How To Become A Tai Chi/Chi Kung Instructor
Scrolling through our social media feeds you would think that most of the world are teachers of Tai Chi or some other art of conscious movement. Of course this is an extremely biased sample but you have to wonder whether the point of saturation was reached some time ago for a market that could generously be called mature, less generously be called lethargic. Yoga always remains perennially popular, perhaps it’s the visually pleasing nature of the asanas or perhaps it’s something else.
If you are looking to make a business from your Tai Chi or similar skillset then it is not easy on a part time basis let alone making it a full time venture (bear with us here, this is sounding fairly bleak but there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, or at least silver or some lesser metal). In fact, it’s quite difficult to give Tai Chi away for free. It is somewhat soul destroying to complete a free or donations based class in the park, holding nothing back including teaching some material that is in certain circles reserved for disciples or ‘inside the door’ students, and to be told by one of the attendees that perhaps it would be ‘more professional if you booked a hall next time.’
Not only is it something of a phenomenon that skills given away for free hold less value than teaching that is paid for, but you will also find that some of the most successful teachers/organisations in this wonderful, ridiculous, unregulated world of internal arts charge huge sums of money for some methods that are at best questionable. It is the same situation as in the corporate world where the cream sinks to the bottom. If you are skilful and diligent in your work you can guarantee a spot in the same seat for the rest of your career with a year on year real terms pay cut and ever increasing workload.
While we are here it would be remiss not to include our own mea culpa. In all things we do we tend towards a minimally interventionist approach. We would expect all instructors to be on board with our core values, policies and procedures but would also expect them to bring their own experience and character to the endeavour. We believe this means that we will produce the most fun and effective individuals to go out in to the world and teach, but the lack of a cookie cutter approach could potentially produce more instructors that for better or for worse will not be what the general public expect out of a kung fu teacher archetype.
We set out to write an advertisement cunningly disguised as a blog post and ended up producing some kind of anti-advertisement. Marketeers are we not! But all is not lost, there are some incredible life enhancing results to be had from this coaching business. It is arguable that to truly become a master you need to teach, otherwise you will never fully organise your thoughts and experiences. Teacher training is also finishing school for the individual. And finally, when it works, it’s bloody brilliant! What a way to live, doing your hobby all day every day.
For those brave enough to embark on the journey have a look at the FAQs on this website for further information and get in touch to get started.