Instructor
levels are based on time involved with Plato’s Cave or one
of its previous incarnations.
|
- the University of
Maryland Martial Arts Club
- Maryland Martial Arts Association
- The George Washington Martial Arts Club
- The American University Martial Arts Club
- The Howard Community College Martial Arts Club
- The Capitol Area Martial Arts Association
- Comprehensive Training Concepts
- Plato's Cave |
All
Plato's Cave instructors are also a minimum of apprentice
level as an instructor in at
least one of the martial art curricula trained at the Cave. Tenure (time in)
does not automatically bestow instructorship. Instructors must
demonstrate not only the requisite skills and content knowledge, but pedagogical skills
as they relate to teaching of martial arts as well as a
concern for the students.
Instructors are expected to lead by example and show a high
level of dedication, motivation, and character. Instructor
ranking is determined by the chief instructor in consensus with
all senior instructors. The following table lists the minimum time
requirements for the various instructor levels:
|
- Senior Instructor
-
Full
Instructor
-
Apprentice Instructor
-
Senior Student
-
Level
2 Student
-
Level 1 Student |
16 or
more years
8 or
more years
4 or
more years
2 or
more years
1
year or more
less
than one year |
Current Cave Instructors
|
Chief
Instructor
- Pat Finley
Director
- Joe Singleton
Senior Instructors
- Rodney Hill
- Joe
Singleton
- David Foulk (Tai Chi)
Full Instructors
- Mike Baity
- Rai Douglas
- Dan Palmer
Apprentice Instructors
- William Eng
- Frantz Kenol
|
Curricular Instructors
In
the more than
27 years in which I have been teaching, I have been able to
avoid the quagmire of formally
grading my students in any of the martial arts that I teach.
Most of my students were content to come and train and that was
enough. For a few, the desire to become instructors themselves
was usually met through certification programs offered through my own
teachers. These have included:
|
-
The American Bando Association - Dr. Maung Gyi
- The
Inosanto Academy
Instructor Program - Guro Dan Inosanto
-
Mande Muda Pencak Silat Instructor Program - Pak Herman Suwanda
-
Bukti Negara Pentjak Silat Instructor Program - Pendekar Paul de Thoaurs
- Combat
Submission Wrestling Coaching Program - Sensei Erik Paulson |
Ranking and/or certification are still available through
the American Bando Association and
Combat Submission
Wrestling under Sensei Erik Paulson. I strongly recommend that
any of you who interested in becoming a certified instructor
also go through one of these groups. We also have pathways for
certification in other martial arts through organizations not
identified here. Please speak to me in class for the specifics.
For the most part, I was never really interested in officially
"certifying" students as instructors. At the various clubs and
groups I have had over the years (Plato's Cave being the most
recent iteration) after a few months, The students was usually tapped to teach
newcomers. As far as being an "official" instructor with me a student
just sort of fell into that after having been with me for an
extended period of time.
In an attempt to provide continued quality instruction as well
as a diversity of
opportunity for students, I have implemented an instructor certification
program in various arts taught and trained at Plato's Cave. The
arts which currently have instructor training programs include:
|
-
Burmese Boxing
- Bando (Burmese
Defense System)
- Naban (Combat
Grappling)
-
Banshay Dhot (Burmese Stick Weapon System)
- Filipino
Martial Arts
- Jun Fan
Martial Arts
- Mixed
Martial Arts |
Instructor levels are based
on four primary criteria. First, the instructor must be of
good character and demonstrate a concern for the students' well-being
and progress. Second, the instructor must demonstrate specific skill and
content expertise, as well as a minimum age-appropriate
fitness level. Third, the instructor
must demonstrate an
understanding of martial arts pedagogy and teaching proficiency.
Finally, the instructor has completed the mandatory time in
training.
It is understood that individuals require time and practice
to become excellent instructors. To that end, I have
implemented an apprentice-level instructor requirement prior
to full instructor certification. This position is
comparable to student-teaching requirement in college
teacher education.
Full Instructors
Rodney
Hill (Bama Lethwei; Bando; Tumtug)
Dan
Palmer (Bama Lethwei)
Joe
Singleton (Jun Fan Martial Arts; Filipino Martial Arts)
Apprentice Instructors
William
Eng (Jun Fan Martial Arts; Filipino Martial Arts)
Mike
Baity (Jun Fan Martial Arts; Filipino Martial Arts; Naban)
Justin
Mabe (Bando; Filipino Martial Arts)
Chris
Judge (Banshay Dhot)
Rai
Douglas (Tumtug)
Combat Submission Wrestling
(Mixed Martial Arts/Grappling Arts through Erik Paulson)
Level Three
Student
Mike Baity
Level Two Student
William Eng
Level One Student
Keenan Hutchins
Franz Kenol
Nick Sekscenski
Danny Sheain
Tai Chi Chuan
Senior
Instructor
David Foulk
Apprentice Instructor
Chris Judge
Senior Student
Justin Mabe
Harry Walters
Associate Instructors
Associate
Instructors are past and/or present students who have gone on
to achieve their own renown in various martial arts. For
those who still train at the Cave, they act as an additional
resource for our students. For those who have moved on and
started their own classes, they act not only as a resource,
but a network for students and interested individuals. If
you are interested in the art (s) they teach, feel free to
contact us for a referral. Where appropriate, their website
link is provided.
