Master Degree Thesis Section

by George Mattson

Teaching Martial Arts at the College and University Level
by Joan Neide, Ed.D.
Department of Health and Physical Education California State University, Sacramento

Teaching the martial arts at the university and college level can be a very rewarding experience. The majority of students are eager, excited to try new things, and even though not all are the typical college age, 18-23, they definitely are young in heart and spirit. The downside of the experience is that classes are limited to a specific time slot and the population is transient. That is after one semester is a martial arts class they move on to other courses or graduate and move out of the area. A few will come back semester after semester, but these are limited to the very dedicated.

There are two basic ways to teach martial arts in higher education, through the physical education department or via the student run recreation and club associations. The following paper offers some advice on how to teach martial arts at the college and university level. Each university or college will have its own specific criteria, but hopefully the following advice can get you started.

Physical Education Department

Physical education departments are designed to offer an academic area of study concerned with the art and science of movement. They normally will offer a Bachelor of Science Degree in areas such as teaching, exercise science, dance, and athletic training. Physical Education departments also offer activity courses to undergraduate and graduate students which in many cases fulfill college graduation requirements. The activity area can be extensive with typical offerings such as softball, tennis, swimming, and in some cases skiing, sailing, and rock climbing. Course offerings depend on faculty expertise, facilities, and budget.

It should be noted that it is not advisable to approach the athletic department at your local college. The mission of an athletic department at a university is very different than physical education. Physical education is an academic department offering a major subject area toward a degree. The athletic department mission is typically to oversee the intercollegiate sports programs. In other words the athletic department services, the athletes and the competitive side of sports. The physical education department provides a teaching and learning environment and is not limited to sports, but will also include exercise science, athletic training, and teaching.

The martial arts have become a very popular course offering at colleges throughout the United States. From the physical education department point of view they provide students with an alternative from the typical offerings and yet provide all the physical and mental attributes that a quality physical education course should provide. Economically they are inexpensive to run, because equipment is minimal, and space is limited to an open and sometimes matted room. They also are popular with students and full enrollment is virtually guaranteed.

Approaching the Physical Education Department

The time to approach a physical education department is the beginning of the semester prior to when you would like to begin teaching. University departments can not just willy nilly place a course in its offerings. Each department must go through its own procedures. Class offerings typically are finalized 4-5 months before an actual class begins. New courses can require as much as a year’s lead time due to the need for university approval, facility scheduling, assigning of teachers, printing of schedules for distribution, and other budgetary consideration.

Typically a new course can be offered as an experimental course for one year and forego the lengthy paper trail, but to become a permanent course requires time. The course first must be presented by a faculty member to a departmental level curriculum committee. It then proceeds to a school level committee which studies the financial impact the course will have on the school and finally it may have to be approved by the president of the college. As mentioned above this process can take as long as a year to complete.

If you are lucky and martial arts classes are already being offered and they are not labeled as a specific style you can be hired to teach your own system without following the previously mentioned steps.

Applying for a teaching position

A typed cover letter and a resume is the best way to approach the Physical Education department chair. Your resume should follow a standard format. (Please note: Information on resume writing is available at any public library) the cover letter in general should state your reasons for wanting to teach martial arts, highlight your expertise in the field, and also your teaching effectiveness.

Please see enclosed sheet on skills for effective teaching. Read this carefully before going to an interview. Knowledge of how to be an effective teacher will be invaluable during your interview with the hiring committee and/or departmental chair.

Your cover letter also should highlight your knowledge of classroom management, safety procedures, a variety of teaching strategies, and your ability to evaluate students fairly and objectively.

Justifying a class in the martial arts is also something that should be articulated in your cover letter. For example, martial arts provides an opportunity for all students to participate in an activity that will contribute to an active and healthy life style. It helps student develop and maintain locomotion and nonlocomotor skills, as well as, a positive self-image. They also learn appropriate social behaviors by working independently and with others during a class period.

Another point that should be emphasized in a cover letter is the contribution the martial arts can have in the understanding and development of multiculturalism. This aspect of the martial arts is very important to stress. In our very diverse population the martial arts serve as a “window of understanding” to the Asian culture.

Certificate of Expertise

Physical education departments in the past usually have required a college degree in order to teach. Today, however, certificates of expertise from reputable organizations are typically accepted in lieu of a college degree. You should secure a teaching certificate from your martial arts association or, minimally, present your black belt certificate. The certificate must be legitimate and will in most cases be verified by the university.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation do not have to be sent with the cover letter and resume, but they will be requested if you are being considered for a teaching position. Your letters of recommendation should be carefully selected. They should be from reputable people in the community and/or other legitimate martial arts schools. A recommendation that highlights your effectiveness as a teacher from a parent whose son or daughter you have taught is a Plus. If this Parent is well known and has a positive reputation in the community, it will be of even greater benefit.

Volunteering

Another way to get Started teaching at the college and university level is to Volunteer to assist another teacher who is already established as a martial arts instructor. You might have the expertise to assist in weapons, judo falls, conditioning, to name just a few. By assisting in a class you gain college experience and hopefully the recommendation of the instructor. This can lead to a position for you.

