What makes a good student?

Recently I joined The Academy of Steel, so I'm the instructor in one school and the lowest of low students in another. I figured it would be good for me.

It also got me thinking what makes for a good student? I would certainly like to think I am, and I defiantly believe I was otherwise I doubt that I would be leading the school now.

So what does make a good student?

I could ramble on for an age about this so to keep it simple I'm going to make categories.

Natural talent.

My own nurodiversity means I am very in tune with my body. I find physical activities fairly easy. Did/does that make me a good student. Well no, not really. I may be easy to teach but that's not the same thing. What I would like to think makes a good student (and teacher for that matter) is the ability to train with not against your partner. There is very little more frustrating in a Salle than a non compliment partner. Best result the instructor sees what's going on and steps in. (Frustrating for them) Worst the partner gets frustrated. I've had it done to me. Not proud to admit I ended up taking things a little further than I should have.

Past experience.

Everything we do in life is coloured by are past experiences. HEMA/martial is are no exception. It's SO difficult not to allow my personal knowledge to effect my actions. Some things are so ingrained into both my higher thinking and muscle memory it takes a force of will to do what the instructor wants not what my muscles are telling me.

Fit and healthy.

We all want to be but we certainly don't need to be in order to be a good student.

You do what you can.

Back when I was 19 super fit with great reflexes I sport fenced. I would on a regular basis get beaten by a gent in his sixties (although now I don't consider it that old). He was compared to myself so slow but experience and skill wise way above me. You get that through time and practice.

Question everything.

The right question at the right time can create a fantastic opportunity for learning. I love it.

It shows people are thinking, that I've got their imagination going.

The wrong question at the wrong time said the wrong way however. Boy what a mess.

First off they imply you know more than your instructor. Trust me you don't. Some instructors are paid to do this full time, others like myself donate are time. Either way we put in hours weeks months and years into this. Trust me you don't know more. Personally I like to save my questions for the next day. That way I don't interrupt the flow of someone else's class and don't come across as a know it all to everyone else.

While I'm I the subject don't try and trick your instructor or tell them what to do. Me I try to laugh it off. That's because I'm capable of stopping you but it means changing up the intensity of my actions and at best embarrassing you.

It interrupts the flow of the lesson. You may get something out of it but not everyone will. It's a class not a individual lesson.

You don't know more than the master. No one does. If you're thinking but that wouldn't work in real life, it was the Masters real life.

Dedication.

A growth mindset. You keep turning up week after week. What can I say your willing to give me your time I'll keep giving you mine. You can have two left feet and not know what end of the sword to hold (can be both) your a keeper.

Can anyone think of anything else?