Purpose Changes How You Move

I am a man who helps children with disabilities build a 'better life' and a 'healthy body' through Kendo.
And I am Sato, a developmental support Kendo instructor who is disappointed that the event was canceled.

I was really looking forward to the event, though.
I thought I might be able to introduce a bit of Kendo play.

The next event is on Wednesday, February 11th (a national holiday).
It will be held at the Koji Gymnasium, so it's indoors and a bit more reassuring.
Let's pull ourselves together and do our best.

Now, this time.
I'd like to talk about motivation.
I think everyone somewhat knows that the speed of improvement differs between being forced to do something and doing it of your own free will.

After all, the time when you think 'I want to do this!' of your own free will is also the time when you grow the most.
Conversely, when you are thinking 'Should I quit...', there is almost no growth.

Which means.

Instructors must provide guidance that motivates!

You think so, right?
I used to think so too.
But you see.
This is ultimately just semi-coercive guidance from the instructor's side.

'Hey, how about that! You're motivated now, right!? This is fun, isn't it!! Don't you want to make it even more fun? If so, get more motivated and work hard!'

That feels a bit stifling.
Even though I do Kendo, I dislike the 'jock' mentality, and I realized the harmful effects of this.

(It's similar to when you force your body to move by drinking energy drinks.)

This means that without the energy drink (stifling guidance), you will burn out immediately.
It's hard on the children, but it's also hard on the instructor.
Depending on the number of children, the instructor will burn out.
Furthermore, where this way of thinking leads is

'I'm teaching so enthusiastically, so if it's not getting through, it's the fault of the children who won't listen properly!'

Right?
Because, you are [doing the right thing].
If correctness isn't understood = evil.
That's how it is, isn't it.

Since realizing this, my teaching policy has been

'To prepare the soil so that when the child becomes motivated, they can grow significantly.'

I try to do that.
When I do, the child grows rapidly, so they become even more motivated, and the sense of achievement and fulfillment is different, isn't it.

In the first place, motivation is not something that comes from being forced by someone else.
However, it is important for the instructor to

not miss the moment when a fire is lit in the child's heart

is what is important.
Speaking in a loud voice, forcing them to listen, and teaching in a way that is easy for yourself.
I think this is the instructor's self-indulgence.

Prepare the soil so that children can grow up healthily, and provide guidance without missing the moment when they become motivated.
It is difficult, and in a sense, a tiring task.
However, once you are able to do that, I think there is nothing more enjoyable about teaching.

I use this kind of logic to motivate myself, having been forced to get off my duff when my son asked me to put on my mask and teach him, even though I found it troublesome.

They were also able to perform zanshin properly.
They were like snails, but they are now growing at the speed of a turtle.