What do you look for in a seminar?

C

Chad W. Getz FCSH

Joined
Jul 20, 2000
Messages
112
Exactly what the subject line stated. The seminars that I have been to have all been ones that I wish I could have got my money back. What do you think makes a good seminar? One that shows a hundred and one variations(not literally) and gives you only enough time to barely work over it OR seminars that give you a chance to work and explore fewer techniques more thoroughly and a few variation principles shown.

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Chad
Full Contact Stickfighting Hawaii
www.fullcontacthi.com
 
This is a really good question and I too am curious to see what others have to say. However, I would like to expand on it a little.

Personally, I look for the following:

1.) Fewer topics and more time to work on each one. Yes it's entertaining to see Master XYZ demonstrate 101 variations, but I'm interested in what I can retain and take home with me. I'm a little slow on the uptake after all.
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2.) Well rounded programs with a central theme. I'm not talking about just teaching a wide variety of techniques. I'm talking about a coherent connection and progression between the subjects.

3.) Student to teacher ratio. Yes, it's great to attend a seminar with Master XYZ, but how much time will they spend teaching me and correcting my technique? How many assistants does Master XYZ have to help him check everyone's progress?

4.) A reasonable price.

5.) Useful topics. I'm pragmatic and want practical info that I can use. One exception would be the whip ... I'd love to learn to use the whip! It's just too cool. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but whips and knives excite me!
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6.) A progression. Seminars that build upon previous seminars so that people can learn more advanced material. For example, one seminar covering single stick attacks, followed by a one covering single stick counters and another on recounters. The series could be taught on a rotating basis to allow access to more people. I believe this is what Tuhon McGrath does.

Respectfully,

Dave Fulton

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Full Contact Martial Arts Association.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

[This message has been edited by Dave Fulton (edited 04-04-2001).]
 
Hi,

One of the better seminars I have attended was with Dr Gyi. The subject matter was the Bando Stick. Dr Gyi started with a little talk and a couple handouts. We weren't deluged with a 1001 variations. Part of the seminar included the participants defending strikes (w/ 5' sticks). All the participants used padded PVC pipe that Dr Gyi had provided. A bit of an eye opener to actually block a commited strike from a stick/staff of this size. If you weren't striking with commitment, you could pretty much count on Dr Gyi coming around for some gruff chiding(you strike like a girl.... hit him!)

What did I like... and what makes a great seminar?

Enlightenment: The instructor imparts alot of knowledge in an area where you are lacking.

Handouts: This is really a big one for me.... you go to a seminar and spend big bucks... the least the featured instructor can do is give you handouts with info on the subject matter, and an outline of his teaching progression for those days. C'mon guys.... your making a thou or two.... give us a detailed outline!!!

Progression: A logical progression. I prefer to work fewer techniques (thru a progression) for alot of reps, rather than a deluge of material which leaves your head spinning (personal choice). As in the rest of my training, I prefer to do the bulk of my training against resisting partners.

Personality: The personality/charisma/aura of the instructor.

Flash bang!: The wow factor.... to see someone really skilled peform the arts can be a learninig experience in itself!

~Kev

p.s.- Give me yours... what works for you?
 
Agree with each and every point you made David. Except, I'm still undecided about #6. What if someone missed the first two seminars, and didn't quite capture the third?

Kev, I've been thinking about the pamphlet or print outs also. I would definetly want people to take notes or have something to take home after so that they could work on what they learned. But, even though, I would rather have students write their own notes so that they can understand what they were writing better, I wouldn't know when would be the best time to write notes, so hand outs would probably be a better option.

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Chad
Full Contact Stickfighting Hawaii
www.fullcontacthi.com
 
Chad,

Let's use the single stick example that I cited in #6 of my original post. You could have a "Basics of Single Stick" seminar (covering attacks and other basics), an "Intermediate Single Stick" seminar (covering counters & such) and an "Advanced Single Stick" seminar (covering advanced material like re-counters). I'm going to give people the benefit of the doubt that they can figure out that they shouldn't go to the "Advanced" seminar on re-counters if they don't know the material from the Basic and Intermediate seminars.

Having been to some seminars, I've seen advanced people bored stiff while basic material is being taught and beginners frustrated by material that they aren't ready for. My thought was to have a seminar progression with each one focusing on a specific skill level. The goal is to reduce the amount of time wasted. When you get right down to it, in a seminar setting at least, spending time working on material that you already know or aren't ready for is a waste of time from the perspective of the attendee. Eliminating the waste of time will increase the opportunity for learning skills that are useful to them. It's about "knowing your audience" something that speakers and presenters in business have been using for years. Why should a MA seminar be different?

Maybe it wouldn't work, but that was the thought process behind the idea.

By the way, I really like the idea of an outline. It's difficult to take notes at a seminar (for me anyway) because you're trying to work on stuff and you're sweaty. Now, if I had an outline that gave brief explanations, it wouldn't be that hard to add a few notations of my own that would help jog my memory later.

Dave.

[This message has been edited by Dave Fulton (edited 04-05-2001).]
 
I've been to one MA seminar. It was supposed to be a Hock Hockheim CQC deal, but there were not enough participants interested so the dojo cancelled. However, one of Hock's black belts offered to put it on at a reduced price, should anyone be interested. And I was.

It was in Clarksburg, W.Va. (which might explain the lack of participants?) and my Dad and I went (my Dad had plenty of bike riding in the city to do while I trained).

Aaron Christian was the instructor, and he had a small, but nice dojo area in his basement. Yes, we (about seven of us) were exposed to a lot of material and there was no way we could have absorbed it all. But it was fun, reasonably hard training and I loved it. It was my first exposure to escrima and the FMA. Aaron's background was shotokan, but to me, he seemed to know his stuff and was very eclectic and had real world background in corrections, with a couple stories to go with it. I believe the cost was a hundred bucks for the whole weekend (it may have been fifty--I can't remember but it was a good deal IMO).

Aaron clearly loved to teach and it showed. We went an hour over time the first day, and began an hour early on Sunday. If my Dad and I hadn't had to leave for home, it could have stretched longer!

He also had a photocopied "syllabus" of all the stuff we did. All in all, my seminar experience was wonderful, although I don't consider myself a "hardcore" martial artist or anything, and I can see those who are maybe not getting what they want out of it. However, I had spoken with Aaron on the phone several times and knew pretty much what I was getting into. I think this is the key to deciding whether or not to go to any particular seminar.

I gotta give him a call soon, as I wouldn't mind going back for another! And yeah, I'd still like to meet Hock.

I can't believe I'm posting in the FMA forum!

Patty-cake with sticks!
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(Just kidding, guys! But even beginner style stick tapping is as fun as BF.)

Karl

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"Celebrate the diversity of inclusive, self-esteem nurturing, multicultural weapons arts." Karl Spaulding, The Safety Guy
 
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