With my Shodan looming, I've really been thinking about the teaching aspect of Aikido more. I have been doing kids class for a while now (and i've become quite comfortable with it), but I have found that teaching adults is different. As I am being thrust into teaching adult class more (which I am slowly getting more comfortable with) I was wondering: What aspects of the classes (the instruction of) do you like more/get more out of? Do you like going through techiniques quickly or spend a good deal of time on them? That sort of stuff. I'm fishing for some ideas on what good instructors do. I really want to have a good grasp on what I'm doing when I hit Shodan. I feel instructing is a very big part of this. People who have taken class that I have taught: I would love your imput too. What good things am I doing/ what bad things am I doing. Elle and Phil: what should I be concentrating on or thinking about when instructing.

SO, any thought would be great.

Thanks.

Faeth

"Be content with what you have. Rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."

Along these same lines, it is a turn off when an instructor or even senior student appears bored and his/her mind elsewhere.  This tends to happen when they feel there is nothing in the dojo for them anymore.  Every time I've seen this it says to me that the person is in martial arts purely for their own sake and doesn't give a damn about anyone else.  I really like our dojo because the spirit is just the opposite.

I love it when instructors come across that they are sharing what they discovered.  The most memorable teachers to me have been the ones that have the ability to instantly spot what a student is struggling with and help them adjust their technique to almost instant improvement.   It even more remarkable when the teacher can stop short of flooding the student with more than they can process, but still challenge them.  I guess that's just teaching experience, knowing your student's limits and helping them push just beyond them.

Hmm, I could really talk this topic to death but this covers the high points.

From a practical perspective, I like having enough reps to do my own explorations before moving on to the next thing.  I really like the way you work with students and help them out.  You'll make a fine instructor if for no other reason that it is important to you.