Luther unleashed

I understand. It's like somebody trying to find a good school, most of us may recommend a place BUT we wouldn't recommend them all. there are many instructors that don't teach well, and many that just don't have the abilities, or the understanding. In this way I don't personally fear where martial arts are going, because this is how the world is. There are many mechanics that I used to call "Hacks" when I was a mechanic myself. They thought they were good sometimes but hacked things up. It's the same as martial arts instructors. There are hacks for sure. As I see it though as long as there are good instructors/schools then things will even out. There will be "good karate" and "bad karate"! As for the art specifically being passed on. I don't personally believe it's of a great deal of importance. Good karate doesn't revolve around what one may see as authentic because all styles change over time. There can be bad karate even teaching a pure style, and good karate teaching a freestyle version of karate.

Well in a sense I'm a person who has changed it myself. I teach a mixture and openly state that. That difference is that I openly state that, though. I base my martial art on Tang Soo Do but I am clear that I don't teach "traditional" Tamg Soo Do. Most importantly the core in which I do teach that is TSD is traditional, and exactly how I learned it. As for people who teach traditional and teach it different/wrong this concerns me. I witnessed a teacher leave my last school that, I always saw, did not do technique right. He butchered it and I always thought "he's going to teach something different and say it's the same"! Is this what you mean?

We do shirts or gi. There's a few reasons. My last place was heavily influenced by karate AND Kung fu. It is more common in king fu places to use just a shirt. I decided to keep that policy. The shirts are more comfortable, and give the class a more casual feel. SOMETIMES that is a good thing. At the beg fining of the month I wear my full gi because we get more new students and I like to look clean and professional. Then throughout the month I wear my shirt an relax a bit. Students mostly wear shirts. It's very hot here in az and it's cooler in the summer for sure. I hated working in the heat all day and sweating all day, just to go to the studio and sweat my but off for a few hours. Testings or events are the only times the students must wear full uniform. Another reason just to put it out there, is that it's great advertising. My kids wear the shirts to school, my students wear them in stores after and before class. If I like teaching and want to keep doing it then advertising this way is a great way to go. In this picture there's a little boy in street clothes. He's trying out the class and that is not standard, myself and the little girls have the t-shirt on though. http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xPGk_2HOwVk/VPjAY3fIMzI/AAAAAAABAQY/wcUDmtwbCzU/s1024-no/IMG_0534.JPG

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.

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.

Confidence is a tricky thing. I'm a confident person by nature but easily second guess as you are. You can never be incredible at all techniques. We all have our strong and weak points. if your instructor thinks your ready you are ready. Every day you attend class, this is the test, the day you "test" is really a day to show all you have already passed In Your Istructors eyes. That's always been my experience and as a teacher now, it is truth for me. Don't overthink it, just focus on what you do, and think of what you do alone. I have seen many students choke under pressure, in the end, don't let the moment take your breath away, breath through it. Good luck

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.

First off great looking places guys. I have a desire for more equipment but overall been at it 9 months now and just havnt gotten everything is like yet. I teach at two locations as of yesterday, first day at second location, they each have their goods. The second location is a dojo space rented to me fully loaded with equipment, matts, and kicking pads (mostly muay thai stuff) but much smaller then location 1 which has been mine for the 9 months and has very little equipment. I don't have any photos of an empty place, but you get the picture. Location one is at a recreation center... http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EELmtcwiy_c/VOTeMtNDA1I/AAAAAAABAP4/zysnOcAteag/s1024-no/IMG_0324.JPG Location two is in a stand alone/suite... Don't mind me doing a form, my wife took the pic lol http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tbj0RhRqXJ4/Ve_hV_zkREI/AAAAAAABAQE/xEBH6kT-3Ng/s1024-no/IMG_0508.JPG This is my first experience in an actual dojo as an instructor myself, but I have to say the mats are great, the equipment is great, but I'll take the recreation center space any day. I trained in some small places and I hated having to do things like switch my feet in a form because there wasn't room. You do what you have to but I like the space.

I think as to the tittle, any day you train when you dont want to is more effective then any set curriculum, because the biggest conquest is to just do it! As to what's effective to each person, everybody is different and everybody is potentially studying a different martial art. Therefore it's hard to really pinpoint effectiveness but the comments here have been great for reading. What I tell my students is "practice at home what you learn in class"! If you want to be really good you have to put in more time then you are at the dojo practicing some of the same things. As this gets boring for many of us, as I stated previously, I personally switch up martial arts as that helps me to not become so complacent. If you only know one martial arts, simply switch up what you are doing to the greatest degree possible to make a difference, and example would be if Forms are becoming boring, then practice kicking and punching combinations or something of that nature. This is a great thread idea because we all go through those moments where we tire of the same thing!

