sensei8

Solid post!! Owning and operating a dojo IS a business, and students ARE customers, and on the business side, both must be treated accordingly. The business and its customers must be cared for; neither can care for themselves. Recognizing the differences make and break any business. There are business decisions and there are dojo decisions...both must be treated differently. I've seen dojos care more for dojo decisions than for business decisions, and that was that dojo's undoing. Not all black belts can teach, and not all black belts can run a business. Wearing multiple hats is essential to the overall betterment of any business, like a MA school.

Interesting question, which I'm quite sure will have varying answers. So, I'll just answer with what I teach based off what I've been taught... Torso remains straight. The appearance of twisting of the torso is due to the engaging/engaged/disengaging hips.

Survey the competition, the other MA schools, in both your immediate areas as well as the neighboring areas for a starting idea. Whatever the median yearly household income for your area is, I'd certainly wouldn't ignore that vital factor. Forever and a day, my dojo was located in Van Nuys, CA. So, before I even hung up my shingle, I did some serious research. The average median family income in 1978 was roughly $21,020 with a population under 100,000 with a median age of 28. While I deeply respected the moderate diversity that is the San Fernando Valley, I cared nothing about the demographics that made up Van Nuys because I'm there to teach students the MA, and I don't care what the ethnicity of my student(s) are. I do care about foot/car traffic; location, location!! I want to know what schools and how many, as well as what type of businesses surrounded my dojo. There were 4,917 families headed by single parents or 21.3%, considered high for both the city and the county. Educating myself about Van Nuys from the business aspect, after all, I was raised and schooled in Van Nuys, but knowing The Valley as a kid is not the same as knowing The Valley as a business owner/operator. After some time, I opted to charge both a flat fee and a variable pricing. For example, I learned that in Van Nuys between 1973 - 1975, Van Nuys average median family income was $22,350; $1,332 higher than 1978. Therefore, to avoid moving my price structure up and down like some crazy yoyo due to how the average median family income acted, I charged $25 per month. As time rolled forward, my price structure settled around the neighborhood of $50 per month, with the highest of $100 per month. Van Nuys population nowadays are somewhere near 136,443 residents in the 8.99-square-mile Van Nuys neighborhood—or 11,542 people per square mile. The median age rests comfortable between 28 and 35. More schools and businesses, however, the average median family income tops any of my research because if I charge Beverly Hills prices in The Valley, or more importantly where my dojo rests, I'm sure that the demand of my services would demise quicker than a burp. All in all, no matter what a MA school price structure might be, if one can't teach, then price structures are mute. Research is paramount before one can hang up their shingle. Imho.

Now that was a very uplifting update across the board. Congrats of you earning your Green Belt. Seems that you've found a new home. Thank you for sharing!!

Welcome to KF, LionsDen; glad that you're here!!

Happy Mother's Day!! Happy Mother's Day to Kara!! Be safe and have fun!!

Apparently so.

I'm eclectic. As a traditionalist MAist, I always keep my options way wide open because change is inevitable on and off the floor. Personally speaking, I don't have time to worry about what this topic is discussing because I'm complete in my totality as a MAist and as a human being. My traditional core is primary, while the other methodologies and ideologies are respected, and intertwined with my traditional core. Effectiveness and open-mindedness are the properties of the practitioner, whether that practitioner is mature in their techniques define effectiveness and/or mindedness, that IS a very cold dish to serve. Techniques without it being mature, is the furthest thing from being effect. Mizu No Kokoro and Tsuki No Kokoro are the not the ramblings of yesteryear whatsoever. This mindset requires maturity, the same maturity that techniques crave for. Hence Shu Ha Ri needs to be willing to allow it to run its courses over and over and over. Well, I have to worry about MY MA betterment, and not the rest of the MA world as to if IT will or if IT won't. My MA betterment is all I can forge forward with, and not another's. Because of that, I decline to answer the provided poll.

Most, if not every business, worries to some degree the flow of customers across the board. There are many tables of concern to track, and that's a normal concern of any business. This day last year, we had X customers...This day last month, we had X customers...This day last quarter, we had X customers. These concerns, while important with the P&L and other tracking tools, shouldn't drive said CI/Owner/Operator to many sleepless nights. Right from the very moments the dojo doors opened, the CI/Owner/Operator needs to surrender to one undeniable fact of business...Customers come and go, no matter what. The faster that one can recognize that fact, the sooner the CI/Owner/Operator can do what they're supposed to do when one is running a MA school...and that one thing is...TEACH!! The floor is for teaching, the office is for fine-tuning the business. If done right, the two departments take care of each other. If done incorrect, one department suffers while the other department wanders around lost...trying to find the escape door. Students want to quit?? Then by all means, quit; the sooner the better. I'm not saying that the CI/Owner/Operator need not fix that which is broken because what is broken better be fixed one way or another, What I am saying is, don't lose sleep over it...TEACH!! When in whatever department the CI/Owner/Operator IS, then wear THAT HAT, not at the same time. Business adage...There's time for things to be done, but not all of the time; everything has its time, and every time has its place!! No matter what, one can only be at one place at one time putting out just ONE FIRE AT A TIME!!

