Why do you continue to teach martial arts?

For me too it is complex. I started assisting my instructor with the kids and found I was the one getting the most out of it. More reps, seeing where mistakes are being made (including myself) how to correct (including my own), etc. So my first lesson in teaching was that I was doing it more to learn myself from my students than it was teaching my students. Even though I was trying to give something back I was getting even more out of it.

When the school went south there were a few kids who desperately needed something positive in their lives, my own kids needed the discipline and structure of martial art so I taught. Now all the kids are grown and there are still more kids that need the discipline and the structure so I keep going. When an AD/HD kid can't focus or sleep through the night and I get them into my school and there is improvement for that kid within as little as a month it makes such a difference for the whole family. It makes it worth my while.

As for the adults, I too am careful with what I teach and whom I teach. I have a few black belts I do enjoy teaching and showing them new things but even then some of the more advanced concepts are over their heads too. I think sometimes some things are really not meant to be taught and are simply for oneself but if I lay a good foundation and the students keep doing research they will eventually find the answers too when they are ready so it is not necessary that we spoon feed everything. So I keep going in the hopes that eventually they too will figure it out.

I generally also do not share a lot on Y/A simply because I do not know who will read it so everything I give on here is very superficial. Unfortunately, for the majority of the people martial arts is very superficial as you can see yourself from the questions posted on here and it will never be anything more than wanting to know how to swing. My hope is that somehow a few will recognize that it is more than just school yard brawls so I keep going on here too.

Things are what they are and it is not my job to change them or convince someone I am right and who does not agree with me is wrong but to find those who are wanting to learn and then help them learn. I believe that it is not the job of a martial arts teacher to teach a huge number of students. It is much more tedious than that and that is to find the very few and then really teach them.

Bottom line I teach two sets of students. A large majority who is just trying to find a way to make it through every single day and I am happy to comply and teach them skills that will help them cope. And then there are the handful who are truly martial artists and I teach them differently and they get the finer aspects of martial arts that make it the art. Those I hope will go on and keep the real martial art alive. It would be a shame to lose it.

I have many reasons. But I'll keep it brief and in no certain order.

I enjoy it.

I enjoy learning as I learn when I teach.

I believe in giving back. I don't charge for teaching. I serve in an area where most student wouldn't be able to afford lessons. Sure some of my students can, but most can't. I was told by someone probably in my preteen years that we are supposed to give back. Later I had a football coach say the same thing. Then I had my first martial arts instructor at 13 years of age that I witness demonstrate this. He taught us. We didn't pay a fee in the beginning. But he was dedicated to teaching us. Our school grew to over 100 students. The high school that let us use 2 of their gyms began to make him pay and kept increasing the fees as we grew. Then he began to charge us $5.00 per month. That was more than reasonable. We traveled all over to compete. I can't recall paying more than $15 or $20 a piece which included transportation and lodging. Sometimes it included tournament fee. We paid about $5 for short distance trip when we didn't need to get a room. That covered the car/van rentals. It was rare that more than 10 people were allowed to go and compete. At the end of the school year we would celebrate. He gave out awards and trophies and we ate. I'd imagine some of that came out of our monthly dues. The only other thing we paid for was our gi, registration card (included accident insurance, which I used once when I broke my leg competing), $25 testing fee if you were allowed to test (many weren't allowed, testing only done twice a year), ans some tournament $5-$15 for a tournament. A few of us were allowed to compete in the black belt division as well as our division and I had to pay an addition fee for that. I didn't mind getting 2 trophies/medals. I still talk to him occasionally.

It brings me joy to see a student that really desires to learn.

It bring me joy to see a student that is putting forth the effort

It brings me joy to see a student reward for hard work by getting it right.

It is who I am.

I do not teach in a formal way anything in anything but I like to share knowledge in many fields.....(I have other jobs)

I wouldn't share a bit of a more advanced knowledge though, with people that are not of a very good character, that view martial arts as only and strictly for fighting, that they do not seem to understand the concept of the art of fighting with out fighting, that they are not positive enough, that are too insecure, that are trying to spread their insecurities around e.t.c...This may cause problems for other people, this is why I wouldn't share a bit of more knowledge there...

I would share more knowledge with anyone that I find to be of a very good character and of non-limited attitudes and in order to share some of my good knowledge somebody needs to prove that he is also either brave either open-minded (just in order to understand what I am saying and don't think that I am nuts...Lol!!!)...

I feel that fighting is in human nature. But it's the job of an instructor to teach his or her students to control that impulse. We can instil humility and respect. In that way, they become students of life, and not just martial arts.

A great question!

For me, it is easy: I learn more through teaching than by... I guess not teaching. That is to say, the act of having to show and explain what I do, and in different ways so as to reach everyone, and to identify when people are doing it wrong, where they do wrong, and coming up with visuals... That is how I learn most.

Several reasons. I have been lucky enough to leanr a few things that are just not being taught to 99% of the martial artists out there. It may not be much, but it is relatively unknown. As such I had difficulty paying my instructors when I was young. Many times i could not afford to pay them at all. They all allowed me to keep training. I asked the post prominent instructor why he allowed me to train for so long when I could not pay him. He said that he knew i would not waste what I had learned, and that I would teach it to others. He also said that he knew i would not only develop what he taught me and teach it to others, he said he knew I would be sure to tell my students where the training came from. He is correct. I feel it is my responsibility to share what I have with as many people as I can.

I also learn much from teaching others. Tomodachi said it well. Be sure to read his answer.

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there are many reasons why i teach but the main reason is teach to help others and to spreed knowledge. and as tomodachi said you learn from your students and from there mistakes as well as how they understand the techniques.

but still i think my favorite moment in teaching was years ago, when a mom came up to me with tears in her eyes thanking me for keeping her son off the street, that one moment to me made it all worth it

A teacher, who is truly wise, learns from his students.

Be well and be wise.

tell them martial arts is for self defense