Finding the right coach for you is essential for you a long lasting relationship with any sport. Your coach will affect your opinion and attitude towards the classes and your journey. Passion for Jiu Jitsu and Kickboxing and the desire to continue learning are also key factors to reaching your martial arts goals. Not every coach/student pair is a match made in heaven and that is ok.
Communication
Martial arts requires both verbal and physical skill. Finding someone you are able to communicate openly and easily too will make learning much more productive. Everyone has different communication styles and they way you receive and send messages with a coach is important. Some people do well with direct communication while others do not. Some coaches like to tell stories while teaching and students can love or hate it. You find what works for you. Being able to receive constructive criticism takes practice but seems to come easier when it is from someone you trust and respect.
Knowledge
A good Jiu Jitsu coach does not need to be a black belt or a world champion competitor. Same goes for a good kickboxing coach. A high level competitor does not always translate into being the worlds greatest coach. The coach should have fundamental and technical knowledge of what they are teaching. They should still be a student and always learning to sharpen their own game to sharpen yours. Each coach has an area of expertise which is why most athletes have more than 1 coach.
Patience
A teacher is a special breed of human. They are patient…extremely patient. Patient with new students and with old who are still trying to master new skills. Patience is contagious and when a coach displays patience, it trickles down to the entire group. We remember we were once the new kid who didn’t know anything. Practicing patience in your life is important so you don’t easily get frustrated, a lesson we all can learn. A good coach takes the time to explain things in different ways and show students things over and over until it clicks. This is how coaches build strong relationships with their students.
Coaches should be walking around helping students and answering questions. They should be watching you train and give you feedback. A good coach gives you time on and off the mat. They care about you as their student and as a person.
There comes a time when you, the student, is the coach. Coaching your teammate and partner. It is important to demonstrate the qualities we discussed. As a seasoned student and higher ranking member, it is your duty as a martial artists to help the same way a coach would.
