Hmm, that is actually a really good idea. I like that. I watched a documentary on a Kung Fu school in China (it's called Dragon Girls, it's 90 minutes or so, but it's reaaaaaaaaally good.) and that kind of setting was quite inspiring. It's a highly brotherly/sisterly community but at the same time highly competitive.
However the issue with that arises when we force characters to be a martial artist. I mean, I'm ok playing a martial artist, but is the rest?