Thank An Instructor
August 30, 2005 – 6:55 amI had an occasion to go into the gym yesterday to pass along a telephone message. Shortly after I entered the room, David Scott began demonstrating how to place leg irons on a combative subject (Jim Booth). It was funny watching David talk his way through the process while maintaining control of Jim with a knee on his back. David didn’t realize it but every time he turned to address the class, he was putting increased pressure on Jim’s back and turning up the pain level.
The thing I found interesting was that all of the other instructors were smiling as they watched Jim’s discomfort because they had all been in that position themselves at one time or another. This was just another “day at the office” for these guys.
It struck me that we have a very special group of people who make up our instructional cadre, not just the DT guys but all of our instructors. If you listen to any group of instructors when they get together, they all have great stories about their experiences in the classroom. You can tell that they honestly care about what they do – teaching isn’t just a duty assignment. Our instructors teach year after year and they receive no extra pay for getting thrown across mats, riding with inexperienced drivers at 70 mph or standing beside someone who is holding a loaded gun in their hand for the first time. Even our classroom instructors spend hours of their own time preparing to teach.
Think about this the next time you attend a class. Instead of bolting from the room when it is time to go on a break or go to lunch, take a minute to say “thank you” to these dedicated individuals who give so freely of their time and expertise.