Are you a Martial Arts Quitter?

I was recently told that the dropout rate in Muay Thai was 50% the first six months, a further 25% by the end of year one and 15% more in the first 3 years leaving around 1 in 10 sticking to the art.

So why is this? Personally I believe its because people underestimate what going to happen, they haven't done any research on the art, the club or instructor. Many have just watched UFC and have delusions of grandeur, they want the matrix download that gives them 3000 years worth of knowledge when the reality is years of pushups & drills.

Most of the time dropping out is a conscious decision made by someone who's bubble has been burst, they quickly find out there is no download and they just can't commit time, energy or money to a very difficult system to master..  All martial arts require a lifetime of study.

Another very popular dropout excuse is from people who have hit the wall or slump, they are finding something difficult and rather than asking for help the tell themselves they will take a break and return after there holiday / Christmas, Wedding etc... Most of them will never come back.

From personal experience I've found three times in Martial Arts training that students are most likely to quit.

1) Early grading success, this is where most students drop out, the first couple of gradings come around quickly, they are easy and because of this the pass rate is high, then the realisation sinks in, to achieve there 10th grading they have several more years or blood sweat and tears to go through, they may even have to do some academic research for later gradings - like going back to school? This isn't what Bruce Lee shows in his films so they get disillusioned with the future. Why not before the grading saving money? Well they want something out of it, a certificate, Kruang etc - something to show for the last few months training.

2) Brown Belt Quitters, By the time your 6th grading comes around your very nearly complete, its time to start thinking about sharing your knowledge and sowing the seeds for the next generation. Our syllabus requires you to learn about language, culture and history to progress. There is also a teaching element to the later gradings. Many people fear this part the most - standing in front of a class and delivering a lesson. The fact is that this makes you a more rounded martial artist - it makes you think about your performance before demonstrating.

Another closely connected fact is that by the time a student reaches brown they are already quite accomplished in self defence, fitness and often competition - the thought of another 9 months trained to get the next level is often off-putting.

3) Kru misconceptions, most people who start a Martial Arts system have one goal - to call themselves a black belt in any particular discipline. Muay Thai doesn't have a black belt, we have replaced it with a red belt (arm band) this takes explanation at every possible occasion - you will get fed up of saying "Red is equivalent to black" etc.

Getting your red band (black belt) is not proof that you have mastered the art, its likened to passing your driving test - its now the learning begins.. Sharing knowledge is high on the agenda and this level requires practice to maintain standards.

Its only when you have proved yourself in this aspect then you will be awarded the title of Kru (Teacher) If your not passing on your knowledge and actually teaching people - how can you be called a teacher? This bursts people bubble and again they leave with the misconceptions that they have learned everything there is to know!!

Wrong.