Dilemma.

[NightOwl]

Hi Blade:

Certainly Teaching is part of learning but not everyone is called to formally teach or learn  or even to teach or learn at all times in their life.

Every day I work, I both teach and learn yet I'm not presently a "teacher."  I guess the question for your friend is "Are the added obligations worth the benifits of membership at this point in his life?"  No one can really answer that question except your friend. 

Good luck to him

Sincerely, NightOwl

[Gi]

Hi everyone is saying Gi is right, that I know. But I haven't posted here yet.

[bladesaint]

The purpose of an association is to support their members and not the other way around. Gi, is right, they lose more than him. If the large association is demanding specific quotas from their members, wether they can or not, they are being unfair. Membership should come with several privileges.

 Well the privileges are the specialized training for the "Closed Door" diciples who undergo the "Bai Si" ceremony.

[Chihua-ku]

The purpose of an association is to support their members and not the other way around. Gi, is right, they lose more than him. If the large association is demanding specific quotas from their members, wether they can or not, they are being unfair. Membership should come with several privileges.

[Brandon]

I think I understand where your friend is coming from. I have a similar story.

My Tang Soo Do school, where I have trained and taught for many years, is part of a federation that I am thoroughly disgusted with. I am loyal to the school and the students there, but I have absolutely no desire to participate in tournaments, clinics, or any other organizational events. I decided not to pay my membership dues this year, and told the school owner that I have "philosophical" differences with the federation, and cannot support it financially. We'll see what happens. If I get kicked out, so be it. They lose more by that than I do. Personally, I dislike large organizations.

[bladesaint]

 Hi Gang,

 I have an interesting situation. I'm of a mind that the better instructors are perpetual students. The oppritunity to be a student, yet again has recently come up for a friend of mine in a style of kung fu he's fond of and have experience in but havnt gotten around to hunkerdown to really study and absorb. He's taken a few classes already and they went fine, though alittle challenging due to some past knee surgery he's had the last year. The biggest problem for him seems to be is not the the style itself or the instructor but the association that the school is affiliated with and who he is in the local martial arts community. The school is fairly new, just trying to get on its feet. Theyre a great group with a nice family type of atomoshpere. Very comfortable. The organization is well established, powerful even, and quite demanding of its affilliates. He's been a casual acquaintence of the higher ups but their relative locations are far enough that crossing paths if twice a year, is alot. Well anyway, the instructor is expected to bring a number of his students to various organizational activities (At cost, naturally) Which is fine but not what my friend is really into at this point in his life with his own personal martial arts and family commitments. This problem may be nothing at all and just perception. Hopefully