Wuxin- Black Stripe
(As explained by Sifu Jeff Brinker, November 7, 2024)
The difference between syllabus and curriculum has been defined for years. Unfortunately, we sometimes still struggle with the differences and keeping them in perspective while we are actively teaching on deck.
Syllabus- the tools we use to teach
Curriculum- what we are actually trying to teach
Intellectually, we understand. Practically, we are struggling.
Using the syllabus as a checklist is an incorrect approach. We do not teach the syllabus; if the students know the tools, that does not yet mean they know the curriculum, the heart of our lessons. It is likened to knowing how to use a hammer; many of us know how to use a hammer, but that does not mean we know how to build a house. Our goal is to build a house, the curriculum, not teach about a hammer, the syllabus.
As it has been instructed by Sifu Brinker, the Black stripe will not be given to a student until all other stripes have been earned.
This is not without its reasoning. The Black stripe, Wuxin, translates to “No Mind”. It is the idea of “Knowledge Applicability”. The ability to properly execute a technique cannot be present if a student has not yet earned, sufficiently to their rank, the Yellow, Red or White stripes. How can they be properly applying their knowledge if they have yet to earn/adequately learn their Vocabulary of Motion, Keystone Principles, Six Harmonies?
Wuxin means No Mind
“What we mean by that is, these techniques are yours. You don’t have to think about them, you don’t have to intellectualize them. You just need to execute them and you know how to execute them.”
How can you execute a technique if you are not able to move in a way that allows you to earn Yellow, Vocabulary of Motion, or Red, Keystone Principles, or White, the Six Harmonies?
In order to have Wuxin, you must perform your Vocabulary of Motion, Keystone Principles and Six Harmonies to your rank.
At a minimum.
Because Wuxin is last, it can serve as a “catch all”; stripes that had been earned earlier need to be kept up to expectations in order to earn the Black stripe. Therefore it is again impossible to earn Black before the others.
“Black stripe means you know how to apply your knowledge. If you know how to apply your knowledge then you have the knowledge.”
Therefore, all other stripes must be earned first.
Instructor Investment and Engagement
I want you all to think about this; what are we doing? As a kwoon, what are we teaching? What are our goals? What would be our ultimate home run?
Quick and easy answer is “we’re teaching Kung Fu”. This answer is the equivalent of answering “practice” when defining how to improve your Kung Fu. Well, yes. But I hope we all delve deeper when we’re working on our own Kung Fu, looking at details when improving our skill, applying our understanding after a lesson.
When teaching, the absolute ultimate goal in my mind is the overall wellbeing, now and in the future, of the student or child in front of me. I do not control their diet. I do not control their home life. I do not control any of the events they will experience, positive or otherwise. I do not control what they are taught, outside of the one or two hours a week they are within these walls.
The only way we have any influence over their wellbeing is to give them as much chance to mould it for themselves. To provide as many tools as we can to set them up for success and happiness in their lives, from the moment we meet, and hopefully beyond the last time we see each other. Lasting skills and tools, that is what we strive to provide.
Kung Fu is the vessel for this. I have not chosen to dedicate my life to Kung Fu because it taught me to kick through a board. Whoopdee doo. I give my time and energy because I know the skills it gave me and the impact they had. It opened doors for me, provided opportunities. Opportunities that I had created myself, knowingly or otherwise. Created by me due to the skills and structure given to me by my own instructors.
When developing new drills or new program initiatives, when dealing with the rest of the instructor team, when deciding how to manage a distracting child, keep this goal in mind. How are your actions (or inaction!!!) going to contribute to the wellbeing (or detriment) of the individual in front of you? Does it serve you, the program, this overarching purpose, to reprimand or to encourage? Will anyone grow?
We have an extreme amount of influence on the students, specifically the kids, for better or worse. There is no neutral on this, if you are in the room you are an influence. Your inaction tells a story to the student. Unfortunately, inactions is usually interpreted as the instructor is “too busy” or doesn’t care.
If you believed your instructors didn’t care, would you still be here? Would you have achieved your current rank? Gained any of the benefits?
Be the instructor you want. Knowledgeable, skillful, deeply involved and invested in your future. Willing to get into the thick of it with you, not just watching from the sidelines.
Engagement Over Correction
The success of any student does not rely on their natural skill or ability to apply a lesson. These things can be learned and developed over time. The primary factor is their engagement in their classes and in their success in Kung Fu.
As instructors, this has to be our mandate. Engage, don’t correct. Corrections are critical for the progress of their skill, however they are worthless and inefficient if the student is not engaged. Without engagement, they will not hear their instructors and will not feel compelled to apply the knowledge they are given. Corrections are meaningless in this situation.
