Why Some Students Quit Karate Classes

It is very surprising that some karate students quit after attending only a few training sessions. Martial arts instructors were baffled by this reaction from the students. Initially, the reason was not clear. In depth studies and surveys across the US, Canada, Europe and Australia showed that the real reason for such a large percentage of students quitting karate classes was that the students felt that there were no real self-defense techniques being taught in the early part of the karate training.

Martial arts instructors were surprised at this perception of the students. The instructors knew what they were doing and were aware that self-defense was in fact being taught in the early stages of karate training.

The real reason for the students leaving karate training was something different. What the students were looking for in the karate training was how to effectively counter and defend themselves from the more violent street fighting. It was a question of survival for them. They were convinced that karate training could not teach them to defend themselves in a violent street fight. No amount of persuasion could convince the students that karate training was very effective in defending them from any kind of violence or street attack.

Most martial arts instructors know the skills of their martial art, but teaching and passing on the skills of karate to others is a different proposition altogether. It becomes difficult to convince the adult students as an instructor that you know what you are doing.

The threat of terrorism in addition to the omnipresence of crime has altered the situation and most of the adults are no longer interested in learning karate for cosmetic sake only. They are more concerned with whether that person in whose hands they place their lives is an expert in the profession and knows what he or she is doing. After all, the students need to defend themselves in real-life, not just on a padded mat.

So a martial arts instructor is required to have a lot experience to teach marital arts. Teaching karate for self-defense and protection is a huge responsibility on the shoulders of the martial arts instructor. If an instructor is not capable of teaching, they should not be teaching. If an instructor is not qualified in the martial art they are teaching, they should not be teaching. A poor instructor will do more harm than good to the students.

If the instructor does not know how karate can benefit the student against violent attack, then how can they convince an intelligent adult student that karate can help them. Remember, one of the principles of karate training is honesty. Since the students are placing their lives in the hands of an expert, the actions and words of the instructor has a profound effect on their minds.

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