How sould I start a martial art class?

Question

I am 11 and have won international chanpionships in tai chi and other stuff. I plan on starting a class for little kids who are 3-6 and a tai chi class for older people.

I am 11 and have won international chanpionships in tai chi and other stuff. I plan on starting a martial arts class for little kids who are 3-6 and a tai chi class for older people.

Answer 1

First off, realize this, you are stll 11. I cannot actually condone you opening a martial arts class. But what i can do is tell you that the drive to open a class is a grand thing that you want to hold onto until it really is a good time to follow through with your dream, there are several reasons for this, one is fairly straightforward and simple, very few people will take an eleven year old child seriously in the matter of martial arts, a shame really in some cases, but look around atyour peers and try to imagine one of them trying to teach you something obscure, such as fencing, the chances are so horribly slim that he would know more than now to move himself, the actual skill of teaching someone else comes from a deep understanding of the martial art, having been in judo for many years, since i was younger than you are now, i had always thought that i was very good at it and had a strong understanding of what i was doing. But now i look from a standpoint of the present, where i actually do teach, and i realize that i only had the most fundemental grasp on the art, it was the fact that i knew more than the other students that i have a small box packed full of medals stashed away in some obscure corner of my garage. when i first started trying to teach i was twelve, i helped the sensei teach the younger students for two years, but then i stopped because although i knew what to do, i could perform perfectly, i thought i knew how to explain it, teaching comes from a very diverse understanding of every element of the martial art, i then concentrated on learning more, beyond merely knowing how to do things, but i started to develop an understanding of what i knew how to do. Through this understanding is where wisdom comes from, wisdom is not knowledge, wisdom is knowledge applied to the world. Knowing a martial art and being wise in it are not one and the same, even the sensei i have now know far more than me, but there are so many areas that i have to work out for myself because they have not thought to apply themselves in that area completely, so they can only give me a very good example, a proper example, but they cannot entierly explain what they are doing besides the fundemental basics of the technique, so through watching, listening and knowing what i should be doing i slowly work it out for myself with the aid of my teachers, and we all become richer in mind and technique for it. So what all of that big clump of information is trying to tell you is, ask this question in 15 years, learn and diverisify in that time, make everything perfect, read books, travel to other places and train under different masters, make your mind and body as honed as possible through perfect understanding of what you are doing, and what you could accomplish. This is still my goal, even though i am a teacher now, i will continue to be a student until the day that i die.

Answer 2

You're too young to start a class on your own. I am also a student of martial arts with some titles won, but there is a big difference between knowing something and teaching it.

Teaching is more than telling someone how to kick or stretch correctly. You need to be able to show them how these things are done and know how, when and why to progress to the next stage. You must be able to read students and be able to give them individual attention.

I'm 22 and have done some teaching. It's not easy.

Answer 3

CurlyQ,

Your desire to teach commendable and I applaud your confidence but leave the instructing to others more mature and experienced. There is a vast difference between performing and teaching. In addition, 3-6 year olds will not be able to keep their attention focused enough to learn something like Tai Chi Chuan. They are too active at that age. Trust me on this. I taught children for over five years whose ages ranged from 6 to 16 and it was a very difficult task at times.
Lastly, I do not think that there many "older people" who will study from a young person of 11 no matter how good you are or how many awards you have won.
It is good to see someone so young who loves the arts so much and wants to share. Do not give up your desire to teach and train, just wait a few more years before you start teaching. You will be glad you did.
Jim

Answer 4

At age 11, your best bet is to see if you can get yourself set up as an assistant teacher for someone. There are two reasons: first, you can't own your own business until you're an adult, and second, at your age you deserve a freedom that having a class of your own won't allow you. You deserve to be free from the hassles of collecting payments, organizing a schedule, arranging assistant instructors for when you need a day off, etc. Once you get set up as an assistant instructor, you can learn the ins and outs of the business over the next six or seven years and be ready to call it a go when you graduate high school.

Answer 5

Teaching is always an admirable goal. I myself have taught for many years. In truth you may find that you gain a greater understanding from teaching than you gained while learning. However, your age is such that I do no see that there are many that would take your efforts seriously. Most adults would not be willing to take instructions from someone so young, and younger children are not used to haveing to listen to someone so close to their own age. The idea of teaching is something that you really should discuss with your instructor and get their input on the topic. Either way don't stop trying to make this happen, jsut dont let the amoutn of time it takes discourage you from getting there.

Answer 6

I believe you should wait until you are 18 at least. I feel that you still have phases of life to experience before you can begin to tutor others on the path.
I do not question your Tai Chi knowledge, I am sure that you know what you are doing. However, you should stay under a teacher until you are more physically developed. Your body will change as you continue to develop as this happens you will have to adjust your mind body connection. While you are adjusting to your body you will be shortchanging those learning from you. They will see your adjustments and possibly pick-up some bad habits.

Answer 7

Think of all the things over the years that your instructor(s) have told you; things that seemed unrelated and yet helped you visualize and internalize the essence of what you were trying to learn. Are you sure that you possess the knowledge, insight and wisdom to spontaneously impart that kind of knowledge to others?

Give yourself a break. You are very young and there is plenty of time. Let yourself have a chance to ferment and absorb all that you've worked so hard to learn. When the time comes, you won't have to ask the queston that you asked, because you'll know how to begin teaching.

Answer 8

Not at 11 years of age. Even if you are gifted with martial arts performance, that does not mean that you have the maturity to teach and judge people.

Answer 9

If you had someone to help you out (a little older maybe) i would try posting flyers and talking to some older people you know who would want to get their young kids involved in a fun after school program. Got a Basement? those work nice.

Answer 10

kids class would be great, although I don't know if 3-6 year olds have the attention span to do Tai Chi. I barely have it as an adult.