Our number one job, and the number one thing on our minds each and every time we step on the mats as an instructor, is to connect with each student. Engage them, encourage them, make them feel safe and happy to be there. They need to know that their presence makes us happy, that we want them there. If we can do this for each student, child or adult, they will become receptive to our lessons.
Corrections should be a byproduct of this engagement. They should be given in the spirit of encouragement, we want them to be the best version of themselves they can be, NOT that they can do better. If what we are thinking is that they should be or need to be better, then we will portray the feeling that they are not good enough. That feeling is a potential cancer to anyone.
It doesn’t matter how quickly they progress or what challenges they currently face. Each and every hiccup is potentially a moment that will make them an even greater martial artist, IF we can help them through the slumps. If not, then it will spell the end of their time in our school. Reprimanding a student for a challenge they are facing is a sure way to push them out the door. Don’t kid yourself, each time a student pushes back or rolls their eyes is a challenge they are moving through. It is our job to help them reach the other side and be better for it.
Curricular Rotation
Starting this month, we are planing to start a curricular rotation for both the kids and adult classes. Part of the reason is to decrease the differences in skill and knowledge between the two.
Although our approach for each class needs to be very different, the skills and development at each level should be the same.
In an effort to determine the validity of our current set rotation, we will be documenting what activities and lessons we give in each class. We need to track and control as many variables as possible in order to determine if the rotation will work in its current state, or if we need to rethink the rotation/approach. The spreadsheet that you will be given access to is where we will be tracking both the rotation and what is covered in each class. It would be ideal if we also wrote out what our intent/approach was for each lesson, our successes and the weaknesses we noted and anything that would help us sharpen our skills and leave breadcrumbs for the next instructor.
Although we need to merge the classes, we still need to approach each class and each lesson with the needs of the students foremost in our minds. This means that we all, as leading instructors, need to plan our classes before we hit the mats, and need to make our plan while taking into consideration what the previous instructors have been teaching, what the students need to progress, and what is next in the rotation. We can’t just come unprepared and pick a lesson based on our strengths or comfort zone; in order for this to work as intended we will all need to innovate and look at the classes as a whole instead of as a single night of lessons.
Something to keep in mind, and I’m sure something we will all need to be reminded of periodically, is that we are teaching a curriculum, a set of concepts and ideals. Not a list of exercises. The syllabus, the document that lists all of the kicks, punches, applications, etc., is only a list of tools we have to help teach the curriculum, and we need to remember to approach it as such. The goal in teaching our students the Six Harmonies is NOT to teach them a long list of forms, but rather to use those forms to increase their awareness and ability to apply the Six Harmonies. Each form is useful to help us in different ways- that is what we need to be thinking of when we are teaching them. What is it about this form that further advances our goal of teaching the Six Harmonies? What concepts are hidden within it?
We are always trying to refine our approach. Hopefully, this rotation will help us ensure the success of all of our students while making the transition between programs or levels easier and more streamline. We have lost students in the past due to the culture shock, and although there always has to be differences between the classes, perhaps we can soften the shock for students as they progress in the system.
Meeting Minutes - June 11, 2022
Stop asking so many questions of the kids, specifically “who knows…”. Often when you ask questions and have one kid answer the rest can’t hear and few of the others are engaged. When you ask “who knows” you won’t get an accurate answer anyways (just run them through the form and you’ll know) plus it comes across as you are not prepared.
When teaching forms, don’t do more than a single rep with the whole class (specifically level 1’s). It causes frustration for the kids who don’t know the form and are being left behind. Get them to go through it together to determine what groups you should create.
Don’t explain drills so much. Especially if drills are constantly changing/evolving. You’re losing most of the class. Just get them moving and the rest of the instructors can do the rest. Less yak, more smack.
No class should end on a downer or negative note. Class structure should be high energy, followed by the meat, finishing with high energy.
Gauge your classes mostly based on the back rows, or the kids who are less engaged. Running a class based on the most engaged kids all the time will while leaving behind the others only causes frustration. Too much of a gap, break up the class.
There should be one person leading the class, the rest are teaching (wandering corrections). If you’re running the class, that should be your main job, all other instructors on deck should be continuously engaging with the kids.
Teaching is found in the interactions with the students, not in the drills. You have to connect with the kids. Find talk to them, get to know them, encourage them. Encouragement is a much stronger tool than punishment.
