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Paid instructors?
3 year(s) ago • 3091 views • 16 replies
ANBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
My prejudice is that full time paid instructors are more common in Brazil and the U.S. compared to other countries, and very rare in e.g. Europe. What is your opinion about black belt instructors in your part of the world? Quite common with full time job? Mainly paid ”by the hour”? Or most not paid at all?
MMPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
My understanding is that it's related to how the gyms are usually funded.
I think it is much more common in Europe to have non-profit gyms/clubs/programs that are partially funded by government programs. This can greatly ease the cost of getting a club started, but there are a lot of restrictions around paying the instructors and so many instructors are volunteers.
In the US private individuals have to come up with the funding for space and equipment. They're investing in their own business, and I would guess that most full time instructors own their gym/program.
My impression is that the cost of training is generally lower in Europe than in the US, and I suspect this is a big factor in it. I just noticed this thread which would support this: https://www.beltchecker.c[...]p;id=55104
I think it is much more common in Europe to have non-profit gyms/clubs/programs that are partially funded by government programs. This can greatly ease the cost of getting a club started, but there are a lot of restrictions around paying the instructors and so many instructors are volunteers.
In the US private individuals have to come up with the funding for space and equipment. They're investing in their own business, and I would guess that most full time instructors own their gym/program.
My impression is that the cost of training is generally lower in Europe than in the US, and I suspect this is a big factor in it. I just noticed this thread which would support this: https://www.beltchecker.c[...]p;id=55104
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Over in this part of the world there may be an investor who finances the entire set up, from property acquisition (bought or rented), equipment installation (usually sourced online and bought outright), hiring admin, coaching staff, cleaning staff, providing ancillary services like teas and coffees, soft drinks, merchandise, somewhere to sit, TV, baby sitting services while parents train, laundry, locker rental, showers, and some even provide pick up/drop off for kiddies to attend classes. It's a fully self-funded business so it would make sense to recoup the investment and aim for a reasonable profit margin to provide the services. There is little to no government support for these privately owned and operated facilities. The coaches who work there would expect some form of compensation or even a full time salary if they were contracted exclusively to coach there.
OHBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
my instructor, Wim Deputter, is the only full time bjj teacher in Belgium, as far as i know.
he opened / invested in his own academy to teach full time and travel to do seminar
it gives you an idea of how things are going here.
for my part, i teach in a non-profit team, based in a public youth club, they pay for my gas and equipment.
he opened / invested in his own academy to teach full time and travel to do seminar
it gives you an idea of how things are going here.
for my part, i teach in a non-profit team, based in a public youth club, they pay for my gas and equipment.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
JBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
It's very rare in my part of the world (Northern VA / Washington, DC area) for a gym owner to be full time. The real estate costs here are pretty insane. We are moving into a 5600 sq ft space in a few months, and at $25/sq ft, our rent will be about $12,000/month. Now start to calculate in costs of utilities, CMS, and payroll and you start to understand why it's difficult to make a living.
Most gyms have to find tricks to get your money like long term contracts, mandatory gear, belt promotion fees, etc. If you don't want to do those things then as the owner you have to accept a wage that is considered poverty level.
Most gyms have to find tricks to get your money like long term contracts, mandatory gear, belt promotion fees, etc. If you don't want to do those things then as the owner you have to accept a wage that is considered poverty level.
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
And as the sport grows and technique becomes more accessible (we're basically already maxed out on that) and high level coaches becomes more wide spread, it will only become more and more difficult to be a full time coach. I'm sure there was a market for Judo, Karate and Taekwondo coaches to make money 40 years ago when they were also "new" sports. There are 3.5k black belts registered on Beltchecker alone and if we assume that this is not even 5% of all black belts in the world, then there are at least 70k black belts out there. That's a huge supply compared to demand :)
Edited 3 year(s) ago
JBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
And as the sport grows and technique becomes more accessible (we're basically already maxed out on that) and high level coaches becomes more wide spread, it will only become more and more difficult to be a full time coach. I'm sure there was a market for Judo, Karate and Taekwondo coaches to make money 40 years ago when they were also 'new' sports. There are 3.5k black belts registered on Beltchecker alone and if we assume that this is not even 5% of all black belts in the world, then there are at least 70k black belts out there. That's a huge supply compared to demand :)
Check this out:
https://www.statista.com/[...]t-size-us/
In the US the Martial Arts market size is estimated to be 9.65 billion in 2022. But within that market, the most profitable by discipline are Mixed Martial Arts. Boxing is 2nd, and BJJ is third. Tae Kwon Do is 5th which is surprising as they tend to be the most profitable here. So I asked some of my students that are owners of local TKD school who cross train with us how that's possible. Their answer was that they make most of their money on before and after school programs and those are usually separate companies because of the liability.