Agreed, really great post. I run a very structured disciplined class setting. I watched a few classes from another place in the area and it was much more fun and games, and they are a successful place. It made me wonder if I need to just have more fun at times, glad to see people make these great points about this type of program though, thanks for your post. I can only hope the O.P. Gets as much out of it as I did haha!

Certainly, but your speaking about winning and I'm speaking about what was popular and present most. I don't think we are disagreeing about that, just speaking about different things somewhat.

Thanks sensei8, you know I really do get what your saying and I aprèciate the time you took to say it. I am not stressing it as much as it might seem, but the reason I made the thread was to understand potentially how I site amongs other new teachers, old teachers and so on. Not to brag, or to beat myself up, but to simply measure as my curiosity gets the best of me... How good am I really doing, and most curious I am to understand "what is normal" or common. I do understand that turnover is a common thing in martial arts and very much for the reasons you have specified. I saw it when I just trained prior to teaching, I noticed it then. The thing is, I suppose I care more about how many don't leave, the. How many I have. It's impossible to please everybody for sure, but that's hard for me to accept. As for how many I want? Let me be honest with you! I want to make a living, and I charge a bit less then half of the going rate of stand alone studios. I actually start teaching at my second location tomorrow, and we are still at a similar price. What it means for me is that because I have made a strong run at offering martial arts for less then many competitors, and targeted lower income families/areas, I need more students to benefit financially. I hate to think about numbers this way but to make a living I must think about these things. At my first location, the previous program had 33 for some time, my personal goal was 40, so I'm right there near my. Dry realistic goal. At my second location I hope to accomplish the same. Realistically I can handle as many as about 15 a class without issues, that's 4 classes so the ultimate goal with the help and facilities I have now is about 60 at each school, I guess we will see if I'm really that good of a teacher huh? I like what you are getting at, I have been telling my wife it's like that movie about baseball, I can't remember the name as Iv never. Den a baseball person but there's this constant phrase "if you build it, they will come"! I believe in this,similarly to what your saying. And BTW your numbers are the impressive ones, certainly not mine. Take care.

yeah I suppose to each their own, I'm glad I have a choice in how to carry myself though!

Great points. Also, I totally agree about the self defense and what the MMA guys practice daily. I feel that of course a person who practices the fighting aspects almost exclusively is going to be a better fighter then a traditional martial artist, this is similar to my point about a traditional martial artist being geared towards a respectful nature more because it's what they practice. Good points

Actually I don't know if I agree with the statement, the part about the UFC being set up for jujitsu. The first UFC fights had pretty much know jujitsu in them, in fact they were pretty different than what you see now days. Originally you saw people with traditional background stepping in and if you came something that anybody with some blended systems who was tough could make it as a fighter, which is fine but hoyce Gracie didn't even make an impact until later on when he was running into guys twice his size that looked like they were gladiators and he was disposing of them, with his skinny physique, this is what pave the way for jujitsu to become popular the way it is today.

Wow, looks like I'm just lucky to have a guy open up a program 100 feet from mine hah!

Still growing lately, exciting. Opening a new location this Monday, and at our highest numbers yet, 37 students at just our first location. If I think about what we could be doing right idk but I'm certainly enjoying it more and I'm more comfortable, I opened 9 months ago and although I taught for about a year prior this is my first time on my own in my own program. Fun stuff.

It's not my intent to separate Patrick just so you know, I just hope that people get what I'm saying. I just think that MARTIAL ARTS in general is meant to be more then just fighting and I hope that we keep that the primary focus.

