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.
I know an aikido teacher who is also a fireman.
ReplyDeleteHe 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.