COVID-19 Protocols and Procedures
Sifu Rybak has created our first response to the current COVID-19 pandemic so please familiarize yourself with the protocols below and make sure you ask questions if there is something you do not understand. It is important that we comply 100% with these protocols and keep abreast as the document is updated as the pandemic evolves. Keep in mind that we are behind the eight ball on some of the supplies but as soon as we have them available, they will be on site.
Remember, our risk of contributing to the outbreak is very low as our class numbers are relatively low. Despite the vast majority of us being of low risk of complications from the contracting the virus, it is the more vulnerable people in our community and homes that we should be concerned about. We do not want to increase their risk of exposure so it is important that we follow these Health Canada guidelines.
I need every one of you to read and acknowledge that you have read the protocols by commenting below.
OBJECTIVE
The protection our our students, our families and ourselves is the first priority. Consistent and routine sanitization of common surfaces and hands. Removal of soiled materials (rags, hand towels, garbage) on a daily basis.
INVENTORY
Items are to be kept in stock at all times.
Clean Rags
Clean Hand Towels
Bleach/Lysol Lysol Wipes/Spray Disinfectant
Windex
Toilet Paper
Kleenex
Hand Sanitizer
Hand Soap
Garbage Bags
PROCEDURES
Personal
Wash/sanitize hands after each class.
Immediately wash and sanitize hands after in obvious contact with bodily fluids (snot, blood, saliva).
Keep a spare uniform on hand in case of obvious contamination (eg. snotty kids).
Arrive to classes in street clothes and change into uniforms on site.
Change back into street clothes before leaving the building.
Launder worn uniforms after each shift.
Training Area
Mats will be disinfected (mopped) at the end of each night.
Mats will be vacuumed and power scrubbed once a week.
All water bottles are to be kept at the rear of the training area (not along the sides).
This area of the mats will be disinfected with Lysol/spray disinfectant after every class.
Common Surfaces
All common surfaces to be sanitized prior to start of classes, at the end of each day and, when possible, between classes. These include:
All door handles
Front desk
Pony wall
Parent benches
Entrance window frame
Boot racks
Washrooms
All instructors must wash their hands after using the washroom.
Single use hand towels will be provided and are to be placed in the provided baskets for laundering.
Spare toilet paper to be kept in the storage room to prevent theft.
Showers are closed to all instructors and students.
Post-Classes
Sanitization of all sinks, counters, toilets and other common surfaces (as listed above) will occur before instructors leave for the day.
Empty all garbages.
Laundering
All dirtied rags and hand towels are to be laundered using bleach and hot water.
Kwoon materials are not to be washed with personal items.
Meeting Minutes - February 18, 2020
New, unified syllabus (same for both kids and adults)
7 stripes, 7 core concepts
Yellow- Vocabulary of Motion (how you move, flow)
White- 6 Harmonies (forms) Red- Keystone Principles (have to become progressively better)
Green- Lifestyle & Leadership (if your lifestyle doesn’t support your Kung Fu, you won’t pass your grading, core values, leadership)
Blue- Traditional Tenets (2000 yrs old, still around for a reason, still relevant)
Orange- Dynamic Control (even with changing situation, exemplified with ability to handle a weapon)
Black- Wuxin (no mind, how you should be able to apply your Kung Fu in real time; no syllabus, last to be earned)
If asked, the answer needs to be specific to each student. What they do7 to earn it or what they need to work on. Specific with weapon forms or hand forms. As specific or vague as needed with keystone principles, vocabulary of motion, etc.
The CURRICULUM has never changed. The syllabus has been changed, yes, but adjusted in such a way to make better black belts, to address the weaknesses that have been noted, make the road better for upcoming generations.
Train to learn the curriculum. Teach to teach the curriculum. The syllabus is just a list of tools. Teach what the class needs, do not just teach to serve a piece of paper.
Keep each other on the right path. If you see one of us teaching just to stripe or knock it off a list, bring it up. If students are asking “what do I need for x stripe?”, this is a warning that they are working to be striped, not to learn Kung Fu.
Need to always apply a high level of control and a high level of discipline in all the classes (eg. 3 points of contact on the stick). Free sparing needs to be taught and not just done. Control needs to be taught and maintained.
This is a learning curve. Ask someone who understands if you do not. Do not just regurgitate answers you’ve heard given; understand why that answer was given to that student. Develop your own vocabulary.
Ego based teaching is the problem (this is not equal to arrogance). For ourselves vs. for the student. Teaching what we know instead of teaching what the student needs. Going into detail and taking away their chance to get the reps in. Even if you have something great to say, consider how it will be received or if it will help.
We need to have each other backs. We have some problem students; we need to be watching for disrespectful attitudes. It can’t be up to the individual being disrespected to enforce.
