Many advocates for "free training" forget that money is just the modern alternative for time. If you have 6hrs a day to spend on various daily chores, food preparation, and cleaning then the argument for free training would be viable
I've assisted in instructing for many years and have never been compensated for it. I look at it as a way to give back to the school for the knowledge they've passed on to me, and also - teaching is the best way to really learn something. My school does have a very small number of paid instructors, but most of the people who teach are unpaid. I do note that I'm not trying to run a school, pay bills with tuition money, etc. If someone can make enough money to live on by running a successful martial arts school, then great! More power to them as this keeps the arts alive - and in this age of quarantines and other problems, keeping the arts alive is the most difficult and challenging thing to do.
Excellent said Sensei Dan, to me a martial arts school, a martial arts teacher or instructor should be getting paid, for their time, knowledge and expertise. I do not see people saying that fitness personal trainers, pilates, yoga, dance instructors, gymnastics teachers, so forth should not be getting paid and instead doing it for free. To me it is quire simple, like Sosai Oyama Masutatsu used to tell foreigners, wanting to join his original Oyama Karate Dojo (Nowadays Kyokushin Karate) "Now remember, you came to me asking me to let you join, I did not come looking for you, asking you to join my dojo"! "Any complaints, or any mistakes (questioning, complaining, breaking the rules and bad conduct) I will be asking you to leave"! Without throwing anyone or any martial arts style that is not to my liking or preference, I will not simply join them and pay for my training there, instead go where I feel I will be taught what I want to learn. That simple as no one obliged me to sign up to Kyokushin Karate training and most recently as of last year, to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, both were my choice and I am content to pay their training fees. Great to see you give non biased, wise advice as always Sensei Dan, Osu!🇲🇽🇦🇺🥋🙏
Hello sir. Regarding this topic, I find myself in an interesting position. I recently got hired to be a full-time martial arts teacher at an elementary school. For me this is a huge relief as I'm no longer doing work that drains my body and mind, and this frees me to focus my other martial arts efforts however I want to, regardless of pay. It's sort of like being handed a bunch of students and a studio without having to drive sales and pay overhead. I sort of have a "you help me, I help you" arrangement with my teacher as I help him teach and build up his martial arts business and he helps me train, gain rank, and prepare for my first fight. So while I don't pay as much in money myself right now, I contribute in other areas and I believe my trainer/coach deserves to be paid and I wish he could teach full-time as well, and not have to spend quite as many hours between that and his other two jobs. I feel like arguing whether or not martial artists should be paid brings up the point of why should we have to pay for anything? These days martial artists Need to be paid, and as passionate as I am about this topic, I have to point out that martial arts isn't the only thing I want to do with my life. Trying to make a school grow while working full-time can be exhausting and very time consuming and most of the time it takes awhile to build. Meanwhile there are bills to pay. Also, there is an incredible amount of learning that goes into becoming a good teacher and martial arts often has to be done after school and business hours, so there is a lot of value that the teacher brings. I think it's only fair to pay teachers for sacrificing their time they would otherwise be spending resting or being with friends, family, and their other interests...at least in the current economy where the grind can be so heavy.
This is a great topic : I have experienced a point of teaching when I was a teenager; I was leading kids class and some adults and My instructor would not let me train on my material and I had to still pay my tuition and I was not getting paid . This situation forced me to stop as I couldn’t afford paying my instructor as I needed to find a paying job . When I started learning a different martial art and got my black belt in it :I volunteered to referee and coach but this was at my own time and. Expense and did not expect to get paid however the instructor was very grateful for my efforts and did pay me for my time . I do agree that instructors should be paid it is a skill and profession like any other .
Let me throw in some old school thoughts into this discussion. What about students as apprentices? Back in the day it was common for someone to sacrifice their time to learn a skill so later they can strike out on their own. Think outside the martial arts box and think before their were schools for things like horseshoeing, making clothes, farming, etc. Well, you get my drift............... At the school where I've been since 1978, I've seen students open up their own schools and go back to the Master instructor for testing and he would receive the fee.......... But I've seen some students strike out on their own and keep every penny they can get their hands on, and their Master instructor never gets one cent! These folks are not considered under my instructor anymore............... Your are 100% right they are a bunch of gray areas in this discussion......Just my humble 2 cents................ And can I say something else? In the early 80's, our basicly non-profit school had finally began to turn a small profit. Walls were torn down and the students rebuilt the school for free! Out of the blue, because of my contribution (not money) my Instructor said I didn't have to pay monthly dues anymore to practice. And I didn't try any harder or any less, since I knew I was already on the right path. To this day, it is the same, even with my 66 year old body , with the same Master instructor whom also runs a worldwide Christian Mission church... Home | World Christian Tae Kwon Do Mission One more thing....It was the students backed by God, whom rebuilt the school after the Nashville 2010 Floods. I was the first to see the water, well over the ceiling and door...............Paid help doesn't do the things that have kept this school together for so long.............Nashville lost a lotta fine vintage guitars in those days,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,tee hee!
Hey Mr.Dan you should do a video on the importance of endurance and what kind of exercises to do, (including stretching), and ranking each exercise. Such as running, sparring, mitt/heavy bag work. I always look forward to watching your videos
Many moons ago I trained in an upscale Tae Kwon Do school with several dojo locations, sizeable floor space with plenty of gear and tools, and multiple full time instructors. It only made sense that this enterprise charge students for membership to provide the best experience. Later I joined a college club which frequently hosted a local teacher free of charge, however he also had a dojo at his home and we paid for those classes, part of which also went toward paying for lunch. I am of the opinion that even part time instructors deserve some compensation to put toward their time and energy, let alone the cost for travel, equipment, and upkeep of their facility or possibly rent. At the very least a few dollars so your teacher can buy lunch or dinner after class is the least one could do. My present instructor had to close his dojo for a lack of revenue, but myself and several dedicated students still train outside and pay him for his time and effort, especially because in short order he will be building a small dojo in his back yard - if that isn't worth helping him out I don't know what is.
Yet another great video. I agree with everything that you said. I myself started teaching at nineteen years old and I wasn't paid either. The hardest thing about teaching for me was finding time for myself to train. Between going to school and working a full-time job it was very difficult. But I enjoyed helping others reach their potential.
One of the many little philosophical sayings from Bruce Lee’s Tao Of Jeet Kune Do that has stuck with me over the years, goes something like this; “the argument of “for” and “against” is the minds worst disease” …. If it’s meaningful to you, and you are able to teach for free, do that… If it is meaningful to you, and you are able to teach for money and make a living at it…do that ….everything else is noise
I started 15 years ago at an academy that went out of business. I just got back to training last year during covid. Our coach had to leave for a traditional job. We found out later he was picking up food boxes from his church. Even though this was due to Covid lock downs and our gym being closed it still illustrates the point: these instructors have to get by too. Today our academy is much healthier but the coach that kept it going was literally going in his own pocket to keep the doors open. We are just now out of lock-downs and we have over 100 paying students and are growing. You start doing the math and you can see there is a lot of money on the table. I sincerely hope our coach and now new Professor are paying themselves well. They are professionals.
Honor over greed is something a lot of traditional martial artist always say this because it's true some dojo's set up in low come areas and prioritize money going as far to charge over $80 a month tuition of course a instructor should be paid but not when it bleed people who work minimum wage dry. To me personally shotokan karate is a lifestyle to me but it also takes money to buy equipment and have a proper place to train not that a nice clearing outside somewhere to yourself is bad I just prefer training indoors sometimes 😅.
My teacher had taught a family of 3 completely for free. They started out paying but fell on hard times. He allowed them to train for free for 8 years. They did a lot for the school though and were very dedicated students. My teacher has even taught me things no other student had yet to learn for going above and beyond with helping him do things around the school
I think your last question hits the nail on the head: "Why are you entitled to be taught for free?" Another thing that I've noticed casually is that some instructors that teach for free seem to have a borderline cultic personality. They'll teach for free or at cost, but only to people who give up their identity for the school. (Actually for the teacher.) Those that are trying to make a business out of it have to be a lot more careful about this because, as the old saying goes, the customer is always right. It's hardly a sharp line, though. There are those who set up a business plan based on cult-like devotion and those who teach for free without interfering in their students lives, but my casual observation has been that it is more common the other way.
I recognize the irony of asking for more for free in the comments of this video... However, I would love if some of these talking videos were Podcasts. Really appreciate the ideas you share!
