Instructor Training Requirements

[Lioness]

Can someone tell me what it takes to become an Instructor? How long in training? Must you be a black belt to start teaching? Can you assist under a Master, or a black belt to start getting the experience? Also, what can one expect salary-wise in this field? I'm currently taking Tang Soo Do, I test for my Green Belt in 2 weeks. I'm loving every minute learning this art form and want to explore the option of teaching it. Can anyone advise?

 

Thanks, Lioness

 

[Pacificshore]

Generally speaking one must progress through the rank of black belt to become an instructor. At a certain grade, or level of training, you can be required to start on your teaching hours(kinda like an internship for becoming an instructor).

 

So dojos also have a certification program that they put their black belt instructors through to "certify" them as being able to teach. As far as pay goes, that is all up to the person you will work for. It also depends if you decide to open and run your own program.

 

A friend of mine who frequents this forum was once a professional instructor, and I recall at one time he was making around $25,000 a year.

 

One last thing, welcome to the forum

[karatekid1975]

My situation goes like this: I'm not a black belt. I don't "technically" teach. BUT I do help my instructor with some beginners classes, and with our after school TKD program (for 12 years and under). I do get paid for it.

 

I can't "officially" teach till I reach black belt. But since I'm an adult, I can make sure the kids behave, and teach lower ranks (than me) what they need to know for tests and stuff. I just can't test them (till BB). I also help with drills, forms, start class, ect.

 

It can be fun. I learn from the kids and they learn from me as an adult. It's totally cool I love my job

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Can someone tell me what it takes to become an Instructor? How long in training? Must you be a black belt to start teaching? Can you assist under a Master, or a black belt to start getting the experience? Also, what can one expect salary-wise in this field? I'm currently taking Tang Soo Do, I test for my Green Belt in 2 weeks. I'm loving every minute learning this art form and want to explore the option of teaching it. Can anyone advise?

 

Thanks, Lioness

 

 

Being able (certified?) to teach will vary from system to system, so the best place to get your answers is from your instructor.

 

However, this is what I do in the system that I practice.

 

I believe that in order to teach (your own dojo), you should have at LEAST a 1st degree black belt...PERIOD! Any less than that, and I would think that you aren't fully versed in enough techniques, and mostly EXPERIENCE (very important) to pass the fundamentals of your system on to others.

 

I have been teaching classes since September of 1978 (longer than many of you have been alive I think). You needs LOTS of patience to teach martial arts.

 

To prepare my students to teach, when they get their 1st of 3 possible brown belts, I have them start to teach basics to new students, including the first kata. I also will have them take lower students aside if need be to help them with something specific that I feel needs improvement, and they aren't getting it in the classroom environment.

 

When a student reaches his first degree BB, I consider them an assistant instructor (not paid). If for some reason I am unable to make class (very rare occurance), then they are expected to take over the class and teach it. I don't expect them to teach the class as I would, but rather let them teach what they want to teach. I then will ask them the next time I see them..."How did it go? Questions/problems?"

 

As for pay...no, I don't pay my students to teach, as I consider taking over my class or working with junior students as part of their ongoing training to prepare them someday for their own classes.

Edited October 17, 2003 by Shorinryu Sensei

[G95champ]

Usually its not the rank you wear that allows you teach but your ability to explain it to others. Ive saw blue belts do better teaching than 2nd Dans.

[Lioness]

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks for getting back to me!

 

I appreciate your feedback and insight.

 

I'll speak with my instructor. I had a feeling that one needed to be a BB prior to being an instructor.

 

Pacificshore, thanks for the welcome!

 

Lioness

[koreantiger81]

yes, i agree with G95Champ. "Usually its not the rank you wear that allows you teach but your ability to explain it to others."

[RobinT830]

I agree with you about the rank, I have definitely seen some great things coming from Blue and Brown Belts.

 

What we do at our dojo, is once you become a certain rank, you apply to become a STORM member (Super Team Of Role Models) and you sign up for a class to assist with. When you first start out, you are a Role Model. Helping to make the class run smoother by assisting a student who may be struggling with a technique; getting up next to a student and doing the technique as best as you can with lotsof energy and enthusiasm to bring them up. After you are comfortable with that you can move into working with smaller sub-groups of the class, then onto doing warm-ups and small 10 minute portions of the class as your teaching skills grow. We also have a 10 week leadership course that we take to graduate us to assistant instructors.

[KoreanTiger30]

Instructor's position is hard ot obtian in my school. First a 1st dan is not eligible because lack of expereince, granted he has been doing it for so many years and achieved a balck belt but he has to understnad the principles of teaching. The master chooses 3 of the most qualified 1st dan to go through Instructor training. This usually includes classes on understnading how to teach, what to teach & when to teach. They must go through rigorous training. The philosophy behind the training is that is you ask your students to do 1 thing you must do it 10 times. They must understand the defining elements of everysingle technique and form movement. Once 2nd dan they are official instrucotrs after having all these classes. Its like a cycle once the 1st dan move to 2nd dan , the 2nd dan instrucotrs move to 3rd dan and begin the training needed to become a master, this includes school management, priciples behind each technique plus new techniques, creation of techniques derived form basic principles, Ki Specailization, Accupuncure & accupressure with massage training. The 3rd dan dont realy teach they are focuses on their master training that is what 2nd dan instrucotrs are for to help the master.