For me, its as simple as, "follow the instructor's lead." A good, trained, and insightful instructor understands Balance. There must be just the right amount of entertainment, fun, smiling, and even a little laughter at the right time. Here is the key - watch the instructor. If the instructor is being serious, this is not the time to start giggling, or telling jokes. As an instructor, I find occasional moments to inject a little humor, and levity, then back to focused training. I do not permit students to decide it is time to crack a joke, talk in class, goof around, or just start laughing. There are some drills, and more casual portions of the session where conversations about what you are working on occur, and some light humor will happen between students, but it is expected to be kept in perspective and under control.
I was trained with this method that my instructor set the tone, and we all enjoyed our training just fine! If my instructor laughed, we laughed, otherwise we stayed focused. Of course, this was mostly the rule for the hour of class. We spent many hours training before and after classes where things were a bit more relaxed. I believe that one of the skills I teach my students is how to control their actions and emotions - - be it sadness, depression, anger, or laughter. Who has ever been in church, and thought of something funny while the entire congregation was quiet. Fighting back a burst of laughter is not easy!
When I was in the Army, you didn't dare crack a smile, let alone laugh when the Drill Instructor is yelling commands in your face. I credit my Taekwondo training for getting me through that, and many other tough situations in my life. If my instructor wasn't strict enough to tell us not to laugh, or talk without being called upon, myself and many of my fellow students would never have learned the valuable discipline and self control that I now apply to other aspects of my Taekwondo training and the rest of my life.
I was in a High School play once, and during a full dress rehearsal, the lead male accidentally rose from the floor with his head under the dress of his leading lady. We all burst out in laughter, and the director (drama teacher) rushed the edge of the stage from the audience, pounding it with her stick and shouting, "That's not funny! That's not funny!" I was thinking, "Yes it is!" However, what she was telling us is to stay in character. If you are going to perform a serious play as an actor, you have to avoid laughing, and should not break character in rehearsal, because you will then do it during a live performance.
My point is, there are many students who have little or no discipline in their life, like those in our inner-city troubled youth program in Benton Harbor, Michigan. They need the discipline more than anything, but we do use some humor, fun and games. A Taekwondo student should be able to control their emotions, and disguise their fatigue so their opponent does not know if they are angry, tired, frustrated, scared, or whatever. I have had Korean Grandmasters in Korea and the U.S. tell me that a student (and instructor) should have a pleasant look on their face. Not a sad, grumpy, mean or stern look, and not a constant grin (makes people think you are crazy!
A person should learn how to be laughing hysterically on the inside, yet keeping a straight face on the outside.
A Taekwondo class that is dull, boring, and no fun has to do with a lot more than whether you are laughing or not. I have done many things that I was interested in, intrigued by, and loved doing, without ever laughing.
I think there is a time and place for everything. An instructor should know when and how much laughter to encourage or allow in class, but I think it should remain the instructor's discretion.
I don't mean this as a lecture, as though I'm right. This is just a lengthy explanation of how I do things, and why. I am sure that other methods work as well!
Chief Master D.J. Eisenhart
