To become a Kyokushin coach, it is not enough to be good at the techniques. A real instructor must be able to teach people, maintain discipline and understand how to train athletes of different ages.

A coach’s journey usually begins with years of training and competition experience. Many federations require special instructor courses. A coach does not always need a black belt: there are successful coaches with other belt grades too.

You need a relevant sports education or professional retraining as a coach-teacher based on an existing qualification.

A good coach needs to understand training methods, explain techniques and look after students’ safety. It is especially important to distribute training loads appropriately and take each athlete’s experience into account.

Working with children requires patience and the ability to create a comfortable training environment. For adult groups, credibility, discipline and good organisation are important.

Many coaches continue to train regularly and attend seminars: development in Kyokushin continues throughout life.