MMA/ Muay thai instructors....who never fought...

[chrissyp]

Anyone have an opinion/experience with these kind of instructors? I see more and more of these as time goes on. You don't have to be a good fighter, to be a good teacher...but I think to teach something like this, requires at least a taste of what you're teaching, to understand it. specialy when it comes to cornering people, to give fighters the insight on what it's like to be in the ring. opinions?

[JCavin]

What do you mean by fighting? Sanctioned fights? Smokers?

A lot of muay Thai tests require you to be in the ring with instructors for a certain amount of rounds. Have to throw so many kicks per round or you fail etc. most of the muay Thai I've been involved with is through ajarn chai and I know his tests are ran this way.

[chrissyp]

I mean any fights... I know a muay thai instructor that has never fought once, period...and he tells me he's kru under master toddy.

[JCavin]

I think that the training you would go through at his camp would be sufficient to become an instructor. Also, just reading up on toddy's page it says that fighting is optional to become a teacher under him.

I don't think you should have to fight personally. You don't have to compete in a BJJ comp to earn yor belts do you(I don't know, actually asking)? Same for most martial arts

[chrissyp]

The more I think about this, the more i'm inclined to think i'm wrong about my initial post. If they can turn out good fighters it shouldn't matter.

[Tkdampbjj]

The more I think about this, the more i'm inclined to think i'm wrong about my initial post. If they can turn out good fighters it shouldn't matter.

I think it depends on what level of students you are training. If you training world class fighters it would hard to take them to a high level having not experienced the ins and outs of the ring or cage. But teaching to everyday students I would think it would be beneficial, but not necessary. Of course you would need a lot of sparring sessions to help bridge the gaps.

[JCavin]

The more I think about this, the more i'm inclined to think i'm wrong about my initial post. If they can turn out good fighters it shouldn't matter.

Mike Tyson's trainer Cus D'Amoto never fought. Just for perspective. Also, if someone like master toddy says someone is good enough to yeah I would defer to their judgement.

[ShoriKid]

Off the top of my head Greg Jackson hasn't fought. Seems to be at least a fair hand at coaching fighters. Tons of good boxing coaches never fought either and turn out great fighters. Knowing the "game" and being able to communicate techniques, tactics and strategy are the keys. Having fought wouldn't hurt, but it's not a hard and fast requirement.

[ps1]

I think what's more important are two things:

1. Your experience level in the art

2. Your goals with the art

If you're a beginner. He should be able to get you to a point where your fundamentals are high quality. Combinations, clinches and foot work can all be taught.

If your goal is to learn a good fighting art and maybe do a fight or two, you're probably in good hands.

However, if you want to fight many times and often, you'll eventually need a coach who's learned what that's like. How to handle the constant beating on the body, how to handle the diet between fights ect...

I teach BJJ. But I've only competed a hand full of times in it. I can teach most people just fine. But if someone wants to become a world champion, there's going to be a point where I'm unlikely to be able to take them further. Possible, yes. But unlikely.

[Dobbersky]

In Martial Arts, there are 2 journeys you can follow, Teaching or Fighting. A good fighter doesn't guarantee you to be a good instructor but a good instructor is predominantly a good fighter. You'll notice every "experienced" martial artist says the same thing.

I'm not going to beat about the bush, if you don't respect your instructor because he hasn't competed in local, national or international events or got 4 or 5 belts, find another instructor who has.