Instructor training and my “day” job

Students sometimes ask me: “what do you do in the day for your “day job” (???)”. They somehow must imagine that the academy magically runs itself! The planning, organisation, lesson plans, workshops, school work, private tuition, gradings, seminars, equipment orders, certificates, belts, enrolments, staff training, management meetings, marketing, training etc, etc, etc.

On top of all of this, our job as instructors is to stay sharp and on top of our fitness and professional martial artist game.

This morning I went to the gym for an hour and then followed this up with another hour of patterns and bag work.

I appreciate that many instructors are serious about their training, but I am amazed at the growing number of instructors (and their staff) that teach every week, and no longer work out on the mat themselves (they haven’t got the time or they are too busy).

As full time or part time instructors we must all take care of the business (and the busyness too)... but to stay on top of our game, we MUST train on the mat and set the standard for our students to follow too.

Look in the mirror. How we train and what we eat in private, we cannot hide in public. We are the example. Keep in shape and stay on top of your game!