructors may be tournament champions, which is great for them, but it does not necessarily mean they are good instructors. Students hire instructors for what the instructors can teach them to do, not for what the instructor can do. Many times a good instructor may also be a great technician, but this does not necessarily make him or her a good instructor.

A good instructor loves teaching Taekwondo and can motivate students to love it also. Good instructors are able to point out specific things each student may do to improve his/her techniques. They are able to see the small things that may make a good technique a great technique. Good instructors motivate students to do more than they felt possible.