Mr dan... I really do love your videos I honestly hope one day I can meet you I just want to clarify my position on all of this... I have been very lucky in my life and I thank God everyday I have been involved any martial arts since I was six years old being a former commissioner United States Navy officer and a naval special Warfare officer 50% of my training in the martial arts I paid for myself the additional 50% Done by the United States Navy.. and the American people that's one reason why I took the stands while opening up a non-profit I wanted it to be able to help people and change the alive give them conference give them security by simply knowing how to defend and protect their self and I loved ones... I know compared to most of you your school is going to be three times my size I just teach 121 underprivileged kids if I try to charge these kids would not be able to do what they are doing and I'm so proud of them because of my 126 kids before the end of the School season.. I had 76 of my kids are now on the honor roll where two years ago they was about to be kicked out of school I'm also involved with a organization called women are safe I work with and teach women that has been physically and mentally abused by husband and boyfriends.. which matters so much to me I also work with three local SWAT teams and I do not charge them they are after putting the life on the line and with my background in the Special Operations Community I teach them a combination of Special Operations combatives Israeli Commando Krav Maga and three of the 22 people I work with from a SWAT team have had to use what I taught them and they are still alive how can you put a price on that they was able to go home to their wife and their kids
I have trained in multiple styles, as of now, I am training Muay Thai and BJJ. My training is getting tougher, and I am getting better. Thanks to Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do, and JJJ. All of which I had to pay to attend the dojo. Never thought it would make me rich, I know I love what I do and teach and continue to learn and teach other people for free or if they so choose to pay me.
EXCELLENT! I teach privately only. I do not charge. My student/s pay me voluntarily. I also hand pick my students. So, I agree with you in that the quality of teaching should always take first place to any money earned.
Great topic.I teach privately to most people who ask for my help and pay me.If I ran a school.Yes,I should get paid.It pays the bills to keep my school open and to be able to buy equipment and compensate my staff.I make a good living off my regular job,so I really don't need the money.I would use the money to treat my students out for lunch or dinner if I ran my own school.
Would be extremely skeptical of someone who taught for free. Even training under instructors who taught at a park or the local ymca, they still charged for classes because their time is worth something. Even teaching part time or because it's your hobby, you still have expenses and your time is worth something. In my experience, people seem to be more committed to training when they are paying for lessons
It depends. In my country we are a bit more community minded. So a lot of sport is done in clubs in spare time, also trainers. Here most of our fire fighters are also volunteers.
I missed this poll so I'll add my thoughts in here. I think there should be a fee when money is an issue. I do Karate through the University so the dues we pay is just for the rental of the place all of the Sensei's are professors or employed by the university in some way. If we lived in a perfect world where money wasn't an issue to survive than sure. But Martial Arts is a skill and anything that a person does well requires compensation. Any skill I learn in my life came at a cost. It's not just an honor to teach but an honor to be a student of this teacher. If you are wanting to learn these skills you must listen and do what is required. I have no problem paying fees when the price is reasonable. Martial Arts isn't a get rich scheme but it's also not non-profit.
Wow! Kinda' ended with a bang didn't you? No worries.I would, and have, instructed individuals at no charge. Personal choice and integral to the tradition/style I was introduced to. If I were to go to a dojo I would expect to remunerate my instructor. Everyone deserves to make a living. If we were friends and hanging out that might be a different scenario. Peace.
One aspect I feel I should bring up, at least among Japanese Martial Arts is that most teachers have a full time job and teach, not really a side job, but more along the lines as the thing that they do to proliferate their art. The head of my style of Aikido worked for decades at the Japanese Mint until retirement. Once retired he taught as his only job. It's mostly in the west where people try to teach full time. My own teacher taught ESL and ran bars for years and taught on the side before making it a full time occupation. Right now I help instruct and am mostly paid in beer.
This video couldn't be any more timely for me, as due to a number of circumstances, I've been put into the situation of taking over our martial arts school so that it doesn't permanently shut down. So I'm navigating all of this at this moment. Today my focus is on insurance, and what a quagmire that is! It's not a simple thing, different policies have exclusions for all sorts of activities that would be considered normal martial arts activities, such as training with weapons. There are extra expenses for holding a tournament, certain things you have to do to teach at another location, a process for insuring either employees or volunteers to instruct when I can't be there. Plus I have to develop a risk management plan and procedures. And insurance is only one small aspect of this process of running a school. So you better believe I'm going to get paid! There is a tendency to focus on the art, but being an instructor requires so much more work than just leading a class. Not that leading a class is easy in itself, especially if you have unruly students.
In my state, "the so-called education state" (also, the same state took away financial bonuses from teachers with Masters / PhD), they are desperately trying to retain teachers and have given them a nominal raise of 5.5% this year. Thing is, we pay teachers and a teacher of the martial arts (who is part-instructor, part gym teacher or coach, and probably proprietor or business owner) has even more responsibilities to a student (because of the inherent risk of injury in martial arts) as well as, many afternoon or evening martial arts programs function as off-campus after-school care. Every other form of systematic knowledge (with schools, community colleges, colleges, and universities under or apart of federations or associations) comes with a price tag, cost, or tuition. Martial Arts is no exception. Heck, I spent in equipment alone, about $2.5 grand on changing my living room into my home a part-Traditional Shotokan & Modern / Machida Karate dojo with top end (Punch King) freestanding heavy bag, Title Boxing boxing up down double end bag, Title Boxing gel gloves in various weights and sizes, half rack, Olympic weights, free dumbbell weights, bench, etc. And this is just for me, multiple that cost to satisfy 10 to 30 students at a time. One more thing though... there are still volunteer firefighting departments, even in metro areas, not just rural areas. A phenomenon in my areas had multiple paid law enforcement departments and offices, but we couldn't seem to pay firefighters. Another issue... since the pandemic? Martial Arts schools are offering hybrid and online learning options. Them servers don't run on hopes and dreams. They cost real money for IT purposes. Storage, electricity, internet, etc. Lastly, no one can skew or violate the iron triangle of economics. You can have or obtain a good or service good /quality, fast / on-demand delivery, or cheap / cost effective...pick two, but the last will be a negative.
In my search for a school I came across a wide variety of prices and contracts all of the above. The 2 that stand out to me the most was an MMA gym where they were extremely cheap and affordable and preached about how they just want to keep the doors open. The other is my current school where my teacher teaches just over 100 students has classes available all week/day including Saturday. The MMA gym was the weirdest place I have ever seen, and honestly should not be open. It's like going to a bar to learn bjj (their main focus) everyone there was drinking and some were even smoking/vaping. There was no respect for the instructors time and the instructor didn't really showed that he cared to be there. The sparring they did was completely out of control and dangerous more like bar room brawls. At my school its a reasonable price but more along the lines of what you would find most schools charge in the area. But I've never met anyone like my teacher. His passion and commitment to the school and literally every single student is second to none. He takes each students needs into consideration and goes above and beyond for them. His students are his family. 11 years and he still teaches with the drive and passion that he did the first day I met him. So I'm trying to say is that yes absolutely instructor's should be paid for their time. Sometimes you run into bad people kind of like what I saw before and just need to recognize that and stay away. Others you will find absolutely deserve ever penny they make because of what they put into it
i was trajned for free my parrents did not want me to join a martial arts school but a frend of my parrents knew someone who was a martial arts master and introduced me and afther a while she said she would just teach me we always trained outside and the only other student was her daughter
I have insurance, rent, had to pay for building inspections, permits for signage, state licenses for teaching children, equipment, office supplies, restroom supplies, cleaning supplies to clean after every class, floor mats, utilities and advertising. Yes, you should be charging to teach if it's your studio. It's a consensual agreement to trade your time to teach a skillset to someone that desires to learn that skillset. I'm a year into my studio and I haven't taken a paycheck yet. Money goes back into the studio to cover everything mentioned. If I were not charging anything, I wouldn't have kept the lights on after the 2nd month.
I love this topic so much thanks for making this! 🙏. And it's an interesting one I am personally exploring....maybe can explore a part 2 on, individuals (not just teaching) who contributes to the martial arts...should they get paid? Example (content creators, promoters, club admins/org , journalist, translators...and others...?)
The idea that some people think that an instructor shouldn't be paid a living wage to teach the skill they have cultivated over many years is mind blowing. I'll never understand that kind of utopian entitlement. It reeks of a spoiled child throwing a tantrum because they want a toy at the store. If one can't afford it and an instructor (of anything) chooses to work with them anyway that's one thing, but to assert that its wrong for them to charge is lunacy. Anyone putting that kind of demand on someone who has a skill they can pass on to them only shows they aren't ready to learn.
Also if you take karate as an example good instructors are paid very well in Japan where the modern styles come from, and on Okinawa it wasa also a relative wellpaid job and to my knowledge still is( not 100% sure about Okinawa nowadays, but sure Japan and modern Okinawa)
I remember one time someone ask me to teach this person and that person was like I'll pay you every week but I told that person i wasn't comfortable with it because I'm not certificated or instructor.
