Importance of Instructor and student accomplishments.

[JiuJitsuNation]

How important is it to everyone to train with an accomplished instructor?

[still kicking]

This seems to me to be kind of a no-brainer. Can you elaborate on what you mean by "accomplished"?

[JiuJitsuNation]

Major styles have some outlet or another. All of which obviously are sport. So what does everyone think is important to the general public? A dominant figure in there field or just some cat in a belt. The general public is ignorant of the differences in styles much less the differences in instructors. There is no regulation on who can and is teaching and why or what their credentials are or should be. Truth be known you can sell the public a product that doesn't exist if it's marketed properly.

[still kicking]

JiuJitsuNation wrote:

you can sell the public a product that doesn't exist if it's marketed properly.

It is hard for me to tell from your post if you are in favor of that, or opposed. You're right, there is no over-arching licensing agency that oversees quality control in the martial arts, so it's buyer beware. I don't know what sells to the "general public" in terms of MA's. I'm not even sure who the general public is, in terms of potential customers/clients for a martial arts school. It could be parents looking for a place to park their kids for a few hours a week, people who want to learn self-defense, adults who are drawn to serious study of traditional MA's for a combination of reasons. I can't speak for the general public, but one quality that is really important to me in a martial arts instructor is integrity. Unfortunately, this can be hard to determine from the get-go. I guess "time in" and affiliation with a respected organization (though the latter is controversial, I know) are a good start.

In any case, any "cat in a belt" who has a good marketing presentation and a salesman's personality can attract some students. Keeping them, and building a reputation within a community of other martial artists with a similar approach, is another story.

[ninjanurse]

If by accomplished you mean having won lots of tournaments and/or recognition by competing then the answer is "no". Medals and trophies have no bearing on teaching ability.

[ps1]

I went with the "should be marketable" category. I chose this because when I see "accomplished," it makes me think of tournaments. While this can be an indicator of how good an instructor is, it can also be an indicator of how self centered he is as well.

I picked marketable because that's where I would put the good instructor. There may be a number of reasons he can't or didn't compete/ excel in competition. But he might still be a great instructor. If that's what you meant by accomplished...than that's where I should have voted.

[JiuJitsuNation]

Ok this is where I stand. I believe the Instructor should be accomplished and should market that well. An indication of his instruction will be that he has world class students as well.

Now am I in favor of being able to sell ketchup pop sickles to women in white dresses yes. My point was the power of marketing.

As for being self centered most are and are just very good at suppressing it to they public and students.

As for picking apart my terminology like general public and such. Irrelevant.

And i'm asking sincerely for your opinions. Not a debate. Just interested in what people think. Of course a heated debate would make this thread long and interesting! LOL

Edited May 26, 2010 by JiuJitsuNation

[Spodo Komodo]

Personally I would be wary of lots of marketing and a seemingly accomplished instructor. If I genuinely got on with the guy and he looked like a good teacher then OK but I would choose a newbie instructor who can teach over some World Champion* with shiny leaflets who couldn't.

*It's that Jim Carrey sketch that makes me wary of World Champions...

[JiuJitsuNation]

Well how would you know if he is a good instructor if you don't know anything about the style. I mean he is the black belt! lol And did you read everything I just said?? Ok let me rephrase the question. Let's add: and is a great instructor!

[Harlan]

I'm of the opinion that the best marketing is one's students. One can have 'the goods' in any particular area (sport, performance art, bunkai, etc.) but if one can't pass it along effectively it makes no sense for a potential student to train with you.

As far as what 'accomplished' means: my teacher has been training for 25/30 years, a 3rd dan in TKD and 4th dan in Goju, and in my estimation can be scary 'real'. And his instructor can put him down with no effort. 'Accomplished' is someone that can do something you can't, but want to.

Ok this is where I stand. I believe the Instructor should be accomplished and should market that well. An indication of his instruction will be that he has world class students as well.

Now am I in favor of being able to sell ketchup pop sickles to women in white dresses yes. My point was the power of marketing.

As for being self centered most are and are jusr very good at suppressing it to they public and students.

As for picking apart my terminology like general public and such. Irrelevant.

And i'm asking sincerely for your opinions. Not a debate. Just interested in what people think. Of course a heated debate would make this thread long and interesting! LOL