Employed

Once employed by the physical education department you will be considered as adjunct faculty (part-time}. This means you will be given the rights of a faculty members, i.e.- parking space, as well as be paid by the standardized part-time faculty salary scale. You probably will not receive any benefits, unless your work load is more than three or four classes. Benefits and Salary will vary greatly. You will, however, be under the school’s insurance coverage Which is an important consideration. Employment contracts can differ. Your length or service might be for one semester or you might receive a one year contract. This again depends on each college or university.

Syllabus

Once assigned to a class time you win be asked to write and distribute a syllabus to each registered student. The syllabus should contain the following information:

1. Course description
2. Course objectives
3. Course Content
4. Methodology
5. Evaluation plan
6. Required readings
7. References
8. Class Schedule (optional)

Enclosed are Sample syllabi (To be added on this site later) that are used at California state University at Sacramento The Uechi-ryu syllabus is a one credit activity course. Two sections are offered per semester with an enrollment of 3o. The course meets twice a week, 60 minutes per class, for 16 weeks. The School provides gi’s for the students

The Foundation and Practice of Asian Martial Arts class is also offered by the university. It is three credits and fulfills the requirements for a course in race and ethnicity. It is also an elective for Asian history majors. Uechi-ryu karate, tai chi chuan, and tae kwon do fulfills the required lab portion of the course.

Activity and Recreation Clubs

The second way that you might approach teaching at the college and university level is through the student- run activity and recreation clubs. on some campuses these student run organizations are formally sanctioned by the college and require certifications and requirements similar to the physical education department. on other campuses activity clubs are not as restrictive and the requirements to teach are less stringent. Nonetheless, all activity clubs will be college/university approved.

Generally all student activity based clubs are initiated and run by the students. Typically a group of students on campus will apply to the student activity/club organization to start a club.

After the club is approved and sanctioned, they will then seek out an instructor. The qualifications of the instructor are at the students’ discretion.

The students can hire the teacher of their choice and the salary is generated by dues or fund raising. The activity/club organization will provide for the students a standard university contract. contract and qualifications of the teacher will be reviewed by the activity/club organization primarily for the protection of the students.

Activity/club organizations discourage people who are not affiliated with the college from coming on campus and initiating a club without student support. These attempts can cause a potential martial art club to be restricted and/or be denied authorization by the activity/cldb organization. It is unlikely that a college or university would employ an instructor who takes this approach.

It should be noted that membership to an activity club on many campuses is not restricted to registered students. The requirement is usually that the majority of participants be registered students. Therefore you can invite people off campus to participate in your club. Remember however that university/college insurance and liability is minimal and in most cases does not exist.

Student Activity clubs-Restrictive

Activity clubs that are restricted by the college and university typically require a more extensive process for hiring. Like the physical education department they will require a formal application to be submitted as well as the resume and cover letter. Many colleges and universities will require CPR, basic first aid, and documentation of being certified as an expertise in the field.

The martial arts class, however, does not have to be formally adopted by the college as a credited activity class and therefore the time period to get one started could be less than a month. Also it would not have to adhere to the formal class schedule.

When employed by a college or university whose clubs are restrictive, the new teacher is sanctioned by the university. This means that the instructor may have minimal insurance

coverage, generated by student club dues or from the university. It would be wise to check on this personally because of the difference in each school.

Salary as mentioned above is generated from student dues or fund raising. This would be a negotiable point between the club members and the hired instructor. This differs from being hired from the physical education department which normally would have a set salary scale. checks can be issued from the club account which may be located on or off campus. cash payment at the time of service is also a norm.

Nonrestrictive Activity Clubs

Less restrictive activity clubs will not have the formal procedures mentioned above. A sanctioned committee or person will peruse the qualifications of a hired instructor, but would not set any limits. Activity club contracts between students and instructor will also be reviewed for the protection of the students.

It is very important to note that insurance coverage in nonrestrictive activity clubs will in all likelihood not exist. Just because you are working on a campus does not mean that you will have insurance coverage. AIso, the officers of the club can be liable as well as the instructor in charge.

Hopefully this information will be helpful to anyone who is interested in teaching at the University/college level. Because each school will differ, it is imperative that you understand and follow the procedures of that chosen school. Be aware of the insurance policy of the school and the teaching limitations. For example many schools will not permit sparring or allow bag work. Being prudent is the key to success at the university level. Less restrictive activity clubs will not have the formal procedures mentioned above. A sanctioned committee or person will peruse the qualifications of a hired instructor, but would not set any limits. Activity club contracts between students and instructor will also be reviewed for the protection of the students.

It is very important to note that insurance coverage in nonrestrictive activity clubs will in all likelihood not exist. Just because you are working on a campus does not mean that you will have insurance coverage. AIso, the officers of the club can be liable as well as the instructor in charge.

Hopefully this information will be helpful to anyone who is interested in teaching at the university/college level. Because each school will differ, it is imperative that you understand and follow the procedures of that chosen school. Be aware of the insurance policy of the school and the teaching limitations. For example many schools will not permit sparring or allow bag work.

Being prudent is the key to success at the university level.

Related Articles

Leave a Comment