Students beating the instructor - thoughts?

[KeithFarrell]

An interesting scenario that I have heard some people discussing recently is the hypothetical situation where a student in a club has developed and improved very well, and is now able to beat the instructor in sparring. How should the club instructor respond to the situation?

There are various possible options for the instructor:
- throw a hissy fit (not a great plan, or a good long term solution)
- become stressed or depressed that a student is now the better fencer
- become really happy that the teaching has clearly been good enough for a student to develop into being the better fencer
- push the student forward into a teaching role (and potentially blunting the skill development)
- push the student towards more competitions to test and develop his or her skills further

And no doubt there are many more options. What do you think of the hypothetical situation, and what do you think about handling it? Has the situation occurred at your club or at a friend's club, and how was it handled?

I'm interested to see what people think about the scenario.

[Mark Roylance]

I think it ultimately leads to the fact that individuals will be better at different things, and that being good at fighting with a sword doesn't mean that you're good at teaching to use that sword.

If I were an instructor and this happened, I like to think that I'd swallow my pride, congratulate this student, commend him/her for the success, and use this opportunity to improve my skills and remember that no matter how long we train, we are all students.

In the end, I believe the idea that an instructor must be unbeatable is fundamentally flawed, especially as it's also so often used as a reflection on the martial art itself. The instructor must be skilled and continually train to improve, but there'll always be someone better.

[KeithFarrell]

I think it ultimately leads to the fact that individuals will be better at different things, and that being good at fighting with a sword doesn't mean that you're good at teaching to use that sword.

If I were an instructor and this happened, I like to think that I'd swallow my pride, congratulate this student, commend him/her for the success, and use this opportunity to improve my skills and remember that no matter how long we train, we are all students.

In the end, I believe the idea that an instructor must be unbeatable is fundamentally flawed, especially as it's also so often used as a reflection on the martial art itself. The instructor must be skilled and continually train to improve, but there'll always be someone better.

Seems like a very reasonable response

[Corey Roberts]

I think it is also important to remember that all of us, no matter how experienced or skilled at these arts, are reconstructing something that died out. Having a student exceed you is just an opportunity for you to improve yourself and move forward together.

[John Farthing]

Here are some thoughts from Filippo Vadi ca. 1482:

"Also you must always remember to pay respect to

your teacher, for money does not pay what he gives you.

He who wants to be able and learned in

swordsmanship should learn to do and teach, and not

make mistakes.

Loving loyalty you will be able to speak to King and

Princes, so that they will be able to use the Art.

For their duty is to govern, to maintain justice, and

to care for widows, orphans and other problems.

So from this Art comes all sorts of good, with arms

cities are subdued and all the crowds restrained;

and in itself has such dignity, that often it brings joy

to the heArt, and always drives out cowardice. You

should acquire treasure and honor and, above any

other care, always maintain yourself in your lord’s grace. "

[Stacy Clifford]

Reasons for a student beating you can range from just having a bad day to them having more training opportunities outside of class, more natural aggressiveness, or more natural aptitude for a particular weapon. Sometimes it's just sheer dedication you didn't expect from them in the beginning. As an instructor I think you have to examine how you got to that point, admire your student's progress and what you've helped them achieve, and then challenge yourself as a fighter to tip the odds back in your favor again. Don't hinder their further achievement, congratulate them on their skill, encourage them to help teach if they show the aptitude and inclination, and always, always challenge yourself to get better. If you've set such a good example this far, why stop now?

[John Farthing]

To paraphrase Capo Ferro, '...seek to play everyday, and play against those who are better than you since you will learn more from this.'

If we are the best in our local group and we consistently beat our regular training partners with ease, we are no longer being challenged. We have in essence, plateaued. As an instructor, I do my best to train my partners to be the best they can possibly be, to be better than I am! This is in fact, to my mind, a huge milestone success. By training someone who now has the ability to challenge you, you move beyond the plateau and begin to get grow again as a practitioner. We all seek to reach our personal best, but the very nature of our study means reliance on others to achieve our maximum potential. Only by raising the bar continually, and thereby raising one another in skill, can we hope to challenge and continue to raise ourselves.

Another thing to consider is that if you have a student who you routinely beat with ease, who can never come close to matching or besting you in sparring; how then can you measure that students improvement? It is only when your student begins to challenge you that you are given solid evidence of their progress, and that is a testament to both your ability to teach and convey the material, as well as, being a testament to the validity of the art!