We need to maintain control and recognize when we’re losing control. In this case, we need a reset.
Make sure you are visible to all students. Be mindful of the guys in the back in the center.
Meeting Minutes - November 23, 2019
Trying to win the war not the battle- need to correct at the right time. We do have a problem with discipline but how we crack down is just as important. We tend to jump in when the kids are participating, maybe just a little enthusiastically.
Tiny Tigers on November 14, 2019-
Separate Lindens and Hoffmans & Lars’s in lines.
Keep in mind parents- don’t let the problem kids be front and center in front of the parents.
Make sure we don’t get distracted by the instructions- make sure we notice the kids beside us and not just where we’re looking.
Be aware of the other instructors- don’t interfere if another instructor is working with a student (successfully). Be aware that we’re blocking the students view and being a distraction if we’re just wandering or standing in the rows.
Need to engage. Just holding a target and then walking away is not engaging.
Need to understand and follow the spirit of instructions, not the letter. You need an understanding so make sure you do, ask if you don’t- you can make things worse if you don’t understand.
Less talk- no need to have a conversation with the kids. If you need to explain then it’s a lesson for the group or should be saved for after class, etc.
To deal with Booth and others like him- need to be decisive and act accordingly. Stop him, don’t chase him. Decisive and compassionate- this is a safety concern.
Knudsen- needs a sense of purpose to the sound focus. He’ll be able to handle the repetitive, loud noises if he has a purpose behind it.
Example- correcting kids when they scream too long, to high, etc. We encourage them to scream then complain when they do it wrong- they need to understand the why (if you’re busy screaming and you’re punched in the gut it won’t go well for you).
Need to be mindful about consistency. If we’re at the front we are all the mirror image. When we count, we count first strike second. Consistent with terminology (switch, sound focus vs. just switch). Everyone from now on- command, sound focus. Command- gets them thinking. Sound focus- gets them reacting.
Lao Gar- kids cannot repeat. However the standard is just shadowing therefore we’re okay. We need to keep this in mind when we’re teaching and helping. Usually teach sequence then technique- when teaching to shadow, need to teach technique before sequence (they don’t need the sequence).
There is no difference between the syllabus for the kids and adults, however there is a difference in requirements. The syllabus is a living document so refinements will be happening as time passes.
Make mistakes, explain if you disagree, tell us your logic, what you’re seeing and why you’re doing.
Meeting Minutes - January 8, 2019
Paige Hall- December 2017
Two stripes in the system, four on her belt. Parents are extremely engaged. Paige’s lack of effort and engagement falls onto us. She is motivated, likes more than she dislikes. According to her mom Paige becomes more accountable when she knows her mom is watching. Experiences from instructors differ. Regardless, we do not have the results. Keep an eye on her; we need to know if we have what it takes to motivate her.
Apparently she does not know what she needs to do to get striped or why she isn’t getting striped (as per her mom).
Passports worked great for her- little goals and direction.
2. We need to reverse engineer why the stripes are off & double check when we enter information. Check in workouts & skills on the overview page (shows only for current belt). Striping to be left to Khona for the foreseeable future.
3. Passports on line may become a possibility (through zen). Sifu Brinker wants any suggestions we have regarding this.
4. Progressive syllabus requirements. Any progress? Don’t hesitate to speak up if you are not interested in participating. High priority.
5. Need to stress- need more doers (healthy guys). Many of us cannot demonstrate some of this stuff but students still need to see it and have that motivation. If you’re good at something, show it off. If you’re not, don’t.
6. Banquet- as of next year our venue is changing. Holy Trinity Church already booked this year. 1/3 the price, includes dishes & sound system. Problem is Saturday Mass at 5-6pm (right during lion dance). Possibility of moving starting time half an hour. If you have any concerns please speak up. Booked for January 25, 2020.
7. Need to line up 6 in a row in BBD. Desbiens was not only in the change room but was being blocked by us while we were helping the new guys.
8. Aubriella Balan-Waege- we need to talk to her parents (need void cheque).
9. Depending on Claire the ABD will be getting shut down. Ryder (maybe), Carter Hanson & Blakely Whitehouse-Strong will be moving out after the next grading.
10. Teaching shoulder rolls- kid to go over shoulder opposite you, grab their head & pull it to the opposite shoulder, throw their legs over. Kids don’t have a chance not to do it. Demo’d by Sifu Brinker.
11. New TT. Idol is Bruce Lee. Make it work.
Meeting Minutes - December 4, 2018
Banquet- looking for ideas to better promote the Pandamonium & increase parent engagement
Pandamonium- considering making it part of farmers days. The fundraising should be occurring throughout the year as part of the intelligent curriculum.
