You’ve been studying martial arts for years. You know who started your style and can tell its history front and back. You’ve defended it to your less-than-fit friends. You’ve even pulled muscles showing off at the family barbecue.
But, can you teach?
Many people are passionate about their hobbies (to the point of freaking out when you call them ‘hobbies’). But is it enough?
If you’re serious about teaching martial arts, there are some things to think about:
What’s your teaching personality?
One of the most important considerations you have before starting teaching a martial arts class is a simple question:
What kind of teacher are you?
- Are you The Karate Kid’s Mr. Miyagi? Humble, calm and cryptic. Willing to take as much time as possible, as long as it is taught right?
- Or are you Kreese, Miyagi’s opposite? A drill-sergeant with one single goal in mind: Producing winners. Barking at your students is okay; it toughens them up.
There are enough martial arts styles out there and enough students that you can be sucessful no matter your personality, but a little soul-searching can help you decide your needs as an instructor.
If you want to teach simply because you love your art. You may be happy simply holding a class in your backyard with some friends or neighbours.
If you want your school to hold competitions, or dream of dozens of students looking up to you, you may have to think about facilities and marketing for the future.
What do you do when you’re not teaching?
When you’re not in the dojo, what kind of person are you? Do you volunteer at the hospital in off-hours, or hang out at bars looking for fights?
These may be two extremes, but students want to know that their teachers practice what they teach. If you promote non-violence and encourage students to help people, you need to do so as well.
Who are your mentors?
Do you know anyone that owns their own business or runs a class, martial arts, fitness or otherwise? Even with Google, it’s good to have someone available for advice.
Who are your role models for teaching? Are you still in contact with your instructor? Hopefully you are and there’s no competition. Just as they guided you along learning martial arts, they can help you on your path to becoming a better teacher.
Do you believe in your style?
No one wants to learn from a half-hearted instructor. If you study Karate but secretly love Kung Fu or Muay Thai, you may not be the best sensei for your students.
While supplementing your classes and training can breathe new life into your regimen, most of what you teach should be true to your style.
Do you have any other training?
You need more than martial arts training to teach. Some additional courses to consider would be:
- First-aid and CPR. Accidents happen, and you need to know how to take care of them.
- A degree in a course like Fitness and Health Promotion can be invaluable. You’ll know more about anatomy, sport science and nutrition than many instructors.
- Business courses. Knowing how to promote and manage your class is very important if you plan on teaching more than a few students.
- Are you a “people person”? If not, organizations Toastmasters and other public speaking classes can help.
Conclusion
Teaching a martial art takes more than simply being good at your style. With some extra training, you can show your students why you love your style so much in the first place, and make the best class you can.
Have something to add? Post your teaching experiences in the comments!
Photo C/O The U.S. Army
