Faculty Scholarship Repository
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| Article |
| From the Dojo to the Classroom: Applying Martial Arts Coaching Skills to Teaching Legal Writing |
| Ann Ching |
| 33 Second Draft 28 (2020) |
| Open Access | Library Access |
|
Abstract: When it comes to martial arts, I’m definitely a late bloomer. My husband convinced me to try Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (“BJJâ€) during my first year of teaching legal writing at Pepperdine, when I was just shy of my thirty-ninth birthday. I was hesitant, having no prior martial arts experience; he told me it was a good way to get in shape (leaving out the part about rolling around on the ground trying to choke people). But like many BJJ practitioners, I quickly became obsessed with the sport. As I advanced in rank and skill, I had the opportunity to attend a twelve-week BJJ coaching program. After I completed the program and started teaching martial arts classes, I realized that many of my newly acquired coaching skills were transferable to my legal writing classes. Gradually I began to incorporate some coaching techniques into my law school classroom, and I was pleased with the results. Explaining advanced concepts became easier, students were more motivated, and I was enjoying classroom time more than ever.Over time, I realized that my coaching techniques were effective because law students are not so different from adult martial arts students, especially at the beginner level. Both sets of students must deal with challenges like fear and frustration. Perhaps the biggest obstacle is the “inner gameâ€â€”the negative, critical self-talk that gets in the way of peak performance. The same techniques that push martial arts students past these obstacles can help law students achieve their legal writing goals. In this article, I will share some of the coaching techniques I have acquired over the years and how to effectively apply them in the legal writing classroom. |
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