How do I correct someone who outranks me?

Question

I am a red belt in Taekwondo and assist with the beginner class at my school. Recently, a new student joined who got his black belt from another school. He’s attending the beginner class (in addition to advanced) so he can learn our style better. But I’ve noticed a few bad habits. It’s just basic things: he angles his wrist downward when he punches - which I think would result in a broken wrist if he punched a bag very hard. His stances are a little funny, too. I’m not sure how to describe it, but he sort of glides his front foot backward a few inches when he moves forward in front stance … so he doesn’t move as far forward as he would if he kept his front foot planted.

Maybe I’m picky, but I’d expect a black belt to have better technique than that.

I don’t want to just let it go. So, I don’t know how to approach him about this. Should I point it out to a black belt and let them handle it? Correct him myself? Should I do it in class? Before or after class?

How would you feel in this situation?

Thanks!

Answer 1

See, this is the funny thing, and a big part of why I prefer the "reverent irreverence" approach most Bujinkan training takes.

Yes, in a "traditional" school, you might have issues. But remember that you're all students. If you talk away from others and make it a case of "You show me yours and I'll show you mine" (that is, "I noticed that you do things a little differently... Show me? Ah... I see... I was taught this way... It's interesting to see both ways.") you might have better luck.

The thing I've liked about my groups is how informal and close-knit it usually is. I outrank a number of people and still learn from them, just as I'm outranked by people who learn things from me. Even shidoshi (licensed instructors) and shihan have commented on the same thing: The second you close your mind off to one possibility (that is, that someone newer or of lower rank may have a peculiar and better insight), you close yourself off to learning. Moreover, when you lead a group or assist, even if we call it "teaching" it's really not. It's showing, then examining how it changes when other people apply it.

Maybe this is something more unique to those arts that don't focus on competition and demonstration, but it's a beautiful day when you can take the basics and let the form and technique go to just move, and trust that the ability will remain. I'm not sure how to explain this better, but I'm sure there's more than a few here who understand what I mean.

Answer 2

voice your concerns with your instructor and he should correct him preferably after class,if you feel you really must do this then I'd suggest doing it after class,but better letting the instructor try first if possible.

Best wishes :)***

Answer 3

This is one of the reasons I did away with the ranking system. I only issue Yudansha certificates.

I agree with Bluto on this one.

I know 6th and 7th Dan who can't teach me a d**n thing.

Answer 4

As a lesser rank, it is a matter of MYOB (mind your own business.)

Correcting errors is the teachers job, not yours.

Concentrate on perfecting your own techniques!

If it really bothers you, you might want to use the diplomatic approach and ask the higher rank to broaden your horizons by telling you WHY his previous school taught differently.

You never know... maybe his other school was right and your teacher is wrong!

Don't confuse "right and wrong" with "different."

Answer 5

Point it out to another black belt or your main instructor and say you don't feel its right for you to point out a higher ranking's mistakes.

Answer 6

If your instructor has tasked you with assisting with the class, then you have been given the right to correct those who are in the class to learn.  Wearing a belt that is black does not make on e a blackbelt--his school could have been a belt factory, or have very low standards.  If he is there to learn, and you are there to teach, then TEACH.  I have taken corrections from lower ranked people in the past when I worked with people from other styles, I accepted the corrections thankfully.  If this student gives you greif, then tell your instructor, but that student should know that if he comes from another style or school and expects to have mastered the basics of your style and school, then he will be mistaken.

Answer 7

If you club regularly does bag work, let him discover his bad form for himself.

He gets the habit from his stances from training in a confined room. Someone will correct him on it.

Answer 8

well i mostly agree with stslavik about this. it can be approached in a diplomatic way.

An aikido blackbelt once told a story.

He went to japan and was taught a new way of doing a particular ukemi. he went back to his sensei (who was japanese) and demonstrated the move.

The sensei responded with that is how they do it in japan but we are in america.

The sensei wasnt complaining about the technique at all.

Rather he was trying to maintain status as the teacher with a student.

To question what one is taught is never wrong providing it is done with respect and for ones own development.

What the "new" guy is doing may be right for his "japan" but he needs to learn how it is done in the new school.

Perhaps ask him, or your sensei, about what he is doing. see if either of them can explain why the difference is there.

Answer 9

Perhaps you should not say anything.  

A sign of mastery is knowing when you can deviate from the 'rules' and when you should not.

Additionally, if you study him/her and they are truly 'incorrect' then you should be able to exploit that come sparring time.  I would wait until after you dominate them with their flaws before flapping your lips.

If you are so bold as to 'correct' someone, make sure it is not out of the sheer petty urge to make a newcomer feel out of place.  

Answer 10

I remember my instructor telling something about a similar situation and how he handled it. He told the lower rank " You may be right, but your don't have the right". Basically that means you don't correct the upper rank. You did mention that this person wanted to learn your style. That infers that his TKD is perhaps a bit different. It's really up to the Head Master to determine what is right and what is wrong within his school. You should maybe inquire with your instructor by asking him to explain the differences, instead of saying that the Black belt is wrong. That way you won't sound cocky or arrogant.

Answer 11

take a Taekwondo class and see if any body will work with you  

Answer 12

Let the teacher teach and the students learn. If the instructor asks you to help him with your system than you may point it out as a difference. If you are not asked by the instructor than just focus on being your best. I do not let my students correct their fellow students on my floor. You should, however be grateful that you do not have the bad habits of this "higher ranked" student. Old habits are hard to break. We have had students come to us from other schools with as high as second dan with just lousy skills. I find with these as soon as the figure out that they were taught broken art the are at first disappointed than work twice as hard to catch up. Give it time he will either leave or wake up. In the mean time it is disrespectful to your master to interfere.

Answer 13

this is one more reason why ranking systems are foolish....

however- it should be the teacher teaching the class, however some "friendly advice" is not well recieved in the face of belt systems.

Answer 14

To make an analogy, the 'Hello World!' program in various computer languages:

JAVA

class helloworld

{  

        public static void main(String args[])

        {

           System.out.println("Hello World!");

        }

}

JAVA Script

<script type="text/javascript">

document.write('Hello World!');

</script>

C++

#include <iostream>

int main()

{

    std::cout << "Hello World!\n";

}

Python

print "Hello World!"

PERL

print "Hello World!\n";

Windows command line

echo "Hello World!"

The point is that they all produce the same output even if they do it using similar syntax or distinctly different syntax...  Just like a punch or a throw or a kick.

There is more than one way to do things and what might look 'wrong' to you may in reality be nothing more than unfamiliar to you.

This kind of thinking is what leads to the idea that a given style is better than another style.

Maybe it is 'wrong' but then again, maybe its right.  There can, afterall be more than one right answer.

Answer 15

Have your instructor take him aside and fix the problems in private. That will allow everyone to save face and no one will get tweaked.