sensei8

It appears that we all have a different idea of what makes/is a good MA instructor, in that, I'd say that none of the ideas presented in this thread are incorrect because we've had different exposures and experiences in that area.

Thanks man. I'm not in a huge hurry and I did not get a second place because I'm rushing things, I just have been very successful at my first location and that is only two days a week. This is my only job so I obviously need a little more than two days a week so this is why picked up a second place for another two days a week . I'm sure eventually I will get a bigger place if things continue on this path so I appreciate The supportive words. I hear what you're saying about the smaller places, I personally trained for the last year and a very small place, I'm just over it is all and I'm happy to be in a bigger place now LOL. It was tough on training, but it was even worse when I was instructing for them, if we had a really big class going it was difficult to break up into groups because I always had to rearrange my students to not cut into the next group. As an instructor I think I appreciate the space more. Thanks again for the good luck. Same to you of course in your endeavors. How far away is the 2nd location from the 1st location?? About 30 miles. It's a real slow start. 2 days open no students. We'll see how it goes. It's a no commitment deal so worst case I'm out nothing but time. Ok. 30 miles makes it difficult for students to pick and choose for the convenient sake, which might've been an option had they been closer. I'm still amazed that your stand alone came fully equipped, which I entertained to do here in Houston, TX. 2 days...no students...still new!! What's the population for where the stand alone is, and how many MA schools are in that town, as well as how far are they from you?? What type of advertising have you done?? Is your cost lower or same or higher than other schools of MA in that town, if there are any?? Thanks for sharing the pics!! Well the reason for it coming fully equipped is that it is owned by a martial art supply store right next-door in the suite next to it. I have been getting some of my supplies there for the last nine months or so, and he asked if I wanted to teach some classes there as he thought my personality would go well here. There are two other martial arts instructors that teach there at different times than me, the first place has been there a few months and teaches muay Thai, The other place is a Filipino martial arts and primarily seems to teach Eskrema ( I am not sure if I'm spelling that right so please forgive me). As far as competitors in the area there really are not many, there was a karate place that seems to be close now, and the nearest place is probably 6 to 8 miles, but that is city miles as this is located right north of downtown Phoenix. There are a few actually but they seem to be taekwondo. They are standalone facilities and their prices are $120 up on average, I'm only $50 a month because that price range works well for me at my other location. It is cheap and Innoway some may think I'm selling myself short, my goal however is to offer the people that want to train the ability to train even if they don't have $130 a month. My outlook is more students will potentially come to me and I'll make more the end anyway, if I'm successful in bringing them in of course. So in the grand scheme of things there is some competition but not extremely close city Wise, and I would say that being near downtown Phoenix that not only am I much cheaper than the competition, I also seem to be the only karate place around within 20 miles that I can find on the Internet anyways. I would say there is roughly 20 cars passing by in any 32nd span, so tons of traffic. And FYI I got my first potential student, 21-year-old young man looking to start class next Monday, we'll see howitzer goes. Oh, and last thing. As far as advertising I do everything I know how to do, I have passed out flyers to people and talked with them at the local stores, also flyer peoples cars in neighborhoods. I have relied on some word-of-mouth with people I know to pass along also opening and on Facebook as well. I frequently take videos and try to show a fun side of class so that people can see with the program looks like, last thing is I stood out in front of the dojo last class with my kids in their uniforms and we had some fun, breaking boards and things like this on this very highly populated street to try to draw attention. That's about it. I have about two months with zero cost to stay there or back out, after two months if I decide to stay I rent the space, as I said it's a no money down situation for me to see how I d I have about two months with zero cost to stay there or back out, after two months if I decide to stay I rent the space, as I said it's a no money down situation for me to see how I do I. We will just see how it goes I guess. Solid post; thanks for it!! I'd say that you're in an ideal situation all that way around, and many might be envious of your situation. The dojo RIGHT NEXT TO A SUPPLY STORE...FULLY EQUIPPED...hello, love it. Again, an ideal situation across the board!!

Anyone happen to have a video link of it, with hopefully Kanazawa Sensei performing it?!?

I wholeheartedly concur!!

