“When Should I Leave My Sensei And Start My Own Dojo?”

A question recently addressed by the famous “Karate Nerd” to which I responded, “It depends …”


Short answer:

  • what form of martial art are you going to teach, i.e., sport, defensive, or self-help?
  • what form have you trained in for the last 10,000 hours or more?
  • what is your rank in the dominant form you are training in, i.e., San-dan, Yon-dan, or higher?
  • have you assisted your Sensei in the form you train in for 10,000 hours in addition to the other 10,000 hours of training and practice?
  • do you have teaching credentials validated by an accepted body certified to teach teachers?
  • do you have the related reality-based experience and training in the form you train in especially if for defensive?
  • … and more …

and this is just off the top of my head because, as stated, it all depends. 


Some, no matter the grade, will never be teachers or instructors because it takes a certain qualified experienced person of character with a personality conducive to the teaching environment.


I was trained, qualified and certified instructor of Marines and gained in excess of ten years at 40 hours a week experience as a Marine Instructor.


Note: there is a huge difference between an instructor and a teacher as well as a mentor!


Read more from my blog here: https://tinyurl.com/5j94j9wu 


Note: just because you wear a black belt; just because you have a ton of awards; just because you have trophies 🏆that fill your garage DOES NOT QUALIFY you to teach.


Note: teaching, regardless of subject or discipline, is in and of itself an art form that  when done right can mean a degree to a masters degree and a PhD degree 📜; that does not necessarily make a good teacher!


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