Teacher Burnout in Martial Arts

Teacher burnout is natural. When I think back to my school years, I remember catching almost every single teacher staring out the window contemplating whether to jump. Or so it seemed.

My mother was a career teacher. So was my step-father. And most of their friends. They’ll all tell you how much they loved their jobs…and yet I saw the gloom of teacher burnout knock the wind out their sails more than once.

Same goes for every martial arts teacher I’ve ever met. In fact, take a look at teachers in any field of study and you’ll find fatigued souls battling disappointment. Personal trainer, driving instructor, life coach, piano teacher–it doesn’t matter. Teacher burnout affects everyone.

And that includes me. Don’t get me wrong–I’m a happy guy and I love teaching, but that doesn’t mean I don’t drive home some nights exhausted, frustrated, and occasionally angry. I shake my head wondering if repeating the same information over and over, losing my voice in the process, is really worth it.

It shouldn’t be that way. Teaching should be joyful. It should be rewarding. Having the chance to pass on the knowledge and skills that changed my life should be a blessing. So, why doesn’t it always feel like a blessing?

Teacher burnout is not caused by what most people talk about–long hours and modest pay. The fact is there are many jobs that require more hours for less pay. Oh–and those jobs don’t usually require people to listen or bow to you.

No, the heart of teacher burnout comes from thoughts in your own head. Thoughts like–

• No one listens.
• No one understands.
• No one does the work.
• No one cares.

Combine thoughts like those with a 12-year-old car and you might find yourself staring out a window, too!

Yes, I admit those thoughts are a little dramatic, but that’s how teaching feels sometimes. And those feelings are serious threats to a fulfilling career as a teacher.

So, why is teaching such a heart-breaking experience? It’s not too difficult to understand…

You start out loving something so much that you dedicate your life to learning more about it. It becomes part of you. You want to share what you love, this sacred piece of you, but you discover that most people aren’t interested. At least not as much as you.

You refuse to accept that reality, so you push ahead. You try a million and one ways to share your passion, but it makes no difference. No matter how much you want to give, no one wants to take. You finally realize–

The number of people who are truly interested in what you have to offer, and are willing to match your enthusiasm and drive is small. Very, very, very small.

Healing your wounds as a teacher begins with accepting that truth. Your passion is yours alone. If you happen to find yourself surrounded by motivated, hard-working, loyal students, praise the heavens and teach as much as you can while it lasts, but in most cases, this will not be the case.

See if this sounds familiar…

Several times over the years, I have been called upon to volunteer my services to teach martial arts to small groups in private settings. Each time, I cancelled the sessions within a month or two. Why?

• Students only showed up sometimes.
• Students talked through the instruction.
• Students challenged the instruction.
• Students didn’t practice outside of class.
• Students barely practiced in class.

You may be thinking my teaching skills are rotten. Not so.

You may be thinking the students are all rotten people. Not so.

You may be thinking this is a natural outcome for a group of students who pay nothing and make no formal investment in a class. Not so.

FACT: I’ve seen caring, talented, professional teachers have their hearts broken over and over again by students who quit, don’t practice, don’t pay attention, and don’t show up even when the teacher is world-famous and the students are paying top dollar.

Which is why I now believe–

The root cause of teacher burnout is not within the students–their behavior and attitude is consistent and predictable. The root cause is within the teacher.

Teachers are romantics. They love what they do and believe the whole world will share in that love. Teachers have found something of value and meaning and want to help others find the same sense of purpose and pleasure.

But finding a passionate student is not easy. Never has been, never will be. That’s why expecting students, new or old, to solve teacher burnout is a bad strategy.

What’s a good strategy? Does one exist? Is it possible to prevent teacher burnout? Is it possible to drive home every night with a smile and a feeling of fulfillment?

YES. YES. YES.

You see, I figured something out. Something that helps me avoid teacher burnout. And it’s an easy fix. Here it is–

I don’t just show up to class as a teacher–I show up as a STUDENT.

As discussed in Master Teacher, being a great student does not mean you are a great teacher. Teaching is its own skill set. But many teachers focus so much on teaching that they let go of their own learning…and that is the beginning of the end. Here’s why–

The ability to make progress as a teacher is not within your control. Think about it–if your students are not willing to work and grow, you will not progress as teacher. That feeling of not making progress leads to teacher burnout. Then what?

Teacher burnout leads to quitting or even worse–half-hearted teaching. Take a moment to think about all the teachers you’ve known who teach without passion. Teachers who withhold their joy because they find no joy in their students. Half-hearted teaching is a plague!

But there is an alternative. Unlike teaching, where you have little to no control over your progress and success, learning is within your control and endlessly satisfying. That’s the trick. You’ve got to switch from a teacher mindset to a student mindset.

I am still learning. Michelangelo

To avoid teacher burnout, starting immediately, you must dedicate a portion of your classes to your own purposes. Isolate something you want to work on and do it. Yes–it’s okay to focus part of your class on you!

If you want to work on sparring, work on sparring. If you want to drill an armbar, drill an armbar. If you want to hit a bag, hit a bag. Remember–

Investing in yourself as a teacher can be rewarding, but investing in yourself as a student is always rewarding.

I’m not saying ignore your students. I’m not saying don’t teach the best classes you possibly can. I’m saying don’t let your dedication to being a great teacher get in the way of your dedication to being a great student. There is no reason why you can’t pursue both. Especially in your own class!

Unfortunately, many teachers refuse to practice with, or in front of, their students out of fear of making a mistake. They want to be viewed as an all-powerful, all knowing god. They cling to a belief that if students see them get hit or try something new, all the respect they’ve earned will be shattered and lost.

You’ve seen these teachers. These so-called masters standing in the corner, out of shape, pointing and directing, but never pushing their own limits. The egotistical teachers who are happy to demonstrate with a willing partner, but refuse to engage in any live exchanges.

What a sad example. Sad for the students and sad for the teacher.

So, avoid all that. If you’ve been suffering from teacher burnout, my recommendation is as follows:

1. Ask yourself if you’re still interested in developing or maintaining your fighting skills as a STUDENT, not as a teacher. I’ll bet you are!
2. Write down a list of areas you want to develop and explore. Areas that excite you!
3. Carve out some class time to work on your list. For at least a few minutes every class, instead of thinking about how to give your students what they need, pursue what you need.

In short, don’t put pressure on yourself to teach the whole class. Instead, find a pocket of time where you simply lead the class. Meaning, you engage with your students and practice something you want to work on. This is leading by example at its finest.

BONUS: I predict your students will respect you even more when they see you learning alongside them.

One other interesting phenomenon you’ll notice–your good students will continue to learn from you whether you are formally teaching or not. That’s what makes them good students! They watch. They feel. They remember. You don’t need to hold their hand all the time.

As for the other students, don’t worry about them so much. I don’t say that out of cruelty or indifference! But remember–they will never care as much as you do. Many students only joined your school to get a good sweat and have a good time… and that’s OKAY! It’s only NOT okay when you drive home night after night feeling like you wasted your time. But that disappointment evaporates when you let go of the romantic, unrealistic expectations of a teacher.

Possess the mindset of a student and you will be consistently excited, enthused, interested, motivated, and pleased.

That’s my secret to fighting teacher burnout. Simply reignite the spark of joy that led you to start teaching in the first place–learning.

The more you allow yourself to be a student, the better you will become as a teacher. The more you learn, the more you’ll have to share.

When the teacher is a student, everybody wins.