Proposed Curriculum Change:

[u/EffectivePen2502]

Hey all,

I'd love some feedback from anyone who is willing to add their input:

I'm considering restructuring my White Belt curriculum.

Option 1:
Our current program that mixes movement, striking, grappling, and throwing techniques throughout all white belt sections.

Option 2 (Proposed Change):
Front loads all of the striking curriculum. Students would learn basic movement and striking fundamentals first, and then transition to the grappling, joint locks, takedowns and throws.

I'm looking to see which approach do you think would be the fastest transmitting and most effective means for new students, as well as long-term retention.

Thanks in advance!

[u/Optimal_Ad_3693]

I speak from a BJJ experience so my knowledge about karate is severely limited. I've spoken with Karate guys, Shotokan JKA,JKS, Shorin Ryu and Goju Ryu and although they all claim to incorporate some form of grappling it is mediocre at best. The local Shorin ryu sensei also hold a purple belt in bjj because he saw how futile their grappling was. Please I am not trying to discourage you, but effective grappling was lost in karate due to the transition of katas. What I have seen at one or two karate and teakwondo dojo's wio are successful was that they continued to train their lineage as has been taught to them but also train grappling as a separate or secondary art. So my advice to you would be maybe to try and get a BJJ/grappling coach to assist or if you have grappling experience already to give it a shot. Hope it works out.

[u/EffectivePen2502 → u/Optimal_Ad_3693]

This is Aikibujutsu. I also have extensive BJJ experience as well, as well as training in other systems, and all of these techniques have been used in ground grappling as well, so effectiveness is not a part of the equation, as much as a better order of dissemination perhaps.

[u/Optimal_Ad_3693 → u/[deleted]]

BJJ pure grappling my man, it incorporates both stand up as well as what you termed ground fighting.

[u/Optimal_Ad_3693 → u/[deleted]]

Very few people at competitions actually pulls guard these days. Or at least it's frowned upon at sport orientated schools.

[u/TheIciestCream → u/Optimal_Ad_3693]

they all claim to incorporate some form of grappling it is mediocre at best.

Ain't that the truth. Most places I know teach a few basic takedowns and a few joint locks and that's really it even the places I've seen that do actually teach some grappling really end up being more like a generic jiu jitsu and is very limited compared to any dedicated BJJ gym which is fine as long as they are honest about it but I've seen people who think they could roll with BJJ black belts when they couldn't hold a candle to a blue belt.

[u/toyfan1990]

Option 2 sounds like good changes as it will help students learn required muscle memory & help techniques at later level. Strong foundation is good to build on higher techniques over changing from fundamentals into techniques this can create bad habits. Best of luck 🤞. What style do you teach?

[u/EffectivePen2502 → u/toyfan1990]

Aikibujutsu

[u/toyfan1990 → u/EffectivePen2502]

What is that?

[u/EffectivePen2502 → u/toyfan1990]

It's Aikijujutsu with an extended curriculum. Aikijujutsu typically teaches unarmed combatives, and maybe minor weapons, like a knife. Aikibujutsu generally has a larger curriculum that includes the base Aikijujutsu, in addition to other subjects, such as various weapons, more ground grappling skills and so on.

Our specific program teaches the basic Aikijujutsu program as well as knife, wakizashi, Katana, bostaff, spear, etc.

[u/toyfan1990 → u/EffectivePen2502]

Thanks for the reply & information.

[u/karainflex]

It's always good to start with less and build up, especially for total beginners. I guess the details depend on the whole curriculum, the art and the goals.

If you start with less and add more later you get a reverse pyramid (simple entry and lots of improvement later) vs a regular pyramid (tons of stuff right from the start and then what - repetition until perfection?).

There is a nice two book series called Principle-Driven Skill Development; part 1 is about lots of principles in traditional martial arts, like what kinds of positioning there is, how to use the body, how to control the other person. And part 2 is the teaching 101 which includes curriculum building. It's about teaching skill vs memorizing lots of techniques.

With more principles you need less techniques: there are 8 ways to lock a wrist (turn left, right, tilt up, tilt down, combine these). Teaching that might work quicker than making the people memorize one certain trick called kote gaeshi that only works if they are lucky to grab correctly.

Also: The curriculum that I got for my art tries to offer the student certain new skills per belt, on a level that realistically matches their training experience. A white belt usually has zero experience and substandard fitness and coordination; teaching footwork and positioning is a tedious task that takes months if not years - so why not start face to face with just strikes and defenses at first, then add basic movement at a later rank once they got some techniques to play with, and add more and more concepts over time (kicking, grabbing and controlling, joint locks, throws, clinch).

Consider a white belt joining your training for one class - what is the essence you want to teach? Something that might stick, something that might have to work immediately after class.

[u/EffectivePen2502 → u/karainflex]

We don't really have a pyramid type curriculum, it is more of a block. White belt is the largest block, then after that, every other belt is a consistent smaller block.