Giving back to HKD

[spud]

It’s been my aim for many years to teach my students to become better than me thus strengthening the future of HKD. I see many teachers (of many styles) who want to always be one step ahead of their best student even to the point of holding them back on purpose.

I also wish to stay one step ahead through continued training & perfecting the skills I’ve been taught but not at the risk of holding back a student as I feel my greatest gift to the art would be adding another practitioner of high standards. I know this could come across as being egotistic but I don’t consider myself the best, an expert or anywhere near perfect. Even a life time of training wouldn’t make me perfect.

My question is what would or are some of the goals / gifts to the art that my fellow HKD brothers & sisters are working towards or achieved.

 

[Paul B]

Good thread,Spud.

One way I look at it is "I want to teach myself out of my job."

The only thing I can do to try and further our own particular Hapkido is to ensure that every student has a firm grasp on Kebonsu and the three principles.

I feel that there will always be somebody bigger,faster,and stronger..maybe even someone with more gawd-given talent,and that's fine. I am on my path and they are on theirs. It is my job to get them started on that path with as firm of footing as possible.

 

[matt.m]

You know I have heard my pop say "If they did bad, then I have failed them." Look at it at that perspective. When I taught a kids judo class I felt the same way. If a kid performed like a numbskull, I didn't necessarily blame him or her. Nope I would blame myself, at least partially.