As a fighter, learning and then being able to execute your moves isn’t always the be-all and end-all of growing as a martial artist. When you train, you only get one perspective to learn the moves from – your own. In order to truly improve, you can consider teaching your moves to others.
When you train others in your positions and moves, you’re also training yourself to pay attention to every detail, so that you can transmit it to your training partner. When you see their mistakes and correct them, you in turn are learning to watch for those mistakes in your own form, and can avoid them accordingly.
On top of this, you’re also learning new drilling techniques and refining your current moves as you pass them onto others. You know how it feels when you perform them, but oftentimes it becomes so routine to you that you overlook any mistakes.
When you teach your drills and training to others, you’re forced to consider and analyze them in a new way. Approaching your practice from the position of helping others gives you a totally different perspective. This fresh insight that you gain can greatly benefit your attention to detail, and that will go a long way in not only helping your fellow martial artists, but yourself too! And ultimately it’s scientifically proven, too – studies and research show that teaching others your skills helps you learn more as well.
Obviously, think before you school people who are of the same rank as you – you might not have the experience to help out in the “teaching” manner, and it would be closer to a practice session than a tutoring one.
What do you think? Is it true that teaching others helps you take a step back, and see your own moves and form from a different perspective?