Sounds great!! In time, you'll see some AHA moments, from time to time. But what will get you...right here [me pointing to my heart], and it won't be denied, oh, you might try but it's hard to hide...what will get you will be when you see a student SMILE, when they figure out the darn thing that's been driving them crazy...THAT SMILE, oh, some will try to hide it, while others don't even try, but THAT SMILE will make it worth it all...THAT SMILE...becomes the exclamation point to training and to teaching!! A tear will be difficult to stop, but YOU WILL tear up for THAT student for THAT special moment; and it IS a special moment!! Many special moments will happen!! This drives me teach...MY STUDENTS; they're everything!!

Solid post!! To what I read, they do tag a disclaimer onto it!!

A marketing label!! After that, who truly really knows the answer; in which, the answer will be as wide as the ocean, if not wider!! How can someone live up to that label and what some believe it is? Can be difficult!!

That's an individuals choice, imho, because it's a personal choice!! Having said that, hopefully, one didn't learn the MA just to teach MA; that's limiting, imho!! I know countless MAists that don't teach, yet they're Senior Dan's in their respective MA...teaching just isn't their bag.

Within the Shindokan network: Full gi's at the Hombu; NO EXCEPTIONS!! At the individual Shindokan dojo's, that's the discretion of the CI!! However, some uniformity must be adhered to, and a t-shirt with the dojo's name/logo on it; but the entire student body has to wear it!!

Great topic, muttley; thank you for starting it!! Above all things...Listening skills!! If an instructor doesn't have at least that, there's no reason to darken the dojo floor; not now or anytime soon, for that!! Not just in able to hold a conversation, but to be mindful of each and every single students needs, as well as accomplishments. For the most part, instructors see everything they need to see, but without listening skills, you'll become blind to the entire student body, and that sense, listening skills is paramount!! As to the criminality scope of things, yes, NO CHILD MOLESTERS...and for that fact...NO SEX OFFENDERS!! Children must be protected at all times, and so does the adults. If an instructor isn't willing to protect their student body, they've no right to teach. After all, in all things, TRUST must be earned, and if the student body can't trust the instructor, then there's no need to open and operate a dojo!! Skills, techniques, and so on and so forth, well, that's the no-brainer part of being an instructor. If you can't, neither can the student body!! It's one thing to have the ability to execute near flawless techniques and the like, but if you can't express yourself and get your meaning and intent across to the student body, then reassume your respectful place IN LINE, wherever that might me, with the other students, and let someone else teach who CAN. Oh, one more thing! Not all black belts can teach, nor should they try!! They can have everything going for themselves, but if they can't teach, there's no use in assuming a position that their not qualified to possess! If I don't like what I've found out, then, I'm out of there, no matter how long I've been there. Dojo's are a dime a dozen; I've other choices, and if there are no other choices, well, then there's no other choices...I'm fine with that! I choose whom I want to train with, and who I want to train me! Not the CI...not the governing body...not my family and friends...no one!! I must WANT to be there in order to be there!! To me, and I've been doing the MA for quite a long time, the MA is a want, but it's not a need!

While I've enjoyed theirs as well; if not much more!! Thank you!!

You're always on time, in my book; thank you Danielle!!

Just wanted to say, I'm sorry to hear that. Know you have friends here, as well. Sending good thoughts your way. I wholeheartedly agree!! You and yours are in our prayers!!

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! All in all, you've received some pretty solid advice thus far!! What has gotten my attention is that your Sensei, the Chief Instructor (CI), is hardly in-house at the dojo, and that the assistant instructors are teaching the bulk of the curriculum. I might of missed the reason(s) as to why, so, why is that?? For me, that's enough for me to search for another dojo asap!! Imho, the future of the dojo is questionable, because, as good as the assistants are, they're not the Sensei/CI, who's knowledge surpasses the assistants by miles; students WANT TO BE TAUGHT BY THE SENSEI/CI, and not by the assistants because the assistants, just aren't in the same league as the CI. A disinterested Sensei would show me that I, as a student, am not that important to the Sensei!! I'm sure that the assistants are qualified, but that is limited, and those assistants must wonder when THEIR next lesson might be. Red lights and sirens, all at the same time, for me. Can't spend a ton of time at the dojo, then close it. I wonder why he even opened the dojo in the first place if he's rarely in-house!! Imho!!

