At Dragon Moon Martial Arts Association, the ideal of the scholar-warrior is not only encouraged but emphasized. Traditionally, martial arts were pursued hand in hand with intellectual pursuits. The advanced martial arts practitioner is not a street ruffian who bullies people to get what he wants, but a refined gentleman who is well educated and can freely mix in the various circles of society with honor, grace, and dignity.

     As such, a basic requirement for a student to reach the honorable rank of 1st higher level in the art of Pai Family Dragon Moon Fist is the attainment of a bachelors degree from a regionally accredited institution. Because 1st higher level is the minimum rank to become an instructor at Dragon Moon Martial Arts Association, it becomes clear that students who desire such status resign themselves that the attainment of a college degree is an absolute necessity.

     Students who are afraid of this requirement or think it unnecessary fail to see the big picture behind either their training or their life. Studies have shown that the lifetime earnings of those with a college degree versus those without are staggering. Advanced practitioners must at some point have the time to train and pursue the higher spiritual levels of the art. This cannot be done if one is working eighty hours a week at minimum wage to support a family. The metaphysical concept of prosperity consciousness is as important as a solid horse stance to those who would seek advanced knowledge in the arts. The attainment of a bachelors degree is considered to be the minimum level of academic achievement for an educated man.

     A student who desires to be an instructor one day must be able to visualize the big picture. An instructor must be able to communicate efficiently and effectively to both students and potential students. In today's global society, instructors will have to use the internet and update school websites. Your ability to communicate well will set you apart from those instructors who can not do so. Your ability to communicate why your particular art is valuable will determine if you will be successful operating a martial arts school. Your educational background will insure that you can make a living doing something other than providing martial arts instruction if need be.

     Potential students of DMMAA who are currently unable to train due to their distance from an authorized kwoon can still make progress towards one of the important requirements for the honorable rank of 1st higher level in the art of Pai Family Dragon Moon Fist. These potential students can begin to take college classes. These potential students can begin the process of attaining their bachelors degree. Please note that a bachelors degree is a four year degree. Beware of online schools who will grant degrees for money with no classes or those who grant credit for life experiences. The standard for four year colleges in the United States is regional accreditation. If the college or university does not have regional accreditation, then a degree from that institution may not be worth the cost of the paper used to print it. Make sure that any college or university you choose is at least approved and authorized to operate and grant degrees by your state department of education.

     If you hold a bachelors degree, make sure you are cultivating your martial arts training on a daily basis. If you do not yet hold a bachelors degree, make plans to acquire one while you continue to cultivate your martial training on a daily basis. Remember, while the application of the ideal of the scholar-warrior requires more than just martial arts training, it also requires more than just academic pursuits. You must always continue to train your chosen art on a daily basis.