Genius.
https://www.statista.com/[...]t-size-us/
In the US the Martial Arts market size is estimated to be 9.65 billion in 2022. But within that market, the most profitable by discipline are Mixed Martial Arts. Boxing is 2nd, and BJJ is third. Tae Kwon Do is 5th which is surprising as they tend to be the most profitable here. So I asked some of my students that are owners of local TKD school who cross train with us how that's possible. Their answer was that they make most of their money on before and after school programs and those are usually separate companies because of the liability.
Genius.
TPBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
A rarity in Finland.
We have a handful of full-time BJJ instructors/coaches, but they also run a gym, typically with other disciplines too (MMA, boxing, kids...), take care of pretty much everything there, teach a lot, have privates, tour for seminars, run a gear shop/brand, utilize volunteer assistant instructors, try to branch out their affiliation etc. and still don't end up with much for themselves.
BJJ instructors who would get paid but have not invested in the gym I know zero.
Typical system here is volunteer couches, who as a result don't have to pay for their own (and perhaps their kids) training, and get some other perks, but not a paycheck.
We have a handful of full-time BJJ instructors/coaches, but they also run a gym, typically with other disciplines too (MMA, boxing, kids...), take care of pretty much everything there, teach a lot, have privates, tour for seminars, run a gear shop/brand, utilize volunteer assistant instructors, try to branch out their affiliation etc. and still don't end up with much for themselves.
BJJ instructors who would get paid but have not invested in the gym I know zero.
Typical system here is volunteer couches, who as a result don't have to pay for their own (and perhaps their kids) training, and get some other perks, but not a paycheck.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
JBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
A rarity in Finland. We have a handful of full-time BJJ instructors/coaches, but they also run a gym, typically with other disciplines too (MMA, boxing, kids...), take care of pretty much everything there, teach a lot, have privates, tour for seminars, run a gear shop/brand, utilize volunteer assistant instructors, try to branch out their affiliation etc. and still don't end up with much for themselves. BJJ instructors who would get paid but have not invested in the gym I know zero. Typical system here is volunteer couches, who as a result don't have to pay for their own (and perhaps their kids) training, and get some other perks, but not a paycheck.
Damn, Finland was one of my "When it goes down I go there" places. Maybe I will learn HEMA and teach that!
TPBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Damn, Finland was one of my 'When it goes down I go there' places. Maybe I will learn HEMA and teach that!
You will be very welcome to all the gyms here... we just don't like paying you! :D
JBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
You will be very welcome to all the gyms here... we just don't like paying you! :D
LOL! Well at least you would be nice about it. Which at this point is hard to get out of people over here.
CBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Used to be paid, but not full-time. Made enough to live by. Built up a team from scratch. It was a fun time. Maybe again some day.
JWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
In my area, Kansas City, there are several full time BJJ instructors. Many have large academies that have been built over several years, but some are just good old snake oil salesman, and good at talking themselves up. I run a little garage gym, but would love to have a larger place. But, I refuse to become a belt factory, talk trash, or make it about money. There is just to much of it in all martial arts and I don't want any part of that.
JBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
In my area, Kansas City, there are several full time BJJ instructors. Many have large academies that have been built over several years, but some are just good old snake oil salesman, and good at talking themselves up. I run a little garage gym, but would love to have a larger place. But, I refuse to become a belt factory, talk trash, or make it about money. There is just to much of it in all martial arts and I don't want any part of that.
You can make it happen Jon, we refuse to do the crap that we keep being told has to be done to make money. Like long term contracts and giving kids belts every 6 months. It took a long time, but eventually were found the success for me to be able to quit my job. Stick to your guns and let your reputation speak for itself.
JBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I’m a bit unusual because I teach all my BJJ classes at a college, including (1) a for-credit physical education class in our Health and Exercise Science Department, and (2) an open Jiu-Jitsu class that anyone at the college can attend (students, faculty, and staff, but not people from the community). I get paid for doing both, but it’s not much (just enough to help fund my own training). I enjoy teaching in a nonprofit, academic setting, and it’s less of a headache than the commercial Jeet Kune Do school that I used to run many years ago.
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I think it does happen in the UK, but probably not as common as in the US. I'm a full time BJJ instructor, but most of my friends who run clubs in the UK tend to have another job for their main income.
JWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
You can make it happen Jon, we refuse to do the crap that we keep being told has to be done to make money. Like long term contracts and giving kids belts every 6 months. It took a long time, but eventually were found the success for me to be able to quit my job. Stick to your guns and let your reputation speak for itself.
Thank you for the encouragement!! I will make it happen!!