Welcome to KF, FeralFrettchen; glad that you're here!!

Welcome to KF, LionsDen; glad that you're here!!

Hold onto your reboot. The rage of the page being the reboot of the Karate Kid franchise having not just 1 season or 2 seasons or 3 season or 4 season, but now Kobra Kai Season 5. Yes!! Season 5!! September 9, 2022!! Check out the unfolding story on UPROXX, as well as the anticipated Season 5 Trailer... https://uproxx.com/tv/cobra-kai-season-5-release-date-trailer/ Another Trailer... https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=cobra+kai+season+5&view=detail&mid=092B77D910E3849E8B11092B77D910E3849E8B11&FORM=VIRE

Welcome to KF, Ravman; glad that you're here!! Our beloved DWx might be in your neck of the woods, Ravman.

Makes me wonder if the T12 and/or L4 are typos as well!! Makes me a bit shook up, to say the least. Something to pin down with Dr. Goodman at my next follow-up.

UPDATE: Dr. Goodman was there today, but instead of him, he sent in his PAC, Ralph. That's fine. After all, Ralph works for Dr. Goodman. I asked about my blood work results. My PSA has dropped once again, which is great, this time my PSA went from 0.09 to 0.06. I'll take it. Any decrease is a win for me. Ralph showed me my Chart. It has NO RED MARKS whatsoever. That's great too. Why is that great? RED MARKS on a Chart are concerned issues that need to be addressed. Things are looking good in my follow-up!! Now, comes what I must address. When I went to see visit my Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Michael Becker a few weeks ago, I was informed that for the 28 weeks of Radiation Therapy, Dr. Becker was going to concentrate on my prostate. Then a week after that, Dr. Becker was going to concentrate for 3-5 days on my spine at my T12, L4, and L2. L2!! That I wasn't expecting at all. I ask Ralph, how can Dr. Becker know I have a L2...What L2?? Can only diagnose the spine through a CT scan type, and I've only seen Dr. Becker twice, and the first time, I did NO CT scans. Since I've been in Las Vegas, I've only done 2 CT scans for Dr. Goodman, not Dr. Becker. At each follow-up with Dr. Goodman, I always verify that my only concerns are with my T12 and L4. Dr. Goodman has never ever mentioned L2...Houston never mentioned L2, just T12 and L4. If the PSA is going down, then how's that possible if L2 is a "NEW" diagnose. But the PSA is still going down...can't have the PSA going down and have a new diagnose at L2. If the L2 IS a new diagnose, then Dr. Goodman needs to explain to me why he's never ever told me about L2!! Ralph's quite understanding in my firm tone. Ralph tells me he's going to investigate about the L2. Don't ever sugarcoat me ever. I may not like what the doctor(s) tell me, but never sugarcoat the truth with me!! Ralph returns after conversing with Dr. Goodman, and tells me that one of Dr. Goodman's nurse will contact me with their findings about this L2. I accept that, and I go schedule my other appointments. While waiting to schedule my appointments, Ralph comes to where I'm sitting, bend down to tell me that the L2 is a...TYPO!! A typo!! Thanks for scaring the heck out of me. I insist the Dr. Becker be advised of Dr. Goodman's findings regarding to my L2...to NOT concentrate on my L2 with a Lazer beam; to not mess with the L2..PLEASE!! WHEW!! Appointments: June 28, 2022 for a follow-up August 3, 2022 for my next Treatment Shot Bone Density (DEXA) CT scan TBD ASAP!! It's been 2 weeks, at least since my last Image CT Scan, so I should be hearing from Dr. Becker's office to inform me when my Radiation Therapy begins. The sooner the better.

Congrats to Kara and you on your beautiful son, Patrick James!! You both look absolutely fantastic in the first picture, and in the second picture, well, Patrick James looks raring to go...hold that Tiger!!

