| You are a Black Belt in the martial arts and you're | | | | become a dojo master. Learning and practicing |
| interested in starting up your own martial arts | | | | the art of teaching and running a business from |
| business. You see yourself as owning and | | | | an experienced master is invaluable. |
| operating your own dojo. You want to teach, to | | | | It may be long odds to be hired as an assistant |
| pass on your knowledge to students, to be a | | | | instructor by a martial arts master who has |
| mentor. | | | | never met you or heard of you. In order to |
| This can happen but how do you go about | | | | secure this type of position, you may have to |
| starting your own martial arts business? | | | | join the school as a student as well as an |
| Teaching at a Community Center | | | | assistant. |
| Offering to teach a class at a community center, | | | | Launching Your Own Dojo |
| such as a local recreation facility or YMCA, is a | | | | Are you ready to take the big leap? This is a |
| terrific way to establish yourself as a professional | | | | huge step to take, betting your money, time, and |
| of your art and an authority. It is also a good | | | | reputation by launching your own school. The |
| way to get experience operating your own class, | | | | martial arts business, like so many businesses |
| devising your curriculum, teaching methods and | | | | featuring recreational activities or sports, can be |
| style, while still having the support of the | | | | precarious. |
| community center staff to handle registration, | | | | Do your homework. Research business models, |
| marketing, and cash receipts. | | | | make sure you understand the level of |
| You must find out who to contact at the | | | | investment needed, how to recruit and retain |
| community center, perhaps a sports director or | | | | students, and study the market. |
| recreation manager. Then you should present | | | | The first months, in fact the first year, of running |
| yourself to that person as a professional capable | | | | your own dojo will be one of the hardest-working |
| and ready to run a class. A resume and | | | | years of your life. You will need to do everything |
| references will be necessary, and having a written | | | | and be everything for your school. Instructor, |
| class plan and curriculum ready to present are | | | | salesperson, accountant, registrar, and |
| good ideas. | | | | spokesperson - you will take on all of these roles. |
| Assisting at Another Dojo | | | | You will need to manage your students, manage |
| The best way to gain experience in teaching is to | | | | your money, and manage your image. This is no |
| become an assistant instructor at the school you | | | | small task. |
| train in. However, if you are unable to this you | | | | The reward for all this hard work is a thriving |
| may need to gain experience by going to other | | | | dojo that is the embodiment of your martial arts |
| schools. The key point here is to select a good | | | | philosophy and vision and a venue through which |
| mentor, a master of his art, as well as a | | | | you can finally become what you intended to be: |
| reputable and ethical school. | | | | a mentor to the new martial arts student in your |
| You trained long and hard to become a master of | | | | own martial arts business. |
| martial arts. It is just as important to train to | | | | |