McDaniel

I'm still in high school, but my goal in life is to open a sucessful martial arts business.
I have a black belt in TKD, I plan on going back soon, to try to get my 2nd and 3rd degree.
I have very little experiance in jujitsiu, and Judo.

What should I major in in college? what degrees should I get?

This may sound stupid, but I'm working everyday after school, and now on the weekends. I plan on going to Japan and traveling through Korea and China, learning the arts on my journey. I still have a lot of money yet to save.

I want to learn alot of Eastern arts aswell, such as Taoist Yoga, and other types....Taichi, KungFu.

I guess I just want someadvise to what I should take in college, and what I can be studying now....thansk

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Acitic

Because you want to teach the arts to people, I think you should go into something that majors in teaching....... .......also business management... because you want to start a business..... Those are my crazy theorys.....

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"Some of us are like a 10 speed bike; most of us have gears we never use." - Joe Eigo

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"Life is just a mountain, and each martial art is just another way to the top."

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knifethrower

Very good advice, dude. Get a teaching degree from the state of Iowa and maybe a second teaching field in business. Remember though, NOTHING prepares you to run your own business except running your own business. Teach a few years of highschool too...that will change your life. Also the teaching field makes traveling the world pretty "easy" because you can teach English as a secong language

Scott Bolinger

business management would be helpfull. So will a certificate or degree in Fitness and Nutrition.

If you have your own building, you can basically do what ever you want. But, if you're going to try and tie into a YMCA, Colledge or comminity colledge, you may need a certificate in "Fitness and Nutrition" or something simular.

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thescottishdude

You should perhaps consider your degree as your backup, and get it in an industry that will present good employment oppertunities. That way if it goes to pot you'll have an easier time finding good paying work.

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McDaniel

How bout I just live with my parrents when I graduate, and work a fulltime job paying $10 an hour, and then do 3 hours + of martial arts study each day.
Then eventually I will know what I'm doing and I will have some money saved up to open my own academy.

does that sound good or not?

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eXcessiveForce

what system and where in Iowa?

I grew up near Souix City, and I was in martial arts up there. I also have lots of friends who teach up there

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eXcessiveFORCE.

If you must use force, make it excessive.

McDaniel

I really dont know yet, I'm only 16, but Its my goal.....I will probably teach some chinese martial arts, after I learn them.
I only know TaeKwonDo
I plan on moving out of Iowa, so it prolly wont be here.

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jubaji

...............oh, brother.......

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Scott Bolinger

things that would be good to know, along with taekwondo would be, Weight lifting, medicine ball workout, boxing routines. Know your vitamines, minerals and protein and study up on nutrition.

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BoarSpear

Whoa...you are on a roll tonight!!! More coffee!!!

BoarSpear

You arent related to mattblake by chance are you?

eXcessiveForce

what system of taekwondo are you studying?

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eXcessiveFORCE.

If you must use force, make it excessive.

GotaDeGuerra

My opinion probably isn't as qualified as these other guys- but here's my $0.02 anyway:

Teaching is directly proportional to leadership. If you get a job (or other experience) that will teach you leadership, you'll do fine teaching.

There are two types of leaders: Those that lead by ability, and those that lead by appointment. Just because you open a gym doesn't mean you're a leader. Be proactive in all your studies (as it seems you have been).

Don't worry so much about the degrees (pieces of paper) as about what you'll learn in the process. I have friends that are teachers, and getting a degree in teaching can be a real pain depending on your state/institution. Better yet, I'd recommend getting a business degree (and moreso- understanding of business). Many brilliant artists have gone bankrupt by not understanding business principles. Contrarily, anyone that understands business principles will usually turn out ok in the end, no matter what.

Also, you should also consider your future investors. The money you put up for this endeavor will likely not be your own. If it was your money- who would you loan it to? Someone with a teaching degree, or someone with a business degree? I’d loan it to the guy I trust will get me my money back with interest.

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ClydeA

A good idea is to get your hands on a business plan for martial arts schools. They are not a "waste of time" as many say, they are good business practice and provide:

-strategy scenarios
-budget relaities
-goal planning
-growth rates

If the system cannot be elegantly stated in about 25 content rich pages the model is too complex and by the same token if this much reserach/planning is not done the probablitlity for failure is higher.

3 sites to lok at include:

http://www.DownloadKarate.com which has a business plan created by people who are specialists in the martial arts world and finance world for small companies. Focused on a business approach for those want a very traditional karate school.

http://www.FightingArts.com has some good articles and dojo business section

http://www.NAPMA Focused on a business approach for those who are less worried about traditionbut more on profits. A more expensive program to buy in to.

Hope this helps...