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Become a Certified Martial Arts Teacher to Grow Your School:

Teach any style you hold a black belt in

100% online course and exam

Make a great living doing what you love

Earn a professional teaching qualification.

I'm Ready to change lives and reach my unlimited potential as an Instructor!

I'M READY!

Michael Hodge (CMAT & Ultimate Bo Instructor)

Featured In...

Our Student See Real Results

or Get Their Money Back

"I completed the Instructor's Certification course via the Global Martial Arts Association. This course has helped me grow as a teacher. It is well laid out touching on everything from class structures, lesson planning to how to teach and drill new skills. Since completing Sensei Hodge's instructor certification course my school has been more dynamic and engaging to all students. Students' rate of growth has increased and the spectators watching are engaged in the whole class."

Nathan Doulgas ( Student since 2017 )

Core Benefits

A University-Style Teacher's Course

Instead of becoming an instructor at a weekend event, the Certified Martial Arts Teacher (CMAT) course gives you a deeper understanding of how to teach, work with different students, organize your curriculum, and everything else you need to know to succeed.

Teach Any Style You Hold A Black Belt In

By becoming a CMAT, you'll be certified to teach any martial art you hold at least a black belt in -- judo, karate, taekwondo, or any other style.

Be An Internationally Certified Instructor

After completing the course, you'll be awarded the title of CMAT, Certified Martial Arts Teacher. You can proudly display your CMAT plaque certificate and your personal CMAT insignia logo while marketing your classes.

Ismael Rico (Taekwondo Instructor)

Ready to Begin Your Professional Teaching Career?

I'M READY!

ABOUT THE COURSE

Learn about the world's leading online martial arts instructor certification course and exam.

Detailed Video + Written Lessons

More than 60 comprehensive lessons broken down into 5 sections: Teaching, Classes, Kids, Grading, and Business.

Watch the videos and read the included articles.

Example Classes and Mock Teaching

The course includes full example classes and mock teaching samples. You'll be taught theory and get to see the ideas in action.

Jon Hodge, CMAT - Master Teacher

Interactive Discussions with Your Peers

The Discussion Board assignments will get your mind going while giving you a place to discuss concepts with fellow students.

100% Online and Self-Paced

This is much more detailed than the average weekend instructor seminar! By learning online, you'll go through the lessons, assignments, and exams at your own pace.

Feedback Directly from Your CMAT Instuctor

After submitting assignments and exams, you'll receive feedback and guidance directly from your own CMAT instructor.

Watch How the Course Works

GMAU has been teaching Martial Arts online since 2008.

Ready to Launch Your Own Dojo As a Certified Instructor?

LET's GO!

What YOU Will Learn

Your CMAT experience will challenge you, push you, and open you up to a

world of knowledge and best practices.

Fundamentals

Why Do You Teach?
Studying vs. Teaching Martial Arts
Qualities of a Great Teacher
Communication
Career or Hobby?

Teaching

6 Student Needs
Defining Student Success
Stages of Teaching
Teaching vs. Drilling
Correcting

Classes

Programs
Organizing Curriculum
Class Outline
Class Plans
Warm Ups & Stretches
Class Formations

Kids

Working with Different Ages
Listening Positions
Anchors
Black Belt Skill Drills
Mat Chat
Example Kids Class

Grading

Different Examination Systems
Grading Rubric
Exam Feedback
Mock Grading Assignment

Business

Pricing
Timeless Marketing
WOW Customer Service
New Student Experience

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

Michael Hodge

CMAT

About Michael

Michael Hodge began his teaching career in 2004, teaching at his dad's community karate dojo. Upon turning 18, he took over the small school, and moved to a new location. While teaching at his school, he also developed the martial arts style Ultimate Bo, and the initial distance training programs that have evolved into the GMAU. His school grew from 30 to 200 students in a little more than a year, and was featured in the magazine MASUCCESS as a top school in the nation. He now runs the GMAU full-time, working with students and instructors around the world. He also runs a small private academy with a limited enrollment in his own custom-built dojo.

Dustin Koppel

CMAT

About Dustin

Dustin Koppel has been involved training, competing, and teaching martial arts for more than a decade. He began with Krav Maga and Muay Thai Kickboxing. Two years later he got involved with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As a competitor, he has won kickboxing championships in the light and super heavyweight categories. Currently, he runs a top martial arts school in Tennessee, along with training his global Krav Maga distance training students. He is also the creator of "BJJ Solo" a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fitness program, and "Top Roller" a BJJ competition circuit.