I teach Judo and Jujitsu at a community center. I have rent and specialized equipment to maintain. I am not indipendently wealthy, therefore, I must charge to maintain the space and equipment. Tournaments and travel to them also cost money. I'd love it if the class's funds could pay for new Gis and student's travel and entry fees; but therefore, I must charge. I'm also putting my body at risk for my students to throw around and apply locking and strangling techniques on, so that I can critique their effectiveness. If I get hurt, I will have medical bills, and therefore, I must charge.
I would actually feel more comfortable to paying my instructors than with not paying them. You make a trade, both know what you are in for and you don‘t have to wonder if there are any ulterior motives that can come with anything being ‚free‘. I‘m not sure I would be at ease in an environment where everything is just done for honour, since it often can also come with an all-in or out, black or white mentality. Two exceptions I would totally make though. 1) Teaching MA just like any other skill/knowledge for free to people who cannot afford it. 2) Being retired and continuing to teach as a hobby, probably not full-time then anyway. Still legitimate if they wanted to get payed of course, but since they technically don‘t need the money, some people also do teach whatever skill for free since it‘s how they want to spend their time now.
As far as I know even the great IP Man had to charge for teaching . If he wanted to eat that is . I was extremely fortunate to find a Tae Kwon association school in Northern New Mexico that was, from what I see, perhaps one of the last of the old school associations. Strictly hard work . Practice, practice, practice . Students paid $30.00 among. The regional Master and our excellent teachers I belive were paid nothing . The $30.00 went to the city for the use of their community gym and at times other facilities .we did of course pay for our test from 1st. Dan and up. But our club didn't have to pay for a building , air conditioning, heat and such . But I'm sure this was the exception. I was simply blessed .
I’ve seen what teachers depending on the dojo for their living can do, both to the art and to the students. If I can help it, I will always have a job and teach for the love of perfecting and passing on the art.
If you say "no" because it should be "an honor to teach". Then we need to stop paying all teachers. It should be an honor to pass on your sacred math skills n such if this is true.
Great topic! I have been called dishonorable and told i have no integrity because i teach for money. The funny thing is after losing my job due to covid it is one of the few recurring revenue streams i actually have. I dont make alot due to my current situation but i make enough to buy groceries and help out with some bills. so let me ask some of you this, if i use that money i make from teaching to feed my family is that dishonorable?
An interesting question to turn around on them is to ask them why they don't do THEIR job for free? I mean, most people working contributes to some benefit, either to society or to a company that provides a service. "Free enterprise" and "Capitalism" is often touted here in this country...soooo that includes everyone with a skill that has value.
I have taught for over ten years mostly at gyms and community centers, about half the that I got paid about as much as a zumba instructor. During COVID we were teaching over zoom and now outdoor. I am also a software engineer which is what pays the bills. Karate is a passion for me not an income source.
I have no problem teaching for free, all I ask is my student bring me free food, free petrol, free car insurance, persuade the mortgage people to give me a house ........ Actually I do teach a few student free, but they come to me, so there are no dojo fees, no insurance fees etc but to expect people to do anything for free when they are not prepared to do it themselves is laughable. You cover it perfectly. I have spent a few hundred dollars on PPE just to teach free woman’s self Defense classes. But that is because I want to give something back to my local town. The men’s classes I charge for. Liked, Saved & Subcribec
Anything you choose to volunteer for is entirely your right which is the great thing. And if you choose to charge you shouldn't be judged for it. There are expenses and time involved and it's up to the instructor to set the conditions of how they want to teach.
My Isshin-ryu instructor charged me $5 an hour. We had a 2-hour class once a week so it wound up being $40 a month. He didn’t charge extra to test. My Taekwondo instructors are non-profit so they only charge $10 a month which goes towards equipment expenses. They also charge for testing and this goes towards equipment and buying new belts. My Jiujitsu instructor charges $50 a month. My Jukado instructor charged $40 a month. All in all, if they’re donating their time, I think they should be paid.
Training in the martial for many years and having major set backs in my training with knee surgery major back surgery long recovery for me my goals are to give back for free to students with physical and mental disability and students that have no disability many people today do not have the money to pay when they are making ends meat to pay bills for me it will be free or old school boarder system if needed
Nice middle ground there. I will still hold though, that a student covering the costs of his own training is not "free." They each help to provide a place to train and teach, they do their part and learn. Everyone profits.
The next question now is how much, what is a good teaching rate. You started with minium wage but the minimum wage back then is different now. I guess this question is hard to answer because all the variables Another question would be how much you would charge per student per class ..... So many questions so little time lol Oau Arigato my friend. Nice explanation video on the topic.🙂
That's a good question. I know that I've seen places that I was just like ya I cannot do that it's too expensive. I mean there are some places around where I live that require $200 per month for 1-2 classes a week for about 1 hour, and any extra time you want well you gotta pay more. To me that's just a little unreasonable, because just like the instructors time, the students time is just as valuable. They too have to be able to pay their bills.
My thing is that instructors should be paid to teach their craft. My only caveat is that going to a martial arts school is so expensive these days, that one is relegated to learning from pre-recorded instructions, and not necessarily of a good quality.
Bruh, I'm a kyokushin teacher and I strongly suggest that we have to pay the coach....like it or not...people give their best only when they have an incentive to do so..and money is a great driving factor...money makes us work harder and teach carefully...money is needed for anything and everything...enough wit h the traditional BS...if we don't pay the coach their won't be accountability...the coach is not obliged to answer your queries and doubts...he may just get lethargic as time progresses...
What's your take on this 'debate' reg. karate being inducted in the Olympics as a 'sport'? A lot has been said & written, and I don't find most of the arguments being presented as nuanced enough...Would love your take on this...
I may delve deeper into this in a future episode but in short, I'm fine with it being a sport. There is nothing wrong with sport Karate as logn as it's understood the focus is on competition. As far as the sport version being represented in the Olympics...I'm fine with that, though this round was a little disappointed. Ideally I'd love for there to be this sport version AND knockdown so we can have both flavors. Afterall, we have boxing and Judo so no reason not to have continuous full contact/technique either.
I teach for free at the park. That way my students aren’t limited by income. They can use their money to provide for themselves or their families. They can also use their money to purchase professional martial arts lessons whenever they want. All I ask is that they work hard and don’t waste my time. I can also progress these people much faster than if I were trying to keep them training under me for years and years. They can focus more on learning how to fight rather than preparing for promotions or belt tests. I work a solid full time job that provides more money than teaching martial arts professionally. Teaching pays in wisdom, experience, and health. All different kinds of wealth than the obsolete, arbitrary system that is money.
Have many instructors be trained for free .I have all ways paid for my training/ grades / insurance . I have been teaching for over 10 years and I have to make up the difference in hall cost if I don't have enough students on training night's
Do you believe there are comprimises at certain points? For instance, if someone wants to take a month or so off for child birth, should they be made to pay their dues for those months?what about family plans?
@@ArtofOneDojo I have seen issues too with " Family plans". So I know a place that is $150 for access to all classes to include weapons, parkour, eskrima, and ground fighting classes. If you have a family, you max out at $300 a month. So a mom,dad, and two kids can go and not break the bank. I heard a dude try to put his two nephees and niece on his family plan, so 5 people from different households trying to take advantage of a situation
Of course I think that teachers should be paid... However, I have to say, I feel that a lot of schools MASSIVELY over charge. For example... I studied Wing Chun at a VERY well respected school, and the group classes (at least when I was there) were VERY affordable. I was recently talking to a guy at work and he said he was starting Wing Chun and his teach was just some guy without much reputation, charging almost $700 a month. It can get crazy and McDojo-y out there.
After starving while the association you work for makes handsome profits--after spending decades learning at one's own expense--after years of experience in fields of endeavor like security, military and police that give real life experience in defending oneself and others--it's a great feeling to be told by some overweight, middle-age parent that the class fee is too high.
So... I'm coming up on my brown belt test in kung Fu soon.. I'm already assistaning in teaching (going around seeing if people just need general help) but I have a speach problem, I talk slowly, I stutter and I'm worried about when I say stuff if it will come out the right or wrong way, and I'm going to be teaching two or three classes soon as the sifu is going away which I'm happy about because I get to be myself.. but I'm scared no one's Gunna take notice because of my speach problems.. any help??
At the beginning of class announce your speech impediment. During class speak slowly and confidently. Show no doubt in how you speak, show belief in what you say through confidence. This way the impediment won't matter. Try not to stress about it because that won't do anything but waste your present time. If it's going to happen it's going to happen, face it head on and give it your best effort. The outcome will be what it will be. Either way you will learn and be one step closer to overcoming this doubt.
