A while ago, the owner of our school came and asked me about martial instruction on the web.  I told him that I had heard of a site doing it called Martial Arts 101 (http://www.martialarts-101.com). After telling him how I new about the site he asked what styles they covered.  At the time they taught Taekwondo, Kempo and I believe a little Sambo (at the current moment it only seems they offer Taekwondo. I was then asked about how much they charged. When I told the owner that it was small monthly charge of about $11 (Now only $4.95) that I could see the interest in the idea of online tutalidge really leave his head.

Aside from random blogs, and there are many that start and stop randomly, the amount of Martial Art Information is interesting if you look at it all. As far as online teaching, the previously mentioned site is all I can find.  This is partial because the whole teach yourself martial arts has really crossed over to DVD from individual schools and media houses (Turtle Press) OR all of the free stuff you can get on YouTube (seriously, we’ve all been there).

I think, no matter how you take in martial art information on the web, you really need to be careful and critical about what you use. The previous sources I spoke about can you improper techniques and if you try this on a innocent training partner, little sister, or unsuspecting friend you can really hurt them…or yourself.

Several weeks ago I had a frank discussion with a teacher from our Martial Arts school.  Like other schools, our student base has diminished a little due to the rough times that our economy has been going through.  We all know that recessions are no fun and that most cuts that people make are from extra activities that they do.

Most of the students at our school are children, so their parents obviously decide what activities they can do and pay for them. I like to think that when these parents need to save money, that their first idea is “I can save X many dollars if little Billy doesn’t continue with Taekwondo/Karate/Judo/Jiu-Jitsu/Krav Maga”…etc.

What I don’t see is Martial Art schools making any concessions or doing anything to retain students. Most schools are in fact small businesses whose owner’s depend on the loyalty of their clientel. The problem arises that the clientel at some point or another may need to pay less based on our economy. I will venture out and say that these small businesses need to do more to save their clients money and choose to add more services at the same time to stay competitive with other schools and retain their members/students.

Some of you probably read that and thought “Wait, you want schools to charge less and give more….you are crazy!” Then call me crazy, but the truth of the situation is I just wrote a blog 10 minutes ago saying that students should price shop if their schools will not work with them on costs and they need to save money and their school won’t work with them. Ask any owner of a school if they needed to tighten their budget and thought that they were over paying for cable, and their cable providor wouldn’t work for a better price for them, if they wouldn’t look for another providor…or just go buy a bunch of dvds, use torrents, whatever. The fact remains that if individual businesses don’t work with customers to cut costs then they end up losing customers.

So what are my suggestions:

1. Add price tiers for membership/student plans: Might keep more students in your school.
2. Discounts for upfront paying of multiple months: Get money in quick and save your students some cash.
3. Temporary discounts for bringing in new students: Most schools have registration fees, plus monthly fees. Promising 10% off for 3/6 months off of student who brings in another student is a very tempting ideal
4. Be ready to work with your students to cut their payments on a case by case basis for a temporary amount of time.

These last 4 things are musts or you will start to see students going elsewhere. But I still haven’t backed up my statement of why I advise adding services. The reason being is that it makes your school more marketable, and when new student registrations do pickup it will set your school apart from others. Obvious services to offer are:

1. Progress reports and mid test assesments – this will make it look like you give every student attention while telling them or their parents where focus needs to be paid to.  It can even be used to drum up private lessons…
2. Online web presence – Creating a website, or adding to your website is WONDERFUL marketing that can be achieved at a low cost. Consider using free tools like youtube.com, twitter.com and others to provide a presence and show off your students. A website for your school can do the same thing. Make sure to consider dynamic websites such as blogs and password protected areas of your website for added bonuses to your students.  Reminding your younger students parentage to go to these sites with them also keeps the parents interested in the school and their children’s success.
3. Newsletters – Print or e-mail are a good way of letting your school’s stakeholders know what is going on.  Articles backing up your business and your stakeholder’s need for this business can really help you in the market we are in. Showing some of your students individual achievements can really bolster your newsletterer’s reception.
4. Seminars can bring in new interest in your existing client base for activities and topics you don’t get to regularly discuss. Also consider adding new class types that focus on certain topics.

