Martial Arts Instructor Jobs
Martial Arts Instructor jobs are open across gyms, schools, fitness centers, community recreation programs, and private studios, covering specializations in karate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and mixed martial arts, from entry-level assistant instructor to head instructor and program director. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Job Purpose
The Fitness Instructor ensures that students receive physical education activities following the Performance Academies Mission to instill lifelong learning and physical well-being through the sports of soccer and tennis. It is the responsibility of the Fitness Instructor to collaborate with team members, which include but are not limited to: the parent, classroom teacher(s), principal, related service providers, and Fitness Director to ensure the individual needs of students are met.
Duties and Responsibilities
Include but not limited to:
Student Learning
- Always supervise students; never leave a child unattended, never allow a child to run errands, use the restroom, go to the office, leave for intervention or speech services unattended or unsupervised by an adult
- Maintain all required certifications, licensures, background checks, etc. current
- Maintain high levels of classroom management at all times, including during transitions to and from PE, etc.
- Deliver high quality instruction at all times
- Follow “coaching” model of PE instruction; focuses on tennis, soccer, martial arts or specifically related subjects
- Maintains visible charts, graphs and other forms of documentation of student progress in the PE room; regularly updates progress visually in the room
- Keeps accurate student assessment data of each and every student
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Turn in lesson plans on school template to Principal, Superintendent, Fitness Director, or
Assistant Principal as required - Choose only educationally related field trips, films, videos, or DVD’s for students and use them sparingly only as a supplement to a specific lesson
- Prepare students to compete in Performance Academies tournaments
- Start & end all fitness classes or other activities in a timely manner aligned with the schools schedule
- Keep fitness room free of chaos; maintain high standards of cleanliness, organization, and safety, and eliminate clutter
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Be mindful of students with disabilities; properly implement goals and objectives for all students with active
IEP’s, BIP’s, or 504 Plans when appropriate or needed - Work closely with Intervention staff to ensure consistency of academic and/or behavioral service delivery for students with disabilities
- Participate and help organize fitness competitions among schools
- Maintain appropriate and accurate inventory at all times of all fitness equipment, materials and resources
- Assist with bus duty and lunch duty as required by Principal or Assistant Principal
- Students must not leave the fitness classroom for restroom breaks or other reasons without being supervised
- Stay abreast of latest requirements in education and special education to the best of your ability
- Attend all required staff in-services or professional development days
- Turn in grades and interim reports in timely manner
- Manage your classroom; do not give power away by sending students to the office for minor disruptions
- Follow the Student Code of Conduct at all times as it relates to discipline
- Implement the schools positive behavior systems in your classroom
- Clearly post the classroom rules in your classroom.
- Encourage cleanliness and good hand washing behavior of students and ensure that students wear adequate foot covering at all times
- Report any change of address/status immediately to the HR office so that all mail, correspondence, pay stubs, W-2’s, etc. can be mailed to your proper address.
- Report any obvious communicable disease or sickness to your supervisor.
- Refrain from driving students in your personal vehicle at all times
- Ensure that all appropriate field trip / tournament permission forms are signed, dated, turned into the office with appropriate written consent from parents for every child attending field trip (not just a sibling, for instance)
- Ensure that parents who volunteer at the school have a clearly assigned purpose for volunteering, particularly in the classroom or school office; they must have an assigned day and time and a specific job and may not be permitted to wander freely about the school; all visitors must sign in and out at the front office or in classrooms
- Turn in monthly column for school newsletter
- All correspondence to parents, students, in the school newsletter, to staff, etc. must be grammatically correct and free of spelling or punctuation errors; if unsure, consult a dictionary, thesaurus or colleague before sending
- Any and all contacts from news media, i.e., newspaper, television, radio, etc., must be immediately referred to Principal and Superintendent; never conduct an interview on your own
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Immediately report any and all cases of suspected child abuse or neglect to Superintendent, Principal, Assistant
Principal, law enforcement and Children’s Services agencies - Maintain confidentiality of student records at all times and keep all student records locked
- Be an active participant in any and all IAT or IEP meetings for any students in your classroom who are being evaluated for special services; come fully prepared for those meetings with all required documentation, including samples of student work, behavioral documentation, etc.
- Maintain all keys, computers, fitness equipment, etc. in a safe and efficient
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Send home fully executed incident report for any student who falls, hurts themselves, is injured in any way
within 24 hours of the incident - Do not leave the building without express permission of principal
- Work collaboratively with any and all consultants to the school or organization, such as psychologists, guidance counselors, attorneys, philanthropists, etc.
- Follow all prescribed Superintendent, Principal, Fitness Director or Board policies faithfully
- Read and understand all policies outlined in staff handbook and student handbook/code of conduct
- Other duties as assigned by Superintendent, Principal, Fitness Director, Assistant Principal or management staff
- Maintain a high standard of care for all fitness equipment & keep an accurate Inventory of it
- Teacher Based Teams (TBT) must be conducted weekly with fitness team and monthly with leadership
- Follow faithfully all items in the Fitness Blueprint
Family/Community Involvement
- Communicate regularly with parents and/or guardians, regarding students' progress
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Do not give out personally identifying information to students, i.e., cell phone number, home phone number,
address, etc. - Create a network of support for students by treating all students and families with respect at all times and actively working with parents/guardians to coordinate home and school connections.
