McDojos

[northern_mantis]

I was wondering what peoples views are on wanting to make MA their career. How would they go about it and would they consider franchise schools, workout videos, health only classes etc. etc. 'selling out'.

And in that environment students may want a structured time period to themselves get to where you are. If they had fulfilled the requirements to pass each level of training would it be wrong for them to teach even if they were still a bit shit? Because it's your syllabus are they your responsibility, or can we churn out people who are no good in the workplace like English universities?!

Look forward to hearing your thoughts......

[meeks]

I'm of the camp that believes someone needs to be a qualified instructor before they begin teaching. Just having a bunch of material doesn't make you qualified. Being able to demonstrate your knowledge of a variety of techniques (or forms) doesn't say anything about your skill level and proficiency of those. Further to that, I believe it's the instructor's decision on whether that person is qualified to teach their material. It's unfortunate that so many people get their feet wet and then think they can teach swimming.

[northern_mantis]

I'm of the camp that believes someone needs to be a qualified instructor before they begin teaching. Just having a bunch of material doesn't make you qualified. Being able to demonstrate your knowledge of a variety of techniques (or forms) doesn't say anything about your skill level and proficiency of those. Further to that, I believe it's the instructor's decision on whether that person is qualified to teach their material. It's unfortunate that so many people get their feet wet and then think they can teach swimming.

Agree with you on all points there.

It would be an important consideration for anyone who wants to follow this path to choose a teacher that will not fear any competition. My first Shaolin teacher had big falling outs with a couple of students because even after over a decade when they had at least matched his skill he wouldn't release them to teach and they had to go it alone amoungst legal threats and animosity.

[meeks]

damn - did I nail the correct so hard that no one else responds?

*pats back*

[Flex]

I just want to know why kung fu can't be popular like yoga is. ie. why can't we be doing hot kung fu with hot girls? Why do we get stuck with the old park people and Bruce Lee wannabe's..

[meeks]

you oughta see the hot girls in my school.

there's Brett, Travis, Jason, Laurence, the list goes on ... bunch of girls! (see you at class tomorrow, fellas)

nothing like stoking the embers to get them to train harder....

we had a couple of girls for awhile and i think we made them pretty comfortable actually despite the ratio.

[mrtoes]

damn - did I nail the correct so hard that no one else responds?

*pats back*

That's what I tell myself every time I kill a thread

[everything]

I just want to know why kung fu can't be popular like yoga is. ie. why can't we be doing hot kung fu with hot girls? Why do we get stuck with the old park people and Bruce Lee wannabe's..

fuck it dude, take up hot yoga!

[Flex]

i'd make the wrong impression in hot yoga with my chi belly. Of course, in neija I can attempt to give a good explanation (cough, excuse, cough).

Anyway to de-hijack the thread, I did consider making a career in MA instruction as well, that's what reading books about purpose driven life did for me. But after much thought and consideration I find it hard to make a main career out of it. My current instructor is retired and don't need money, my last instructor had financial issues and started doing everything under the sun to charge the students (including the invention of new tai chi forms..), another instructor I know is also in dire financial straits.

imho it is better as a side job that you do for fun and interest sake, or to bring up some training partners to raise your own skill.

I do know however some instructors in my area are charging $100/hr for private lessons, and not necessarily good instructors. I guess if you have the right combination of kung fu skill, political network, and marketing skills you can get it done.