It is impossible to find a teaching method that works the same way for everyone. Traditional standard teaching methods, like those found in many martial art schools, are designed for large groups. Many are geared toward retention more than education. If you have a constant supply of new students, eventually you might find some that respond well to your pedagogy and develop some good skill. The rest will drop out or stagnate. But even those who succeed will tend to seek out more specialized instruction, because they are good students and will always look to expand their horizons.
The term “classical mess”, coined by Bruce Lee decades ago, can easily apply to tai chi and martial art schools today, even in the most modern of martial arts, and mma. We are in a constant struggle to balance the needs of the teacher with the needs of the students.
One of the biggest problems, as I see it, is the attachment that many of us have to particular styles. That is why I like to say, “I don’t teach a style. I teach people.”
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