Choosing the right instructor...

[evergrey]

Oh my gods! D: D: D: Oh that is HORRIBLE! I heard about this, some years back... oh gods.

[NINE TAIL FOX]

Look at a student and you will see his instructor. Look at an instructor and you will see his student.

[ps1]

It's ok to learn from anyone. However, I don't know why you would want to.

[Zaine]

It's ok to learn from anyone. However, I don't know why you would want to.

Agreed on both counts. You can learn from this instructor and separate yourself from his personal doctrines and such, but, why learn from a jerk when there are other able instructors out there.

[IcemanSK]

Hey guys. I haven't been on here in a while but wanted thoughts on this.

Is it okay to learn martial arts under someone who may be a great martial artist but may have a bad reputation or their values and moral are not up to par?

This is something that sort of has bothered me lately. I was planning on training in another weapons art briefly but the instructor has had some court troubles in the past. Those in the community have stated his morals/values is questionable after the trouble he was in.

I've talked to him personally and immediately he wanted to know my lineage, who my instructor is currently, and sent this huge e-mail asking me my past training,etc. It almost sounds like he is "sizing me up."

He had some students approach me on a social networking site and it seems they are researching me! He has definitely told them things I've personally told him myself! It's really a confusing thing. My gut is telling me to stay away.

My current instructor is a great family man, professor in college and an amazing person all in all. His teaching is great. He tells me to be very careful.

Just wanted to see some views on this. Thank you!

Run, do not walk away from this guy. Would you put up with that from any other business that wanted your money? That sense in the back of your head is a good thing & needs to be listened to. There are many other folks who you can learn from that you don't have these questions about.

All my best to you.

[chrisw08]

I would suggest someone who does not try to dominate students and loves to teach in detail and will work with you person to person when you are having problems. Someone who says great your getting better instead of what the heck chris your doing that wrong. Went through that. Not ever picking an instructor like that again.

[bushido_man96]

Hmm, this is a touchy subject. I don't really want to pass judgement on this guy in reference to his moral character; I don't know him, and you really haven't elaborated much on the issues you have with hiim. Is it infedility? Does it have to do with debts? I don't really want to know, but each of these you have to decide for yourself.

As for the background check that he seems to be performing on you, well, its up for you to decide how to react to it. One thing I know is I probably wouldn't share a whole lot with this guy outside of the student/teacher relationship. But I can't really blame a guy for checking out who his prospective students might be; after all, we as students like to know as much as possible about those who might teach us; turnabout is fair play.

This is a tough deal. In the end, we can tell you to do this or that, but we don't know what your gut is telling you. If something feels funny to you, and something doesn't seem right, and you have that inkling that something is just off a bit, then I'd say forget the whole thing. It probably isn't worth it all that much.