Why do students quit?

There are probably several articles on this already, but I have to state my opinion on this. Personally, as a brown belt, I see a horde of kids who come on the first day of the session and by the third class a few of them poof. Then, as time goes on, more and more poof. For example, the now Shodan Ho, Matt is the only black belt that is in our dojo after about ten years. TEN YEARS. So, I guess, what I was saying about ten students isn't true. I've seen over fifty or sixty kids in my five years at my current dojo. Only about ten are still here after at least four years of training. Half of them are brown belts that are lower ranking than me. We don't have any brown belts that are senior to us (me, Selena, and Laura). So, we are the senior brown belts. It's sad.

Students quit because the beginning is to hard for them. They expect to be able to do the fancy stuff that the higher ranks can do, such as weapons, right away. Unfortunately for them, they have to learn basics first. Basics are critical for being able to kumite, do kata, have good kime and discipline.

Stereotypes also are a factor in what makes people think that it is easy to learn martial arts. Those movies ruined us all. It gives the newbies this attitude of : "I can beat anyone." Of course, this isn't true. For example, at my school, we have a Martial Arts Club. No, I'm not a member, unfortunately. Anyway, on with my story. The club often receive new members. Some of these new members will walk in with their "invincible" attitude. So, they end up having a sparring match with the club's president who has been studying various martial arts since he was in kinder-garden. He beats them all. It's a hit to their pride, but it shows how many people assume that they can, or rather, can't do martial arts like the movies.

Some folks who understand martial arts isn't easy will stay on and continue to work, but it is also a waiting game. So, those who put effort in the beginning often peter out and decide to leave. Some times, these folks leave because _____ is not their martial art. Some leave because the instructor(s) do no suit them. Sometimes, they leave because they do not have enough attention paid to them from the instructor(s). Others, get injured and never return. Some folks have other activities in their life and can't find a way to fit these classes in. And in some undesirable cases, the students are made to feel uncomfortable by the sensei(s) or another student.

There are so many reasons why they all leave. Some, that I can't even think of.

To become a black belt, two things are most critical above all factors: effort and time.