“Shut Up and Train!”

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The old saying you may hear in your Dojo. Used with the best of intentions based on what little people understand of the Asian Dojo where a little known concept of “Shikata” is used to ensure that quality and proficiency are properly adhered to in society.

You see, shikata is a term that describes a form and function for disciplines that is expected for every use and teaching form of said discipline. 

When a student enters a new Dojo, discipline, they are “expected” to know the teachers process of shikata promoting efficiency and proficiency without disharmony that comes of questions.

Shikata is passed along through observation rather then Q&A. This explains why in Dojo Sensei will demo something a few times the leave a student to work it out on there own and through observation of Sensei and his or her senpai and kohai; learn on their own- sorta. 

This model presents a problem in our dojo, our society and our culture where we are expected to ask questions and get answers. In my personal opinion people who use this either assume that because it was the Asian tradition and it was passed down by their sensei it is the way of the dojo. Then there are those who simply use the phrase as an excuse, to not answer the question simply because, “they don’t know the answer and saying they don’t and need to research the question is untenable to that person because simply as sensei they are supposed to know.” Poppycock and Bull-hockey, it is a teachers best trait to have the ability to recognize when they don’t know, provide admonition and tell a student they, the teacher, will look it up and get back to them. It seems the “ego,” especially in the males, keeps them from admitting this; likened to the male propensity to “Not ask for directions.”  

It is best if people hear this, they use their observation and ability to actively listen to see if it is a mistaken assumption best used in teaching that works for certain students or simply an inability to provide an unknown to the student, if either one it is often best, with today’s resources, to start your own research to find answers. 

It is also recommended that a research remain open-minded; to remain aware of human’s propensity to bias thinking when researching disciplines and knowledge they already have a solid foundation in, because as one psychologist stated, "In order to understand what another person is saying (through speech; writing; video blogs, etc.), you must assume that it is true and try to imagine what it could be true of." - Dr. George Miller, Psychologist.

Shut up and train isn’t even a good method of teaching as it has negative connotations that undermine the very teachings a good sensei is trying to pass down to those who are following his or her efforts. There are times when certain negatively provided teachings actually work and help but most times - not so much. It is best to find a balance that promotes learning, curiosity and creativity for that will benefit both the student and the teacher. 

Be careful what phrases you use, take the one’s you learned from your studies and examine them with a positive intent and use things like research steps of science; use influence principles; compliance principles and the art of persuasion to create material that will inspire and promote proper conditioned learning. 

One caveat: there is a time for questions and a time for training, the only recommendation is in lieu of saying, "shut up and train" is to say, "Lets discuss questions after the training." Shut up and train is still ...

In short, telling students who are curious and asking questions, “Shut up and Train,” is negative, unproductive and insulting.

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