Laura

I was just looking at a school today and it occured to me that this person lists his Ph.D. as a credential on his website. Maybe it's just me, but what has this got to do with your skill as a teacher of martial art? Why should anyone care if you have a Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering? What has that got to do with anything? I'd rather learn from a skilled teacher who works as a janitor than someone that wants to tell me about their education. Why do people do this when advertising their school?

It's like hearing from tutors that say "Native French speaker available for tutoring. $80 an hour, Harvard graduate and honor roll student in economics." That's lovely but unless your major is French, what gives you the right to charge $80 an hour for lessons in a subject that you don't have an academic background in? I have two advanced degrees in English and I'm certified to teach English as a foreign language - so shouldn't I have more the right if I'm teaching English? Not not only am I a native speaker, but I went to school for it too. Yet, if I'm opening a school of martial arts, why would I mention my M.Ed. since it has nothing to do with Chinese martial arts...has anyone else noticed this baffling trend in martial art schools?

ggg214

i think if a sifu has been well educated, it's more easiler for students to understand his expression.
but i don't think well education means high school degree. it's just a marketing method.

aseepish

It's true, teaching ability has nothing to do with academic credentials. In academia (and I'm now entering my tenth year of higher education), some of my best instructors have been "mere" M.A.s and LL.B.s/J.D.s. Some of my worst have been bad despite having Ph. D.s or LL.D.s/J.S.D.s.

Even if a martial arts instructor could earn a Ph. D. in whatever martial art they are teaching, that honour (and it is to be respected) should not be interpreted as an ability to convey knowledge.

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george stando

The trend started as a further extension of the I am a 10th dan, grandmaster, etc. The next thing was to add some sort of college degree afterwards. It has little to do with the martial arts instructors experience and merit and more a long the lines of commercial exploitation just another thing to use to sell and nothing more unfortunately. Expect more of it.

Red Rum

When you get a PhD you are a doctor!!
Whilst they won't exactly be a doctor in the traditional sense, they are still entitled to have that title.

Personally I think its sad. It reminds me of Red Dwarf and Arnold J Rimmer BSC SSC (Bronze Swimming Certificate and Silver Swimming Certificate)

Does it mean that I should list my GCSE's and A-Levels on my website?

I know that Leung Ting likes to be known as Dr Leung Ting
And whilst I really don't like the fella, I know that his degree is more related to martial arts.

Personally, I never believe any of that nonsense. My Sifu, Kevin Chan is an extremely well educated man and is very knowledgable in business/finance as well as knowing several languages. Yet, I go to him because he knows what he is doing in martial arts. And knows how to use wing chun effectively

Michael Wright

I think we may possibly be making a few unfair assumptions.

People who study for years to achieve professional qualifications often quote them in their day to day lives, and why not, they earned them. We seem to be assuming that they are using them to further promote their ability in martial arts, which may not be the case, they may quote them everywhere and just be proud of their achievements. We also seem to be inferring that they are using these qualifications to compensate for a lack of ability in their chosen field of martial arts. I'm sure its possible for someone to be a good martial artist, a good teacher, and have good academic qualifications that they want share.

Its hardly as if the world of martial arts is full of people who shy away from self promotion, is it?

TTEscrima

I think they do it because they seem to believe it somehow validates them as Martial Artists or teachers. It's lame as hell and one of the big warning signs of people living in a fantasy. People like this usually also have huge "I love me walls".

Martial arts skills and the ability to teach them is demonstrated on the floor, not the wall.

Tant01

I have another QUESTION?

Not to drag the topic off but in some (rare?) cases the opposite may be true...

I wonder if a language barrier existed or out of courtesy for my ignorance I was spared much of the formality but a most talented master shared a great deal of skill without speaking about himself at all?

No name? No style? No titles at all that I recall? There weren't even names for all the "things to do"...

"It's a verb" he would say Or "do this" Like this, much attention to detail but mostly DOING. Not talking.

I still find myself thinking I know things. I see them all the time. People talk about things A-LOT. There is much to learn. If you wanna call yourself professor, I don't care? Show me!

You know?

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jubaji

Probably has something to do with whatever motivated you to tell us all that about yourself.

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woaibbhemm

i don't think well education means high school degree. it's just a marketing method.

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