Growing up I did not know what I wanted to do…. I knew that I wanted to be financially secure, have enough money not to struggle and buy all the fun stuff in life. But I also knew I did not want to get caught in a 9 to 5 job that I did not like. I wanted to do something fun, challenging, something that would benefit society, while at the same time, something I could make a living at. Teaching was close to the top of my list as I considered careers (even though I feared standing in front of kids!). However, I heard they get paid so very little, and I also saw some teachers that were older who were burnt out and it seemed that they had fallen into that 9-5 job that I wanted to stay away from. I did not think about opening up my own business, as that takes money, which I did not have, and did not give the steady paycheck I would feel secure with.

I started martial arts lessons at the Allied Gardens School of Martial Arts in 1991, about the time I started college. Entering college I still had no idea of what I wanted to do with my life. I changed majors 5 times. I attended Grossmont Jr. College for 4 years and then transferred to San Diego State University for another 3, finally graduating with a BA in environmental science. I spent all summer combing the classifieds looking for a job that was in my field that required no experience. I worked downtown in a Public Relations firm for a few months, then I started to prepare to get my teaching credential when my martial arts instructor asked me if I would be interested in teaching an after school martial arts program at some elementary schools. At that point, I had only helped teach a few children's group lessons at my martial arts school, and I did not really like it. But I accepted, quit my job with the public relations firm, and taught the 6 week program at several elementary schools. I had no idea what I was going to teach the children, how to teach them, or any structured guidelines to follow. I muddled through it and discovered not only that I was capable of instructing kids, but that it also turned out to be fun. After the program was over, I was faced with a decision. I needed to make a choice. Start my own business as a martial arts instructor and continue to teach at the elementary schools OR go back to the job I really disliked, fighting traffic, working 9 to 5, essentially doing everything I had hoped I would never have to do. So I chose to be a martial arts instructor, even though I was very apprehensive about what type of future it would hold for me.

I thank God, literally almost every day, for placing that choice before me. I have the opportunity to be involved in so many peoples lives, to help them develop strong minds and bodies. I get so many parents coming up to me saying how much they have seen their son or daughter benefit as a result of taking lessons either at our main school or through the elementary school program. When parents or students tell me about the positive changes they have seen as a result of our program, I know that I made the right choice. Becoming an instructor has allowed me to achieve, and in some cases, even surpass, a lot of the goals and dreams I had set when trying to decide what path I should follow in my life. This is one reason why I am now offering instructor positions to individuals who may have a similar background and goals as mine. But the most important reason I would like to have more instructors is to see this program expand so it can continue to benefit the children whose lives have been impacted in such a positive way over the years.

So, if you are thinking, "Yea... it was easy for you to become a martial arts instructor, you obviously have a 'gift' or you are 'good with kids', or you already know how to do martial arts." As you read above, not only was I not good with kids, but I actually dreaded having to teach them on a regular basis! Like martial arts training, learning how to teach is something you start from scratch (unless you were born with the ability to do a jump side kick). It takes time, commitment, courage, faith, and determination to follow the path of an instructor. If you see a little of you in what I wrote above, I encourage you to research martial arts as a career. Please contact me should you have any questions or comments. Thank you.

Eric Protas

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