Just how does nowadays self-defense classes prepare the student for the reality of a determined attack?? Better to have learned something than to have not learned anything?? For me, the honest answer to these questions are the reasons why I've not taught self-defense classes in quite a very long time. Takes far more than a weekend to become effective with what's taught at any given self-defense. For the most, and it depends on the student first, and the CI second, self-defense classes foster false security because how it is outside of the safety of the dojo/dojang is not how it is on the outside; an attacker doesn't just stand there doing nothing. Getting back to Danielle's question... That sounds about right. A student with that to work with, and DOES PRACTICE seriously, that student just might become effective at the moment of truth. Teaching basic defense against grabs isn't that basic. Reactions are NOT in general terms when it comes to grabs because even basic grab defense can't be applied the same against any given attacker expecting the same reaction across the board. Got to start somewhere, so one might as well start there. While I've my opinions about self-defense classes, I can't and will not ever discourage a person from wanting to learn something that might save them against an determined attacked. How one carries themselves in the public can thwart a supposed attack; by not appearing like a victim to others can dissuade the possibility. Act like a victim, then there's a greater chance that you'll become THAT victim. Train hard and train well!!

Now that is interesting! I look both proud and happy all at the same time! You've every reason to be both!!

Congrats, DarthPenguin; well deserved!!

Sounds like you hung in there like you are supposed to...with no complaining. Many invited to upper level classes hang in there, yet, there's always some students that don't hang in there as expected. Having said that, those that are invited to train with the upper level for the first few times are overwhelmed. Here's a tidbit of info...I've seen Godan's struggle to get through Senior level classes their first few classes. Train hard, and train well.

Radiation Therapy UPDATE: Saw Dr. Becker this morning for some consultation. Here's what I know so far... 1) CT Scan on 4/20/2022 at 10am CT Scan has to be completed before the beginning of the Radiation Therapy. Then Dr. Becker can plan the treatment. Radiation Therapy will begin 2 weeks after the CT Scan. Instead of 20 sessions, there will be 28 sessions targeting just the prostate. Then after that, there will be another 3-5 sessions pin-pointing T12, L4, and L2. That L2 is a surprise to me. Either Dr. Goodman forgot to inform me about my L2 or I forgot he told me, which I doubt, or Dr. Becker is misunderstanding. I will talk to Dr. Goodman about that when I see him for my follow-up on May 3. 2022. Come to find out that the initial set-up at the first session only takes about 15 minutes instead of the 1 hour I was lead to believe. After the first session, the following sessions will take only less than 5 minutes each. CT Scan prep tickled me a tad because I have to have a good bowel movement the morning of, and I can't urinate for 1 or 2 hours before the scan. Reasons are that the poop can block the scan and the full bladder is akin to wearing sunblock to prevent a sunburn.

UPDATE: Three times IS a charm. I got my Treatment Shot of Eligard 30MG TODAY. Check this out... After having my blood pressure and oxygen checked, they do that all of the time, I waited for my nurse. My nurse, Angie, and I have a quick witty chat, and I ask her why is it that my first Eligard 30MG Treatment Shot didn't hurt during the last 30 seconds of the injection. Angie tells me that we'll try some old school. OK, I love old school stuff, after all, I'm old. Angie goes to prep the syringe, and returns. Meanwhile I've been using the old school until Angie returns. Angie cleans my left triceps, and asks me if I'm ready...I tell her NO, but lets get it over anyway. I tell Angie when I grab my hat and put it over my face, that's when the pain is unbearable...Angie wonders if I hurt yet...starting to become more aware of the beginnings of the PAIN..."All done!!" What? All done? "Yep". says Angie. WOW NO PAIN AT ALL!! I thank her for being a genius!! What was the old school?? A med glove filled with ICE!! During all of the time that Angie was prepping the syringe, I held that inventive ice pack to the area where Angie was going to administer the injection. In short, the ice NUMBED the injection area. NO PAIN AT ALL. Trust me, I'll never forget that old school. Appointment for my next Treatment Shot will happen after my follow-up with Dr. Goodman on May 3, 2022. Knowing that the Treatment Shot is once every 4 months, I believe that my next Treatment Shot should be August 12, 2022...maybe. Tomorrow is the consultation with Dr. Becker for my Radiation Therapy plan. Until tomorrow, be safe.

Yeah, very crazy all around. I too hope that finally tomorrow I get my Treatment Shot; I just want to get those last 30 seconds to be done and over with.

My prayers to you and your friends during this most difficult time. Great to see that you're making it to the gym and you're in good shape. Hang in there, tubby!!

UPDATE: No Treatment Shot today again due to my dose of Eligard 30MG wasn't delivered as expected. So, hopefully tomorrow is three-times a charm at 11:45AM. I could've received a Treatment Shot but at a slightly less dose of Eligard at 22.5MG. However, at the lesser dosage, I'd have to come in 3 months, and not in the usual 4 months as it has been since I moved to Las Vegas. Oh yeah, the lower dosage still delivers that punch of pain during the last 30 seconds of the injection. Oh, one more thing. The vial DIDN'T explode, but the syringe itself exploded AFTER the vial was attached while the nurse prepped for the injection. Fingers crossed that the third charm happens tomorrow.