Level 1 Fundamentals vs Level 2+
Fundamentals are the cornerstones not only of martial arts but of any discipline or skill. Our Level 1 foundational classes are crucial for everyone, from beginners to experienced practitioners, as they provide the time needed to continually refine core skills if you aren’t already doing it on your own. These fundamentals are rooted in first principles thinking, forming the basis upon which all advanced techniques are built, ensuring a solid foundation for continuous growth.
Level 1 vs. Level 2 Classes: Level 1 classes can often be mistaken as just for beginners, but they are actually fundamentals classes. When teaching these classes, I teach the audience that's there: simplifying concepts for complete beginners while also introducing "advanced basics" for the more experienced students who show up. This approach demonstrates how fundamental concepts apply at deeper levels, enhancing their understanding and application of more advanced techniques. It's important to remember that the goal isn't to perfect every technique immediately, but to build a strong foundation over time and the techniques itself will improve one many levels. It's like constantly sharpening a knife, continuously honing your skills to make them more effective and efficient. It’s also like laying the groundwork like the foundations of a skyscraper – each level relies on the strength of the foundation below it. If the foundation is weak, every level above becomes unstable - in the really bad cases, progress completely plateaus .
A bit more about Level 2 Classes: In Level 2 classes, we spend more time on advanced techniques and concepts. Since fundamentals are assumed knowledge, we delve deeper into complex skills, strategies, and introduce sparring concepts. This structure allows for more in-depth practice, exploring the nuances of advanced techniques with greater focus. Relatively new jiu-jitsu practitioners are welcome to join, but they should understand that there will be less hand-holding. They need to rely on their understanding of fundamentals and be prepared to encounter things they don't fully grasp yet. I would only move a beginner back to strictly Level 1 if their participation impedes the flow of the class. Otherwise, if they can keep up without affecting the broader learning of others, they are welcome to join.
Future Level 3 Classes: In the future, when Level 3 classes are permanently available on the timetable, they will focus more on more intense and competitive situations. For jiu-jitsu, this primarily is for preparing for competition. For kickboxing, the focus will be on working towards resilience in hard sparring, and for MMA, it will involve preparing for competition and fights as well. Currently, Level 3 classes are added as needed, such as when there's a significant number of people competing. However, as skill levels improve across the board, I can look at making Level 3 classes a permanent part of the timetable.
So, just a reminder: Level 1 classes aren't just for beginners. They aren’t about learning the things “new people” learn but about working on fundamentals. Even if you know the material, these classes give you an opportunity to drill and pick up details you might have missed before. For disciplines like wrestling and MMA, where we currently have only Level 1 classes, mastering these core fundamentals can make you highly proficient. It's when I see a significant number of students with strong fundamentals that I start considering introducing Level 2 classes as needed. It might seem like you’re not learning a vast array of techniques, but the ones you do will be so well-honed they’ll serve you exceptionally well, even at a competitive level. Trust the process.