Professionalism in Martial Arts
Traditionally in New Zealand many martial arts clubs were run on a non-profit basis. However as we follow the trend in the USA and the UK being a professional marital arts instructor is becoming a real career option. More instructors in New Zealand are adopting this route.
I am part of ITKD New Zealand which has some 78 clubs around New Zealand. Whilst our national body is an incorporated non-profit body, individual clubs can be run as a non-profit entity or run more like a business.
At the time of writing the statistics from our Taekwon-Do body reflect the changing landscape of professionalism in martial arts.
- 45% of our clubs were running as a business.
- Business clubs have 55% of the total registered students.
- The top 6 clubs by student number are all businesses with average membership of 153.
Many people do not realise that teaching martial arts, is a highly skilled and professional undertaking. It takes on average 5 years for a student to achieve their black belt. Most of the instructors in ITKD NZ hold the rank of 3rd degree or above. To achieve this rank a minimum training time of 8.5 years has been invested. Being an approved instructor also means an instructing course and first aid course needs to be completed and technical competencies assessed and passed.
A martial arts instructor does not just teach punching and kicking, in addition to being technically proficient they are also:
- a mentor,
- a role model,
- a psychologist,
- a personal trainer,
- a friend,
- a life coach,
- a shoulder of support during tough times,
- someone who teaches your kids discipline and respect,
- someone who teaches you confidence,
- and someone who teaches you self defence that could save your life.
In my day job I am a qualified chartered accountant. It took me four years at university and a further 3 years of work and professional exams before I became fully qualified and able to hang my plaque out as an accountant. For these services members of the public pay a minimum of $130 per hour.
Being an excellent martial arts instructor requires so many facets, and requires me to be constantly adapting and on top of my mental and physical game. I find instructing a class of 20-30 students in a Taekwon-Do class as equally demanding as when I was the Chief Financial Controller of a 220 million pound turnover company in the UK while directly managing 35 staff.
Most Taekwon-do clubs teach a 1.5 hour class and often a student pays less than $10 per class. Some clubs charge as little as $35 per month for training. This makes it $8 per week, or $4 per class, or $3 PER HOUR of learning from someone who has spent a minimum of 8.5 years of expertise in their field.
Even if training fees were doubled or tripled and we work out an hourly rate we find that learning a martial art is grossly undervalued in our community. How much should we be paying to learn something that could save our life, teach our kids confidence, discipline and respect, goal setting and become role models in their own right? More than minimum wage I would have thought.
Very few, if any, martial arts instructors are motivated to teach purely for the money. Most of my professional iTKD colleagues are first and foremost passionate about sharing their art and passing on the numerous benefits of practising Taekwon-Do to other people.
I have heard a misconception that if a martial arts club is run for profit then the instructor is more interested in making money than in teaching to high standards. In my experience there is no lowering of standards and no less emphasis on teaching the right etiquette and values than any other club just because it is run for profit. The top 3 ITKD clubs in NZ with best standards based on grading results were for profit clubs.
My fellow club mate of over 30 years sums up why he became a professional instructor:
“I became a professional instructor after being made redundant in my line of work … and after months of looking for work that just wasn’t out there my students encouraged me to become a professional instructor and get paid for teaching and this was my only alternative to make a few dollars doing what I enjoy: teaching Taekwon-Do. I am never going to get rich making money from my club.
I have always been passionate about teaching, training in Taekwon-Do and making my students the best they can be.” Mr A Salton, VI Dan Black Belt, training since 1975.
At the Martial Arts Academy we are taking the job title Martial Arts Instructor seriously. We have recently run Part 1 of our 3 Part “Professionals” course for aspiring instructors. This is as good as any professional training and learning I underwent in my 5 years at university. But don’t rely on me telling you, ask one of our 15 attendees who have raved about this course after attending Part 1. We are taking enrollments now for instructors to join our accreditation course. If you want to become a professional instructor and be paid a decent rate for what you are good at and love doing then sign up to our instructor’s course, http://www.tmaa.co.nz/events/martial-arts-academy-instructors-course-0
C Young-Jasberg
Martial Arts Instructor