1. How your golf game can help you to better teach knife skills
Golf and Knife Skills
How your golf game can help you to better teach knife skills

2. John Draz CEC, CCE 15+ years teaching culinary arts
Founding program chair The Culinary School of Kendall College
Coauthor The Culinary Professional
© 2010 Goodheart-Willcox Publisher

3. Why stress knife skills?
The most often used skill in the professional kitchen
Safety
Makes lab sessions more productive
Makes students employable

4. Why teaching knife skills may be neglected
Class size too large
Class periods too short
Safety concerns
Instructors lack confidence in their own skills
Inadequate lesson plan for lab session

5. Teaching Knife Skills Is Unique
It is a motor skill
Close guidance and supervision is needed
Repetition and regular practice is necessary
Equipment needs to be in top shape
Sharp knives !!!!

6. The Stance Fundamentals start from the ground up
Balance is essential for control

7. The Stance Fundamentals start from the ground up
Balance is essential for control
The proper stance reduces fatigue

8. The Address Proper position is key Distance to ball Posture
Level teeing ground

9. The Address Proper position is key Stable work surface
Secure cutting board
Height of work surface

10. The Grip
Key to stability
Firm but relaxed
Proper location on club

11. The Grip Key to stability Firm but relaxed Proper location
on blade and handle

12. Teeing Up
Practice swing
Addressing the ball

13. Teeing Up The correct position of the guiding hand “Practice swing”
“Addressing” the product

14. The Swing
Smooth controlled movement
“Almost effortless”

15. The Swing
The chef knife stroke is a combination of a smooth forward and downward motion
The knife is always in contact with the guiding hand
Almost effortless

16. Hooks and Slices
Flight of the ball is indicative of swing variance

17. Hooks and Slices A rectangular box is the first step in cutting dices
Shape of box is indicative of variance in technique

18. “The Practice Range”
Prioritize
Uniformity
Shape
Dimension

19. Other Clubs in Your Bag Wedges Putter Chipper Paring knife
Boning knife
Slicer

20. Thank you !
Questions?