Instructor Fitness

[47MartialMan]

I was weight training with an associate in a health fitness gym when we had taken notice of a large man, oddly shaped, but not grossly corpulent.

My associate stated that the fellow was the center's Tai Ji instructor. Followed by another on how he did not approve that such a person be capable of teaching Tai Ji.

My question to him was;

To be a teacher in such, one has to be in top shape?


Followed by another,

Does a teacher has to have been a student or a person of example?

In other words, can a teacher or coach be one that has not played the game? (In this instance-be in shape)

Respectfully looking for replies.,

[47MartialMan]

I guess people had not seen this thread

[Hardball]

Yes, I think the instructor should be in shape and lead by example. However, a lot of older instructors have nagging injuires or health problems but still may be capable of teaching inspite of that beer belly or unflexible legs.

[lamaTKD cait]

as much as is possible, i think yes, the teacher should lead by example, esp. if said teacher is young and quite capable of being in shape. obviously there might be physical limitations on older instructors... but in a nutshell, yes, as much as they can be.l

[DickHardman]

coaches and trainers dont have to be in good shape to be effective teachers. sure, it makes them look more credible but i dont think its necessary. there are many boxing coaches who are old and frail but have then knowledge to teach others how to box. even at my healthclub i see personal trainers who are out of shape, but they have the knowledge to help others in get in shape. i know a mma fighter who at one point was teaching students boxing from his wheelchair when he suffered a back injury from jiu jitsu.

[lamaTKD cait]

i know a mma fighter who at one point was teaching students boxing from his wheelchair when he suffered a back injury from jiu jitsu.

yeah, but that's totally understandable. i'm talking about some drip who's got no excuses, except that they're lazy.

[Tom Yum]

yeah, but that's totally understandable. i'm talking about some drip who's got no excuses, except that they're lazy.

Like me.

I can only run half a marathon (13-miles) in one setting.

Those damned marathon runners keep going above and beyond what's required, insult me for my laziness....who the hell do they think they are?!?!

[Maxx]

There are a lot of people out there that teach martial arts who are not physically fit. It's been years since I've been to a martial arts tournament, but I remember when I used to go to them in the late 80s and early 90s, most of the masters were fat and out of shape and you rarely if ever saw them do anything.

I'm still relatively young... nearly 38, and I maintain very high levels of fitness. I still train in several martial arts with high intensity and follow intense cardiovascular and resistance programs. I teach martial arts and work as a personal trainer and sports conditioning specialist. I personally feel that in order to develop a following, you have to look the part.

Regardless of the knowledge that a person has about their chosen profession, studies have shown that attractive people are much more likely to enjoy success than those who are not. Most people would hire a personal trainer who looked like Brad Pitt over someone who looked like John Candy regardless of how much knowledge and how many degrees a person has.

Sadly, I think that once a person starts to experience a measure of success they begin to become complacent. Staying in shape suddenly isn't so high a priority as eating well, hob nobbing and fraternizing with wealthy people.

In short, I think that you should look the part if you plan on teaching martial arts, but you can't remain an athlete forever. At some point you have to sit back, relax and enjoy the fruits of your labors... some people out there just enjoy those fruits a little too much.

I do feel though that as a martial arts instructor, if you are fat and out of shape now, you had better have talked the talk and walked the walk at some point in your life. 'Cause the only thing worse than a fat and out of shape MA instructor is one that's just full of sh*t.

[Hardball]

One of the main problems is perception of fat. A 19 year olds perception of fat may be different than that of a 50 year old. Most 19 year olds are naturally skin and bones anyway. Case in point, When I was 19 I used to think my Dad was fat. When I look back at my dads pics, he was not really all that fat. It was just my perception.

Me for example, I do 400 crunches a day but after lunch or dinner I may get a slight bloat in my belly. I don't have the washboard that I had at 20 but I can take more trauma such as a body slam or strike to the abdomen than most people my age.

[Tom Yum]

One of the main problems is perception of fat. A 19 year olds perception of fat may be different than that of a 50 year old. Most 19 year olds are naturally skin and bones anyway. Case in point, When I was 19 I used to think my Dad was fat. When I look back at my dads pics, he was not really all that fat. It was just my perception.

Me for example, I do 400 crunches a day but after lunch or dinner I may get a slight bloat in my belly. I don't have the washboard that I had at 20 but I can take more trauma such as a body slam or strike to the abdomen than most people my age.

An Asian colleague of mine thinks I'm fat. I'm 5'10" and about 185 (unless I'm running my ass off alot, then its down to about 167-ish).

Your right, fat is about perception.

[Maxx]

I tend to agree with those statements. I don't think you have to be in the 6-10% bodyfat range to be healthy. When men get into their 50s a bodyfat as high as 23% is considered healthy. A little bit of fat is not a problem for me. But when the level of bodyfat prevents an instructor from functioning as a martial artist to a serious degree, that's a little too much.

Now by "functioning as a martial artist" I don't mean heavy sparring or flamboyant mid-air kicking techniques or other activities that place a tremendous physical demand on the individual. But an instructor in my opinion should be able to demonstrate the basic kicking and punching techniques that make up his system, lead the class through general training exercises and not get gassed out after 30 seconds of lite to medium contact sparring. He should maintain a level of fitness and mastery of physical skills that is acceptable for his age.

I'm sorry but it's hard to take someone serious who's 5'4", 350 lbs and wears a Gi like spandex.

[Tom Yum]

I'm sorry but it's hard to take someone serious who's 5'4", 350 lbs and wears a Gi like spandex.

I guess it depends on the venue you're at...

[47MartialMan]

I'm sorry but it's hard to take someone serious who's 5'4", 350 lbs and wears a Gi like spandex.

I met someone like this...he can slam people to floor very well being a judoka.

[Maxx]

I met someone like this...he can slam people to floor very well being a judoka.

Honestly, I've met my share of people who looked fat, out of shape and didn't look the part of a martial artist but were highly skilled. MY point isn't that someone who looks this way isn't highly skilled, but the way that individual is perceived by the general public and potential students.

It's sad to say, but beauty sells and inspires. You could have someone who has trained with the greatest people in the world, has a wealth of knowledge and has even pioneered new concepts and theories about combat. This individual in question could even have a high ranking black belt but it he's fat, out of shape, smokes and wears a dogi like a piece of plasticwrap, the 2nd degree black belt with the 6 pack who owns a school just down the street is going to attract more students.