@@ArtofOneDojo is there anything I can do about being worried just about the lessons themselves.. for example bad feed back I might get from other class mates (or the teacher himself when he returns)
@@guardianchaos I would say start with a lesson you know really well. Something you can answer questions on. Being confident helps because if it's something you know well, the students can feel that. Since you're just starting you shouldn't put too much pressure or expectation on yourself...start simple and work your way deeper into material. You could maybe even ask the class on any trouble spots THEY are having...and then spend the first class going through those issues. It shows the students you care about them succeeding and its giving you a hint right away on what to teach, and if you're able to improve or help them at all, they'll remember that.
@@ArtofOneDojo I know some of the adults need to work on there katas so maybe I could start them there and maybe start with a technique within a kata and evolve it from there, as for the kids... That's going to be my biggest struggle, they most likely won't see me as a teacher for the few days I'm teaching and I feel like they won't be interested yes I could turn stuff into games ... Except it's figuring out how to
My Sensei teaches for a small class fee per week.(I stress here he is an excellent teacher) Part time a few nights a week. He takes a few bob for petrol/gas every month but doesn't take any wage. But that is his decision. Great for me and my fellow Karateka I see other ppl I know paying stupid money to what I would consider useless Sensei's. The dojo is in a poorer area of the city and we all pay into the club account which allows some of the kids to train when their parents cannot afford to pay the full cost of the class Maybe not be perfect but it works for us.
I used to pay $50 a month with a group class. Now everybody quit now I'm the only one doing karate a private classes. Now my karate instructor wants me to pay $300 a month for private classes. So I say no thanks never see my karate instructor again. It was Kempo Karate. On top of that like every karate schools that the prices are going up for classes. $75 for a group class. This is outrageous. Nearly $100. This is so not fair.
I'm not sure what area you are located in and it's very different for every country, but $75 a month for group classes is actually a very reasonable price in America. But of course that depends on how big the classes are, how many days a week can you go. There are a lot of factors involved, but to go to most commercial schools in the United States I would say the average price is between $100-200 a month. Some people may think it's outrageous but sometimes you have to consider costs too. Do they have mats to work on? Hanging bags? Kick shields? Wave Masters? Grappling Dummies? You'd be surprised how expensive it can be to open a martial arts school.
Poor / Middle class kids (Black Belt = $5,000 1980's) As a kid I would have loved to have done Judo, Boxing, Wrestling, Weights etc... Finding a Dojo if you had the money or the knowledge was not readily available (other than commercial / library books) The internet has changed that. Reducing costs Second hand gear Working for the Dojo (discounts) Various other schemes... As opposed to Additional costs and fees and other money gouging practices by Dojos
No issue with getting paid to teach martial arts. The only issue I have is when a school charges expensive prices...it excludes the kids and adults that may not be able to afford it. Reminds me of some systems that were passed on to royalty or the rich.
I think it's up to the school and there are degrees of what is "reasonable". If there is a certificate being printed up and a belt being given, I see no issue with the school charging a small amount to cover the costs. Doesn't need to be crazy. For black belt tests, same thing, though generally fees can be higher because many times there is the cost of the belt (often custom made), certificate, costs of flying in guest instructors, sometimes new uniforms are given, swords or other gifts. It's very reasonable to be asked to cover these costs. A $200 black belt test with much of that included...reasonable. If it's $750....then it's questionable unless for whatever reason the costs are that high or you're being given something valuable with it.
I part time Personal Train and teach General Kickboxing, Boxing, etc. for a fee. I rarely teach specific Street Fighting or MMA strategy to others. I consider that to be Proprietary Information, and I'm not going to teach it to just anyone off the street who offers me money... I consider that a very old-school mentality, like if you go back in time 500 years, this is the way it was for many instructors.
Is it a hobby or a job? I think the instructor should be compensated somehow regardless. To not compensate the instructor is not respectful nor honorable.
I think martial arts instruction should be paid, but self defense instruction, shouldnt depend on the money ofnthe student... It can be paid with tax money or whatever, but you cant make it so being able to learn how to defend yourself depends on how much money you have
"Why are you entitled to be taught for free?" Boom, mic drop. I teach my kids and will teach some of my close friends kids for free, though those are the only exceptions. Otherwise I am putting in my own time, money, and effort to teach anyone anything.
It's a matter of choice tbh. If you want to do It for passion and compassion, ok UP to tou. But you can't force some one to do It 4 free even If It is a part time job. Folks gotta part the "honorable fantasy" and cold hard reality
The techniques that I at least teach get taught for free because of the dual reasons under the Code of Bushido when Chugi is in question from other people, and that money is begrudged due to the buke social caste layer that we belong to as bushi.
In my opinion, as a TMA practitioner of Goju ryu, teachers and instructors deserve to be paid as long as what they teach are useful for sport, health benefits, self-defense or some combo of the three. It is important to know what they’re teaching and if it can be applied to real life in some way
My time is just as valuable as anyone else's, if I were to open my own school, full or part time, I would expect compensation for time that I could spend otherwise if I choose. Secondly , in the West, if you give something away for free, people tend to look at it as 'well if he's giving it away for free, what's wrong with it?' they feel that it must be substandard or junk if you don't assign any value to it.
The people sanctimoniously proclaiming martial arts should be taught freely because it is a "basic right", are the same ones who see no problem spending $4 a bottle on designer water.
Knowledge has value though. Why does are martial arts an exception? Nurses, EMTs, Police officers don't have overhead to pay yet they are still paid. It should be treated just like any other trade.
If I wasn't getting paid I most definately would NOT waste my time teaching Martial Arts....Bottom line is I have knowledge that everyone can benifet from, You want my knowledge, I want your Money!..You don't want to pay me and I won't want to teach you!.. I already have my knowledge and certification!..If you want what I have you will pay me for it.... It's called Capitalism / Free Enterprize!
People have bills it actually cost alot of money to teach karate the insurance alone is astronomical I think they should be paid I don't charge every student but for the most part if you want to learn you should pay I can't go become a dr for free
Fighting instructors have charged money since the existence of money. I doubt very seriously that a sword instructor in the Sumerian Empire taught for free.
Any caring martial arts teacher will find a way to teach a student who is sincerely motivated to learn. Students can work doing some tasks in exchange for training. Wax on wax off, right, lol
It really depends on the culture where the style of martial art came from, especially in China and Japan. They are more concerned about keeping the tradition alive, rather than making a living out of it. Also, most of them have full time jobs. One interesting example is Ip Man, because after the war he was literally dirt poor, so he had no choice but to start a martial arts school to support his family.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Many advocates for "free training" forget that money is just the modern alternative for time. If you have 6hrs a day to spend on various daily chores, food preparation, and cleaning then the argument for free training would be viable
That rip at the end was so tight! Obviously the student deserves being taught because they are the chosen one.
I've assisted in instructing for many years and have never been compensated for it. I look at it as a way to give back to the school for the knowledge they've passed on to me, and also - teaching is the best way to really learn something. My school does have a very small number of paid instructors, but most of the people who teach are unpaid. I do note that I'm not trying to run a school, pay bills with tuition money, etc. If someone can make enough money to live on by running a successful martial arts school, then great! More power to them as this keeps the arts alive - and in this age of quarantines and other problems, keeping the arts alive is the most difficult and challenging thing to do.
Excellent said Sensei Dan, to me a martial arts school, a martial arts teacher or instructor should be getting paid, for their time, knowledge and expertise. I do not see people saying that fitness personal trainers, pilates, yoga, dance instructors, gymnastics teachers, so forth should not be getting paid and instead doing it for free.