Michael South

CMAT

About Michael

Michael South holds black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Tae Kwon Do, and Hapkido. He is the founder of National Martial Arts, one of the premier schools in Oklahoma, with 300 active students. He is also the founder of the NJJA (National Jiu Jitsu Association), where he consults and leads member schools to new levels of success in their teaching, coaching, and business standards.

Commonly Asked Questions

Please reach out to us if you don't see your questions answered, below!

Can anyone enroll into the CMAT?

Yes. Anyone can enroll into the course in order to learn from the lessons. But, you cannot complete the assignments and final exam

unless you meet the requirements to be certified.

What rank must I hold to become a CMAT?

You must hold a minimum of black belt or equivalent in the art that you are going to teach.

How long does it take to complete the course and exam?

This is a self-paced course, so the more time you dedicate to going through the modules, assignments, and exams, the faster you could complete the course. There will be time for receiving feedback, interacting, etc. Most candidates will complete the course in around 3 months.

Can I retake an exam if I don't pass?

Yes. There is no additional fee if you do not pass an assingment or exam. We uphold high standards, and it is very possible that you will be asked to make corrections, or re-submit certain assignments and tests as you complete the course.

Does becoming a CMAT make me an official instructor of the Global Martial Arts Association?

No. Your CMAT certification will be accredited and awarded by the GMAA, but you will be solely responsible for your own curriculum, classes, and school operation from there on out. You will be listed as a CMAT gradate in the assocation's website, but will not be an official location, as you might teach a completely different style or curriculum than our instructors do.

Are there any monthly or annual fees?

No, there are no other fees for the CMAT. After you complete the certification program, you will be a CMAT. We don't require that

you pay any monthly or yearly fees.

Pricing

Choose Your Plan

Enroll at a fraction of the cost of traditional/local instructor certification, with an unparalleled guarantee.

$1195

One Payment

Instant access to the course

All future course updates included

Instructor support, grading, and feedback

CMAT plaque certificate (upon completion)

CMAT patch (upon completion)

CMAT digital logo insignia (upon completion)

Listing on the association website
(upon completion)

Start Now

One-Time Payment of $1195

$199

6 Payments

Instant access to the course

All future course updates included

Instructor support, grading, and feedback

CMAT plaque certificate (upon completion)

CMAT patch (upon completion)

CMAT digital logo insignia (upon completion)

Listing on the association website
(upon completion)

Start Now

6 Monthly Payments of $199

What CMAT Graduates Are Saying

My name is Leo Grant. I am a 3rd Degree black belt in Shotokan karate, a certified instructor of Ultimate Bo under the Global Martial Arts University (GMAU) and now a Certified Martial Arts Teacher (CMAT). The CMAT course is one of the newly added programs of the GMAU and it is packed with lots of information to help one become the best instructor they can be regardless of the martial art that they teach.

There are many outstanding martial artists that for one reason or another find it challenging to transfer their knowledge to others and this is where the CMAT program shines.I have been running my own karate club for over 5 years now and over that time I have experienced different kinds of students (personality, age, etc.) all with varying needs, low student levels, club promotion challenges and more . CMAT helped me to develop tools to be able to train and pass on information to each students. I learned how to create class plans, organize exams an even strategies to manage and improve the business side of things. Also when I had questions about things not specifically covered by the course Sensei Michael Hodge, founder of GMAU, and his team were more than willing to give feed-back and support.

I think that CMAT is a must for any instructor looking to enhance their teaching ability or even to improve their club’s business model.

Leo Grant
Certified instructor of Ultimate Bo

I completed the Instructor's Certification course via the Global Martial Arts Association. This course has helped me grow as a teacher. It is well laid out touching on everything from class structures, lesson planning to how to teach and drill new skills. Since completing Sensei Hodge's instructors certification course my school has been more dynamic and engaging to all students. Students rate of growth has increased and the spectators watching are engaged the whole class.

Nathan Doulgas
3rd Degree TKD Black Belt and Ultimate Bo Black Chevron

I found the CMAT program a very interesting and very informative course. Like all other GMAU courses, there's interaction required between students participating in the same course; ideas being discussed, opinions being spread etc. And that is a good thing, imo. Not only do you learn from the course material itself, you also gather wider knowledge and extra information from others in the course.

If you're new to teaching martial arts, it is a great way to start and get professional in it right away, as the assignments and exams actually do require you to teach and evaluate. But, even if you already are a martial arts instructor, this course still is very much worth taking. You'll definitely learn from it, get other ideas, experience different points of views and, interestingly, points of views from people involved in different martial arts styles than the one you are involved in.

The people that have created the material for this course are professionals in both martial art as well as in teaching it and the people taking the course are either already professionally teaching or seriously involved in martial arts, so there's a lot of knowledge to be found all over the place.