Water bottles, AofK, etc- Why? NOT because we're tree hugging environmentalists. Everyone understands that plastic is bad, but not everyone knows recycling is not universal and nota solution. Change starts with you; what can you do? Responsibility & empowerment. These are the best tools at our disposal to teach empathy and compassion. Students want to reuse a disposable water bottle? No- poor leadership. No one else knows its full of tap water & all it does is send the wrong message & undermine our ability to teach the other kids.
Think about the lion dance, altar, items on the walls; everything has a purpose.
Don't expect a child to transfer information, notices or concepts to their parents. Talk to the parents directly.
Assume children that are acting out, not listening, etc. have some sort of mental limitation. Hands off kids you don't know unless there is a safety issue; physical contact can become a trigger. Students that leave for a duration eg. Cohen Johnson need to be eased back into where they were.
Avoidance as a strategy with anxiety is common. If you allow a student to avoid the situation you are reaffirming avoidance as a strategy and you are doing the individual a disservice.
Animal badges- must be on every uniform. Yitzik to send Khona the spreadsheet from the Tiger Challenge so an animal team winner can be determined.
Please feel free to fill in the gaps.
Meeting Minutes - May 1, 2018
Possible new student with autism (8yrs) signing up. Was in MMA classes in BC, managed to integrate into the main class then the family moved. Will have to gauge whether TT or BBD is most suitable- one-on-one with an instructor for the first few classes best bet. Triggers- loud noises and crowds.
Grading Saturdat- Robbie Percy & Kyle Rempel. The Intent to Promote letters need to be handled properly; had an incident where we could not find Robbie's letter, it had been folded and left on the filing cabinet without anyone's knowledge. Needs to be handed directly to main instructor, signed with grading date and scanned onto their file before they are placed in the Intent to Promote file (in the top wall file inside the door of the office.).
Kids talking during class & instruction- needs to handled, the instructors need to be setting the example.
Too much noise from the penalty boxes, the front desk and from instructors meeting on deck. There should be zero. We can't reign in the parents in the instructors are setting a bad example.
Talking about the classes during the classes is too late- this is why we need meetings before the class. If things go off course, wing it and adapt.
There will be some exceptions (learning zen) however conversations and sign ups are to be moved into the office.
Number 1 reason people quit- The perceived indifference of the instructors.
Instructors are letting their guards down during the IBD, having conversations or doing their own thing. Keep busy, keep engaged with the class and don't stand still.
Deal with sign-ups & parent conversations in the office, therefore no conversations on deck or at the desk.
Deal with Chiasson, Kover & Tomie- expectations should be higher for established families as they set the example. Kids and parents both need to be reigned in, kids can't be coming and going as they please.
Try to handle purchases and payments between classes as much as possible Class notes & skills entries done at the front desk.
Front desk is becoming a disaster- papers and belts everywhere, paperwork being misplaced. Needs to be cleaned up, things handled or put away as they come up. The printer will be moved into the office & the office will be changing.
Need to integrate concept of boundaries more into the classes. Kids are pulling on each other, etc. Teach them how to be aware of body language & use the word "boundary".
Respect must be in classes. Kids need to learn these skills, not just be told to show respect. They need a reason, taught reasons and shown how instead of blindly doing. We need to set the example, we need to be showing them how and we need to be doing instead of saying. We need to be teaching with words other than "respect".
Bowing should be a personal message, not mindless. If it's a bark out during a drill it is not personal. If the class isn't stopped it is not personal. The students need to be thinking of the when and why instead of mindlessly bowing or bowing "just in case"; this isn't showing respect and isn't making them mindful.
Need to get the kids on board with the acts of kindness and fundraising before we focus on the Pandamonium. We can launch Color Your Kwoon in a week or so once the excitement recedes, and use the kids demos in the same way.
Meeting Minutes - February 27, 2018
Adult instructors @ the meetings- if we do follow through and change the meetings to a general instructor meeting we'll need to stop discussing particular kids and anecdotal information unless it pertains to an issue across the board. These types of things should be discussed online anyways as waiting until meetings is too long to address them appropriately and efficiently.
We should be reading these notes after they're posted and referring back to them over and over again. A lot of repetition in the meetings- some of which could be stemmed if we referred back, refocused and refreshed ourselves to the issues.
Make your own notes during these meetings so that everything is in your own language and you're not relying on another's interpretation.
If you don't understand or agree with a direction thats being set bring it up to Sifu Brinker, challenge him. We need to be on the same page and if not we need to be discussing these things.