These are just a few suggestions, but I’m sure there are more things that can be done to really assist in your running of a school through our recession.

First let me apologize for not posting in such a long time.  Between the injury bug and lazyness I have been a horrible blogger.

Over the past few months, I’ve been a spectator like many of the readers out there to the tightening of wallets, purses and overall budgets.  As a teacher and student in a martial arts school, I’ve noticed numbers of students dwindling.

I won’t beat around the bush. If I need to cut out $300 out of my budget, and I’m paying $150 a month to a taekwondo school, I see the reason for leaving a school. My question is, to all those leaving martial arts schools and all those thinking of leaving them, “Is this the first expense you are cutting in your budget or your last?”

People around the United States are losing money in stocks, 401 accounts, and our job market is shakey at best. So instead of giving you reasons why you shouldn’t just up and leave your martial arts school, I’m going to give you a grouping of suggestions to do instead:

1) Look at other membership plans: If you are at a school that has several plans and you are on a higher tier plan, considering going down to a lower tier plan. This can save you some cash, but even more if you are responsible for paying for several students (i.e. – family members/children)

2) Ask for discounts if you pay multiple months upfront: I’ve heard of some schools offering 10% to 20% off for paying 3 months, 6 months, or a year up front.

3) Condisder double testing: If your school’s master will allow it, consider testing for two belts at a time, half as often. This should hope you get by some testing fees.

4) Talk to the owner/master of the school and explain your situation: A last case scenario. Schools are generally small businesses in themselves and are very likely to understand what you are going through. If they aren’t willing to give you a temporary discounted price, consider some form of bartering if possible.  Everybody needs something…

5) Price shopping schools: I lied above… this is a last case scenario for those looking to save money in regards to their martial arts training. Schools are competitive, however, there are many schools. Between independant schools, after school programs, YMCA/YWCA programs, gym/fitness clubs and many others have martial arts instruction. It may be worth it to you to investigate further.

I’ve spoken at great lengths about the advantages of being in the martial arts, however, haven’t really spoken about ways to keep you in them until now.  As everyone becomes a little more aware of financial situations, it is so much more relavant to know some possible solutions if you are looking to pay a little less for martial instruction.

A unique team uniform made of a cotton and polyester spun yarn woven dobby fabric features woven geometric figures.

CenturyFitness.com

From what I understand that most Taekwondo practitioners generally end up grabbing Adidas Black Neck Uniforms as soon as they reach Cho Dan (first degree black belt). This is generally done because they MUST have a blackbelt level uniform and most are familiar with Adidas uniforms already (I mean really…you know someone that owns one if you don’t) and are readily available.

The Century Fitness Dobby Uniform is what I suggest as a superior alternative to the Adidas uniform, but no where near par of the Mooto Extera. As mentioned earlier, the fabric is a woven cotton and polyester material. If I didn’t write this review, I wouldn’t have even known that it was polyester because it has a very comforting light cotton feel to it. Movement flows better than most uniforms in this as it’s light nature essentially is its biggest pro. The dobby pattern is just that…a pattern that doesn’t really show or do anything for the uniform other than provide some decoration.

This brings us to our first Con. Truthfully without the pattern I’d expect this uniform to be priced around $50 or so. Now that I’ve visited their website and reviewed their Basic Student uniform that is also cotton and polyester at $34.99, I’d expect that price. I have to ask is $70 too much for this uniform. The MSRP on the Mooto Extera is $100, and if you’ve read my review of it, you will know I think it is the best thing since head contact. Would I stop coughing up that extra 30 dollars and grab this uniform…

The true answer is maybe/no. Again, the Mooto Extera is an incredible uniform. This uniform is only good/great. If you are used to spending $50-$70 on Adidas or Nike uniforms this is a logical choice as it is better than their basic Black belt uniforms. If you have the extra money, spend it on the Extera and make your self extra happy.

Well kids, I’m back.  It’s been a while.  I’m still training, healthy and working hard.

I’ve been considering picking up Kendo and am going to try a class at a local school in the next week or so.

I originally wanted to try Haedong Gumdo (Korean style of Kendo). Only problem is, THERE ARE NO SCHOOLS AROUND HERE THAT I CAN FIND.

So Kendo it is, I’ll get back to you guys later.