Info for Martial Arts School Owners and Instructors

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How to Partner Your Martial Arts School with Public Schools

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white belt child kicks with instructor watching

Get Certified as a Martial Arts Instructor Online

MATA Martial Arts Instructor Certification Course

Module 21-The Proper Use of Student Instructors

by Scot Conway, Esquire

The $25,000 Volunteers

Excerpt from the Martial Arts Instructor Certification Course:

Using upper ranks to teach classes has been a long-standing martial arts tradition. But, is it legal?

A California instructor had his black belts teaching under-rank classes at his studio. In exchange, he no longer charged them tuition.

This continued until one fateful day when the owner and a black belt student had a disagreement.

The vindictive student contacted the California Labor Board and reported that his instructor had been employing assistants by requiring that they teach classes each week.

This can constitute an Employer – Worker relationship. The only thing missing was payment for the workers and the taxes the government would collect if they were being paid.

The State of California investigators concluded that the owner, over the years, had a total of 25 black belts teach classes.

They defined them as uncompensated employees, which is illegal under the laws of California, and fined the instructor $1,000 per incident.

The final bill: $25,000 for the volunteers.

Lesson: Know your state laws regarding utilizing assistant instructors.

“I can’t get into the schools around here…” If I’ve heard that once, I’ve heard that a thousand times. I’ve also seen owners build great relationships with their local public and private schools.

In virtually every case, the reason the owner was able to partner with the school was that he or she simply approached the principle and said, “I’ve been in this community for XX years and have been teaching martial arts, self-defense and life-skills for XX years as well. What can I do to help you to help these kids?” That’s it.

I’m prompted to send this because I had a nice conversation with MATA member Aaron Wayne-Duke in Galesburg, IL. (MartialArtsGalesburg.com) Last month, he approached a local alternative school for 12-18 year olds that are dropout risks. Some have parents who incarcerated and all of them need caring leadership and discipline.

Aaron approached the principle with pretty much the same script outline above. Not only did they jump on the offer, they carved out $900 for a six-week contract and are already placing him in the budget for next fall. Did I mention he teaches just one class a week? Did I mention he doesn’t have a Masters in Education? He’s a veteran black belt just like you.

You will never succeed sitting behind your desk and checking Facebook. You have to get out and shake some hands. Make it your goal to get in front of an audience for a speech or demo at least once a month. Set appointments to meet principles and administration of the local school. Approach a real estate office with a safety seminar idea. Promote and teach a self-defense class for teachers.

You advertise that you teach confidence. Now is the time to tap into that confidence and make this year a year of action.

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1 Comment

  1. Robert Hazlewood

    A good idea but I know in our school district there is a school board regulation that forbids principals from allowing any for profit enterprise from participating in any in school activities. Might be able to form a 501c division and get in that way.