Chronic tartiness- we need time for pre class meetings before the doors open. Need to be here, changed and on the deck at least 10 minutes before the doors open.
We need to have a set, systemized approach before June (when you loose me). The parents aren't seeing the value of the extracurricular stuff (passports, projects, pandemonium) and if it continues these projects are doomed. This needs to be addressed in the next 8 weeks.
Sifu Brinker needs better access to the instructors.
All instructors need to understand the direction the classes are being taken and the vision for the classes as it stands. This is different than agreeing- first understand and move forward with it, then challenge if you see fit.
Think about the level of commitment you can give to this approach, i.e. being here early enough for a 10 minute meeting prior. Let Sifu Brinker know if this is going to be an issue. If so, we need to find an alternative that will accomplish the same things (more meetings, most likely).
July- I'll be gone (Khona) along with Dan (gone for 2 weeks). The remaining instructors are going to have to take on a major role. Having a system in place will be vital. Note that the Csillag's will be gone on several days during the summer, including July.
The curtain on the store room MUST be closed at all times. Zero tolerance. The image of this school has been built up over decades and something like leaving the curtain open wipes out all that work. It has been shown that people associate clutter with lack of safety.
As noted by me (Khona) even when we're engaged with a child we need to stay aware of the class in general. If you're working with one kid and another is lighting a fuse elsewhere and no-one notices it creates huge problems.
All conversations at the front desk (incl. between Lisa & myself) need to be quieter. Conversations with parents should be moved into the office. Eventually signups should be moved into the office as well. No conversations on the deck during classes (this doesn't include instructions, just two way conversations that require conversing back and forth, back and forth). If a conversation is needed, pull the instructor into the office.
Meeting Minutes - January 30, 2018
Grading Saturday- Willoughby & Chiasson
Willoughby- tartiness is getting better but we need to have a zero tolerance approach; talk to his mom if it continues.
Last for a student is defined by arrival after we bow in. We need to have a conversation with the kid first followed by a conversation with the parents. This should become part of a stripe (probably green); if a kid is late they loose the stripe. ***Tartiness is part of the lessons but not a factor in the stripe until it becomes an issue*** This can't be binary; if it doesn't serve a purpose then theres no reason to do it.
Involve Sifu Brinker if it becomes an issue.
Bullying- is a perceived imbalance of power. Chronic conflict isn't necessarily bullying unless there is a power imbalance. We should be teaching these concepts every day in classes as life lessons and organically, never sitting down and lecturing. The green stripe needs to reflect this (the life lessons & the curriculum, not memorization of facts & presentation of them).
Banquet- Sifu Brinker wants to have a kids demo using the kids that will be there and determined by their strengths so that rehearsal is unnecessary. Need to look at the list to determine what students we have and where we can go from there. Need to be done by this weekend.
Need to clarify with students that people without tickets won't get in like in previous years. Also clarify there will be assigned seating & schedule; doors @ 5, program @ 5:30, dinner to follow
Mightybell- keep note and bring up any notifications you don't get. Having some issues with notifications in certain groups, want to make sure the system is working. If you post something and receive no comments or acknowledgement reach out to find out why.
Meeting Minutes - January 9, 2018
Coen Johnson- refusing to participate in classes on occasion. He has gotten better but has regressed since taking time off over Christmas. Instructors need to be consistent when dealing with him and he gets no warnings anymore; he knows the rules.
Jessica Johnson- showing defiance towards instructors (Lisa)
Mediocrity seeping into the school; Fodor (intermediate adults) is close to being thrown out because of his attitude and disregard for fellow student and instructors. If he's been allowed to act this way in his class it goes to say there is mediocrity in other classes as well.
Need to become binary on discipline.
**No one will make the class wait. If they do they're done for the day.**
Look at these instances as missed opportunities; we have a chance for a great life lesson but if we let the kids get away with these things not only are we missing the chance we are also harming them and the rest of the class.
Riley Coombs & Jacob Johnston grading. Hayden Chiasson being held back by parents of the second month. We need to talk to Katy to ensure he is not going to fall into a slump.
Remind the parents that they have the ability to override the teachers if they feel the need to when we talk to them about grading and the intent to promote.
Leigh Willoughby- perpetually late; need to take action on this and talk to his parents. Sifu Brinker has talked to his dad (note in front desk) so we need to wait and see if anything changes.
Instructors Pay and Subs
Only paid for classes we attend. No more coverage UNLESS it's proper coverage approved by Sifu Brinker and the heads of the programs (Lisa, Tania or Khona depending on program). We will in the future have an approval process. At the same time we need to be encouraging and training other individuals so that they can become approved. One if us needs to be specifically assigned to the trainees
*We need to pay our subs. We are responsible for this, it won't be deducted from our pay.
