Whether you’re new to Karate or have been training for years, it’s always useful to get some one-on-one training every now and again. Sure, regular classes are a great way to learn, but if you can get some one-on-one time with your teacher, you may uncover things about them and about yourself that you hadn’t realized before. Some great advantages are:

Learn the teacher’s teaching method:

This applies more to if you’re new to the Dojo. Every teacher adds a little bit of their own personality into the way they teach. And if you want to learn their method quickly e.g., you’re trying to decide whether the Dojo is for you or not, then getting some one-on-one classes could be very useful.

Paying close attention to areas that need improvement:

Everyone needs to improve! However sometimes, getting that little extra bit of attention can help you improve faster. One-on-one classes provides the opportunity of your teacher to take a closer look at your technique and then offer feedback. Something that they may not have had the opportunity to do during busier classes. One-on-one classes can help Karate practitioners of any level: new, intermediate and advanced.

Get questions answered that you might be too embarrassed to ask during a regular class:

There are no bad questions. However sometimes, you may be feeling a bit embarrassed to ask a question during a regular class. This could be for a number of reasons. Perhaps you feel like you might take up too much of the class’s time, for example. Well, if you feel this way, one-on-one classes can be a great way to get some of your questions answered. Your teacher can take the time to answer your question and ensure that they are providing you with a level of detail that you require.

Learn something new:

I remember when I first started training, I was always very excited to have some one-on-one time with my teacher. Why? Because I was sure to come away from the class feeling like I’d learned something new or special. One-one-one classes can be a great theatre for your teacher to really elaborate on certain concepts and delve deeper into the discussion around these concepts. That’s not all – your teacher can take more time to demonstrate techniques to you and explain why they work the way they do. This is perhaps the most valuable reason to take a one-on-one class. You’re almost guaranteed to come away from it with some newfound knowledge you hadn’t realized before.

Remember, one-one-one classes can help to advance your training and can provide a greater appreciation for your own progress. They can help to identify areas of improvement and can also help to solidify the relationship with your teacher.

Take advantage of this great opportunity whenever you can!

Happy Training!

Sensei Pennell.