The Martial Arts Instructor Certification Course
Three Good Reasons for You and Your Staff to Complete The Martial Arts Instructor Certification Course
Your retention and revenue depend on your skill as an instructor.
Three Good Reasons for You and Your Staff to Complete Martial Arts Instructor Certification Course
1. MATA Instructor Certification will improve your ability to attract and retain more students.
2. Increase your revenue by retaining students longer and enrolling the referrals they send you.
3. Elevate your school above the competition.Â

What You Are Going To Learn in the Martial Arts Instructor Certification Course
Online training can be completed at your own pace from anywhere.
Section I: The Science of Teaching
1. How to Teach Martial Arts Skills by Dr. Ann Boyce, Ph. D.
2. How to Structure Your Curriculum by John Graden
3. How to Reduce Student Drop Out by John Graden
Section III: Psychology
12. Teaching Strategies by Age Group by Dr. Derenda Timmons Schubert, Ph. D.
13. How to Instill a Sense of Purpose in Your Students by Joe Lewis
14. How to Create a Healthy Hierarchy System by John Donohue, Ph.D.
15. The Power of Motivation and Charisma by Brian Tracy
16. Discipline, Praise, and Punishment by Gianine D. Rosenblum, Ph.D.
17. Teaching Character Skills Responsibly by Scot Conway, Esquire
18. Teaching Students with ADHD byDr. Derenda Timmons Schubert, Ph. D.
19. Working with Parents by Dr. Don Korzekwa, Ph. D.
Section II: Physiology
4. How to Conduct a Proper Warm-Up by Sarah Chung, M.A.
5. The Proper Execution of Calisthenics by Sharon B. Spalding, M. Ed.
6. The Proper Execution of Flexibility Exercises by Tom. Thompson M.S.
7. How to Conduct a Proper Cool-Down by Sarah Chung, M.A.
8. Understanding General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) by Willy Pieter, Ph.D.
9. How to Teach Kicking Safely by Tim Niiler, M.S.
10. How to Teach Self-Defense Safely by Tim Rockford
11. How to Sparring by John Graden
Section IV: Risk Management
20. Crash Course in Law by Scot Conway, Esquire
21. Avoiding Negligence by Scot Conway, Esquire
22. Use and Maintenance of Equipment by Scot Conway, Esquire
23. Proper Use of Student Instructors by Scot Conway, Esquire
24. How to Avoid Sexual Harassment Liability by Scot Conway, Esquire
25. School Layout to Minimize Risk by Scot Conway, Esquire
26. Water for Student Safety by Scot Conway, Esquire
27. Proper Use of Release Forms by Scott Conway, Esquire
✅ The skills to create a positive, supportive, and exciting learning environment.
✅ The methods that ensure effective skill development.
✅ Learn the best practices to give feedback.
✅ Learn the active learning methods in class design that engage students.
✅ Learn how to succeed in any teaching role.
✅ Learn how to create a positive, supportive, and exciting learning environment.
Course Modules
Lessons
Happy Graduates

