Hi,

A few years ago, I was looking for a system that could simply automate my tasks at school (Attendance, Billing, Reports etc.). So a few friends referred me to a MA service provider by the name of "CHAMPIONSWAY". I called them, and found the best service in answering all my questions and...

Hi All,

Does anyone run their classes segregated? It is my intention to do so for a number of reasons but am wondering if anyone else does and students/prospective students react to this?

In the dojo that I teach at we use a stripe system to indicate when a student has become proficient at a skill. each belt has 4 stripes and once a person obtaines the 4th stripe they are ready to go on to the next belt.

this system has worked out well because it tends to modivate students with...

I have started to notice that teenagers are very hard to motivate in the martial arts especially ages 13-15. It seems that they dont care about anything and they have very little respect for the art and for the most part their physical abilities and coordination are pitiful as far as I am...

I have taken karate in the past and right now kickbox at home in my garage. I was wondering what else i need to train on. I have a speed bad and speed ball, heavy bag and weight bench.thanx

Out of the Ordinary Tips for Martial Arts Teachers Starting a School (and for those already in the business)
By Tom Callos


1. Take the High Road
Don’t ever, EVER do anything in your business that isn’t on the up-and-up. Don’t talk about your competitors, don’t be evasive about your prices, and don’t stoop to carnival or health club gimmicks to bring in customers. Act with dignity. Sell your benefits. Don’t let any guy in a suit tell you how much money you’re going to make by doing something your inner voice says isn’t straight. Money comes and goes, but your reputation in your community comes through hard work –and gets ruined by not acting with integrity.

2. Live Simply
You’re going to make some money; invest it. Don’t buy the fancy car, say “no thanks” to the Rolex, and don’t spend money on things you really don’t need. Save, invest, and live frugally. Trust me, down the road you’re going to need some backup. Any idiot can buy a fancy car; your vehicle, your clothes, the watch you wear, the house you live in –these things aren’t success, so don’t get caught in that trap.

3. When it comes to Your Students --Remember, You’re not “The Master”, You are the Servant
In the long run, your students are going to teach you a lot more about life, business, and mastery than you’re going to teach them. That’s right, that’s what I just said! Don’t start your school with the classic misconception that YOU are the big teacher or “the master.” You don’t know your behind from a hole in the ground –and the sooner you acknowledge that and accept it, the faster you’ll become the teacher you aspire to be (the one your students will love and admire). You serve your students, not the other way around. By truly serving you actually take the lead in the most grounded, intelligent, and holistic fashion.

4. When it Comes to Your Association or Consultants, Remember, You’re the Boss
Don’t let anyone control you. YOU are the boss. Your advisors, your seniors, your billing service, and any consultants you use –well, their advice should be ON TAP for you, not on top. Nobody should tell you what you should or should not teach. You should filter all advice through your sense of right and wrong. Use your own judgment to decide your direction. Now this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen to advice –or take it, it simply means that you should be on the lookout for people or associations that try to limit your ability to try new things, experiment, and make your own way.

5. Nobody has The System
There isn’t a single consultant or martial arts business group that has THE SYSTEM for business that’s better than every other system. Keep an open mind and be willing to try all sorts of new ideas. They all work. Find a way to run your business that has class –and fits your values and mission in life.

6. Do the Impossible
Too many martial arts schools are, well…dull. They teach people how to kick and punch –and for the most part, that’s it. Be the kind of teacher who does the amazing, the impossible. Change your town! Make things happen. Fix things, do an “acts of kindness” program and log 100,000 acts, walk for peace, teach kids who can’t afford lessons, do it all –and more. Check out http://www.ultimateblackbelttest.com for some cutting-edge curriculum ideas.

7. Study Like There’s No Tomorrow
It’s my experience that it takes about two years of intense study to master the “business basics” of the martial arts school industry. That’s long enough to learn the basics, put them into practice, and then relearn them a time or two. After you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to carve your own niche, create your school’s unique selling proposition. How? Innovate and create! Creativity is KING! You go from studying the basics to studying ways to make your business amazingly creative and different. It’s fun, it’s rewarding, and it’s what “master teachers” do!

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/health/25well.html

When the Bully Sits in the Next Cubicle
~ By Tara Parker-Pope

---Quote---
An eye roll, a glare, a dismissive snort — these
are the tactics of the workplace bully. They don’t
sound like much, but that’s why they are so
insidious. How do you complain to human resources
that your boss is picking on you? Who cares that a
co-worker won’t return your phone calls?

Bullying in the workplace is surprisingly common.
In a survey released last fall, 37 percent of
American workers said they had experienced
bullying on the job, according to the research
firm Zogby International.
---End Quote---
But let me make some small changes:

An eye roll, a glare, a dismissive snort — these
are the tactics of the *dojo* bully. They don’t
sound like much, but that’s why they are so
insidious. How do you complain to anyone
that your *sensei* is picking on you?

