Welcome to Episode #79 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Two Teacher Types.” There are two major teacher types in the martial arts. Each has pros and cons, depending on what type of student you are! In this episode, I’ll share my experiences with both teacher types and offer my advice on how to get the most of your training. We’ll discuss— * Earning respect versus expecting it * Security and insecurity * Living in a fun house * Bloopers in art and life * Freedom from anxiety * Losing and gaining power * Opening the door to growth Whew! That’s quite a list. Let’s get started! 🙂 To LISTEN to “Two Teacher Types,” you can either: * Play the show below… or download to your device. * Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play Music or Spotify. To WATCH the video version, or READ a short summary, scroll down below. If you’d like to support this show, share the link with a friend or leave a quick review over on iTunes. Thank you! Oh—and don’t forget to sign up for free email updates so you can get new shows sent to your inbox the minute they’re released. Thanks for listening! Keep fighting for a happy life! Two Teacher Types Here’s the video! If it won’t play, try this direct link. As always, if you’d like to keep the conversation going, feel free to leave a comment here or through my Contact Page. SUMMARY I classify teachers into two types: the “touchable” and the “untouchable”. Untouchable teachers follow an authoritarian model of teaching. They present themselves as having all the answers and do not allow themselves to be seen making mistakes. They typically do not spar or roll with students. In this school culture, respect is expected, as opposed to earned. A touchable teacher is the complete opposite. They present themselves as works in progress. They sweat alongside their students, making mistakes and admitting shortcomings. In this school culture, respect is earned through interpersonal contact, as opposed to reputation or legend. While the untouchable teacher can offer security, inspire confidence, and built trust, this model of instruction tends to lose power over time. Flaws are revealed in spite of trying to hide them. Plus, if each generation of student is led to believe that they are less capable than the previous, the value of what is being taught drops rapidly. The touchable teacher, however, inspires each generation to be better than the last. The touchable teacher find reasons to praise as well as criticize. In this way, the value of what is being taught increases. Overall, the untouchable teacher can be very effective in improving the lives of students seeking security and clarity in the short-term. But in the long-term, the touchable teacher is better able to offer s...