To me it is quire simple, like Sosai Oyama Masutatsu used to tell foreigners, wanting to join his original Oyama Karate Dojo (Nowadays Kyokushin Karate) "Now remember, you came to me asking me to let you join, I did not come looking for you, asking you to join my dojo"! "Any complaints, or any mistakes (questioning, complaining, breaking the rules and bad conduct) I will be asking you to leave"! Without throwing anyone or any martial arts style that is not to my liking or preference, I will not simply join them and pay for my training there, instead go where I feel I will be taught what I want to learn. That simple as no one obliged me to sign up to Kyokushin Karate training and most recently as of last year, to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, both were my choice and I am content to pay their training fees. Great to see you give non biased, wise advice as always Sensei Dan, Osu!🇲🇽🇦🇺🥋🙏
Hello sir. Regarding this topic, I find myself in an interesting position. I recently got hired to be a full-time martial arts teacher at an elementary school. For me this is a huge relief as I'm no longer doing work that drains my body and mind, and this frees me to focus my other martial arts efforts however I want to, regardless of pay. It's sort of like being handed a bunch of students and a studio without having to drive sales and pay overhead. I sort of have a "you help me, I help you" arrangement with my teacher as I help him teach and build up his martial arts business and he helps me train, gain rank, and prepare for my first fight. So while I don't pay as much in money myself right now, I contribute in other areas and I believe my trainer/coach deserves to be paid and I wish he could teach full-time as well, and not have to spend quite as many hours between that and his other two jobs. I feel like arguing whether or not martial artists should be paid brings up the point of why should we have to pay for anything? These days martial artists Need to be paid, and as passionate as I am about this topic, I have to point out that martial arts isn't the only thing I want to do with my life. Trying to make a school grow while working full-time can be exhausting and very time consuming and most of the time it takes awhile to build. Meanwhile there are bills to pay. Also, there is an incredible amount of learning that goes into becoming a good teacher and martial arts often has to be done after school and business hours, so there is a lot of value that the teacher brings. I think it's only fair to pay teachers for sacrificing their time they would otherwise be spending resting or being with friends, family, and their other interests...at least in the current economy where the grind can be so heavy.
This is a great topic : I have experienced a point of teaching when I was a teenager; I was leading kids class and some adults and My instructor would not let me train on my material and I had to still pay my tuition and I was not getting paid . This situation forced me to stop as I couldn’t afford paying my instructor as I needed to find a paying job . When I started learning a different martial art and got my black belt in it :I volunteered to referee and coach but this was at my own time and. Expense and did not expect to get paid however the instructor was very grateful for my efforts and did pay me for my time . I do agree that instructors should be paid it is a skill and profession like any other .
Let me throw in some old school thoughts into this discussion. What about students as apprentices? Back in the day it was common for someone to sacrifice their time to learn a skill so later they can strike out on their own. Think outside the martial arts box and think before their were schools for things like horseshoeing, making clothes, farming, etc. Well, you get my drift...............
At the school where I've been since 1978, I've seen students open up their own schools and go back to the Master instructor for testing and he would receive the fee.......... But I've seen some students strike out on their own and keep every penny they can get their hands on, and their Master instructor never gets one cent! These folks are not considered under my instructor anymore...............
Your are 100% right they are a bunch of gray areas in this discussion......Just my humble 2 cents................
And can I say something else? In the early 80's, our basicly non-profit school had finally began to turn a small profit. Walls were torn down and the students rebuilt the school for free! Out of the blue, because of my contribution (not money) my Instructor said I didn't have to pay monthly dues anymore to practice. And I didn't try any harder or any less, since I knew I was already on the right path. To this day, it is the same, even with my 66 year old body , with the same Master instructor whom also runs a worldwide Christian Mission church...
Home | World Christian Tae Kwon Do Mission
One more thing....It was the students backed by God, whom rebuilt the school after the Nashville 2010 Floods. I was the first to see the water, well over the ceiling and door...............Paid help doesn't do the things that have kept this school together for so long.............Nashville lost a lotta fine vintage guitars in those days,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,tee hee!
Hey Mr.Dan you should do a video on the importance of endurance and what kind of exercises to do, (including stretching), and ranking each exercise. Such as running, sparring, mitt/heavy bag work. I always look forward to watching your videos
Many moons ago I trained in an upscale Tae Kwon Do school with several dojo locations, sizeable floor space with plenty of gear and tools, and multiple full time instructors. It only made sense that this enterprise charge students for membership to provide the best experience. Later I joined a college club which frequently hosted a local teacher free of charge, however he also had a dojo at his home and we paid for those classes, part of which also went toward paying for lunch. I am of the opinion that even part time instructors deserve some compensation to put toward their time and energy, let alone the cost for travel, equipment, and upkeep of their facility or possibly rent. At the very least a few dollars so your teacher can buy lunch or dinner after class is the least one could do. My present instructor had to close his dojo for a lack of revenue, but myself and several dedicated students still train outside and pay him for his time and effort, especially because in short order he will be building a small dojo in his back yard - if that isn't worth helping him out I don't know what is.
Yet another great video. I agree with everything that you said. I myself started teaching at nineteen years old and I wasn't paid either. The hardest thing about teaching for me was finding time for myself to train. Between going to school and working a full-time job it was very difficult. But I enjoyed helping others reach their potential.
One of the many little philosophical sayings from Bruce Lee’s Tao Of Jeet Kune Do that has stuck with me over the years, goes something like this; “the argument of “for” and “against” is the minds worst disease” ….
If it’s meaningful to you, and you are able to teach for free, do that… If it is meaningful to you, and you are able to teach for money and make a living at it…do that
….everything else is noise
I started 15 years ago at an academy that went out of business. I just got back to training last year during covid. Our coach had to leave for a traditional job. We found out later he was picking up food boxes from his church. Even though this was due to Covid lock downs and our gym being closed it still illustrates the point: these instructors have to get by too. Today our academy is much healthier but the coach that kept it going was literally going in his own pocket to keep the doors open. We are just now out of lock-downs and we have over 100 paying students and are growing. You start doing the math and you can see there is a lot of money on the table. I sincerely hope our coach and now new Professor are paying themselves well. They are professionals.
Honor over greed is something a lot of traditional martial artist always say this because it's true some dojo's set up in low come areas and prioritize money going as far to charge over $80 a month tuition of course a instructor should be paid but not when it bleed people who work minimum wage dry.
To me personally shotokan karate is a lifestyle to me but it also takes money to buy equipment and have a proper place to train not that a nice clearing outside somewhere to yourself is bad I just prefer training indoors sometimes 😅.
My teacher had taught a family of 3 completely for free. They started out paying but fell on hard times. He allowed them to train for free for 8 years. They did a lot for the school though and were very dedicated students. My teacher has even taught me things no other student had yet to learn for going above and beyond with helping him do things around the school
I think your last question hits the nail on the head: "Why are you entitled to be taught for free?"
Another thing that I've noticed casually is that some instructors that teach for free seem to have a borderline cultic personality. They'll teach for free or at cost, but only to people who give up their identity for the school. (Actually for the teacher.) Those that are trying to make a business out of it have to be a lot more careful about this because, as the old saying goes, the customer is always right.
It's hardly a sharp line, though. There are those who set up a business plan based on cult-like devotion and those who teach for free without interfering in their students lives, but my casual observation has been that it is more common the other way.
Even if it doesn't cost money, good martial arts training is always going to cost you something.
I recognize the irony of asking for more for free in the comments of this video... However, I would love if some of these talking videos were Podcasts. Really appreciate the ideas you share!
Mr dan... I really do love your videos I honestly hope one day I can meet you I just want to clarify my position on all of this... I have been very lucky in my life and I thank God everyday I have been involved any martial arts since I was six years old being a former commissioner United States Navy officer and a naval special Warfare officer 50% of my training in the martial arts I paid for myself the additional 50% Done by the United States Navy.. and the American people that's one reason why I took the stands while opening up a non-profit I wanted it to be able to help people and change the alive give them conference give them security by simply knowing how to defend and protect their self and I loved ones... I know compared to most of you your school is going to be three times my size I just teach 121 underprivileged kids if I try to charge these kids would not be able to do what they are doing and I'm so proud of them because of my 126 kids before the end of the School season.. I had 76 of my kids are now on the honor roll where two years ago they was about to be kicked out of school I'm also involved with a organization called women are safe I work with and teach women that has been physically and mentally abused by husband and boyfriends.. which matters so much to me I also work with three local SWAT teams and I do not charge them they are after putting the life on the line and with my background in the Special Operations Community I teach them a combination of Special Operations combatives Israeli Commando Krav Maga and three of the 22 people I work with from a SWAT team have had to use what I taught them and they are still alive how can you put a price on that they was able to go home to their wife and their kids
I like reasonable and well-balanced commentary on difficult topics. Thanks!
I have trained in multiple styles, as of now, I am training Muay Thai and BJJ. My training is getting tougher, and I am getting better. Thanks to Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do, and JJJ. All of which I had to pay to attend the dojo. Never thought it would make me rich, I know I love what I do and teach and continue to learn and teach other people for free or if they so choose to pay me.
I agree totally hoping one day to go full time teaching I know I’ve invested a lot of money into learning and continue learning
EXCELLENT! I teach privately only. I do not charge. My student/s pay me voluntarily. I also hand pick my students. So, I agree with you in that the quality of teaching should always take first place to any money earned.
Great topic.I teach privately to most people who ask for my help and pay me.If I ran a school.Yes,I should get paid.It pays the bills to keep my school open and to be able to buy equipment and compensate my staff.I make a good living off my regular job,so I really don't need the money.I would use the money to treat my students out for lunch or dinner if I ran my own school.
