The greatest job of all

Being a sensei may look like a scary job, but it's one I wouldn't trade for the world. It takes a little effort, but it gives me so many benefits I would not have imagined before.

I remember the first time that my sensei invited me out in front of the class to take the basic strikes. I'm a very confident person and I knew the order well, but let me tell you, on that occasion, my heart was pounding and I was scared stiff. It felt like a very great honour. I can't remember if I got the order right that day - I suspect not - but that experience was to greatly improve my karate. From then on, I really started to think about my karate, and I really started to pay much closer attention to everything that happened in class.

My regional sensei invited me to join the sempai training program so that I could train to help out in class. It involved helping out in class, taking different sections under supervision, and generally learning the ropes. At the time, I declined. I felt that my karate was okay, but it was nowhere near the standard that I thought I ought to have if I was going to be standing out in front of class on a regular basis.

Some time later, my branch sensei moved on, leaving my class without a regular instructor. I felt then that the time was right to offer myself as a trainee, and I approached my sensei. He accepted my offer, and along with a fellow student, we proudly donned our black and white belts and started learning to be senseis.

Eventually, we took our first class together, and I remember we spent hours on the phone discussing our lesson plan. For the next month or so, we followed the same pattern, diligently planning out our classes for hours on end - and usually discovering that there was never time to fit all of our stuff in!

Nowadays, I teach solo. I've been teaching for about eight years. I've gotten into a routine now. I take a long bath on class night and whilst I soak, I mentally plan out the sort of class I'm going to run. Sometimes I use Kancho's book to give me some inspiration, or just to refresh myself on exactly how he teaches the basics, and sometimes I use other reference material or notes I took at the previous week's sensei training. When I finish my bath, I quickly jot down a very loose lesson order for the junior and senior classes on a piece of 5x3 card, and I take that to class with me in case I need a prompt. Occasionally after my bath, I rewatch some of my kata videos just to make absolutely sure that I'm teaching kata exactly as Kancho intended, or I might even try out some moves, especially if we're trying something a little more challenging that night.

Since becoming a sensei, I've come to realise that it offers so much on many levels to both me and the students. Week after week I get to see what a great difference karate makes in people's lives. All that stuff the SDCs say when they tell folks about GKR isn't just sales pitch - it really is true. I see overweight adults get in shape, I see unruly kids learn discipline, I see shy kids blossoming, I see unemployed or older adults gaining a new sense of self-esteem, I see disabled people getting stronger and learning new skills, I see timid housewives learn how to defend and assert themselves. And do you know what the best bit is? I'm the one helping them to become better, more confident, happier people!

It's not as if I'm some kind of saint or guru - no way. I'm just a coach, helping people to discover the abilities and strengths that already lie within them. I take my role very seriously, and I really love my students. I feel so proud for them when I see them developing as martial artists and as people. The cool thing is there's no trick to being a good sensei. GKR karate is the magic ingredient! All I have to do is serve it properly week after week. The basics are not terrifically complicated, yet they're the foundation for everyone's success, so we always go through them diligently each week. Of course, we might jiggle the order around, or arrange them into combinations to keep things fresh, but we always cover the basics. After that, we can focus on one element that needs development, be it kata, or kumite, or self-defence, or whatever.

One of the great things about being a sensei is the fact that you receive the very best training, and it's free! I can turn up to any class and train for free. I also get to train with my regional sensei every week, where I can learn not only to improve my karate, but also my people and teaching skills.

For me, being a sensei is about a series of priceless moments that will stay with me forever. I will always remember the day that one of my teenaged students who'd always been bullied, won silver in kumite at tournament against much bigger and older opponents. And I look at a special six year old boy whose therapist has reported to his mother how much karate has helped as physiotherapy in overcoming a childhood muscle condition. And I think about the really quiet, feminine mum who only trained to keep her kids company, but who turns into a fighting machine the second you put a pair of mitts on her, and won a world championship medal. And I think of the way the kids in my junior class chuckle and get so delighted at some of my teaching methods. I have dozens of such moments to remember, and it makes me proud to have been a part in my students' success.

Some people do charity work, some people fundraise to help animals. I'm a sensei and I help people to feel good about themselves. The chance to make a difference in people's lives is a rare privilege - if your sensei offers you the chance, think twice before declining. Saying "Yes" might be the best thing you ever do for yourself.