a martial arts master

[quietdandelion]

I'm a martial arts master. I'm here to apply for the martial arts director position.


As a rule of thumb, when a noun is used as an adjective, its singular form is often used. Nevertheless, the plural arts is used here. I wonder if there is an explantion. Thanks.

 

[Sallyb36]

It's because there is more than one type of martial art. He is an instructor of more than one type maybe.

 

[Matching Mole]

Because "martial arts" is always plural (or rather, rarely spoken of in the singular), as it refers to a collection of various "arts", it is a collective term. "Liberal arts" is the same.

"I'm here to apply for the martial arts director position," is awkard, it would be said: "I'm here to apply for the position of martial arts director".

 

[quietdandelion]

Thanks, my friends.
And I like MM's version "I'm here to apply for the position of martial arts director."