this may give us some clue:
Unarmed but dangerous
What is your role and responsibility?
My job is to turn men into fighters. The human body itself can be a
very deadly weapon, so I teach my trainees the techniques of
close combat training (CCT). In the process, I
also want to make them more aggressive.
How did you become an instructor?
All CCT instructors must have at least a brown belt in Taekwondo. I
attended a five-week course at the School of Physical Training
(SPT), where, for two weeks, I learnt more Taekwondo techniques.
After that, for another three weeks, I learnt close combat
techniques, including throws, punches and how to break falls. This
package comprises key elements of various martial arts. After this,
I went for a six-week on-the-job training phase where I was
evaluated on my instructional methods.
What is your work day like?
I conduct lessons in one unit in the morning, and move to another
unit for more lessons in the afternoon. Sometimes I spend the whole
day at the same place. In a week, I can visit up to eight or nine
units. CCT instructors are given quite a lot of independence, and I
do my own physical training in the free time between lessons. After
all, there are good sporting facilities in many camps.
Whom do you teach?
From recruits to commanders! In a unit, these
could be the officer commanding, platoon commanders and sergeants
all coming together for my lesson. Although I address them
accordingly, I still treat them all as my trainees. There is no
distinction or any discrimination during training.
How do the younger trainees compare to the older ones?
The younger trainees are more flexible, but the older ones tend to
absorb and pick up techniques more quickly. However, the enthusiasm
shown by both groups is the same. They are all eager to
learn!
What attracted you to martial arts?
I took up Taekwondo when I was 15 years old. I felt I should be
able to defend myself and when I saw people doing Taekwondo, I
thought to myself, 'When pushed to the limit, the human body can
really achieve some amazing things!' I read up on other martial
arts techniques, and whenever I have questions, I clarify them with
other instructors in SPT.
What do you like best about being an instructor?
I feel proud knowing that I am training officers and specialists,
people who are also instructors to other soldiers.
What do your trainees say about your teaching methods?
Most of them say I am very approachable, so whenever they are in
doubt, they feel comfortable enough to ask me questions. But it is
important to draw a line between training and having fun.
--cyberpioneer
