04/03/2023
Just over a year after he joined us (Shall we keep him team? His probation period is now up?), now it's time to hear from Mr Ogden, in his own words, about his experience of Instructor Training & his journey so far...
I never set out to want to become an instructor! When I started in martial arts, it was a form of exercise and an activity to do with my family. Very quickly though I thought that Tang Soo Do was so much more than that and I really began to enjoy and believe in the discipline, ethos and knowledge that learning the art was teaching me. I felt like I wanted to help develop the next batch of students.
It all started out by simply holding pads for other students in class and helping new students get used to the way things worked in class. From there, Master Parkinson suggested I look at going on the Assistant Instructor Training (AIT) programme that the organisation runs. Not long after I had started my AIT, I was asked to do the warm up session in the class (incredibly nerve wracking at the time) but with the experience I had already gained and the techniques I had learnt at AIT I got through it and have never looked back since.
From there I found I started helping out more in the classes (warm ups/pad holding/working with smaller groups) which allowed me to development my teaching skills while at the same time building my confidence stood at the front.
I then moved on to the Certified Instructor Training (CIT) programme which looked at the business and advanced training aspects of running a Martial Arts Centre. Around the same time, Master Parkinson at the Bury centre asked if I would be happy to lead the Tiger classes more regularly to increase my exposure and experience in teaching Martial Arts. This really allowed me to bring my AIT/CIT elements together and look at developing them in collaboration with the Syllabus that all classes work to.
Not long after I have gained my Black Belt, I took up an opportunity to take on teaching full time at both the Prestwich & Oldham Centres. This was a fantasy opportunity that I grabbed with both hands and I haven’t looked back since.
I have since used my CIT skills and knowledge to take over the running of the Middleton Centre. This brings a whole new set of challenges, but one that with the training of the AIT/CIT programmes, along with the guidance and experience of my fellow instructors and the Family Martial Arts Centres Leadership team, is one I am thoroughly enjoying and allowed me to realise my ambition of running my own centre.
You get opportunities within both programmes to get some practical experience thorough a mixture of role play and real class demonstrating, which allow you to develop your own teaching style, while at the same time getting constructive feedback which allows you to improve and develop to become a great instructor.
I am currently working four days a week at full time centres and running my own part time centre one day a week, and it’s a full on commitment, but one that has so many rewards for me. In the future I hope to be able to expand the part time centre at Middleton and turn it into a full time centre, building on what has already been done, to create a hub in the town for students of all ages and backgrounds to come and learn martial arts and start their own Tang Soo Do journey, and maybe become the next generation of Martial Arts Instructor!
