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Assume I have good martial arts, teaching, and personal relation skills. As far as the business side goes what is most important, schedule, fees, variety of classes, advertising, facility, equipment, etc. Experienced owners please respond!

2006-11-19 07:26:53 · 10 answers · asked by realh2h 2 in Sports Martial Arts

Assume I have good martial arts, teaching, and personal relation skills, I love MartialArts & don't just want to open a McDojo-I want it to be the real deal, and I plan to spend 20 hrs/ week at the school. As far as the business side goes what is most important, schedule, fees, variety of classes, advertising, facility, equipment, etc. To summarize: What have you seen to be as the best and worst return on investment so I can focus on what will keep it solvent so I don't go belly-up in a year like most do. For example: "Dude, don't waste your $ on classified ads, I get 100x more calls from the yellow pages & it's cheaper" or "Start out small with overhead & get bigger as your student base picks up vs. spend every dime you have gettting a spot on Main St with strobe lights & surround sound to pull customers in" Experienced owners please respond!

2006-11-19 10:03:56 · update #1

10 answers

Too many factors, most of which you have mentioned. I have no overhead, so fees are a non-issue with me. I charge a flat rate per class and people come when they can. No long term contracts, which, wile it seems counter-intuitive, probably gets me more income. I can have a parent decide that they'll let their kid try it, they come for a couple months and then quit. I get a couple months income, where with a long term contract the parents may not have allowed them to start at all. It's different with adults that can make a long term commitment.

A consistent schedule is also critical.

Facility? I can teach anywhere. Our Hombu in North America is really very basic, no bells and whistles at all. I prefer mirrors on one wall. I've been taught and trained on wood, mats, carpet, tile and grass. Clean is most important.

Variety? I teach one martial art. The basic class runs in a consistent manner every time. What gets focussed on after running through the basics varies from day to day and the needs of the students. I see a lot of people messing up one particular move, that's what we focus on. And I vary a bit according to the ranks present.

2006-11-19 07:35:55 · answer #1 · answered by Aggie80 5 · 1 0

I know what you mean. Whether or not it is even necessary to fight should be taught before you're taught how to fight. Not everyone trains in martial arts for just self defence (or even for that at all), some do it for fighting in competitions. But since it can be used for self defence, whether that be the student's intent or not, when to use it should be taught. Martial arts is more than just sport or self-defense, exercise or character development. But as all these characteristics and more, martial arts should be taught as a whole, not just a piece of the pie. I think most people in today's society would be upset if they started training at a school that worked on only those skills until they were ready to actually learn to fight. I like the idea, however, learning to be aware and how to avoid situations and learning techniques are two different things. You can tell the difference between a good front kick and a bad front kick. Not so much with awareness and avoidance.

2016-05-22 04:05:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Your overhead (rent mostly) will determine how much you HAVE to charge for classes. You cannot teach without a place to do so, unless you have a large garage. Advertising is a big deal. Word of mouth is the best advertising, but that won't be available to you until you get some students who will be speaking well of you. You should do everything you can to get your name out there. I advise you to give a couple weeks classes for free for beginning students- this allows a kid to see whether they REALLY want to try this. I advise you to give FREE self defense seminars and demonstrations. Call any local groups you think may be interested in this and invite them. Post in the local paper about your demonstrations and seminars...get your name out there.
Choose your students carefully- at least as carefully as you would choose a teacher. You do not want to become a McDojo or Black belt factory and you certainly do not want to be a BULLY factory or help train a local gang. make sure they know what they are getting into and that they are there for the right reasons.
DO participate in local tournies but do so for practice and fun more than for gathering trophies. Hold your OWN tournies as well...even if it is just an "intra-school" tourny between your own students or between you and a friend's school. Post the results from any large tournies in the local paper.
Finally, you may have to make certain allowences to make it right at the beginning. Getting 3 students that pay $25 a month is better than getting only one student because you are charging $50 a month. Offer a family discount- something like $25 for the first family member and $10 for each additional family member. You will have more students and more people who will talk about you and pass the word.
Hope this helps...
Sensei Brian Cox

2006-11-19 14:59:28 · answer #3 · answered by hitman142002 3 · 0 0

I am not an owner but was a student for years in a wonderful studio. It was a tae kwon do studio and it was simple. A small office in front, dressing rooms, mirrors all around, carpeted floor with thick padding underneath, bags and bars for stretching. There were two two hour sessions every day except Sunday. It was a very family friendly studio which drew in a lot of entire families who stayed for years. That is good business because without family friendly instructors, you will have no business. Your students are your business. Of course advertising is key. Take an ad out in the yellow pages. Until you really get it off the ground, I would say keep it as simple as possible. Good luck in your business venture. Oh yeah, evening classes are key because most adults and kids are either at work or at school. I'm sure you already know that though. Again, good luck.

2006-11-19 08:02:03 · answer #4 · answered by sherijgriggs 6 · 0 0

Make the school worthwhile , teach well and appropriately . Advertising helps but word of mouth is better . Keep your classes interesting and don't give out a belt every two or three months like some schools do . You might also try to get your school involved in tournaments and exhibitions . That usually gets the younger students interested . History of your art as well as of the martial arts in general, often appeal to older students . ( litttle gems of wisdom and history thrown into class every once in a while help to make it interesting . ) Finally , don't charge to much !! Why would someone want to pay you more than the place across town where they can get a blackbelt, or "masters" certificate in 12 months . ( personally I hate those kind of places, however to an unknowing person it will seem like a better deal.)

2006-11-19 07:55:37 · answer #5 · answered by Ray H 7 · 1 0

Seems to me your asking for a lot from ppl with experience based on an assumption.first of all you need to decide what you want out of it.do you want to teach for the love of martial arts?do you want to teach because you love teaching kids?do you want to put something back into MA or the community?or do you just want a business?a black belt factory,a mcdojo?you need to think about these things on a personal level,then you'll have an idea of what direction you want to take.when you've thought long and hard on the subject post the question again and you'll find you'll get all the info and help you'll need.
PSPS>If you send me an email address through answersi'll answer directly back to your email address i've got lots of stuff you can haveplus i'll help you with any advice or anyyhing else i can.

2006-11-19 09:44:05 · answer #6 · answered by BUSHIDO 7 · 0 0

WARM UP PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE TOTAL ASSESSMENTS OF ALL WHO ARE THERE. DON'T PLAY IN TO A SHOW OF CROWD THAT WILL HAVE TO BE VIOLENTLY ADDRESSING, PERSONAL PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH THE INDIVIDUALS. ALL SHOULD SOME WHERE SIT DOWN IN A CIRCLE AND START WITH HOW THEY GOT THERE AND WHAT IS GOING ON. TO MANY ARE JUST THERE TOO INFLICT PUNISHMENT AND THAT CAN LEAD TO LAW SUITS FOR VIOLENT HITS, AND YOU CAN'T ALWAYS BE THERE UNLESS YOU MAKE CLASS A PLACE FOR THE STUDENTS TO BE HONORABLE FIRST.

2006-11-19 12:08:11 · answer #7 · answered by bev 5 · 0 0

go around and talk to people who run legit schools...... and teachin more than 1 art is good... mayb ull haf 2 split the dojo time with another instructor 2 get a 2nd or third art but they would pay u cas its ur dojo.. unless i didint want rent

2006-11-19 10:21:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

You need good students and trial offers.

2006-11-19 11:07:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Make sure it's not a black belt factory you're running.

2006-11-19 07:34:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

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