Would be extremely skeptical of someone who taught for free. Even training under instructors who taught at a park or the local ymca, they still charged for classes because their time is worth something. Even teaching part time or because it's your hobby, you still have expenses and your time is worth something. In my experience, people seem to be more committed to training when they are paying for lessons
It depends.
In my country we are a bit more community minded.
So a lot of sport is done in clubs in spare time, also trainers.
Here most of our fire fighters are also volunteers.
I missed this poll so I'll add my thoughts in here. I think there should be a fee when money is an issue. I do Karate through the University so the dues we pay is just for the rental of the place all of the Sensei's are professors or employed by the university in some way. If we lived in a perfect world where money wasn't an issue to survive than sure. But Martial Arts is a skill and anything that a person does well requires compensation. Any skill I learn in my life came at a cost. It's not just an honor to teach but an honor to be a student of this teacher. If you are wanting to learn these skills you must listen and do what is required. I have no problem paying fees when the price is reasonable. Martial Arts isn't a get rich scheme but it's also not non-profit.
I love the content! Helps me grow as a martial artist. Thanks for all the response
Wow! Kinda' ended with a bang didn't you? No worries.I would, and have, instructed individuals at no charge. Personal choice and integral to the tradition/style I was introduced to. If I were to go to a dojo I would expect to remunerate my instructor. Everyone deserves to make a living. If we were friends and hanging out that might be a different scenario. Peace.
One aspect I feel I should bring up, at least among Japanese Martial Arts is that most teachers have a full time job and teach, not really a side job, but more along the lines as the thing that they do to proliferate their art. The head of my style of Aikido worked for decades at the Japanese Mint until retirement. Once retired he taught as his only job. It's mostly in the west
where people try to teach full time. My own teacher taught ESL and ran bars for years and taught on the side before making it a full time occupation. Right now I help instruct and am mostly paid in beer.
nice
This video couldn't be any more timely for me, as due to a number of circumstances, I've been put into the situation of taking over our martial arts school so that it doesn't permanently shut down. So I'm navigating all of this at this moment. Today my focus is on insurance, and what a quagmire that is! It's not a simple thing, different policies have exclusions for all sorts of activities that would be considered normal martial arts activities, such as training with weapons. There are extra expenses for holding a tournament, certain things you have to do to teach at another location, a process for insuring either employees or volunteers to instruct when I can't be there. Plus I have to develop a risk management plan and procedures. And insurance is only one small aspect of this process of running a school. So you better believe I'm going to get paid! There is a tendency to focus on the art, but being an instructor requires so much more work than just leading a class. Not that leading a class is easy in itself, especially if you have unruly students.
In my state, "the so-called education state" (also, the same state took away financial bonuses from teachers with Masters / PhD), they are desperately trying to retain teachers and have given them a nominal raise of 5.5% this year.
Thing is, we pay teachers and a teacher of the martial arts (who is part-instructor, part gym teacher or coach, and probably proprietor or business owner) has even more responsibilities to a student (because of the inherent risk of injury in martial arts) as well as, many afternoon or evening martial arts programs function as off-campus after-school care.
Every other form of systematic knowledge (with schools, community colleges, colleges, and universities under or apart of federations or associations) comes with a price tag, cost, or tuition.
Martial Arts is no exception.
Heck, I spent in equipment alone, about $2.5 grand on changing my living room into my home a part-Traditional Shotokan & Modern / Machida Karate dojo with top end (Punch King) freestanding heavy bag, Title Boxing boxing up down double end bag, Title Boxing gel gloves in various weights and sizes, half rack, Olympic weights, free dumbbell weights, bench, etc. And this is just for me, multiple that cost to satisfy 10 to 30 students at a time.
One more thing though... there are still volunteer firefighting departments, even in metro areas, not just rural areas. A phenomenon in my areas had multiple paid law enforcement departments and offices, but we couldn't seem to pay firefighters.
Another issue... since the pandemic? Martial Arts schools are offering hybrid and online learning options.
Them servers don't run on hopes and dreams.
They cost real money for IT purposes. Storage, electricity, internet, etc.
Lastly, no one can skew or violate the iron triangle of economics.
You can have or obtain a good or service good /quality, fast / on-demand delivery, or cheap / cost effective...pick two, but the last will be a negative.
Yep...the Fast/Good/Cheap always seems to hold true. Pick the two of them you want.
Loving it so far and agreeing with everything your saying ✋🥰
In my search for a school I came across a wide variety of prices and contracts all of the above. The 2 that stand out to me the most was an MMA gym where they were extremely cheap and affordable and preached about how they just want to keep the doors open. The other is my current school where my teacher teaches just over 100 students has classes available all week/day including Saturday.
The MMA gym was the weirdest place I have ever seen, and honestly should not be open. It's like going to a bar to learn bjj (their main focus) everyone there was drinking and some were even smoking/vaping. There was no respect for the instructors time and the instructor didn't really showed that he cared to be there. The sparring they did was completely out of control and dangerous more like bar room brawls.
At my school its a reasonable price but more along the lines of what you would find most schools charge in the area. But I've never met anyone like my teacher. His passion and commitment to the school and literally every single student is second to none. He takes each students needs into consideration and goes above and beyond for them. His students are his family. 11 years and he still teaches with the drive and passion that he did the first day I met him.
So I'm trying to say is that yes absolutely instructor's should be paid for their time. Sometimes you run into bad people kind of like what I saw before and just need to recognize that and stay away. Others you will find absolutely deserve ever penny they make because of what they put into it
i was trajned for free my parrents did not want me to join a martial arts school but a frend of my parrents knew someone who was a martial arts master and introduced me and afther a while she said she would just teach me we always trained outside and the only other student was her daughter
I have insurance, rent, had to pay for building inspections, permits for signage, state licenses for teaching children, equipment, office supplies, restroom supplies, cleaning supplies to clean after every class, floor mats, utilities and advertising. Yes, you should be charging to teach if it's your studio. It's a consensual agreement to trade your time to teach a skillset to someone that desires to learn that skillset. I'm a year into my studio and I haven't taken a paycheck yet. Money goes back into the studio to cover everything mentioned. If I were not charging anything, I wouldn't have kept the lights on after the 2nd month.
I love this topic so much thanks for making this! 🙏. And it's an interesting one I am personally exploring....maybe can explore a part 2 on, individuals (not just teaching) who contributes to the martial arts...should they get paid? Example (content creators, promoters, club admins/org , journalist, translators...and others...?)
Oh I feel content creators should DEFINITELY be paid well ;)
@@ArtofOneDojo 😁 hahaha I wholeheartedly agree
The idea that some people think that an instructor shouldn't be paid a living wage to teach the skill they have cultivated over many years is mind blowing. I'll never understand that kind of utopian entitlement. It reeks of a spoiled child throwing a tantrum because they want a toy at the store. If one can't afford it and an instructor (of anything) chooses to work with them anyway that's one thing, but to assert that its wrong for them to charge is lunacy. Anyone putting that kind of demand on someone who has a skill they can pass on to them only shows they aren't ready to learn.
Also if you take karate as an example good instructors are paid very well in Japan where the modern styles come from, and on Okinawa it wasa also a relative wellpaid job and to my knowledge still is( not 100% sure about Okinawa nowadays, but sure Japan and modern Okinawa)
I remember one time someone ask me to teach this person and that person was like I'll pay you every week but I told that person i wasn't comfortable with it because I'm not certificated or instructor.
Great video!!
I teach Judo and Jujitsu at a community center. I have rent and specialized equipment to maintain. I am not indipendently wealthy, therefore, I must charge to maintain the space and equipment. Tournaments and travel to them also cost money. I'd love it if the class's funds could pay for new Gis and student's travel and entry fees; but therefore, I must charge. I'm also putting my body at risk for my students to throw around and apply locking and strangling techniques on, so that I can critique their effectiveness. If I get hurt, I will have medical bills, and therefore, I must charge.
Could you review the art of self defense and what karate style is it
I laugh every time I see the thumbnail, it's awesome!
I would actually feel more comfortable to paying my instructors than with not paying them. You make a trade, both know what you are in for and you don‘t have to wonder if there are any ulterior motives that can come with anything being ‚free‘. I‘m not sure I would be at ease in an environment where everything is just done for honour, since it often can also come with an all-in or out, black or white mentality.
Two exceptions I would totally make though.
1) Teaching MA just like any other skill/knowledge for free to people who cannot afford it.
2) Being retired and continuing to teach as a hobby, probably not full-time then anyway. Still legitimate if they wanted to get payed of course, but since they technically don‘t need the money, some people also do teach whatever skill for free since it‘s how they want to spend their time now.
