Recently Sue posted a bit on the "costs of training" that always causes me pause. When ever money comes to the table there are things that occur that sometimes become the controlling foundation vs. the actual teaching and learning. I call this "the balancing act." I can say there are more today than in my early days who have achieved a good balance between the "art vs. income" aspects of martial arts.
When I say "art" I am alluding to the "integrity" of the system being taught. When income becomes the primary focus of a training hall then the integrity is in front of a bulls eye target. It is a dangerous path one travels when money, etc. are involved.
Can one keep the integrity of the system intact and make enough income to support the Sensei, the dojo and the family? I think more today than years ago that this is possible and done by a few I know of and that is really nice. Mostly the dojo, what I and others refer to as the MacDojo, in a commercialized sport position tend to push toward what will make more money and leave integrity somewhere outside the facility doors.
The one's who have the intestinal fortitude to keep the integrity intact while doing what is needed to earn a living deserve "kudo's galore!" They have achieved a true "balance," a true "equilibrium" that most will never achieve unless they have back yard dojo and earn a living at other disciplines.
If you are not a martial artist, a karateka, etc. and wonder how to find a good dojo, then seek out those who fit and balance both integrity with the economic realities of running a training hall and get to practice. It will be worth your effort and expenses.
p.s. i will have to admit at one time anyone who took money for training in karate was a blasphemous demon of money changers. i never earned a dime mentoring karate-ka but then again I had military special services to foot most of the bills today's sensei have to deal with to remain active. there are still ways to do this but today they are fewer and fewer.
Hey, Attention on Deck!
Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!
When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:
I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me
I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me
I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull
I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death
I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed
I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes
I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados
I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers
The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn
Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung
WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE
The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.
Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.
“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated.” - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)
“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)
“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne
I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.
2 comments:
I know an aikido teacher who is also a fireman.
He makes a decent living as a fireman and has excellent benefits and a pension.
He works about 10 days a month, those days are 24/7.
Since he makes his living as a fireman, that lowers the bar for how much he has to make from his dojo to keep it in operation.
When he's not at the firehouse, he teaches. When he is at the firehouse, one of his senior students leads the class working on testing techniques.
I think he has an ideal situation.
Hi Charles, I wrote the post because I thought it would be interesting for people to be able to compare training costs so that they could assess whether they are getting good value for money.
I was surprised that some people are still able to benefit from non-profit making clubs but even these had costs involved (life's just not free)
Alas it is all but impossible to get training for free these days and to be honest I don't see why we should - even martial arts instructors have the right to make a reasonable living! But you're right about getting the balance right - good quality instruction with only necessary costs charged for.
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