I've trained under a few different instructors over the years and am curious to know at what point do you take the plunge and start instructing (if that's what you want to do)? What qualities do you need to have, level of experience etc... from reading this forum for years now it seems like as soon as a new gym opens up, with instructors nobody is immediately familiar with then they are torn apart and slagged fit to burn. If nobody had decided to go out on their own then the sport wouldn't be as widespread as it is and wouldn't be as readily available to a lot of people. The 'smurf' pages above (if they are pukka) may well be viewed in hindsight as a slight professional faux pas, on the other hand they could turn out good students and good fighters all painted blue. Who knows, but just because someone in not inside the 'inner circle' of Ax and UK MT does that mean they won't make a good instructor?