Summary: <p><img src="/sites/default/files/file_attach/images/Mike_Turbitt_Podcast_0321_200.jpg" style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;float:right;height:200px;margin:5px 12px;width:200px;">In this podcast I chat with Mike Turbitt about his 10 precepts for teaching children. Mike runs a very successful school and the quality of the karateka he produces speaks for itself. It was also Mike who convinced me to start teaching children again. This is a fascinating and information packed discussion that is sure to be of interest to all instructors! Enjoy!</p> <p>All the best,</p> <p>Iain</p> <h3><strong>Mike’s 10 Precepts for Teaching Children</strong></h3> <p><strong>Precept 1: </strong>The aim of Karate is to the improve lives of its practitioners. You have a responsibility to your students and child welfare, which far exceeds your responsibility to your style, system, sensei or tradition.</p> <p><strong>Precept 2:</strong> Understand karate’s values, understand your values, understand children’s values.</p> <p><strong>Precept 3: </strong>Karate takes a lifetime to master, so teach children by meeting their needs not yours. If they don't attend, you can teach them anything. </p> <p><strong>Precept 4:</strong> Make them feel fantastic in every lesson and they come back.</p> <p><strong>Precept 5:</strong> Discipline is correct behaviour at the correct time.</p> <p><strong>Precept 6:</strong> Children’s education and lives are already structured; it is advantageous to work within that structure.</p> <p><strong>Precept 7: </strong>Programs - Follow the school system, they are the experts.</p> <p><strong>Precept 8:</strong> Teach the same thing, to the same class, at the same time.</p> <p><strong>Precept 9:</strong> Public praise. Private correction.</p> <p><strong>Precept 10:</strong> Parents stay during the class.</p> <h3><strong>About Mike:</strong></h3> <p>I started training at the age of fifteen back in the days of the BKA under the instruction of Barry Tatlow Sensei. I was awarded 1 dan in 1981 as part of the Tera group under Takamizawa Sensei. Second Dan followed a couple of years later, and then a small twenty-something year gap until 2005 when I achieved 3<sup>rd</sup> Dan.</p> <p>It was at this grading that I met up with an old training partner, Nigel Davison, who invited him to his dojo in Northampton.</p> <p>It was the cleanest brightest dojo I had ever been in the teaching and the atmosphere was electric. I knew instantly that’s what I wanted to have and do.</p> <p>That was the second week in December, on the third week I attended another old training partner at his school and after training he told me it was to be the last session at that venue as he had had enough. I took over the venue from the 3<sup>rd</sup> of January and so Team Black belt was born.</p> <p>My son Mitch was Seven at the time and to keep his interest I had to create high energy fast paced lessons; I knew if I could keep him motivated, I could keep anyone.</p> <p>We grew and grew; Team Black Belt now has had its own full-time dojo for the last 14 years and regularly (pre covid) teach 300 plus children a week. </p> <p>Oh, and I only teach 4 evenings a week and have holidays!!!</p>
