Requirements to be listed on the WTBA Instructors Register
To represent Erle Montaigue, Eli Montaigue and the WTBA and to teach the Erle Montaigue System, you must be listed on the WTBA Instructors Register. Erle wrote explicitly about this before his death. He did not want anyone claiming to represent him or his system who had broken ties with the WTBA. Eli upholds this request.
You can still train and teach different styles and represent other schools as well, we’re easy going like that. 
WTBA Instructors
An instructor who passed their test before June 1st, 2025. They have maintained their instructor status but have not updated to the new syllabus.
WTBA Unified Instructors
A unified instructor is one who either passed their test after June 1st, 2025, or updated their old degree to the new teaching syllabus. They are up to date with the wtba teaching methods and are able to teach the content of this grading book.
WTBA Legend Instructors
This is a special award given out to only a select few. There is no set requirement to attain this, but usually it is given after around 20 years of extreme dedication and support to the WTBA. For example, they may have attended regular classes for 20 years, as well as teaching for the WTBA and setting up workshops at their school for Erle or Eli. Therefore, they have earned their leave of absence & will remain on the instructors register even if we have not seen them in a while. A legend has had so much training time with Erle or Eli, that even without the regular updates, they are highly unlikely to fall into any major bad habits.
No one is above needing guidance to maintain correctness and further development.
Eli needs to be kept in check as well, even Erle when he was still alive.
Think about it, the world’s greatest fighters still have coaches, someone to point out their errors and what they should be working on.
Eli meets up with the other senior instructors as much as he can to further his own development as well as share his knowledge and skill.
Eli & the wtba senior instructors work together, correcting, guiding & sharing knowledge, keeping each other in check to make the WTBA stronger.
To quote Erle Montaigue "this is essential is getting a uniform WTBA teaching criteria and also so that we can be assured that our instructors haven’t gone upon their own paths TOO much in the absence of corrections from “Head Office”."
Requirements to maintain WTBA instructor or unified instructor status
(Originally set by Erle Montaigue in 2008 and updated (softened) by Eli Montaigue in 2024.
To see the original requirements and Erle’s words on this please scroll down.
1. Must have a valid WTBA instructor degree, signed by Eli or Erle.
2. Must be listed on the WTBA instructors register at www.taijiworld.com/wtba_instructor_list.html
3. If teaching, must do so in support of the WTBA.
You can still have your own school’s name but should include "WTBA" or our logo somewhere on your website/social media etc, to show you are part of the WTBA.
You can also put WTBA into your school’s name as you see fit.
4. Must only teach what you have been given permission to teach regarding the Erle Montaigue System. You can of course teach what you want from other styles you might know, so long as it’s clear to the student which parts are WTBA.
You teach only what you can correctly do yourself, we don’t want you teaching things incorrectly and passing on any bad habits.
5. Unified instructors must train with Eli in person where possible or online:
1st to 3rd degrees, at least once per year.
4th degree, at least once every 3 years.
5th degree & higher, at least once every 5 years.
6. Instructors with an old certificate, pre-2025, must train with Eli in person where possible or online:
1st degree, at least once per year.
2nd degree, at least once every 2 years.
3rd degree, at least once every 3 years.
4th degree, at least once every 4 years.
5th degree & higher, at least once every 5 years.
7. If you do not maintain your instructor status, you will need to retake your test.
Requirements for WTBA Unified Legend Instructors
Old requirements
Set by Erle Montaigue in 2008 and printed in issue 59 and 60 of Combat and
Healing Magazine, which is copied at the bottom of this page.
2. Must have current registration with the WTBA.
3. Instructors must attend at least one class with Erle per year.
The only exceptions he made were for instructors in countries he did not teach anywhere near to, such as Australia, or if there was good reason for not being able to make it one year.This was at Erle’s discretion, basically, if he thought you were slacking, he’d take you off the list.
4. If teaching, you must do so under the WTBA banner.
For those who didn't get this news back in 2008 directly from Erle, here is what he said on the matter.
Erle made it very clear while he was alive, that anyone who does not support the WTBA and his chosen successor Eli Montaigue, is not permitted to teach his system.Written by Erle in April 2008, printed in issue 59 of Combat and Healing
Magazine Page 34.
“WTBA Instructors If you are reading this and you are a WTBA instructor who
hasn’t been in touch with “Head Office” for some time, maybe now is the time to
make contact. We will be doing some serious culling over the next few months, weeding out
those who use the WTBA only for their own gain and never put anything back or
even bother to make contact once in a blue moon.
I am not one of those head instructors who insists that those who teach under
his name make payments on a regular basis like the majority of others do.
Nor do I ask for payment for any grading as most others do.
In fact, I have never asked for any payment form anyone to be able to use the
WTBA name for gaining students into their own schools etc.
Every WTBA instructor is judged on his or her own merit and never has to bow
down to the Chief instructor and that has always been my way.
So, come on, if we haven’t heard from you in some time, like .... Years!
Get in touch and let us know that you are still alive at least as many of us
ARE getting much older”
“WTBA Gatherings in Llangadog Erle Montaigue’s Invitational classes for instructors and advanced students are continuing in the Welsh village of Llangadog.
These are well attended by WTBA instructors and are mandatory at least once per year for those wishing to keep their WTBA Instructorship status.
Those who live far away in other countries for instance, must attend at least one of Erle’s workshops each year either in their own country or a country nearby.
This is essential is getting a uniform WTBA teaching criteria and also so that we can be assured that our instructors haven’t gone upon their own paths TOO much in the absence of corrections from “Head Office”. We are in fact in the process of taking those WTBA “Instructors” that have never attended another class, off the WTBA listing on the official web site.”
Written by Erle in May 2009, printed in issue 60 of Combat and Healing Magazine
“Everyone should know that all of the advanced forms, as well as the Dim-Mak
foundation forms, which have been taught during the Instructors sessions over
the last 4 years, can ONLY be taught by fully qualified current instructors
under the WTBA banner, who have learned these forms from myself directly!”
Here are five quotes from Erle taken from an article in Vol: 60 of Combat and Healing Magazine, written shortly after he publicly named Eli as his only successor and made him head of the WTBA.
Words from Erle Montaigue 1949-2011 (Founder of the WTBA)
Written June 2009
Printed in Vol: 60 of Combat and Healing Magazine.
Link to Magazine. Quotes can be found in WTBA News page 44.
“Hence my handing the running of the WTBA over to the only obvious successor, Eli.”
"So from hence forth, the only instructors who are authorised to teach my system, are those listed on our WTBA instructor list.
So, if students wish to learn the real internal system as taught by myself, there is only one choice, apart from directly from me
as - am NOT retiring!!"
“My sincere advice to those who find it difficult to accept that a 23 year old man can take over running the WTBA, is to take a look at your own ego.”
"NEVER COME BETWEEN ME AND ONE OF MY CHILDREN!!!”
