Coach Takeshi's Pedagogy

I use four mental models to describe my pedagogy (theory and practice of education):

1?? Structured + Unstructured Learning

Lecturing, teaching, and textbook learning fall into the realm of structured learning.

Coaching, mentoring, and parental conversations are examples of unstructured learning.

In between, we have hybrid and blended learning, which encompasses everything else—or more accurately, everything, as learning is seldom completely structured or unstructured. Training, facilitation, workshops, practicing, debating, playing, and work itself are good examples of hybrid and blended learning.

?? Why They Matter

Structured learning provides a solid foundation, ensuring a shared base of information and skills, while unstructured learning cultivates flexibility, critical thinking, and adaptability to real-world challenges. Understanding both structured and unstructured learning leads to effective application of hybrid, blended learning, which allows learning to be an everyday and lifelong practice.

2?? Vertical & Horizontal Learning

Vertical learning refers to learning in a planned, formal setting with a teacher or instructor. This includes classroom sessions, workshops, group and individual training, tutoring, and self-study.

Horizontal learning, on the other hand, encompasses informal and social learning. Whether it's studying with a friend at the library, having casual conversations in the cafeteria, or chatting over coffee or wine, to heated debates in the workplace over approach A or B, horizontal learning is a part of everyday life. Agile tribes and Scrum teams are examples of organizational setups designed to leverage the horizontal learning characteristics of the modern networked knowledge worker.

?? Why They Matter

Vertical learning provides a structured path to gain expertise, building depth and solidifying foundational knowledge. Horizontal learning promotes breadth, offering diverse perspectives and practical insights through social interactions. Together, they create a holistic learning experience—vertical learning establishes a strong foundation, while horizontal learning enriches it with adaptability and collaboration skills, enabling individuals to thrive in complex, ever-evolving environments.

3? 守?破?離 - Shu-Ha-Ri

Working with me can sometimes be perplexing because, on one hand, I disregard rigid methodologies, mixing and combining various approaches, while on the other, I am strict about adhering to foundational principles and practicing the basics rigorously.

The best explanation I can provide for this contradiction is Shu-Ha-Ri:

• Shu (守): Follow the basics.
• Ha (破): Once you’ve mastered the basics, allow yourself to digress and experiment—get lost and explore new possibilities.
• Ri (離): Transcend to a higher level of understanding. Continue your unique path towards mastery.

The term Shu-Ha-Ri is Japanese, where the kanji character for 'Shu' (守) means 'to protect,' 'Ha' (破) means 'to break,' and 'Ri' (離) means 'to depart.' The concept originates from martial arts and represents the stages of learning and mastery.

Remember the Karate Kid movie from the 80s? In classic Hollywood style, the "wax on, wax off" scene represents the Shu stage — learning the basics through repetition. As the protagonist grows, he enters the Ha stage, facing struggles and adapting what he has learned. The movie then climaxes with the Ri stage, where he has a breakthrough and creates his own unique style beyond the original lessons.

?? Why It Matters

Shu-Ha-Ri is about patience, humility, and perseverance. You see these qualities in any true master of their craft. No matter how expert they are, they have deep respect for the basics and willingly return to their roots, knowing that their greatest enemy is hubris.

Shu-Ha-Ri is also about authenticity. The world is full of charlatans, but in the end, only the genuine find lasting success. These are the people who have endured challenges, faced failures, and persevered through setbacks to achieve true expertise.When it comes to mastery, there are no shortcuts.

Shu-Ha-Ri represents the journey — embracing each stage of growth with dedication and authenticity.

4?? 気付きの精神 - The Spirit of "Kizuki"

Outside-in learning is optional. We may listen to something taught to us, but we can choose whether or not to adopt or adapt that learning.

Inside-out learning is self-driven. When we learn from our own interest, curiosity, and experience, the learning is genuine. The things we notice—known as "kizuki" (気付き) in Japanese—are unfiltered learning experiences.

?? Why It Matters

Inside-out learning is exponentially more impactful and effective than outside-in learning. The learner takes ownership of their growth, develops independent thinking, and applies personal experiences to internalize concepts deeply. It encourages them to understand themselves, their intrinsic motivations, and how their existing knowledge connects with new information.

As teachers, invoking inside-out learning is exponentially more challenging than conducting outside-in learning. We must tap into the students' innate curiosity, interest, and desire to learn, using our full sensory awareness to understand what they want to learn, and our whole presence to guide them towards meaningful learning experiences. In fact, this process is a practice of "kizuki" — noticing — for the teacher as well.

I learned photography in the days of black-and-white film and darkroom printing. The beauty lies in the gray zone. Between hard and soft, formal and informal, logic and emotions, lies our world. Therefore, I teach, train, facilitate, and coach. This is my pedagogy.

@coachtakeshi