Repetition or Variation?

Every single Karate class, we will start with Kihon (basics), we do each technique seven times facing forward, then turning around and continuing backwards. Sometimes, I think fourteen times is too much for three reasons: a) it is time consuming, b) it bores the hell out of the younger students, c) students do not see this as a time to improve themselves, but only a warm up activity that takes fifteen minutes. 

Things learned in isolation does not always allow a student to learn. Many of these students do not know how or why to combine techniques. They see no need to. In schools, when each subject is limited to only that subject, children feel bored. Math does not have to be learned in math class, it can come from cooking class or wood shop. Social studies/ history shouldn't be reading from a textbook about people from "once upon a time". Of course, history isn't a fairy tale, but most kids see it as that because they never get a chance to experience the culture of these historical events. 

This applies to Karate as well. Kata isn't just a dance, it's defense against counterattacks that exist in the form of Bunkai. If Dojos, Dojangs or Halls don't teach the significance, no one will. 

On the other hand, if every single class, we do something different, then students still will not connect these lessons. Every class has to build on the last. 

Someone will ask, what about the new students? If schools are scheduled around rank, then, that isn't an issue. On the other hand, if the school is like mine, where we are dependent on the Parks and Recreation department for students , so we can not have different classes, this becomes an issue. The class is too small to have many classes, but it is too large for each student to receive individual help. Students get left behind. Fortunately, there is an advanced class, but it only is beneficial for senior ranks. In the advanced class, we do a variety of things, not just Kihon and Pinan Shodan all class long. 

I am at a loss of what to do. It is too difficult to have a full class of nearly forty students, with two thirds of the students being low ranks, and be able to teach these kids and adults something new every single class. These students want something new, but they do not necessarily understand the basics of these basics that they are doing. I know the instructors are aware of that, but what can any of us do?  

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times. " ~ Bruce Lee 

There are days where this quote is spot on with how the students feel. They want to learn 10,000 different kicks and only practice it once. But we only teach them six or seven of the same ones again and again. The problem is, doing 10,000 things does not mean that you understand 10,000 things. Understanding only one thing is also undesirable. Knowledge comes with repetition, but variation is needed to become a master.