Just finished another session of teaching, and sat down to clear my mind, and type out some thoughts.

First, my satisfaction of today's class.

I feel that I've achieved something today.  My goal was to get the students to feel the impact of their strikes and blocks in a safe way.  I asked them to attack hand held targets with their punches and blocks using proper technique.  I explained to them that traditional training included using makiwara boards to learn about their stance, and to help them build up proper technique.  Seeing as our dojo does not have makiwara boards
available, the students would fill in as human makiwara boards.  I taught them how to hold a target properly so that they wouldn't get injured, and I insisted on both the attacker, and the target holder to be in good stance.

There is something magical about smacking something solid, and hearing that satisfying "thump".  It motivates, and encourages you to put more effort into your movement.  The temptation is to lose stance as you lean forwards to try to strike the target instead of shifting the feet forwards into proper distance. There was great training to be had on both sides of this partnership as the target holders had to back up in good stance to keep
proper distance from the attackers.  I had the same partners stay together throughout the whole session.  They had developed a rhythm, and understanding of each other's movements so then they were able to focus on performing the task with the best effort possible.

I started with a simple lunge punch, and then added more and more complicated combinations of strikes with stance shifts, still asking the students to strike the targets with the same amount of intensity ( i.e.: Knife hand block/ back stance.. shifting into reverse punch/ front stance). A bonus positive effect was that I was able to show the students more accurately which part of their hand or foot was being used as the striking
zone guiding them into a better understanding of the dangers of a bent wrist.

I definitely will do this exercise again, and next time I will include various kicking techniques in the combinations.

Oh.. I didn't introduce myself.  I tend to focus on teaching so much that I forget to notice other things.

I'm Mireille Clark (Shodan in Shotokan karate), a mother of 7 children, and a happy devoted wife of my wonderful husband living in Canada.  I just recently was placed as the Sensei of a karate club that has been in existence for 3 years already.  The original Sensei needed to leave his dojo, and all of the Instructors of my area decided that I would be the one to fill his shoes.

My first hope when I walked into this dojo was to try to continue in the same manner, and teaching style as the original Sensei.  I attended a handful of classes with the students as one of them without their knowledge that I was going to become their replacement Sensei.  I wanted it that way. I wanted to get to know each one on an intimate basis, and to learn about them.  I wanted to learn the basic flow, and expectations of each class so
that I could ease into the position of their Sensei and maintain the same environment that these students were used to having for their training.

It just didn't work out the way that I had hoped.  I realized pretty quickly that I was not the same person as their original Sensei, and I couldn't fit into the pattern of teaching that he had established regardless of my best intentions.  I had to be "me" with all of my different ways of doing things.

So on my first class wherein I was in charge of teaching them, I announced my failure to ease their transition, and adapt someone else's teaching style. I admitted that I needed a certain environment to be able to teach. I realized that it would be a shock to the system for them.  I am quite a different type of personality.

I desired the traditional formality of Japanese rituals such as bowing, mokuso, and the Dojo Kun.  Yet at the same time, my classes were spontaneous, creative, original, and ironically very organized.  I like to train along with my students. If they do push ups, I do push ups, if they run laps, I run laps.  Yes, there are times when I will pull myself out of
line, and go correct, or guide a student, or watch their performance, but much of the time, I just allow the students to experience karate, and learn to correct themselves.  I'm willing to admit to making a mistake, but in the same breath, I will correct myself, and show what is the better choice.  I purposely will do kata with my students so that they can feel the rhythm, and energy of each kata. I love throwing in mentally challenging activities
that make the students have to go beyond the usual demands, and struggle to cope with new things.  I'm such a blend of traditional Dojo etiquette, and total freedom of constraints.

I'm usually a gentle "mother" of a Sensei.  I chose not to yell, or show anger during class.  When I start to feel frustration, I become silent.  I will sink down into seiza, quiet my mind, and heart, and I control my eyes, calming my body, and face.  Usually the students all end up following my example just out of a confusion of "what is she doing? Are we supposed to do that?"  Then I will speak very quietly, almost in a theatrical whisper,
about the behaviors, or actions that need to be addressed.  Then I explain that we need to remember about this important change, and I provide a more demanding physical exercise such as a good number of squats to help us remember this information.  Complaints only fuel me to give more exercise until we are quiet, focused, and learning about the importance of the moment.

If I have to reprimand a student, first I give them a respectful warning, then I ask them more directly to leave the class, and go sit to the side. When I have set the class into an exercise, and I have time to handle the issue, I will give them the punishment that I warned about. They have to complete the discipline before they can consider reentering the dojo. If the negative behaviour continues, then I get "mean".  I haven't had to get "mean" yet, but one day, the class may discover what it means when an experienced mother of 7 children decides to get "mean".  For now, I will leave it a mystery.  However, I can tell you that my own children's eyes get wide, and their heads nod at the thought that the dojo students do NOT want to experience what this "mean" Sensei would put them through.

Although, the majority of the time, I do not need to reprimand, and discipline. The students respond with energy, and enthusiasm.  They put forth their best effort to accomplish the tasks placed before them.  As long as they are willing to learn, I am happy to teach.  My goal is to offer the gift of karate to those who are interested in walking that path, but I feel strongly that I should not be their motivation.  I can be a role model, I can be an encouragement, I can be a guide, but I cannot do the karate for them, nor force-feed the spirit into them to do what must be done.  It truly is their own walk, and each step of progress will come from their sweat, and effort.

My students deserve to walk their own path in confidentiality.  My diary will not focus on any individuals that walk into my dojo as a guest, a parent, a student, nor in my fellow dojo mates, nor my Sensei, well, unless I  chose to include some praise, or uplifting words about them.  I feel that, as a society, we are far too silent about the goodness of others.

The purpose of sharing my thoughts, and experiences in this diary is to be of a support to other Sensei, and to encourage them in their struggles to reach through time and share the Way of Martial arts with those who hunger with their eyes, minds, and hearts for this knowledge. I hope that the readers of this diary will find moments that they can relate to, a smile for the day, or perhaps a nugget of inspiration for their own classes. 
Welcome to my Dojo and feel free to spend some time with me.