As far as I know even the great IP Man had to charge for teaching . If he wanted to eat that is . I was extremely fortunate to find a Tae Kwon association school in Northern New Mexico that was, from what I see, perhaps one of the last of the old school associations. Strictly hard work . Practice, practice, practice . Students paid $30.00 among. The regional Master and our excellent teachers I belive were paid nothing . The $30.00 went to the city for the use of their community gym and at times other facilities .we did of course pay for our test from 1st. Dan and up. But our club didn't have to pay for a building , air conditioning, heat and such . But I'm sure this was the exception. I was simply blessed .
I teach and hold down a full-time job. I don’t charge for classes, but everyone (me included) chips in the same amount to cover bills. I take nothing.
That is the way to do it. Respect.
Absolutely, but key point here is...he's making a living off another job, he's not teaching full time. Still absolutely respectful I agree.
I’ve seen what teachers depending on the dojo for their living can do, both to the art and to the students. If I can help it, I will always have a job and teach for the love of perfecting and passing on the art.
If you say "no" because it should be "an honor to teach". Then we need to stop paying all teachers. It should be an honor to pass on your sacred math skills n such if this is true.
Great topic! I have been called dishonorable and told i have no integrity because i teach for money. The funny thing is after losing my job due to covid it is one of the few recurring revenue streams i actually have. I dont make alot due to my current situation but i make enough to buy groceries and help out with some bills. so let me ask some of you this, if i use that money i make from teaching to feed my family is that dishonorable?
An interesting question to turn around on them is to ask them why they don't do THEIR job for free? I mean, most people working contributes to some benefit, either to society or to a company that provides a service. "Free enterprise" and "Capitalism" is often touted here in this country...soooo that includes everyone with a skill that has value.
I have taught for over ten years mostly at gyms and community centers, about half the that I got paid about as much as a zumba instructor. During COVID we were teaching over zoom and now outdoor. I am also a software engineer which is what pays the bills. Karate is a passion for me not an income source.
I mean I think that there are people out there who do get paid a living for their teaching and are still as passionate as anyone else out there.
I have no problem teaching for free, all I ask is my student bring me free food, free petrol, free car insurance, persuade the mortgage people to give me a house ........
Actually I do teach a few student free, but they come to me, so there are no dojo fees, no insurance fees etc but to expect people to do anything for free when they are not prepared to do it themselves is laughable.
You cover it perfectly. I have spent a few hundred dollars on PPE just to teach free woman’s self Defense classes. But that is because I want to give something back to my local town. The men’s classes I charge for.
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Anything you choose to volunteer for is entirely your right which is the great thing. And if you choose to charge you shouldn't be judged for it. There are expenses and time involved and it's up to the instructor to set the conditions of how they want to teach.
My Isshin-ryu instructor charged me $5 an hour. We had a 2-hour class once a week so it wound up being $40 a month. He didn’t charge extra to test.
My Taekwondo instructors are non-profit so they only charge $10 a month which goes towards equipment expenses. They also charge for testing and this goes towards equipment and buying new belts.
My Jiujitsu instructor charges $50 a month.
My Jukado instructor charged $40 a month.
All in all, if they’re donating their time, I think they should be paid.
Training in the martial for many years and having major set backs in my training with knee surgery major back surgery long recovery for me my goals are to give back for free to students with physical and mental disability and students that have no disability many people today do not have the money to pay when they are making ends meat to pay bills for me it will be free or old school boarder system if needed
Nice middle ground there. I will still hold though, that a student covering the costs of his own training is not "free." They each help to provide a place to train and teach, they do their part and learn. Everyone profits.
The next question now is how much, what is a good teaching rate. You started with minium wage but the minimum wage back then is different now.
I guess this question is hard to answer because all the variables
Another question would be how much you would charge per student per class .....
So many questions so little time lol
Oau Arigato my friend.
Nice explanation video on the topic.🙂
That's a good question. I know that I've seen places that I was just like ya I cannot do that it's too expensive. I mean there are some places around where I live that require $200 per month for 1-2 classes a week for about 1 hour, and any extra time you want well you gotta pay more.
To me that's just a little unreasonable, because just like the instructors time, the students time is just as valuable. They too have to be able to pay their bills.
My thing is that instructors should be paid to teach their craft. My only caveat is that going to a martial arts school is so expensive these days, that one is relegated to learning from pre-recorded instructions, and not necessarily of a good quality.
Bruh, I'm a kyokushin teacher and I strongly suggest that we have to pay the coach....like it or not...people give their best only when they have an incentive to do so..and money is a great driving factor...money makes us work harder and teach carefully...money is needed for anything and everything...enough wit h the traditional BS...if we don't pay the coach their won't be accountability...the coach is not obliged to answer your queries and doubts...he may just get lethargic as time progresses...
What's your take on this 'debate' reg. karate being inducted in the Olympics as a 'sport'? A lot has been said & written, and I don't find most of the arguments being presented as nuanced enough...Would love your take on this...
I may delve deeper into this in a future episode but in short, I'm fine with it being a sport. There is nothing wrong with sport Karate as logn as it's understood the focus is on competition. As far as the sport version being represented in the Olympics...I'm fine with that, though this round was a little disappointed. Ideally I'd love for there to be this sport version AND knockdown so we can have both flavors. Afterall, we have boxing and Judo so no reason not to have continuous full contact/technique either.
@@ArtofOneDojo Hmm...interesting...
I think, as you mentioned, this merits its own video... :-)
Thanks for the reply!
I teach for free at the park. That way my students aren’t limited by income. They can use their money to provide for themselves or their families. They can also use their money to purchase professional martial arts lessons whenever they want. All I ask is that they work hard and don’t waste my time. I can also progress these people much faster than if I were trying to keep them training under me for years and years. They can focus more on learning how to fight rather than preparing for promotions or belt tests.
I work a solid full time job that provides more money than teaching martial arts professionally. Teaching pays in wisdom, experience, and health. All different kinds of wealth than the obsolete, arbitrary system that is money.
I usually tell people who think training should be free "you get what you pay for."
Like the old saying goes “There’s no such thing as a free lunch”. If something is given for free it’s almost always at someone else’s expense.
6:54 so true
I think it’s hard work. I assisted my instructor a few times many years ago and it wasn’t exactly easy. A labourer deserves his wages.
Have many instructors be trained for free .I have all ways paid for my training/ grades / insurance . I have been teaching for over 10 years and I have to make up the difference in hall cost if I don't have enough students on training night's
Do you believe there are comprimises at certain points? For instance, if someone wants to take a month or so off for child birth, should they be made to pay their dues for those months?what about family plans?
I am a personal believer in month to month and yes I believe there should be compromises in certain situations.
@@ArtofOneDojo I have seen issues too with " Family plans". So I know a place that is $150 for access to all classes to include weapons, parkour, eskrima, and ground fighting classes. If you have a family, you max out at $300 a month. So a mom,dad, and two kids can go and not break the bank. I heard a dude try to put his two nephees and niece on his family plan, so 5 people from different households trying to take advantage of a situation
@@ja-son439 Unfortunately there will always be those who try to take advantage.
They have still got overheads to pay like insurance materials and there experience if there good there worth the every penny
Of course I think that teachers should be paid... However, I have to say, I feel that a lot of schools MASSIVELY over charge. For example... I studied Wing Chun at a VERY well respected school, and the group classes (at least when I was there) were VERY affordable. I was recently talking to a guy at work and he said he was starting Wing Chun and his teach was just some guy without much reputation, charging almost $700 a month. It can get crazy and McDojo-y out there.
Wow $700 a month is crazy high! They'd better be teaching Hadukens!
@@ArtofOneDojo Yeah it was definitely over priced
After starving while the association you work for makes handsome profits--after spending decades learning at one's own expense--after years of experience in fields of endeavor like security, military and police that give real life experience in defending oneself and others--it's a great feeling to be told by some overweight, middle-age parent that the class fee is too high.
So... I'm coming up on my brown belt test in kung Fu soon.. I'm already assistaning in teaching (going around seeing if people just need general help) but I have a speach problem, I talk slowly, I stutter and I'm worried about when I say stuff if it will come out the right or wrong way, and I'm going to be teaching two or three classes soon as the sifu is going away which I'm happy about because I get to be myself.. but I'm scared no one's Gunna take notice because of my speach problems.. any help??
At the beginning of class announce your speech impediment. During class speak slowly and confidently. Show no doubt in how you speak, show belief in what you say through confidence. This way the impediment won't matter. Try not to stress about it because that won't do anything but waste your present time. If it's going to happen it's going to happen, face it head on and give it your best effort. The outcome will be what it will be. Either way you will learn and be one step closer to overcoming this doubt.
This is excellent advice, I couldn't have said anything better.
