Staff and Instructor Guidelines for Martial Arts Schools

Safety and Equipment:

  1. Safety and Control: Always emphasize the importance of safety and control when performing partner drills.
  2. Equipment Recommendations: Advise students on the appropriate equipment and encourage them to acquire it.

Teaching Conduct:

  1. Teaching Limitations: Do not teach techniques, basics, or forms you do not fully understand.
  2. Punctuality and Preparedness: Arrive at least 15 minutes early, dress in the proper uniform, and be on the floor ready to assist students.
  3. Maintain Composure: Keep calm, never show frustration or anger.
  4. Professionalism: Follow school procedures and the Black Belt Code of Conduct both inside and outside the school.
  5. Positive Attitude: Never speak poorly of other schools, students, or fellow instructors.
  6. Professional Boundaries: Avoid fraternizing with students or clients outside of the school and do not date students or their family members.

Personal and Professional Development:

  1. Continuous Training: Keep up your own training and maintain your skills.
  2. Training Seminars: Attend business training seminars and staff training meetings whenever possible.
  3. Resource Familiarity: Be familiar with school training materials and procedure manuals.
  4. Training Videos: Check out instructor and staff training videos from MATA.
  5. Industry Knowledge: Read industry magazines such as “Martial Arts Professional.”
  6. Hygiene: Exercise good hygiene habits.
  7. Feedback Reception: Be receptive to feedback on your teaching skills.
  8. Personal Development: Spend time on personal development, including reading books and listening to self-improvement, communication, and professional skills tapes or CDs.

Working With Children:

  1. Simple Instructions: Use simpler terms to explain and instruct.
  2. Respect and Courtesy: Maintain respect and courtesy without speaking down to children.
  3. Partner Pairing: Always pair students off to avoid the “last picked” scenario.
  4. Encouragement: Always offer encouragement and compliments to your students.
  5. Class Movement: Keep the class moving and working, avoid over-explaining techniques.
  6. Positive Language: Always use positive remarks and re-framing.
  7. Clear Directions: Use clear directions along with identifying landmarks in the room.
  8. Technique Breakdown: Break down new techniques into simple forms and lead the group through them step-by-step.
  9. Handling Issues: Address student issues privately with another adult present, preferably a woman.

Teaching and Communicating Effectively:

  1. Professional Titles: Ensure everyone uses your proper title (e.g., “Coach Smith” or “Ms. Smith”).
  2. Confident Communication: Speak loudly, with confidence, and energy.
  3. Sensitivity to New Students: Handle new students with care and compassion.
  4. Empathy: Speak to your students as you would have liked your instructor to speak to you.
  5. Class Engagement: Move around the room, avoid teaching from the front only, and establish eye contact.
  6. Positive Techniques: Always use Positive Re-Framing, Show-Tell-Do, and the “3 Times” Rule.
  7. Advanced Students: Challenge intermediate and advanced students more as they can handle it.
  8. Utilize Upper Belts: Use upper belt students to help maintain order.
  9. Controlled Training: Use control in training; students are not punching bags.
  10. Eye Contact: Establish eye contact to make students feel involved.