teaching tips
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lut ...@unicyclist.com (Jeff Lutkus)
I am planning to teach a beginners' unicycling workshop at my upcoming juggling convention. I think I will be in reasonably good shape to teach people who can at least ride forwards well. However, I could use some tips on how to teach someone who has never tried sitting on a unicycle before.
My workshop will be under an hour, so my goal is to get people as close to riding as possible as quickly as possible, then once they realize how much fun it is, hopefully, I'll be able to convince them to keep working on it on their own time.
thanks for any advice, Jeff Lutkus _____________________________________________________________ Free e-Mail and Webspace - http://Unicyclist.com
Nyc ...@aol.com
Jeff, I got a chuckle out of this. David Stone and I just had a club meet yesterday in Central Park. Several people approached us asking us if they could try our unis. One was tourist, possibly inebriated? The other was a skateboarder kid, pretty fearless. Several of us were attempting to hold the tourist up. It was like trying to put a sandbag on a unicycle. The skateboarder just picked it up and started trying. The two extremes, I guess.
My dim recollection of learning to ride 20 years ago plus some input from a few others was: 1) Put the wheel perpendicular to a curb or step, with the pedal for your strong leg in the back.
2) Push down on your strong leg to keep the uni tight against the curb. Sit on the seat.
3) Put your other foot on the awaiting pedal. Lean forward.
4) Pedal like hell. Let uni fall. Land on your feet.
5) Repeat a few hundred times.
I'm sure you knew that already though :) Other than having two people help hold the beginner up, I can't think of anything else. If the person is intrigued and persistent (the key) , they might get the bug. Once they realize that it is POSSIBLE, that's half the battle. Let us know what happens.
Too bad Rochester is far from NYC!
In a message dated 4/2/2001 4:13:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
lut ...@unicyclist.com (Jeff Lutkus)
I wonder what others have to say about the virtues of one teaching method vs. another.
When I learned to ride, I first rode along side a wall, while holding the wall with one hand, then worked my way up to riding a few meters away from the wall. Being that I ride a lot, I have trouble remembering back (almost two years in my case :) ) to when I first learned to ride. (I've actually forgotten I was on a unicycle before -- it's the oddest feeling when you suddently realize you're not walking) Thanks for the tip, though. I think based on what you said, I might want to try breaking into two groups -- one the young kids without fear, and another group to hold onto the walls or each other.
--- Nyc...@aol.com _____________________________________________________________ Free e-Mail and Webspace - http://Unicyclist.com
j ...@kanji.org (Jack Halpern)
Greetings In message "teaching tips", >I am planning to teach a beginners' unicycling workshop at my upcoming juggling convention. I think I will be in reasonably good shape to teach people who can at least ride forwards well. However, I could use some tips on how to teach someone who has never tried sitting on a unicycle before.
> >My workshop will be under an hour, so my goal is to get people as close to riding as possible as quickly as possible, then once they realize how much fun it is, hopefully, I'll be able to convince them to keep working on it on their own time.
I and many others believe that the best way to teach beginners is by using two spotters oneither sise, the details of which are described in The Unicycle Book and my Anyone Can Ride A Unicycle. I believe this was originally invented by Bill Jenack. This is far more effective than holding on to any kind of support.
>thanks for any advice, >Jeff Lutkus > >_____________________________________________________________ >Free e-Mail and Webspace - http://Unicyclist.com > Stay on top, Jack Halpern, IUF Vice President Website: http://www.kanji.org
"Jim" jimb...@hotmail.com
When I learned to ride I went around my house holding onto the kitchen counters. When I got good enough to go across the kitchen, I started going from one piece of furniture to another, and ultimitely, across a room. When that happened I went outside and learned to turn.
I think this method is better than having people help you because you can not only do it alone, but you can control how much support is given to you by other things. I think by only getting support on one side of you, it helps encourage you to learn faster and develop balance better in the beginning.
John Hooten jhoo...@rcsis.com
Jack, I have a copy of "Anyone Can Ride A Unicycle" that came with my Miyata, but it is in Japanese. Is there an English version or translation?
John Hooten
jack-ka ...@mpd.biglobe.ne.jp (Jack Halpern)
Greetings In message "Re: teaching tips", >When I learned to ride I went around my house holding onto the kitchen >counters. When I got good enough to go across the kitchen, I started going >from one piece of furniture to another, and ultimitely, across a room. When >that happened I went outside and learned to turn.
> >I think this method is better than having people help you because you can I beg to disagree. I have taught hundreds of people using spotters, and this method has been widely used in Japan with great success. I don't think there are many directly involved in teaching beginners that will disagree that two spotters brings the quickest results when teaching complete beginners.
But there are details that must be considered (explained in my book) -- the spotters need to know what they are doing, like only holding the tip of the hands lightly, staying half a pace ahead, and maintaining good speed --
fast walking or light running.
>not only do it alone, but you can control how much support is given to you >by other things. I think by only getting support on one side of you, it >helps encourage you to learn faster and develop balance better in the >beginning.
> > > Regards, Jack Halpern President, The CJK Dictionary Institute, Inc.
http://www.cjk.org Phone: +81-48???473???3508
jack-ka ...@mpd.biglobe.ne.jp (Jack Halpern)
Greetings In message "Re: teaching tips", >Jack, > >I have a copy of "Anyone Can Ride A Unicycle" that came with my Miyata, but it is in Japanese. Is >there an English version or translation?
Yes, of course, but it is out of print. Below are instructions on how to get it.
ANYONE CA RIDE A UNICYCLE.
Here is some infrmation for those interested in acquiring it.
Miyata and I are considering publishing a new edition if I ever have time to deal with it, but this might take quite a while. In the meantime, to get a photocopy, please do the following.
1. Send me US$15 or equivalent in cash (cashing a check costs more than that in Japan!).
2. Let me know your snailmail address.
I will airmail you a copy as soon as I know your address and you inform me that the payment hs been sent.
Some of the pictures in that book have been place on the unicycling home page.
Here is a quote from the unciyling FAQ describing the book.
o Anyone Can Ride a Unicycle by Jack Halpern For the material it covers this is the best book on unicycling. In particular, book tells how to learn to ride, as well as a variety of beginning and intermediate skills. It also covers practical issues like unicycling attire, adjusting the unicycle, and theory.
The book is based on what are considered the most effective ways of learning. John Foss helped a lot with reviewing the manuscript and by providing excellent photographs. Much credit is also due to Bill Jenack,the founder of modern unicycling, who has developed most of the techniques introduced in the book.
The book comes with Miyata unicycles, and you can also get it from Jack Halpern while supplies last. Miyata is out of stock at the moment, and has no definite plans at this time to reprint it. In the meantime, he will be glad to send you photocopies for $15, including airmail.
The amount you send need not be $15 exactly if you send it in another currency. You should send this in cash form, not a check, since it is very difficult to cash a check in dollars in Japan.
Supplies are short, so you may want to send e-mail to Jack before sending cash to verify availability. His address is: Jack Halpern, CEO & President The CJK Dictionary Institute, Inc. (CJKI) Komine Building (3rd & 4th Floor) 34-14, 2-chome, Tohoku, Niiza-shi Saitama 352-0001 JAPAN E-mail: j...@kanji.org
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