08/03/2026
A BAD INSTRUCTOR CAN RUIN A GOOD STUDENTS SPIRIT
I've been around Martial Arts for over 26 years now, so needless to say, I've seen it all. But one thing that bothers me the most are instructors/coaches that berate students even after they win! (Especially if that instructor doesn't have any skin in the game.)
Instead of bringing up all the good that student has done, they find the negative! These instructors usually don't know much about fighting, forms, breaking, etc but act as if they do. They believe that because they are a black belt that everyone should listen to them. Their whole identity revolves around their belt. These are the instructors that you should avoid at all costs! Because you can never win with these instructors. Even when you do good, they find something to yell at you about. And when challenged by an Instructor with the knowledge and know how, the bad instructor gets offended and starts to bad mouth the knowledgeable instructors.
I feel this is their own insecurities, their own lack of knowledge, and maybe even some narcissism plays a part. But either way, a good instructor should ALWAYS bring your spirit up! Win or lose, a good coach will find the good things you did and highlight those things! Of course try to get you to see the mistakes you made a correct those mistakes, but do it in a way that will benefit the students training!
This is just my thoughts on this subject. Something that ive been thinking about for some time. Hopefully it helps others make good decisions when it comes to picking a Martial Arts school.
As I've always told my students, "The belt only covers two inches of your ass, you need to cover the rest."