The Course Authors and Board of Directors
The Martial Arts Instructor Certification Course was authored by 22 different veteran black belts who are also experts in their respective fields such as psychology, pedagogy, movement science, motivation, and communication.
Dr. Willie Pieter, Ph.D.
Dr. Willie Pieter set up the certification program for Taekwondo instructors in the Netherlands in 1980.
That received government recognition.
His background is in the ICF and the WTF taekwondo organizations.
Dr. Darenda Schubert
Dr. Schubert is his license psychologist with a special in child and family issues.
An active Martial Artist she has served on the board for Martial Arts Fitness Center, Inc.
Brian Tracy
Brian Tracy is a renowned motivational speaker and author known for his expertise in personal and professional development.
Scot Conway, Esquire
Scot Conway is an attorney at law in California and the founder of Guardian tempo Christian Martial Arts.
Sharon B, Spaulding, M.A
Sharon Spaulding is certified by the American College of sports medicine as an exercise specialist. In 1995 she designed the fitness program for the Virginia women’s Institute for leadership.
Tom Thompson, M.A.
Tom Thompson holds a bachelor of science degree and a master of science degree in kinesiology from the University of North Texas.
Mr. Thompson has been operating the Alpha Fitness Center in Dallas and has been trained in martial arts since 1970.
Dr. John Donahue, Ph.D.
Dr. Donahue holds a doctorate in Anthropology with a research concentration in the cultural aspects of Japanese martial arts.
Dr. Gianine Rosenblum, Ph.D.
Received her master’s and doctorate in psychology from Rutgers university has been practicing martial arts since 1990.
Dr. Joseph Estwanick
Dr. Estwanick it has vast experience as a Boxing safety consultant and ringside position for boxing and MMA contest for decades..
Joe Lewis
Joe Lewis is a legend in the history of American karate. He began his training in 1968 and earned to Blackbelt within seven months. A world champion many times over, Joe Lewis passed away in 2012. His contributions and inspiration live on.
John Corcoran
John Corcoran (1948-2019) was a highly regarded martial arts journalist and historian.
Tim Rochford
Tim Rochford owns Empower Jim’s in the Chicago area. He is certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the National Strength And Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Dr. Ann Boyce, Ph.D.
Boyce is an associate professor of pedagogy at the University of Virginia. Attack on the blacktop. Dr. Boyce has studied martial arts for over 40 years.
Dr. Michael Maliszewski Ph.D.
Dr. Maliszewski has a Ph.D. in psychology and created the largest behavioral medicine program in the world in Chicago. He travels the world studying Martial Arts of various styles.
Dr. Don Korzekwa Ph.D.
Dr. Korzekwa is a licensed psychologist and a black belt living in Texas.
John Graden
Black Belt Magazine, July 2004
Sarah Chung, M.A.
Sarah Chang has a masters of arts in human kinetics with a specialization in sport psychology performance enhancement at the University of Ottawa. Sarah Chang has been a world class Taekwondo competitor since 1987.
Many school owners assume that their staff understand what professional conduct is.
The Martial Arts Instructor Certification Course makes it very clear what boundaries need to be adhered to.
A young black belt gets more praise and respect than he’d ever dreamed of and leverages that to date students.
That is one of many examples of dangerous decisions that this certification course will help to avoid.
Our Martial Arts Instructor Certification Program walks you through the potential liabilites in running a modern day martial arts school.
Charismatic, confident leadership is a crucial skill to learn as an instructor.
MATA Certified instructors learn effective communication skills so they are clear and commanding.
The Blind Leading The Blind.
Most untrained instructors simply mimic their own instructor’s communication and physical patterns.Â
It’s more than just what happens on the floor.
Let’s face it. We live in a litigious society where students will sue your school in a heartbeat.
It doesn’t matter if it was right or wrong, the legal bills will be high.
Who Is The Instructor Certification Course For?
All Martial Arts Instructors
It’s incumbant for instructors to pursue continuing education like any other professional.
All School Owners
Current martial arts school owners seeking to train their staff in the best practices for teaching.
Martial Arts Organizations
Martial arts organizations seeking to provide members with the best educational options.
This course will help your members to succeed.

John Corcoran was a mentor of John Graden and helped him to organize, write, and publish the first, MATA Instructor Certification Manual.
“All the business skills in the world can’t make up for poor teaching. If you’re going to be at Martial Arts Professional, be the best. You’d be hard-pressed not to have a better example than John Graden.”
Brian Tracy–Certification Author and MATA Board Member (BrianTracy.com)
“John Graden is the man responsible for some of the most successful Professional Martial Arts Organizations in the world.”
Joe Lewis was a huge supporter of the Certification program from the start. He inducted John Graden into his prestigious Honor Roll in 2009. He also nominated him for the Martial Arts History Hall of Fame.
Joe Lewis–Certification Author and MATA Board Member
How to Get Started
Justin Faiferlick of Fort Dodge, IA enrolled in both the Instructor Certification and the Rank Advancement program. The certification press release we wrote and distributed for him was picked up by 30+ major media sites.Â
CERTIFICATION INCLUDES
- Full access to the MATA Certification Program and Exams.
- One-year MATA-Pro membership/$199 value.
- Beautiful 11 x 17 Graduation Certificate.
- Digital Certificate for social media and website.
- Get Staff Certified for just $97 each.
- Access to additional courses
- Law of Self-Defense
- School Management Audio Course
- 100 Questions to Answer Before You Open a Martial Arts School
- Quiz for Martial Arts School Owners
- (Coming soon. Comprehensive After-School Martial Arts Course)
Compare this course to a $355
Online Spinning Instructor Certification
Click to Enroll Now for $197 with $100 Discount