Advice on College Club

[Garland]

I attend a liberal arts college that promotes student clubs. For some time now I've been playing with the idea of starting a martial arts/ combat sports club. I've already talked about it breifly with one of my old instructors who seemed to be happy about the idea, and whom I'm sure would help me a little bit once I got the club going. (come in as a speaker and to show some techniques, etc) On top of this I believe that I could also arrange for other instructors and local fighters to come in and talk or go over technique with the club.
My primary styles are Muay Thai, FMA, and JKD/Jun Fan Gung fu and a little itty bitty bit of grappling (CSW and BJJ)...but with a great deal more emphasis on the muay thai, although I don't have any official documentation of my student level in these arts or a black belt/ instructorship/ etc...and have yet to ask my old instructors out of respect (I feel that asking them might seem a bit pushy or pretentious, and if I do eventually have to ask, I was wondering on how to go about it in the most respectable and courteous manner.) <-any ideas here?

Now...in order for me to start the club with the official okay from the college, it needs to pass some types of student and faculty forums and senates.
I'm beginning to forsee some strife over the contact of these arts, and the possible ramifications of injury and/or litigation...is there anyway I can limit this?

I was also considering focusing a great deal of club time towards focusing on the historical, cultural, and philosophical, and even the psychological aspects of the arts with less time spent on technique and application (but I still want sparring and pad work, sumbrada drills, etc etc).

Do you guys think that if I tried that I'd have a better chance of pulling this off? I was even thinking about assigning papers to the club members, as well as notes and weight training and training logs, and a weekly journal...and journals on fighting/ma events and guests.

[ddrive]

You can do it....

I attend a liberal arts college that promotes student clubs. For some time now I've been playing with the idea of starting a martial arts/ combat sports club. I've already talked about it breifly with one of my old instructors who seemed to be happy about the idea, and whom I'm sure would help me a little bit once I got the club going. (come in as a speaker and to show some techniques, etc) On top of this I believe that I could also arrange for other instructors and local fighters to come in and talk or go over technique with the club.
My primary styles are Muay Thai, FMA, and JKD/Jun Fan Gung fu and a little itty bitty bit of grappling (CSW and BJJ)...but with a great deal more emphasis on the muay thai, although I don't have any official documentation of my student level in these arts or a black belt/ instructorship/ etc...and have yet to ask my old instructors out of respect (I feel that asking them might seem a bit pushy or pretentious, and if I do eventually have to ask, I was wondering on how to go about it in the most respectable and courteous manner.) <-any ideas here?

Now...in order for me to start the club with the official okay from the college, it needs to pass some types of student and faculty forums and senates.
I'm beginning to forsee some strife over the contact of these arts, and the possible ramifications of injury and/or litigation...is there anyway I can limit this?

I was also considering focusing a great deal of club time towards focusing on the historical, cultural, and philosophical, and even the psychological aspects of the arts with less time spent on technique and application (but I still want sparring and pad work, sumbrada drills, etc etc).

Do you guys think that if I tried that I'd have a better chance of pulling this off? I was even thinking about assigning papers to the club members, as well as notes and weight training and training logs, and a weekly journal...and journals on fighting/ma events and guests.

Im also going to college as well, and it's a lot easier to start up a club than to setup a school [less in cost]. If you're going to teach a class, it's best to have some form of certification so the school board and students don't think you're a fake (talk to your teacher about that). Having diffent teachers visiting does help change the pace for students as well. If you're worried about injuries, it's best that you have the students sign a waiver to avoid possible lawsuits against you and/or the school. Also, make sure that there is enough protective training equipment to reduce the chance of injury [it's best that students purchase and use their own gloves, foot pads, and vest when signing up for your club to avoid health related issues]. Finally, it's good that you're teaching the history of the art, but don't make it into a class. After having classes all day, most people who are involved came to get a good work out to let off some steam. Keep it Fun. When it's up, contact me so I can hear about your progress. If your club goes really well, that could be the promotion you need to start up an actual school.

[ddrive]

In Addition

Just be upfront. Before starting up the club, see how he/she feels about you teaching to other students. If your teacher feels like your ready, ask him/her to print some sort of certification for your college. If his/her answer is no, find out what you need to do so you can be a teacher and work towards getting that certification. Even though a piece of paper can't determine your skill level, it does help you out when it comes to representing your club.
Print out certifications for your students as well.

Even though you've praticed FMA, JKD, BJJ, and CSW, it's seems to me like your primary style is Muay Thai. Train your students in that style, and once you get them good in that method, mix it up by introducing JKD, BJJ, FMA, and CSW techniques.

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My primary styles are Muay Thai, FMA, and JKD/Jun Fan Gung fu and a little itty bitty bit of grappling (CSW and BJJ)...but with a great deal more emphasis on the muay thai, although I don't have any official documentation of my student level in these arts or a black belt/ instructorship/ etc...and have yet to ask my old instructors out of respect (I feel that asking them might seem a bit pushy or pretentious, and if I do eventually have to ask, I was wondering on how to go about it in the most respectable and courteous manner.) <-any ideas here?

[DJColdfusion]

Garland, you're in SLC right?

There is an MMA club up at the U of U, you might want to talk to them about how they went through the process of starting their club.

Good luck.

[Garland]

Garland, you're in SLC right?

There is an MMA club up at the U of U, you might want to talk to them about how they went through the process of starting their club.

Good luck.

I've already been talking to them a little bit. I already talked to Brian and he said it would be cool. Khuen Khru Will wants me to give him a general idea of what I'll be doing, but he seems to be very open to the idea, and is very accomidating...so...hopefully I can make this thing work.

[DJColdfusion]

I don't think Wil will have a problem if you keep the activity on the general workout side rather than the instructional side.

Are you attending Westminister?

[Garland]

yup.
I'm by no means going to attempt to pass myself off as an instructor. I have too much respect for all of the TBA guys who work sooooooo hard to get where they're at. Plus...I'm not the best example of form out there either.
If the person is serious about wanting to learn...the only way that I can respect them, my martial heritage, and the art itself is to perhaps workout with them a bit...but to point them in the direction of either Khru Bernales and the Kalista school, or toward Mushin...and if they have some talent, or desire to learn....to DRAG them by their belt loop or otherwise carry them in...it would make me sooooo happy and so proud if I were able to help somebody find the arts, introduce them to the right people, and then have them go on to perhaps become a champion, or an instructor themselves.

I do not wish to teach the arts, for me to do so right now would be somewhat insulting. I want to help people find the arts. I want to introduce them to some of the historiographies, some of the basic flavor of the art, (perhaps a few basic techniques) and come of the concepts of the art. I want to focus almost equally on culture as technique...but I also don't want to monopolize the club time. I want it to be an enviornment where people from different backgrounds can come together and exchange techniques and concepts, and just bounce stuff off one another.

I've also been blessed with training outside the TBA. I learned a little something about withholding techniques if need be.
I used to train with another world-class instructor and an awesome coach...but sometimes he goes for a "power and speed NOW, technique will manifest itself with time" approach. (he, however teaches some of the kids classes and some women technique {they look SOOOOOO much better as far as form than the fight classes, it's hillarious} when the fight classes and general classes aren't around. I think he does this because he doesn't want to give the art away to disrespectful, posturing, testosterone driven meatheads...some of which ruined it for me down there.)