Internal CMA Teacher Skills or Qualities

The following qualities have been developed as part of our 'Five Most Important Teacher Skills' survey. The discussion below will help you to know their specific meaning in an 'Internal CMAi' context.

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analytical skills

• Identification/clarification of distinctions, i.e., "More like this than like that."

compassionate

complete understanding

• Must present 'modeling' to how/why things work they way they do.
• To see what can be done.
• Knowledge
• The ability to communicate
• Strong communication & clear descriptive skills free from ambiguity
• Knowing how to pay attention inside ones own body and mind. Knowing how to get others to develop that skill
• Learn how to heal. First yourself then others.
• Complete understanding - teacher must be able to verbally convey a complete framework of concepts into which all training activities fit.

dedicated

• True desire to teach and learn
• Staying ahead of the pack that you're teaching by spending hours a day focusing inwardly while at the same time functioning smoothly outwardly.

disciplined

• Following the guidance of a qualified teacher. Period.
• Dogged determination

empty cup

• A good student
• Diminished ego
• Ability to be open minded
• Beginners mind
• Must possess this to be able to cultivate in students
• Lifelong, continuous learning
• Willingness to learn

experienced

• Teaching requires skills separate from, but dependent upon, mastery of the subject matter.
• Mess with many other skilled martial artists and non skilled partners
• Fighter
• Knows many forms
• Written books

generous

• Holds nothing back, except in order to avoid confusing the student
• The ability to create students who surpass teachers level

motivates students

• 'Peeling the onion'. Push student beyond 'I got it... done. next.'
• Helping students see deeper into their art

patient

• Tolerance

precise

• Attention to detail, shape

social & leadership skills

• Sense of humor - teacher must find ways to make training fun and build community as well as presenting conditions of 'eating bitter'

teachers' eyes

• The ability see where a person is in their internal development.
• To see what is in the form, or exercise.
• To see what is potentially in the student.
• To see what the student is doing.
• The ability to bring things together and help the student in what is needed for personal growth
• Willingness to meet people "exactly as they are right now", A teacher should be able to teach people who are not at all like him/herself. Everybody gets an equal chance.

teachers' hands

• The ability to present the 'feel and skill level' to students - just a bit higher - so student is motivated rather than discouraged.
• The ability to give direct transmission of energy
• Having a teacher who can manifest skills
• Hands on demonstration of the skills by teacher
• Hands-on corrective feedback by teacher, e.g., "You feel like *this* when you do abc to me. It should feel like this."

traditional

• Strong lineage
• Present traditional material in the traditional manner
• Must be chinese speaker/reader
• Must understand chinese culture
• The presence and behavior of a master

verbal skills

• Must speak Chinese & English

wise