- Hold regularly scheduled parent/Fitness Instructor conferences at school prescribed times, as needed
- Provide high quality lesson plans, schedules of services, and other related information to Fitness Director, Principal, Assistant Principal, and/or Superintendent as required
- Follow the required school dress code for Fitness Instructors
- Read and understand all policies outlined in staff handbook and student handbook/code of conduct
- Refrain from discussing student or parent issues with staff members outside of IAT meetings, except as needed to ensure educational efficacy of student; never discuss student or parent issues with other parents or the public; this also includes other professionals, including doctors, psychologists, attorneys, dentists, social workers, or anyone without explicit written, parent consent.
- Keep all student identifying information confidential at all times and all parent and student correspondences and communications confidential at all times.
- Report any and all cases of suspected child abuse or neglect immediately to Principal, Assistant Principal, and/or Superintendent, before contacting Children’s Services or local law enforcement.
- Maintain positive interactions with parents, students, and staff at all times, even in the most difficult situations
- Use all appropriate and required forms for the business office and the HR department as required, i.e., application forms, applications for insurance, requests for reimbursement, etc.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree Preferred
- Valid and current Ohio Education License
- Satisfactory completion of federal and state required criminal history checks
- Experience with data analysis
- Proficient in computer applications, including Google Docs, MS Office Suite, e-mail, and internet
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics
- Reliable, dependable, and trustworthy work ethic; a strong sense of integrity.
- Strong ability to gather, analyze, and interpret student data to make sound educational decisions.
- Ability to work in a diverse educational community setting and as part of a team.
- Understand fitness-gram standards as well as state teaching standards, including Common Core and Extended Standards.
- Exhibit sound judgment while exhibiting flexibility regarding decision-making, daily challenges, and job duties.
- Ability to manage and communicate with students that need more support with regulating their emotions
- Ability to work well under pressure, and effectively prioritize and execute tasks to meet deadlines consistently.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to be an active listener and critical thinker and make sound judgments.
Working Conditions
- Dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and to handle other computer and other technology related components
- Report to the school no later than 7:30 AM and remain at school until 4:30 PM.
- Follow the required school dress code for building staff.
- Attend all required staff meetings, TBT meetings, Public School Works trainings, parent/teacher conferences, in-services and professional development days.
This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.
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Who's Hiring
- Impact Kids45I
- Amazing Athletes7

- ActivStars Athletics6A
- Nexplore5
- Crouching Tigers4
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in martial arts instructor jobs.
- Current CPR, AED, and first aid certification from a recognized provider
- Demonstrated proficiency in at least one martial art with verifiable rank or belt certification
- Experience teaching group classes to students of varying ages and skill levels
- Background check clearance, especially for roles involving minors
- Ability to design structured lesson plans and track student progress over time
- Strong verbal communication skills for safe technique instruction and student feedback
Tips for Your Martial Arts Instructor Job Search
List every art and rank you hold
Your resume should name each martial art you teach, your belt rank or certification level in each, and the governing body that issued it. Employers scan for specific arts, and a vague 'martial arts experience' line will get passed over for someone who lists 'BJJ brown belt, IBJJF certified' or 'ATA-certified Taekwondo instructor.'
Attach proof of current safety certifications
Most facilities require current CPR, AED, and first aid certifications before your first class. Have your certification cards or digital credentials ready to upload with your application. Listings that ask for them upfront will screen out applicants who say they can get certified later.
Target openings that match your student age range
Martial arts instructor roles split sharply between children's programs and adult classes. Filter for the age group you have experience with and name it in your cover note. A candidate who taught kids' karate for three years looks very different to a recreation center hiring a youth program lead.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists martial arts instructor openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare a teaching demonstration for interviews
Many gyms and recreation centers ask candidates to teach a short class segment or demonstrate a technique sequence during the interview. Know in advance which style and skill level you would demonstrate, and practice explaining technique in plain language for a beginner audience.
Negotiate class load before accepting an offer
Compensation for martial arts instructors often ties to the number of classes taught per week, not a flat salary. Before you accept, confirm whether the offered rate is per class, per month, or salaried, and ask what a full weekly schedule looks like so you can calculate real take-home pay.
Martial Arts Instructor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most martial arts instructors?
The companies hiring the most martial arts instructors right now include Impact Kids, Amazing Athletes, and ActivStars Athletics, with the largest share of openings in California, New Jersey, and Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Franchise gym networks and municipal recreation departments consistently account for a large portion of active postings.
How many martial arts instructor jobs are remote?
About 0% of martial arts instructor openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most instruction happens on a mat in person. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements include online curriculum development, virtual private coaching sessions, and program management roles that do not require daily floor instruction.
How do you become a martial arts instructor?
You become a martial arts instructor by achieving a recognized rank in your chosen art, completing any instructor certification your style's governing body offers, and gaining teaching experience through assisting established classes. Getting certified in CPR and first aid, passing a background check, and building a record of safe, structured instruction are the steps most employers expect before hiring you independently.
Can you get hired as a martial arts instructor with little experience?
Yes, entry-level assistant instructor roles are a realistic starting point if you hold a solid rank, have current safety certifications, and can demonstrate you teach technique clearly and safely. Many gyms and recreation centers hire junior instructors to support lead classes, which lets you build a formal teaching record. Volunteering to coach youth programs or assistant-teaching at your home school can fill a thin resume before you apply.
What does the martial arts instructor interview process look like?
The interview process typically includes an initial phone or video screen to confirm certifications and availability, followed by an in-person visit where you meet the facility director and often observe or assist a live class. Many employers then ask you to teach a short demonstration segment so they can evaluate your instruction style, cuing, and ability to manage a group safely before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to martial arts instructor jobs?
You can find and apply to martial arts instructor jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from gyms, recreation centers, schools, and private studios across the United States. Find the roles that fit your style, certification level, and preferred location, then apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All 124+ Martial Arts Instructor Jobs
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