Loading... Can just anyone become a self proclaimed Martial Arts Instructor or is their a process of certification/licensing?

"Martial Arts" as a dicipline is not regulated by the government or a board of authority in the United States; however, there is a movement in the eastern USA to make this so. A very few USA universities/colleges produce a college degree for some MA under Physical Education. Individual MA Schools can choose to come under the umbrella certification and rules of 100s of MA Federations and Associations, even government recognized and regulated in other countries. There has been much corruption in some of them. Some US States MAY have placed MA under regulation at this time, but in my own state, anyone can proclaim themselves an MA Instructor. They sometimes do, without training, and abscond with funds. I was part of an activist group that stopped one such person in Canada.

In South Korea, several styles are under government recognition by Ki Do Hae & govt control and several are not. In Nigeria, my associates have shown me their government support and a bit of regulation. In other countries, I have little knowledge of the regulatory process, if any.

My own training was of the S. Korean military type, but very expensive because of non-regulation, and very time-consuming (goes with the style), requiring long hours outside in all weather and seasons. It made me healthy and proactive.

Check out any MA School near you to your best ability before joining.

The danger of the certification process is that it can become overly legislative. It can end up being that you have to become a member of a Governing Body when said GB offers very little.

In the UK it used to be that the GB was how you got your insurance and coaching qualifications, but now you can get these without being a member of a GB, from College's and private firms.

The trouble with the GB's in martial arts is the political in-fighting which can become ridiculous. In recent times the Karate England debacle means that Karate does not have a legitimate GB. For me I wonder why I should bother being a member of a GB at all when I get little of value from them and simply have to pay fee's.

It's crazy. I can remain 'legal' without their help and to be honest, given the nonsense at upper echelon level why would I want to be associated with them?

You MUST study from a REAL master with certification and years of knowledge or what you recieve is a watered down version of what someone believes to be the real thing.

Anyone can buy a black belt and through "WORD" create a certificate.

Anyone can make up a style and proclaim themselves a Grandmaster

But if it is tradition you want and history of bloodline, then seek out the linage and find someone who fills your physical and psychological needs

Martial arts is not only breaking bricks and boards but deep meditation and philosophy.

If you are just interested in fighting because a bully pushed you around and you were embarassed, then go to any gym and take up boxing, judo, jujitsu, grappling MMA, or Karate.

You will learn to fight.

In a word...yes. If you have martial arts knowledge to impart, and students willing to learn it, you are a martial arts instructor.

In China, the honorific "sifu" et al (in Japan "sensei"), simply means old(er) one, or the one who has travelled the path prior to you. Historically, there has been no official certificate to back it up.

Please realize that most martial arts "organizations" while operating under the guise of sanctioning a specific style of martial art, are created only to bleed more money out of unsuspecting students.

Just open any local phone book or do a Google search of martial arts instructors in your nearest metropolitan area, and you will find a vast array of martial arts "masters". These are business people, many of whom are "masters" of marketing!

I teach martial arts out of my garage absolutely free of charge. I accept donations to help maintain my mats and pay the heat bill, but that's it. I have practiced a wide variety of martial arts over the last thirty years, and have a LOT to teach. I have never been much impressed by rank and certificates.

I have a dozen core students, and about 20 others who come and go. Come and learn if you want. If you like what I have to teach, you are welcome to stay. If not...fine, go somewhere else and pay $100/month.

It doesn't matter to me. I have no agenda. The goal for me is sharing what I have learned over the years. If I don't, it dies with me. Which may or may not be important, depending on who you ask!

For me it comes down to what you know, your ability to teach it to others, and your willingness to share your knowledge without thought of financial gain.

A true martial arts "master" is one who teaches life lessons with every move they make, every word they utter, and every thought think.

Yes, you can, Bruce Lee is a good example, as the matter of fact, he is the greatest self proclaimed Martial Arts Instructor of all time. Just ask Chuck Norris about this if you have further questions.

Yeah they can. That's what all of these new guys are trying to do in Web 2.0

I like the fact that one of the answers talked about the USA. Get out of that ethnocentric view.

Those of us that are REAL EXPERTS in this field have been in a lot of bad situations on several CONTINENTS.

The background of the person is what qualifies him (yet to me a female that has the same level of background as I do).

Would you go to a doctor that has never operated if you needed surgery?

Would you take sex advice from a virigin?

You need to go to only those that have been through mortal consequence situations--everything else is theory.

You cannot become a self proclaimed martial arts instructor.you have to be a master.it takes years of training.the real masters have been in training since they was four.if you claim to be a master or a instructor and you are not,you WILL get confronted by real masters,and the outcome WILL NOT BE PRETTY.

The determination of qualifications to instruct in martial arts depends on what the collective experience and knowledge is of he/she who makes such a claim. Many well known martial arts systems have some form of governing structure that provides... keep reading →

As I read this hub and the responces, I realize that everyone has a valid point!

The Martial artist that believes that actual experience in combat is what matters to be qualified!

The Martial artist that gives back what he has obtained through the many years and many arts he has accumulated, for free!

The Martial artist that has twice as many years in the arts.As a Marine studied in Japan. Holds to tradition and honor!

The Martial artist that believes that quality of the art and the dedicated years spent in the refining of the character through the art will judge such qualifications!

The Martial artist that holds true! That masters are created over time and life dedication!

The author who wrote the hub! Who believes there should be some guidelines to who teaches and what is being taught!

For the safety of others.

NOW! I will say this much I BELIEVE! that the martial arts are everywhere and in everyone, regardless of their background!

We all have a story as to why we are in the arts.

I think most use the arts to help define who they are. We learn by teaching! I have seen those highly qualified charge enormous fees. As well as those that are not! So the $buck is not the issue I think. When it comes down to it.

Just as the Dr. who went to school will have his first patient. The Virgin will be more inthusiastic about the sex because the anticapation is a far greater feeling sometimes!

charging money doesn't always make a great instructor nor does teaching for free!

History shows us, but not everyone grasps it! We create our own history! I have seen some home grown black belts (providing they call themselves a black belt) Who can fight like no other!

Sure they dont know forms and dojo etiquette. They will learn if we offer our help and guidance!

Please do not be offended! I only respond based on what my interpratation of what I read.

If you read what I wrote have any comments, great! Just remember a few words back and forth can either help us realize we have much in common, or it will start a war!

YOU WIN!