There are three main requirements for becoming a martial arts instructor, aside from a deep love for the martial arts and the specific discipline in which one has trained. The first is a high level of martial arts proficiency, with at least a black belt. The ability to teach is the second requirement. Many people become experts in a field but are unable to pass on their knowledge to others. Because the students are also the paying clients in a field like martial arts, the ability to teach effectively is crucial. Those who plan to work for a school run someone else may consider the final requirement &emdash; a good business sense &emdash; optional, but even then, the ability to self-promote can be a critical component of success for someone who wants to become a martial arts instructor.
The most difficult and time-consuming requirement is to achieve a high level of proficiency in martial arts, as evidenced earning a black belt. Achieving black-belt rank in one of the many martial arts disciplines, such as karate, kung-fu, or taekwondo, takes dedication, commitment, and perseverance, and takes at least two years and as long as four or five years, depending on the discipline. Furthermore, many instructors will specialize in one discipline but also train in others so that they can offer more to their students as martial arts instructors.
Most disciplines have national and international federations that certify instructors and schools and authorize them to award “belts” to students. A good instructor should be able to award deserving students the rank of black belt.
The ability to teach is the second and most important requirement for becoming a martial arts instructor. The martial arts are a mix of mental, physical, and spiritual training, and while beginners will see it as primarily physical, advanced practitioners will see it as almost entirely spiritual. Teaching martial arts is thus much more than simply teaching someone how to punch with more or less shoulder. Another reason teaching ability is so important is that students are paying customers who will simply go elsewhere if they are unhappy with the instruction they are receiving.
Because most martial arts schools are small operations with only a few instructors, the third requirement of anyone who wants to become a martial arts instructor is good business sense. Each instructor contributes to the school’s success not only through the quality of their teaching and the success of their students, but also through the promotion of their extracurricular activities. Martial arts instructors who want to open a school &emdash; also known as a “dojong” or “dojo” &emdash; must also have a strong sense of self-promotion and the ability to persuade others that their style is superior to others available in the area.
People who think they want to be martial arts instructors can actually take a “test drive,” unlike some other occupations. Aspiring instructors have options that do not require them to quit their day jobs or make large financial investments in the form of renting classroom space and purchasing specialized equipment. Beginning classes can often be offered without a large initial investment at places like the YMCA, health clubs, churches, gyms, and community centers, though it may be a requirement that such classes be offered for free or for a nominal fee. Nonetheless, these are excellent opportunities for them to see if they have what it takes to teach martial arts.