Problems With Martial Arts Schools

The quality of martial arts schools varies widely. From world-renown schools with hundreds of students to a single teacher teaching two or three students in a garage, good-quality schools come in all sizes. Problem schools also come in all sizes. The problems with martial arts schools can take the form of problems with the teacher, the curriculum, the finances or the culture of the school.

  1. Inexperience

    • A common problem in martial arts school is lack of depth. The martial arts are complex and take a lifetime to learn. If your school's teachers don't have teachers of their own, they can't continue to grow. They will hit a ceiling and not be able to progress. Teachers who are not studying themselves are often stuck in a rut, and their stagnation can be contagious. When their students progress to higher ranks, teacherless teachers will have nothing to teach them.

    Danger

    • The martial arts can be dangerous. Minor injuries such as bruises, scrapes and sometimes sprains are not uncommon. A good school pushes students to their limits but not at the expense of permanent injury. Problem schools are schools where the students or instructors are out of control. In these problem schools, injuries are a regular occurrence or sometimes are intentional. Besides the moral implications of these kinds of injuries, such constant danger is counterproductive. A student who is constantly afraid won't learn well.

    Financial Problems

    • Many commercial martial arts school have financial worries. It takes space to do martial arts that employ long kicks or traditional weapons. Whether it be in a local shopping center, the basement of a church, or a privately owned building, space costs money to rent or buy. Electricity, water, insurance and replacement equipment also take their toll on the bottom line. It is rare for an average teacher of a small or mid-sized martial arts school to be able to make a living off teaching. It is not rare for a school to close its door because of lack of money to pay the rent.

    A Sick Culture

    • Some martial arts schools are sick. A good school brings out the best in the student. It encourages effort, teamwork, personal reflection and growth. A sick school is one that's infected with an attitude problem. The problem might be infectious complaints or pessimism. It might be an arrogance problem, which shows up as students or the teachers spending more time boasting and showing off than learning. This kind of problem school might be infected with cruelty or self-centeredness. Or it might just be lazy. Whatever the infection, a sick culture can make a martial arts school a miserable place to train.