Sifu88

If you're still looking for ideas I would love to give my two cents. I'm an instructor as well but from a more progressive lineage, Paul Vunak, Harinder Singh, etc... But I do have some more "traditionalish" ideas you may like. Let me know.

I'm new to running my own martial arts program and I recently came across an article on the internet about a rotating curriculum or a modular curriculum. I have some experience with a modular curriculum from an academic point of view as I attended a school once where the curriculum was all modular. It seemed to work quite well... I was just wondering if anyone here had any experience with something like this or any advice on designing curriculums. All the best!

Sorry I haven't been replying I went out of town for the weekend and just got back. I understand where you are coming from, I find a lot of the times when I tell people that I do martial arts I get this look like I run a day care or something and I don't mind teaching kids, it's not that, it's just that I never quite understood how martial arts turned into little league.

10/9/13 Reviewed some combinations, pak sao punch roundhouse. And day one with sticks.

I'm not complaining and I don't mean to sound that way, it's more of a curiosity I've always had. In all the history of martial arts they have always been for warriors, if not for warriors then for people looking to protect themselves in some way, always adults. I know kids were trained but not as much as they are now. I guess what I've always wondered is when did martial arts go from being something that when you mention it people understand it to be something serious, to something where the knee jerk response is "Oh hey I want to put my son/daughter in that". Again I'm not complaining just wondering when/how the shift happened.

Thanks so much everyone, these ideas are great! I'm definitely interested in going to schools, I guess I could put together a bullying seminar, I even have a connection in an elementary school very near the YMCA I want to teach at but without being able to teach there if any students would like to continue training I wouldn't be able to receive them. I'm working on my YMCA proposal, hopefully I can get it ready soon, it's hard finding time you know, working full time and trying to do this is rough but what can I do it's my dream. I would absolutely love to get more adults, as to be perfectly honest I enjoy teaching them more, I hope that doesn't sound too bad. I actually never thought of a shopping center demo..hmmm...sounds interesting. The feedback is great, I feel welcome already

Thanks for the advice sensei8.

I know I’m new here but I saw this thread and really wanted to participate. I believe we are definitely living in an important age in the martial arts. Like it or not we have to accept that MMA has changed martial arts, for better or for worse that's for each one of us to decide for ourselves. I myself am not a fan of MMA but cannot deny its impact and I do believe there was some good that came of it more so from the original UFC. I guess the negative side would be the mindset that has always existed among people of "my way is the best way" is kind of amplified now more than ever, if you're not a BJJ guy or an MMA guy you have no credibility to some, in certain markets, the city I live in for example, that can make things tough. That being said I think BJJ is WONDERFUL for ground fighting, do I believe all fights will/should end up on the ground? No. Do I believe that BJJ is what you need if it does? Yes, so I have begun training in it as well. And to try and make a long point short I think that's what this era we're living in is all about, it's forcing us to look at ourselves as martial artists and instructors, at what we're learning, what we're teaching and how it can be used most effectively. I try and learn/teach with a mixture of practicality and tradition which is why I love the quote from O'Sensei in my signature. I really believe that the goal right now is not to become MMA gyms but also not to be close minded we need to find a balance as in all things and I think people will respond to that, those that are looking for meathead based training lol can go to the one of many meathead MMA gyms, those that are looking for something more serious will have their options as well. I think we need to remember who we are as members of the martial arts community because due to the internet, those people that just want to start trouble and bad mouth others have quite a formidable medium to use. I don't believe the traditional martial arts will die out because there will always be those that train in/teach it the right way for all its physical AND mental benefits we're just going to have to modify the way we market ourselves to the public and be mindful of the sport market that is ever growing due to MMA. While it is annoying to constantly have to make the distinction between what we do and MMA due to the fact that to the general public there seems to be little difference I think it is something we will have to live with for a while, maybe a long while.

Hi everyone! I'm new here, I've been reading the forums for a little bit and decided to join especially for this section here. I guess I should introduce myself. I've been doing martial arts for about 15 years. I'll spare you my life story as to how I got started but I now am certified to teach Tae Kwon Do and Jeet Kune Do and am trying to start a program in my area. My ultimate goal is to open up a school one day but as for now I am teaching in the gym of the clubhouse of the association I live in and can only teach to residents, luckily it's a very big community. Unfortunately they drastically limit the amount of advertising I can do. I cannot pass out flyers all I can do is put an ad in their monthly newsletter and one ad on the bulletin board at the clubhouse. I currently have 3 students (all kids) and am hoping to grow. I was wondering if anyone here may have any suggestions as to other forms of advertising I could do. I had a great turnout for a free women's self-defense seminar I put on but unfortunately that didn't bring me any students.Someone told me about using the postal service I'm not sure how that works. I eventually would like to teach at a local YMCA I had talked to them a bit and they seemed interested but they blew me off and I hope that if I show them I'm running a fairly decent program already that they'll pay more attention to me. Any and all advice would be appreciated thanks.