#6: Apolo Ladra – Learn to Teach, Teach to Learn

The Black Belt Podcast

“People get hung up on the ranking as opposed to the teaching methodology. Upgrade your teaching methodology instead of getting more techniques. Instead of collecting new techniques connect the basic techniques so that you can make them look advanced.” -Apolo Ladra

My guest this episode is Tuhon Apolo Ladra who has trained in the martial arts for over 40 years. He is a 7’th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, he has taught thousands of students and managed 57 schools. He is a master instructor of Pekti Tirsia Kali under Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje, and has been inducted int the Black Belt Magazine’s Hall of Fame as “Weapons Instructor of the Year”. Tuhon Apolo is the founder of the iKali and the World Kali Association which is dedicated creating and standardizing curriculum and requirements for students, instructors and school owners while spreading the indigenous art of the Philippines, the Art of the Blade, worldwide.

This episode is filled with insight. We discuss teaching and training methods that are designed to develop students and instructors and uplift the arts. We talk about Tuhon Apolo’s traditional Tae Kwon Do roots and how he transitioned into building one of the largest Kali organizations in the world. My key takeaway is that continuing education on training methods is what will uplift the arts. Instead of chasing rankings and techniques, time and effort must be spent on developing your teaching ability so that you can create future high quality instructors. We also discuss the advantages of teaching by concepts and principles so that students can learn how to find their own unique expression of movement instead of trying to copy their instructors. Everyone has different attributes and limitations, empowerment lies and finding who you are and how you express yourself. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and I hope you do too.