what would you do or think when MT instructor says this to you?

[HuSanYan]

I am wondering if anyone has had the following situation (or similar) occur.

I recently started some private 1 on 1 lessons (MT), have had 2 so far and have really enjoyed them, however, when I 1st arranged the lessons I asked the instructor when he was available for 1 lesson during a weekday evening and 1 on a Saturday afternoon, he told me "anytime, can fit in with your requirements" etc. I was SO happy to hear that.

I had a lesson yesterday evening and after it he asks if i can go to the office to chat about their 'plans for me', so in I go and then he tells me that due to them being so busy they want me to join a class that they have going with around 3 or 4 others, he said it was a reasonably advanced class and so on, he also showed me the money amounts with payment options (either monthly or a one off annual payment).

Now this says several possibilities to me, none of which do anything for my confidence :-

1) he doesnt like me or thinks that i am of such a bad standard that he cant stand to expend the extra energy that teaching someone 1 on 1 takes.
2) he simply cannot be bothered (admittedly when I initially enquired, he did tell me that they prefer not to do private lessons because they take very much more energy).
3) maybe he didnt realise that the gym has a more busy timetable and he is needed for more group lessons, but why would he have told me initially that he was around "anytime" for private lessons?
4) its a money thing

Now I am paying £25 (around $45 equivalent) per hour and am more than happy to pay this, so to my mind, anyone taking on the task of teaching me can make some cash, i am reasonably fit (well, certainly no slouch) and I learn fast. Could my technique be SO terrible that he has a genuine nightmare at the thought of coaching me?, well, i work very hard during the sessions and kind of thought that i was doing ok'ish, getting a feel for various moves. Enjoyed doing the Thai Roundhouse into the pads very very much.

What would you do?, because my reaction after thinking this through is to call him, wish him the best for the future and find someone that actually wants to earn some money and who takes a bit of an interest in the student.
No encouragement or very little was offered to me, no "yeah, well done" or "thats it, good" etc. So I can possibly look forward to getting a coach that actually takes a little bit of an interest in his student, plus the showing of the money amounts and payment options made me think a bit.

One last point, shouldnt hand bindings be worn at all times??, I didnt wear them under the gloves and have given myself a bit of a sprained wrist, no big deal but I was wondering if he should have made me wear them? unless he thought that i wouldnt be hitting very hard..
any advice on this instructor issue would be appreciated.

[gregimotis]

I've haven't got anything useful to add to your main question, but hand wraps generally aren't needed (in my exp.) unless working on the heavy bag or fighting. We at my gym don't use them when working pads and it's never been a problem. I fyou have a sprained wrist, my first guess is that it's a technique issue... though I'm sure it's possible you just hit very hard.

[Damian Mavis]

It's a sales ploy. He offers to teach you solo but really wants you to join the class long term. He gets you interested and then hits you up to join the class. Either tell him you just want the solo classes and that is it or leave. Or do what he wants.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[retired]

£25 an hour is way to much mate, a REAL instructor will take enough from you & the rest to keep the club going & buy new stuff but in my experience some of the cheaper (but respected) instructors turn out to be the best as they aren't in it for the money but want to pass on the art of Muay Thai.

My 2p

[Damian Mavis]

Heh, why does everyone want their instructor to be poor and struggling in order to respect them? Instructors should be struggling until they are retired? Oh wait they can't retire! haha We don't expect the same out of university professors or anybody that provides us with valuable information. I see this attitude alot and am always confused and startled by it.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[eXcessiveForce]

I won't teach a private lesson for under $80 an hour. my time is too valuable to do that. Why teach one person where I have to hold pads and do everything myself and make 80 bucks when I could teach a class of 10 make $600 and do much less work. or teach 30 and make $3000.

I do some one on one teaching but they have to do stuff for me too, like hold pads and such so that I can train with them. That is much less since I am getting some benefit out of it as well.

Or it's simply that he is busy and doesn't have the time. I know that I have trouble getting everything into my day. Luckily I have people that can do things for me when I get busy.

[bvermillion]

Hey Excessive if you don't mind me asking what do you charge your students to train and what all do you offer? Do you offer more then tkd?

[Maxetai]

What would you do?, because my reaction after thinking this through is to call him, wish him the best for the future and find someone that actually wants to earn some money and who takes a bit of an interest in the student.
No encouragement or very little was offered to me, no "yeah, well done" or "thats it, good" etc. So I can possibly look forward to getting a coach that actually takes a little bit of an interest in his student, plus the showing of the money amounts and payment options made me think a bit.

any advice on this instructor issue would be appreciated.

HuSanYan, you yourself have answered to your own question!

[William Eriepa]

Well my instructor charges NZ$120 every 3 months, with 3 training nights per week that go for a couple of hours each. But as long as we fight when he wants us to he won't ask us for any money, so it's basically free .
But he doesn't really have a gym, we train in his shed, but still it's quite big.
There's 8 of us.

[adacas]

that dude is trying to burn you dude. I would be looking into a different instructor and I would do this right in his face. Perhaps the pressure will get to him and he will bow to your demands. When people do 180s like that its time to split.

[kodankan]

In time all questions are answered. Give it a little while and you will see where his intentions lay, then you will be able to make an informed decision

[HuSanYan]

some very good answers from all of you, thank you very much, I have taken all comments on board and am in the process of phoning around at the moment to find the closest alternative.........thanks folks

[thaibxr]

ripped off

I would go somewhere else because I dont remember who said it but someone on this page said most good teachers take a small amount to keep the club going new equipment and something for thier time but I think an hourly rate is just retarded give him this

[sari-an]

In my gym we are required to where handwraps everytime we are hitting the bags, because it can cause you injury if you hit the bags with out them.. It also helps you're wrist not to get injured.. If i were you i would always put it on while training..

[thaibxr]

if that was for me I always ware hand wraps under the gloves I just dont ware shin pads.