Here’s another quote, with the same changes in bold:

"Unlike the playground bully, who often resorts to
physical threats, the *dojo* bully sets out on a
course of constant but subtle harassment. It may
start with a belittling comment at a staff
meeting. Later it becomes gossip to *students* and
forgetting to invite someone to an important work
event. If the bully is a supervisor, victims may
be stripped of critical duties, then accused of
not doing their job, says Gary Namie, founder of
the Workplace Bullying Institute, an advocacy
group based in Bellingham, Wash."

Does this happen inside the dojo? Yes, it does. I have seen it and experienced it. I know the aroma and taste of that poison very well. As a Child Care professional in the Fostering system and in High School Behaviour programs, I was face to face with bullying every day, and not just from the kids. I have seen a principal reduce a teacher to tears in front of her whole class. I have seen social workers bully insecure parents. So I recognise it in the dojo when it happens.

You might expect that dojo bullying is only on the floor using physical intimidation to harass and suppress others. But non-physical social bullying is often found in the dojo as well.

The main defence a bully has when charged with being a bully is (gasp) increased attacks on your intelligence and mental stability, all by innuendo of course.

“...constant but subtle harassment...a belittling comment” - this defines the crux of the problem. With “subtle belittling” the victim has no solid ground to stand on to fight back.

“Why did you disrespect me?” is answered:

~ “What do you mean? I didn’t disrespect you.” which means, You are so paranoid, delusional or ultra sensitive that you see disrespect when there is none. Since it is subtle, and powerful, back up from others who were present is usually lacking.

~ “You misunderstood me.” which means, see how stupid you are? You can’t even understand ordinary English!

~ “Can’t you take criticism?” A straw man argument if there ever was one. Shift the topic from belittling to criticism, because we should all be ready to take criticism for our own good. And if we perceive the bullying in the implied criticisms, and respond to it, we are letting our ego get in our way. Isn’t it the sensei’s job to get us past ego based thinking?

All of these things and more have been used against me in a dojo. I remember many years ago all the brown and black belts of the dojo were brought to a meeting to solve a problem and every one but me and one buddy got the full agenda. The problem was to get us all to sign-on to 20 new rules. I listened to everyone agree that these new rules were reasonable and fair. I got up and told them I was out of there and started to walk out. They prevailed upon me to give my reasons and since some seemed genuine in their confusion about my attitude, I spoke up.

Needless to say, it took an hour of fending off ad hominem arguments attacking my ability to understand because of my ego and various mental instabilities like paranoia, until most of the group realised my buddy and I were the only ones effected by these new rules and they could see their deeper onerous nature. It was the beginning of the end for us in that dojo...


---Quote---
“It can be damaging to be constantly dismissed in
front of your peers,” Dr. Neuman said. “The thing
that is upsetting about it is that people come to
expect it and say, ‘Well, this is what it’s like
around here.’ It shouldn’t be part of the culture,
but often it is.”
---End Quote---
Whether in the work place or the dojo, if you are the only one to take a stand against it, you are labelled a trouble maker. If this persists, it will be stated, out of concern for you of course, that if you dislike it so much, you are free to leave. The others watching will inevitably get the message to stay quiet and wear it when it is their turn or they too will be shipped out, even though they know the bullies attitude, though paramount, is skilfully obscured by the supposed “issues.”

Researchers at the State University of New York in New Paltz have developed a survey aimed at identifying the full range of behaviours that can constitute bullying. (For a list, go to http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/). Some of the behaviors — glaring, failing to return calls, not praising a worker — may seem trivial, but they take a toll when repeated over and over again.

[Note: the nature of a blog is that older articles are buried deeper in the list.]

If you are being bullied at work, here are some references you may find useful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_bullying

http://bullyinginstitute.org/

http://career-advice.monster.com/conflict-management/Workplace-Bullying-What-Can-You-Do/home.aspx

http://www.bullyonline.org/workbully/canada.htm

http://defendyourself101.ca/reviews/freedom-fear-peyton-quinn

I have taken karate in the past and right now kickbox at home in my garage. I was wondering what else i need to train on. I have a speed bad and speed ball, heavy bag and weight bench.thanx

Out of the Ordinary Tips for Martial Arts Teachers Starting a School (and for those already in the business)
By Tom Callos


1. Take the High Road
Don’t ever, EVER do anything in your business that isn’t on the up-and-up. Don’t talk about your competitors, don’t be evasive about your prices, and...

Business Plan Basics
By Palo Alto Software, Inc.

(Note from the editor: Although this article is not specifically written to those of you writing a martial arts business plan, remember that lenders and investors are all looking for the same things no matter what the business is. I suggest you...