@@ArtofOneDojo is there anything I can do about being worried just about the lessons themselves.. for example bad feed back I might get from other class mates (or the teacher himself when he returns)
@@guardianchaos I would say start with a lesson you know really well. Something you can answer questions on. Being confident helps because if it's something you know well, the students can feel that. Since you're just starting you shouldn't put too much pressure or expectation on yourself...start simple and work your way deeper into material.
You could maybe even ask the class on any trouble spots THEY are having...and then spend the first class going through those issues. It shows the students you care about them succeeding and its giving you a hint right away on what to teach, and if you're able to improve or help them at all, they'll remember that.
@@ArtofOneDojo I know some of the adults need to work on there katas so maybe I could start them there and maybe start with a technique within a kata and evolve it from there, as for the kids... That's going to be my biggest struggle, they most likely won't see me as a teacher for the few days I'm teaching and I feel like they won't be interested yes I could turn stuff into games ... Except it's figuring out how to
My Sensei teaches for a small class fee per week.(I stress here he is an excellent teacher) Part time a few nights a week. He takes a few bob for petrol/gas every month but doesn't take any wage. But that is his decision. Great for me and my fellow Karateka I see other ppl I know paying stupid money to what I would consider useless Sensei's.
The dojo is in a poorer area of the city and we all pay into the club account which allows some of the kids to train
when their parents cannot afford to pay the full cost of the class
Maybe not be perfect but it works for us.
I used to pay $50 a month with a group class. Now everybody quit now I'm the only one doing karate a private classes. Now my karate instructor wants me to pay $300 a month for private classes. So I say no thanks never see my karate instructor again. It was Kempo Karate. On top of that like every karate schools that the prices are going up for classes. $75 for a group class. This is outrageous. Nearly $100. This is so not fair.
I'm not sure what area you are located in and it's very different for every country, but $75 a month for group classes is actually a very reasonable price in America. But of course that depends on how big the classes are, how many days a week can you go. There are a lot of factors involved, but to go to most commercial schools in the United States I would say the average price is between $100-200 a month.
Some people may think it's outrageous but sometimes you have to consider costs too. Do they have mats to work on? Hanging bags? Kick shields? Wave Masters? Grappling Dummies? You'd be surprised how expensive it can be to open a martial arts school.
@@ArtofOneDojo Im in Mass😃👍
Should be paid unless an instructor is doing it for charity.
Poor / Middle class kids (Black Belt = $5,000 1980's)
As a kid I would have loved to have done Judo, Boxing, Wrestling, Weights etc...
Finding a Dojo if you had the money or the knowledge was not readily available (other than commercial / library books)
The internet has changed that.
Reducing costs
Second hand gear
Working for the Dojo (discounts)
Various other schemes...
As opposed to
Additional costs and fees and other money gouging practices by Dojos
No issue with getting paid to teach martial arts. The only issue I have is when a school charges expensive prices...it excludes the kids and adults that may not be able to afford it. Reminds me of some systems that were passed on to royalty or the rich.
Ppl are crazy to think you can survive not working for money
Where I trained we got the membership for free if we teached
That can be a fair trade.
What are your thoughts on charging for a belt test?
Why would it be any different ? If the business wants to charge for it then that's their prerogative to do so.
I think it's up to the school and there are degrees of what is "reasonable". If there is a certificate being printed up and a belt being given, I see no issue with the school charging a small amount to cover the costs. Doesn't need to be crazy.
For black belt tests, same thing, though generally fees can be higher because many times there is the cost of the belt (often custom made), certificate, costs of flying in guest instructors, sometimes new uniforms are given, swords or other gifts. It's very reasonable to be asked to cover these costs. A $200 black belt test with much of that included...reasonable. If it's $750....then it's questionable unless for whatever reason the costs are that high or you're being given something valuable with it.
Many volunteer firefighters get paid for responding to calls
I part time Personal Train and teach General Kickboxing, Boxing, etc. for a fee. I rarely teach specific Street Fighting or MMA strategy to others. I consider that to be Proprietary Information, and I'm not going to teach it to just anyone off the street who offers me money... I consider that a very old-school mentality, like if you go back in time 500 years, this is the way it was for many instructors.
Is it a hobby or a job? I think the instructor should be compensated somehow regardless. To not compensate the instructor is not respectful nor honorable.
Free means there’s only family secrets or a one master one student.
I think martial arts instruction should be paid, but self defense instruction, shouldnt depend on the money ofnthe student... It can be paid with tax money or whatever, but you cant make it so being able to learn how to defend yourself depends on how much money you have
"Why are you entitled to be taught for free?" Boom, mic drop.
I teach my kids and will teach some of my close friends kids for free, though those are the only exceptions. Otherwise I am putting in my own time, money, and effort to teach anyone anything.
It's a matter of choice tbh. If you want to do It for passion and compassion, ok UP to tou. But you can't force some one to do It 4 free even If It is a part time job. Folks gotta part the "honorable fantasy" and cold hard reality
Right on target Dan Sensei 👍
Absolutely. I teach for the love of the martial arts. I just want to be able to cover expenses.
If you don't want to pay your sensei, don't complain when he goes out of business and you can't train.
Right oñ Matt
Definitely should be paid.
The techniques that I at least teach get taught for free because of the dual reasons under the Code of Bushido when Chugi is in question from other people, and that money is begrudged due to the buke social caste layer that we belong to as bushi.
I’d put it in this prospective we live in a capitalist society if that’s the profession that want to go after that individual has that right
In my opinion, as a TMA practitioner of Goju ryu, teachers and instructors deserve to be paid as long as what they teach are useful for sport, health benefits, self-defense or some combo of the three. It is important to know what they’re teaching and if it can be applied to real life in some way
My time is just as valuable as anyone else's, if I were to open my own school, full or part time, I would expect compensation for time that I could spend otherwise if I choose. Secondly , in the West, if you give something away for free, people tend to look at it as 'well if he's giving it away for free, what's wrong with it?' they feel that it must be substandard or junk if you don't assign any value to it.
Spot on and it does not matter the industry or profession.
The people sanctimoniously proclaiming martial arts should be taught freely because it is a "basic right", are the same ones who see no problem spending $4 a bottle on designer water.
Who claimed that? I haven't seen anyone make that claim. Also... $4 for water? That is ridiculous, who pays that?
Who pays $4 for water? Come to South Florida or walk into an organic grocery store with designer water.
I don't think so unless they have their own dojo.
Knowledge has value though. Why does are martial arts an exception? Nurses, EMTs, Police officers don't have overhead to pay yet they are still paid. It should be treated just like any other trade.
Ridiculous question.......yes..of cause
If I wasn't getting paid I most definately would NOT waste my time teaching Martial Arts....Bottom line is I have knowledge that everyone can benifet from, You want my knowledge, I want your Money!..You don't want to pay me and I won't want to teach you!.. I already have my knowledge and certification!..If you want what I have you will pay me for it.... It's called Capitalism / Free Enterprize!
This logic applies to every other industry too, so this shouldn't be an exception. If your knowledge is sought after...it has a value.
People have bills it actually cost alot of money to teach karate the insurance alone is astronomical I think they should be paid I don't charge every student but for the most part if you want to learn you should pay I can't go become a dr for free
Fighting instructors have charged money since the existence of money. I doubt very seriously that a sword instructor in the Sumerian Empire taught for free.
But I have heard that the Sumerians worshipped Gozer ;)
@@ArtofOneDojo ok, not too many things on the internet can make me laugh, but this did. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@blockmasterscott He is the traveler and the destructor comes in the pre-chosen form...so choose wisely!
@@ArtofOneDojo Somehow I don’t think that the Sumerian high priest envisioned a giant walking marshmallow lol.
@@blockmasterscott You don't think anyone stepped on a church in their town?
Any caring martial arts teacher will find a way to teach a student who is sincerely motivated to learn. Students can work doing some tasks in exchange for training. Wax on wax off, right, lol
Correct! Daniel technically did not get taught for free. Miyagi actually got a great deal in terms of labor!
Miyagi's property value escalated WAY higher than any tuition Daniel would have paid over those two months.
It really depends on the culture where the style of martial art came from, especially in China and Japan. They are more concerned about keeping the tradition alive, rather than making a living out of it. Also, most of them have full time jobs.
One interesting example is Ip Man, because after the war he was literally dirt poor, so he had no choice but to start a martial arts school to support his family.
Teachers should absolutely be paid. Over the years, I've known numerous instructors who have had second & third jobs.
Bullshit I got to eat
That’s all martial arts is one be money grab here in America.
Off course this is a paid job!
And volunteers fireman in Canada are paid. They just get paid when there is a fire.