Great posts guys but I'd like to say that there is some truth to the fact that the mma is a a good facilitator of fighting without some of the humility. It's true because there's so many guys that are picking up MMA that never would have been interested in martial arts in the past, unfortunately many of them don't have an excessive amount of traditional martial arts experience, and as we all know traditional martial arts breeds Core Values such as humility, respect, honor in more cases then not! When I was growing up more guys were into bodybuilding and going to the gym, now many of those type of guys are just hitting the local MMA spot because it's what's in. I am not saying it's a bad thing, but I am saying that the overall MMA energy is very different than the overall traditional martial arts experience. That's my opinion anyway, I'm 38 and I have watched the whole thing Unfold into what it is today and that's just my take on it. I fear the fighting aspect of martial arts being at its peak without the usual traditional values that go with it. It is a breeding ground for many negatives, that does not mean that they are all this way but it is a breeding ground and conducive to these negative attributes because the fighting ability is so much more important than the other aspects, and why wouldn't it be, if you're stepping into the ring this is the most important attributes from the martial arts you would want to attain, ironically it is partially some of the reason I turned down the MMA guy that wanted private karate lessons. Seriously karate forums peoples, I fear a martial arts world where we focus solely on the fighting aspects, I fear this!

Oh and the picture above can also be viewed as somewhat racist and discriminative. Is it saying the guys looks mean he's a disrespectful guy with no discipline or values? Why chose that guy looking that way to make the point? Also, the traditional guy looks Japanese?!? Well, seems like most of us are maybe causation in the forum and amongst students I see this trend as well, I have over 30 students and growing and have black, Latino, white, but no Asians lol! Just not a good pic to represent the point attempting to be made.

Really, i was aware that a Gracie brother was part of the ownership but I was pretty sure that was it. Going back to the first one, I was around 18 then the first matches were really hardly anything to do with Royce or jujitsu for that matter. It was a slugfest, ninjitsu vs sumo wrestling and crazy match ups. Royce came out in there as well but not at first and was hardly the highlight until things got going. I'm simply saying that many people may not realize that when it started jujitsu wasn't flourishing right then. As for jujitsu and it's prowess it's obvious that it's effective, and the ufc should be pointed to as THE reason it gained such popularity. I studied Taekwondo then and had never heard of it until Gracie popped up in the ufc showcasing it. Back to the topic though I agree the picture is ridiculous and that what I was trying to say. I started my martial arts training prior to the ufc being what it is, so prior to that there was less of a sport aspect to me, and for me it was most appealing to walk amongst the inner city and show the integrity and confidence to not fight. To not fight became the greatest challenge and greatest victory because fighting was easy if you were looking. My point? To actually fight was nothing new and didn't interest me. Based on these ideas I stayed with traditional martial arts and the other stuff never appealed to me for these reasons. Even today I do t touch juijitsu, I'll say it till I'm blue in the face, it's effective. Just doesn't do thing for me, I have adapted some wrestling moves to get back on my feet to use my weapons which is strikes, joint locks and throws. I have learned basic arm bars and such just to make sure I can protect myself on the ground if needed but not much practice to be honest. I don't think less of people who get into it, I just get into what I like and it has little to do with what others are in to. I have watched a few machida fights, and I appreciate his karate background BUT again I see not fighting as the main lesson in traditional martial arts, not fighting for money, fame, or reputation.

Actually I don't know if I agree with the statement, the part about the UFC being set up for jujitsu. The first UFC fights had pretty much know jujitsu in them, in fact they were pretty different than what you see now days. Originally you saw people with traditional background stepping in and if you came something that anybody with some blended systems who was tough could make it as a fighter, which is fine but hoyce Gracie didn't even make an impact until later on when he was running into guys twice his size that looked like they were gladiators and he was disposing of them, with his skinny physique, this is what pave the way for jujitsu to become popular the way it is today.

Jr137 I like that, especially the part about doing what you don't want to do. Personally when I get burned out I practice a different style, it offers me something new and interesting. This is part of the reason I have learned so many wildly different styles. Also, if I'm just burned out on martial arts period I'll pick up a skateboard or something to stay in shape and stay away from the couch lol. This is what works for me anyways!

As to a previous conversation about chun kuk do being not tang soo do, if you google american tang soo do you will see that is the name of chun kuk do technically! Just good for thought

As for the picture, it's a disrespectful photo to the mma guy, as it depicts him as an ogre in my opinion. I do agree with the intended description of the differences but not as rough around the edges. I think that I don't like watching MMA fights because it's like a street fight and less of a sport fight like boxing or sport karate. I grew up fighting and i don't care for that type of violence. I grew up watching ninja movies and karate movies and for me it was much more appealing to see the practitioners that were very humble, and only fought when provoked, beyond control on many cases. Doesn't appeal to me. Have you ever noticed the winner gloating while the opponent is Badly hurt? This really bothers me and doesn't at all reflect what I learned or what I teach!