This past Saturday, several of my students and I attended a Sifu Francis Fong seminar. As always, Sifu Fong was energetic and informative. I always enjoy time with him.
On a personal note – due to finances, I had originally signed up to take only half of the seminar. Several of my students asked me about being there for the whole thing, but I just could not justify the expenses given my situation. My intent was to attend the morning session, helping my students. We would all attend the luncheon with Sifu Fong, after which I would leave knowing my students had gotten started on a good footing.
After the lunch, one of my students, Alvie, came to me and said, “No refunds, so you can’t leave.” He, perhaps with a split from other students, had paid my way into the afternoon session. I am so honored to work with people like that, and only hope I can live up to them.
There are many reasons to practice a martial art: self-defense, conditioning, confidence, tradition, camaraderie, et al. Once an individual has trained for a while, it is inevitable someone will ask them to teach. The questions become, why they would, and should they.
Just as there are many reasons to train, there are many reasons to teach.
For the bucks: Martial arts schools can be big money, especially when a host of youth programs such as school pick-up, daycare and summer camps are involved.
For the cred: The martial arts instructor is the head honcho, someone everyone looks up too. Being an instructor in one place may give one some props in another.
For the art: Near the height of a training career, teaching is a good way to further refine and enhance one’s own knowledge. Additionally, for the art to continue the word must be spread. If it is not handed over, it dies.
For the students: Teaching is about handing over the value of the art for the benefit of the students. The teacher feels their art has benefited their life in some way and desires to help others obtain those benefits.
These things apply to any discipline: art, science, math, you name it. Any given instructor may teach for one or a combination of the reasons above. He or she may do so by choice, by pressure, or by happenstance. Personally, I teach from the last two conditions – to further the art and my knowledge of it, and to help my students grow. It would be nice to earn a living teaching, but if not I can work other jobs as well. Teaching should not be about getting a timeshare condominium at some resort. It is fine to desire the extras in life, but be willing to put in extra work for them; the acquisition of them should not affect the instruction. The instructor is either comfortable in their experience or not. If they are not, more street cred is not going to resolve that problem. In my humble opinion, teaching should be only about the art and the students.
To my students – thank you.
Why Some Teach: There are many reasons to teach. This past Saturday, several of my students and I attended a Sifu Francis Fong seminar. As always, Sifu Fong was energetic and informative.
