Anybody have knowledge of NAPMA?

[Sasori_Te]

Does anyone have any first hand knowledge about NAPMA (National Association of Professional Martial Artists)? I saw a school advertising belonging to this particular organization. I haven't really been able to find anything on them. I've seen a few things on the net that say very little. I ahve my suspicions about what they represent, but I am interested to see what you good folks think.

[torris]

National Association of Professional Martial Artists

 

or see what you can find here

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I have no firsthand knowledge of the organization, but a few years ago, the skuttlebutt around the tournaments that I attended was that they, and others, are an organization that literally anybody can join. There are few, if any, requirements to join it, and looking at the site just now, I didn't see anything (I could have missed it though) where it requires any proof of legitimate rank to join..

 

Clicking on "Joining NAPMA", you get a form to fill out, and this little tidbit ... "Get Started On Your Monthly Membership For Only $99". Is that monthly dues of $99? YIKES!

 

Personally, I wouldn't say that being a member of it mkes you a better, or worse, instructor. It appears to help you get and retain students, but I wouldn't let a dojo's membership affect my decision to join, or not to join a school.

 

One thing I did notice is if yo uclick on the Coca-cola link. It says:

 

Who is Eligible To Participate?

 

All martial arts schools in the USA located in an area served by a participating Coca-Cola bottler.

 

 

 

 

 

The Ultimate Win/Win/Win!

 

You win. Your students win. The martial arts industry wins!

 

The Benefits For You:

 

* Free 30-day trial NAPMA Associate Membership for participating in the program.

 

* Special low pricing on top selling products such as Dasani Water, Minute Maid, PowerAde, Fruitopia, Nestea, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and Sprite.

 

* Your choice of a coin operated vending machine or an upright cooler for dispensing the products.

 

* Free placement and maintenance of the Coca-Cola equipment in your school.

 

* Sponsor support from your local Coca-Cola bottler based on your school's volume.

 

* National sponsor support from Coca-Cola based upon total volume of the martial arts industry. This is our opportunity to demonstrate that the martial arts are a strong, viable market.

 

* Full service vending option. If you want the profits of the products without having to restock or order, this option is for you

 

Maybe things have changed, but a number of years ago I had a commercial dojo and I contacted the local Coke distributer, and he placed a Coke machine in my dojo, and I filledit with pop and juices at wholesale prices, which I'd bet is the same thing that they are talking about on the website. There was NO charge to me as a business owner to have their machine in my place otherthan the electricity to operate it. If the machine malfunctioned, I had but to call the distributer about it, and they came to repair/replace the machine at again, no cost to me.

 

Just be careful. Personally, I wouldn't be the least bit interested in joining the organization myself.

[Squawman]

We have belonged to NAPMA for at least 5 years or more. My instructor and owner of the school actually was a regional director. NAPMA is an organization that any style can belong to and they give you help on running a school whether it is business or curriculum. It actually gives you a whole lot of good resources and they had a convention every year with some big name people giving seminars.

 

Now for the dirt. Century MA and NAPMA used to be one but because the president of NAPMA was an A-Hole and only cared about money he went back on his word to Century so Century sued him. NAPMA lost so the president was kicked out and everyone started to jump ship. NAPMA is barely holding on and will probably be gone in a few years since Century has MAIA (Martial Arts Industry Association) which is the same thing. If you are a school owner and looking for resources to help your business then I would look at MAIA. masuccess.com

[Luckykboxer]

ya and the guy who was booted from Napma.... has now started his own organization called MATA(martial arts teachers association?)

 

he is heavily pursuing the napma client list and is making claimst hat he is the force behind napma and that napma is now a craphole.....

 

get ready for Century vs MATA really soon im sure

[Luckykboxer]

I just got this email today..................

An Open Letter to the Martial Arts Industry by Joe Lewis

 

This is an unsolicited letter. No one asked me to write this. It was actually a response I wrote to a school owner and I felt it had a message the entire industry could benefit from hearing.

 

The letter writer was asking me about John Graden's new organization, The Martial Arts Teachers' Association. Here is my response:

 

MATA is a far superior concept over NAPMA---and much less expensive. John Graden, who runs MATA, founded NAPMA ten years ago and is by far the best business mind for school owners and remains very responsible by always being accessible to his members.

 

These are his trademarks. For years to come, his business acumen and services will remain unmatched in martial arts. No one has a better feel for where the industry is going and how to fill the needs of school owners than John Graden.

 

This is not only my personal and professional promise to you, but having worked all the top business professionals in this field, Mr Graden's reputation stands alone as the leader above all others.

 

I encourage you to join now and feel proud in years to come knowing that you can call yourself one of the first and original members of this elite movement.

 

I have asked all my black belts to join MATA. Never before have I told them to join any service group, not even NAPMA. This statement should speak for itself.

 

All any school owner, black belt instructor, or student in the martial arts should expect of themselves is to always know that today, they are better off than they used to be. They continue to grow and improve in all areas of the martial arts.

 

Some service companies treat their clients solely to improve their bank accounts. As long as more schools keep signing up as new members, the individual client with his one small school no longer has significance.

 

John Graden cares. Leaders who care are rare. Sometimes when that isolated, independent school owner knows he has meaning, and that organizations' entire chain of command, all the way up to the lead dog, consistently demonstrates how much they care, that kind of motivation creates more success than any business system.

 

Mr. Graden's unmatched service record has proven for years that his unique gift is the ability to motivate martial artists and give them the tools to execute.

 

He has brought dignity to this industry by allowing its practitioners to finally call their work a profession, not just another job. No one has had a more positive impact on the business of martial arts.

 

When a true leader's work is done, the people say,' we did it ourselves!' The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind in others the conviction and the will to carry on. The only leader out there today who can claim this is John Graden. Why? Because he has already proven it.

 

When I introduced him before a speech he gave once, I told the audience that courage is the only thing in martial arts worth following---not rank, not prestige, not fame, not the most conquests, etc. Next to being an outstanding fighter, kata champion, and loyal friend, courage is John Graden's strongest attribute.

 

He naturally perceives hidden courage in others and quickly shows them how to detect and use it. Helping others to become stronger physically, mentally, psychologically, and spiritually is a potential power all instructors seek.

 

I've watched him do this for years, first, with his own black belts like Kathy Marlor, NAPMA's Rob Colasanti and Project Actions' Kevin Walker. Then he reached thousands worldwide as the founder of NAPMA. Now, his new organization is his crowning achievement and, to no one's surprise, growing incredibly fast.

 

He is calling these first members, the groundbreakers. I know you will be proud to be one of them.

[Sasori_Te]

Thanks folks. I can always count on you guys for information. I thought it might be something like that. I have an acquaintence that has a member school. I would never consider being a member of an organization like this. I don't understand how a valid instructor would need help with their cirriculum.

[Squawman]

I don't understand how a valid instructor would need help with their cirriculum.

 

Even though John Graden was a money hungery dork he had alot of good people around him giving seminars and showing other instructors and business owners how to make their schools better. If an instructor thinks that they don't need to know anymore about how to run a class then they are very closed minded. It's just like getting a black belt, you aren't done with martial arts, you are just beginning to learn.

[Sasori_Te]

Point taken. I'm a little jaded by "instructors" that give themselves rank and have absolutely no idea about how to go about teaching a class. I've seen these types of organizations time and time again helping pull the wool over the eyes of trusting students. They don't care what your qualifications are. THey will certify your rank as being whatever you tell them it is. Then they will give you exercises to keep the kiddies, who happen to make up the financial base of most commercial schools happy. It chaps my BUTT! Sorry about the rant.