Let me clarify what I meant with the heading. Would you rather choose a kickboxing class that is run by a martial arts instructor, or one that is run by someone with no martial arts background?
Let's be honest here, anyone can get a group fitness instructor certificate. Anyone who has the "right look" or the "right personality" can be picked to become a kickboxing instructor. There's a tendency here, though. The people I'm talking about learn what they know from the person who has come before them, that person learned from the person before them, etc. What happens is the water down effect, meaning each person down the ladder is shown less and less of the proper form and details because the person before them wasn't necessarily taught them either.
Here's an example:
I had a trainer from another kickboxing studio join my classes after she left her place of employment. I was working with this member on a combo that included a hook and a roundhouse kick. I noticed they were not pivoting on their base leg, which prevented them from turning over their hips. I asked them if I could show them how to garner more power in each strike, to which they were happy to learn! Once I changed a couple minor details, this member had so much more power AND speed in their strikes! They were so excited to realize this newfound ability, BUT asked me why they wouldn't have been taught correctly...I asked who taught them and who taught the previous person, etc. etc. It was due to the fact that this member had been taught by someone so far down the line from the original instructor that these things had been lost.
When you take a class from an actual martial arts instructor they are going to understand the techniques, how to break them down, how to teach them, and how to apply them. The martial arts instructor isn't going to become watered down because they understand the importance behind each detail. The martial arts instructor is also going to have a high sense of pride behind what they are teaching you.
So now I have to re-ask my original question:
WHAT DO YOU CHOOSE?