What kind of professions would make knowledge of kung fu a benefit?
I was thinking a bouncer, but they don’t get paid much.
I wouldn’t want to be a police officer because I just couldn’t arrest people for having pot. Other drugs maybe, but I just cannot justify arresting people for smoking pot.
Maybe a bodyguard or something, but I just dont know anything about that profession. It seems like it would be fun though.
Is that it? I hear its really hard and frustrating to make a living being an instructor.
Most instructors I know have jobs on the side too.
UFC, Pride, k-1, san da, spec op, physical ed. teacher, or just for your own amusement. that is a career in itself.
-edit
almost forgot, you know Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, JVD, Chuck Norris, and Steve Segal, got something in common. They use their MA skills or lack of there of to make themselve into movie stars. Expand your mind and open it to the possibility, heck put some motion capture balls on your clothings and make your own fight video game.
you’re not gonna find too much. your best bet is to just be serious about martial arts. work a second job if you have to, and just train. eventually, if you are good, you may be able to do seminars and such, possibly become a pro fighter, etc. I personally know two instructors who make tons of money from teaching MA, but I think they are in the minority. the others I know either have second jobs or are struggling.
Originally posted by Yaksha
Also, does anyone know what it would take to become a bodyguard?
yeah, you have to study and take different certificates to become a serious one. There’s also something like the Bodyguard Olympics in wich countrys from all over the world put togheter a team of their best and compete in different ‘games’.
Also, don’t think taking one or two courses will make you any good. It will take 3-4 years just to learn all aspects, and who knows how long before you are considered good. After that, you might get a job that pays well but don’t count on that either.
…ask first who really makes their living at kung fu.
I’ve made my living exclusively here for well over a decade and a half. I’ve taught, kids, adults, corporate programs, independant private lesson, seminars, as head instructor under well established schools. I’ve written articles, videos, catalogs, ads. I’ve performed in parades and lion dances. I’ve sold gear, antiques, done my own importing. I’ve worked as an armorer, making and repairing weapons. I earned a scholarship to do graduate research. I’ve led tours to China. I’ve worked security. Perhaps the only things I’ve never done is been in movies or fought for money, but those fields are highly competative and I wouldn’t have made the cut. Lastly, I’ll add that I don’t think my skills are that great - I’m a competent martial artist, but no master.
So what’s the bottom line? If you want to make a living in the martial arts, you gotta work it and work it hard. Most of these jobs that I listed above, I did it all at the same time. A little here, a little there, to make ends meet. I was never exclusively devoted to one job until I took the position here as Associate Publisher. And the only reason I got this job was because I had so much experience doing all these other things.
Don’t limit yourself to some narrow preconception of how money is made in the martial arts. If you’re going to make your living as a martial artist, it’s a very uncommon career, so you must be approach it with a fully open mind and heart. And you have to work hard, ten times as hard as practitioners with normal jobs.
It might be hard to compete with Gene’s post but here goes…
If you check in with your local rec center, they may have some small “peice work” jobs available. The rec in my city recently advertized for a black belt to help teach a grappling class. It was only 4 hours a week at $8/hr, but it’s a start. Some other areas to look into: Wrestling assistant coaching, gymnastic asistant coaching, ect… As Gene said, once you get a good acumulation of the small stuff, you can aproach the bigger stuff and call it experience!
The Dead stopped playing this song because the Deadheads asked them to stop. I think it rang too close to home.
Maybe you collect or maybe you pay
Still got to work that eight-hour day
Whether you like that job or not
Keep it on ice while you’re
lining up your long shot
Which is to say
hey-ey
[Chorus] Keep your day job - Don’t give it away
Keep your day job - Whatever they say
Ring that bell for whatever it’s worth
When Monday comes don’t forget about work
By now you know that the face on your dollar
Got a thumb to its nose and a
Hand on your collar
Which is to say, hey-ey
[Chorus]
Punch that time card
Check that clock
When Monday comes
You gotta run, run, run
Not walk
[Chorus]
Steady, boy, study that eight-day hour
But don’t underrate that paycheck power
If you ask me, which I know you don’t,
I’d tell you to do what I know you won’t
Which is to say
Hey-ey
[Chorus]
Daddy may drive a V-8 'Vette
Mamma may bathe in champagne yet
God bless the child with his own stash
Nine to five and a place to crash
which is to say…
[Chorus, with added lines at end:] Keep you day job
Until your night job pays
Originally posted by Becca
[B]It might be hard to compete with Gene’s post but here goes…
If you check in with your local rec center, they may have some small “peice work” jobs available. The rec in my city recently advertized for a black belt to help teach a grappling class. It was only 4 hours a week at $8/hr, but it’s a start. Some other areas to look into: Wrestling assistant coaching, gymnastic asistant coaching, ect… As Gene said, once you get a good acumulation of the small stuff, you can aproach the bigger stuff and call it experience!
Good luck! [/B]
yeah definitely. I recently got approached to teach a class. if I get a group certification, I will make 20 an hour. without it, I will get 12. it’s only 3 hours a week max though. I was also approached by my church, but of course, they want me to do it for free.
I know, the nerver of those guys! and then they make it sound better by doing the “what would Jesus do?” thing - “Jesus washed the feet of his disciples - he was not to good to serve. Blessed are those with a servant’s heart.”