**We cannot be late! It causes damage to the school. If you're walking in when the doors are open and students are arriving you are late. We'll be deducted for arriving late.
Meeting Minutes - November 28, 2017
Hayden Chiasson- will not be grading this Saturday due to some issues at school.
Sam Percy- has tactile issues; need to start poking him a bit (not literally) to try to get him used to touch and ready for more contact
Sam Tomie- we need to be consistent in our approach with her- when she starts getting anxious we need to get her to calm down and focus without resorting to injury. Let her get a drink and take a minute away from the class to collect herself. Nichole is on board with this approach and will be working on coping mechanisms at home with her.
Capacity of TT- 32-38, but is dependent on the student we have and what we can handle at the time. Ratio is 7:1, but if we have a few kids who need a bit more attention then we'll decrease our enrollment
Bows- need to sort it out. If they need to be amped up then don't let the bows disrupt that. Use when .appropriate. When it is used the students need to be mindful. We also need to have very clear, loud instruction. Don't set the kids up for failure.
Fixing the bows will start with us- we need to be 100% mindful.
We have turned the corner and reached equilibrium. Well done guys.
TT- wean off relays & ossicle sources. They can be used but should be exception and not the norm.
Don't beat a good idea to death.
Don't leave everything to one individual; think and fill in the gaps.
Kids demos- move to Pandamonium. Possibly do a demo at the banquet with just the top students.
Need to start thinking about the kids awards. I'll post separately for that.
Meeting Minutes - November 7, 2017
Sparring- Brenda was told that Mackenzie McGregor quit because she was getting hurt while sparring. We need to change the students expectations; this has a risk and there will be times that kids get hurt. We need to make sure the kids feel safe and are safe but at the same time they need to toughen up.
Sam Tomie- seems to be using injuries to deal with anxieties. We need to be very sensitive to this, talk to her parents and develop a strategy to help her.
We will never have a systemized approach; our approach will always be dependent on the individual and the individual situation. This is how we are consistent- we always consider the individuals and circumstances.
Kids moving to adult classes- try to catch on 7 stripes, but it'll be dependent of the kid and situation. If we catch them on 7 they will move before they grade and we will try to catch them up before they grade and are promoted. Use it as a shock and try to improve motivation. It's safer to move them at 7 because they won't be specifically focused on something. Kids are usually moved due to lack of motivation therefore we do not grade them before and resultantly reward mediocrity. We move. motivate, get some improvement and then reward.
Minimum standard for que belts- as much as we can get from them before we move them up. This means more will be expected from Bruce Lee than Peewee Herman.
Tiny Tigers- still needs some work as demonstrated but Pruden, McLean & Johnson. Need an 'explosion' every 30 sec - 1 min to refocus them and regain their attention. Also need to vary drills for right and left brain, imagination vs. goals & math.
Bowing needs to be addressed in all classes. As per the Tiger Challenge the kids do not know how to bow. We cannot let substandard effort slip by anymore.
Meeting Minutes - October 10, 2017
Tiger Challenge
we need to change & improve our vocabulary
we have to talk to the parents; the benefits are too abstract for the kids so it's the parents who need to understand and make the decisions, to see the benefits. We should be talking to the parents one on one and tracking who we've talked to and who we have not.
the conversation has to be different for the LL & TT; the benefits are different since the expectations are different. Should be reinforcing the concept of healthy competition.
we need to better document the event as a whole, maybe somehow free up Yitzik so he can be our photographer
we also need to know how to navigate the website and mighty bell in order to help the parents find the forms. Which reminds me, I can't find the forms on Mightybell, except for the one you sent me, Yitzik
Coen Johnson- there has been major improvement from what Sifu Brinker has seen. However, we need to stay 100% consistent with him and all of our students. 99% consistent is inconsistent. We need excellent communication amongst ourselves to ensure w'er all on the same page and all aware of kids and issues. If you're not the right one to handle a specific situation don't ignore it, ensure the right instructor is aware and is on it.
Bullying- Lisa's note on Jessica Johnson's file is a must read. "It can also take away from the lessons we teach if we are hammering on the kids in a very blatant way instead of having them learn to think and learn empathy.". We need to be laying out a pattern and letting the kids connect the dots- just telling them these things won't sink any further for them then it already has. We teach self defence and conflict resolution, NOT how to fight. We should be developing our vocabulary and understanding through our personal blogs.
Contractors vs. Employees
If you need time off ensure it's in the calendar asap. We don't want multiple instructors gone at the same time. If someone else has booked time off please do what you can to ensure you are there. There are times when we can't help but be missing multiple instructors but we need to keep these times at a minimum.
