How Much for Class?

When I first started training in Silat a great teacher informed me there were two ways to pay him, the first being "Sweat, Tears and Blood" the second "Lots of Money" he then went on to say, the first option was the preferred form of payment, but the latter would also be acceptable.

I was very young at the time, and never really thought of the relevance of that statement. I mean if you offered people the choice of very little money v lots of money, surely students would always pick the less money option? However as the years and now decades (lol) have passed I see now what that simple statement was truly about. Students especially today fail to understand which of the two options is actually the cheaper, they think the Sweat, tears and blood, since it's not cash is the cheaper option, while in fact nothing could be further from the truth. These 3 aspects means a) to learn the art you will need to sweat not just one night, but every night, tears will come when you body is sore and you can't give more and you force yourself on through the pain, and Blood will come from your body when you make mistakes and your body has to heal. When face with this maybe paying with money is better? Many students fail to see things from the Instructor side, or how he feels about his relationship with each student. For me I have had my heart broken many, many, many times with students, who I put years into, only to see them not value what their teacher puts into them in Sweat each and every night, in physically teaching them. Tears from the family you have to leave behind, so you can be there for your students in class and Blood from your body as it wears out from the endless hours you keep giving as a teacher. For me the journey of this statement has brought me here to where I have two types of students 1) the student who values what I give them as the value of the money they give me, no loyalty, no commitment, no extended friendship is required of the student nor the Instructor ( a fact often forgotten by students) it purely professional. Or 2) They become real students, who are dedicated and fully committed to learning, who will form a loyal link, who will turn up and train hard, will work hard throughout class, and train at home, learning and developing so at the next class they are ready to progress, appreciating and believing in what they have learnt for their teacher. When a student actually does this (and not lip service) then I fully believe they are paying the correct way, and in a manner to which the art can be created and developed in the student in a pure way. Many students fail to understand the true price that needs to be pay to learn, and hybrid between the two expecting to the teacher to pay in Sweat, Tears and Blood, while they pay little money. That is a very unhealthy relationship for any teacher and one they cannot continually pay.

So in conclusion, be truthful to yourself and ask yourself, do I actually pay the correct amount in any of the two options? Do I truly value the time and energy my teacher gives me and is that sustainable for both sides...... Train hard and remember a Martial Arts Instructor is not just for gradings, he for every week night class as well