Look forward to hear how your first day went!! BE CALM....GRASSHOPPER!!

Solid post!! Your full power points are right on!! I've had to upgrade to landscape beams because at times, I will strike the makiwara with full power, but I've been training with the makiwara for quite along time. Regular makiwara's don't survive long with me, hence the landscape beams. Now, I don't encourage any of my students to train the makiwara as I do because of the points that Spartacus Maximus has made concerning full power techniques; dangerous and counterproductive. If you ever watch a video on makiwara training, they're hitting the makiwara, just as Spartacus Maximus suggests...half-power, and for good reason(s)!! Yeah, I'm a model for how NOT to train the makiwara; it's a personal choice of mine, from time to time, and I'll not do it all of the time because I know better, but when I do, I get a rush!!

Thanks man. I'm not in a huge hurry and I did not get a second place because I'm rushing things, I just have been very successful at my first location and that is only two days a week. This is my only job so I obviously need a little more than two days a week so this is why picked up a second place for another two days a week . I'm sure eventually I will get a bigger place if things continue on this path so I appreciate The supportive words. I hear what you're saying about the smaller places, I personally trained for the last year and a very small place, I'm just over it is all and I'm happy to be in a bigger place now LOL. It was tough on training, but it was even worse when I was instructing for them, if we had a really big class going it was difficult to break up into groups because I always had to rearrange my students to not cut into the next group. As an instructor I think I appreciate the space more. Thanks again for the good luck. Same to you of course in your endeavors. How far away is the 2nd location from the 1st location?? About 30 miles. It's a real slow start. 2 days open no students. We'll see how it goes. It's a no commitment deal so worst case I'm out nothing but time. Ok. 30 miles makes it difficult for students to pick and choose for the convenient sake, which might've been an option had they been closer. I'm still amazed that your stand alone came fully equipped, which I entertained to do here in Houston, TX. 2 days...no students...still new!! What's the population for where the stand alone is, and how many MA schools are in that town, as well as how far are they from you?? What type of advertising have you done?? Is your cost lower or same or higher than other schools of MA in that town, if there are any?? Thanks for sharing the pics!!

I agree!! For the longest time, I kept them available to students because this too is a valuable resource for the students as well. Can generate a lot of interesting questions from students; which I highly encourage!

To the bold type above... I'm only taking a guess, but I suppose that JKF or from Okinawa is the recognized authority; if it isn't blessed by the appropriate body, than it's nothing of value!! To some, a CONFIRMED from Okinawa carries more weight than from somewhere/someone else.

I bring all of my needs to God!! EDITS: After reading what I wrote, I took the word, "a" out, that was before the word, "God"...sorry for my typo.

Then let the training continue; work the sore out!! Just don't rush it!!

Thank you, Alex!!

Thomas and Nidan Melbourne posts are both solid!! Also, the Kamae is trained because attacks do happen while one's sitting on the ground. Many Karate styles train from the sitting position, especially, Shotokan!!

Thanks man. I'm not in a huge hurry and I did not get a second place because I'm rushing things, I just have been very successful at my first location and that is only two days a week. This is my only job so I obviously need a little more than two days a week so this is why picked up a second place for another two days a week . I'm sure eventually I will get a bigger place if things continue on this path so I appreciate The supportive words. I hear what you're saying about the smaller places, I personally trained for the last year and a very small place, I'm just over it is all and I'm happy to be in a bigger place now LOL. It was tough on training, but it was even worse when I was instructing for them, if we had a really big class going it was difficult to break up into groups because I always had to rearrange my students to not cut into the next group. As an instructor I think I appreciate the space more. Thanks again for the good luck. Same to you of course in your endeavors. How far away is the 2nd location from the 1st location??

The knuckles suffer the most at first, while the open hand is cushioned. I won't allow students to continue, for long, if at all, if their knuckles are bleeding because that's not the purpose of the makiwara. Are your knuckles bleeding yet? If so, I suggest that you let them heal first before resuming training.