If your backup does not show up you do not get paid. Anything else changes the relationship from contractor to employee. YOU MUST GET BACKUP.
You are entitled to deductions as a contractor. Talk to Sifu Brinker if you have questions regarding this.
The value of participation - it's difficult to inspire others to do something or be somewhere when you yourself are unwilling to do or be there. Participation will make our jobs easier in the long run and go far towards inspiring our students.
Meeting Minutes - June 11, 2017
Apologies for taking so long. Here's the meeting notes from last Tuesday- please add anything I missed.
Caylinn Dyble- are class may be what she needs. Set a goal for her that she can meet so that we can catch her on a high. Sifu Brinker had the idea of setting 150 (or something) acts of kindness she needs to complete and document before her grading. Has anyone talked to Paul about this?
Rowan Johnson- has a very overdue homework assignment that needs to be dealt with. Need to check if it's still relevant or if it's fixed. If it is still relevant we need to rework it so that it can be effective for her. Talk to her about it. Chantal, where are we with this?
Avery Rudelich- time to move up to the adults. He's grading in July (also taking July off) so the move would work on his return. Yitzik, I know you talked to his dad before about this, where are they at?
Need to make sure we are taking responsibility and being accountable for these guys, all of them, no matter their situation. Don't write off a kid with slow progression due to attendance, attitude, etc. If they're missing classes then we obviously haven't been engaging them enough in class. Something else is more important to them.
Engagement- we tend to go to the extremes; all fun, no meat or all meat no fun. We need to find the right balance where the kids are having fun but learning kung fu. Classes need to be high energy with excitement and kids need a real sense of accomplishment. Building in thinking requirements into the drills is one way. Building pertinence into the classes, real life issues, so the kids and parents alike can start connecting the dots.
Need to practice our vocabulary, build it up and connect the dots for everyone with a why. We can only get better by practicing so look for opportunities to build it in without stopping the class.
Less yack.
Calendar- we must be using the calendar. If we're not or not getting cover then we are not contractors and we can be owing CPP & UI. Big, ugly consequences if we're not doing this properly.
I know a lot more was said but I was busy listening and not taking notes. Please add your two cents in.
Meeting Minutes - May 2, 2017
Foreword- I was a bit foggy last night so there are holes in my notes. Please help me out and fill in anything I missed and/or details I glazed.
Went over the kids stripes- need to keep this current and in the front of our minds.
Move Killkenny, Balin & O'Connor up to the adults class together, asap. Killkenny is grading this weekend so best if we can move them for first thing next week.
Noah Saidler is making the switch permanent. Talk to Erin again about having Calin Yakimchuk join the adults class when he returns.
We have an opportunity to redirect the advanced class for the next while. Prepare them for adult as many of them will be moving this year.
Pandamonium needs to be kept separate from the fundraiser- Pandamonium is on the 27th, Kind-Act-Athon started on the first.
Ask yourself why you are here? Keep that in front of you always and it will help you teach.
Couple notes from myself- Carter Hanson actually had 6 stripes, not sure when he got his green but it was not recorded in the system. This has been corrected. Additionally he received his last stripe tonight.
Jordan Carreau has an outstanding task that was assigned November 16th- Sifu Csillag and I both have talked to him regarding it. It is currently in the way of his red stripe and after that the only stripe left for him is green. It's in his hands. I talked to him tonight again and let him know the two things I want to see him fix, including the task in his book.
Meeting Minutes - April 11, 2017
Need to ensure we're on time, meaning 10 minutes before classes. Everything is perception and the perception if we're late is that we don't care and are unprepared. Be shinier products.
The school is not a democracy but also not a dictatorship. Please contribute and feel free to speak up, however the final decision will always be up to one guy (Sifu Brinker).
RE: Student Passports
Stripe mentors need to be 100% over and done with in all forms; the system failed because we were teaching to stripe vs. teaching kung fu. Teach kung fu, the skill and therefore stripes will follow.
The passports will only be valuable if they are being used properly. Meant for the students, not parents. Tasks are not to be written for the parents and need to be presented in such a way that they are easily understandable and legible. Concise.
Tasks must have a beginning and an end, not just written information or correction. Must be fast, kids need the ability to get them done within approx. 48 hrs or over a weekend so that they do not tire and lose motivation to complete them while still getting the benefit.
Only assign a kid one task at a time. If there is a task already outstanding keep yours until it is completed.
After that I quit taking notes so if you guys can fill in the blanks it'll be helpful. Please and thank you.