Free Trial Lessons Vary!

[sensei8]

What's included/involved in your schools Free Trial Lesson?

Reason for asking is this. I'm always visiting other schools within a 25 miles radius of the Hombu. I am spying on my competition. This is normal, or should be, for any business, especially in todays economy. Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, spyed on his competition all of the time. As a matter of fact, Sam would be visiting his competition and then he'd see a lower price for the same like item he carried in his store, and then he'd call his store right away and order that manager to change the price immediately to a price that is now lower than the competition.

So, this practice isn't new, nor is it wrong! Therefore, in visiting a TKD school that is located 8.6 miles to the northeast of the Hombu, I enquired with the receptionist about their FREE TRIAL LESSON as advertised on their front window display. What I was told was unexpected. I was given a tour of the school by one of their black belts. This TKD school is large, it's bueatiful both inside and outside. It's well staffed and organized. The main class area is fully stocked, wall to wall mats, and one mirrored wall. Nice and inviting visiting area both in the lobby as well as in the main class area. Overall, a very nice operation/school.

In this tour, I was shown 4 tiny and seperate rooms. Inside of each of these rooms were two plastic chairs, one fake plant that was placed in one of the corners, one shield, two focus pads, and one blocker. The room was carpeted and well lit. I asked if this was where private lessons were held and I was told...no! "No, this is where we do our FREE TRIAL LESSONS."

I was then informed that all of their FREE TRIAL LESSONS were 10 minutes long! 10 minutes? What? After the 10 minutes, you're then escorted to one of the extra tiny offices to Q and A session and then to enroll into the school.

Some of my questions were, "Why aren't FREE TRIAL LESSONS held inside of the main school area? Also, why are the FREE TRIAL LESSONS only 10 minutes?"

Their answers..."The main school area would be way to distracting for new prospective students. To many things are taking place that could take away from the experience. 10 minutes is all it should take for any of our prospective students to decide if this is for them or not."

I thanked them and then I left; slightly perplexed, but, I was informed and this concluded my visit to my competition.

At the Shindokan Hombu, our new students are given not one (1), but, three (3) FREE FULL TRIAL CLASS LESSONS. This way the new student will have a pretty good idea if they want to continue or not with no obligations. We include a free uniform as well. Our FREE TRIAL LESSONS are held in the main Dojo and our new students are fully participating in a full class, no abbreviated 10 minute class, but, a full class. Our new students get to see and experience everything. Everything from how instructors interact with students to dojo etiquette to every full amenity available to whatever and everything.

What's included/involved in your schools Free Trial Lesson?

Edited October 4, 2009 by sensei8

[the beast]

What's included/involved in your schools Free Trial Lesson?

At the Shindokan Hombu, our new students are given not one (1), but, three (3) FREE FULL TRIAL CLASS LESSONS. This way the new student will have a pretty good idea if they want to continue or not with no obligations. We include a free uniform as well. Our FREE TRIAL LESSONS are held in the main Dojo and our new students are fully participating in a full class, no abbreviated 10 minute class, but, a full class. Our new students get to see and experience everything. Everything from how instructors interact with students to dojo etiquette to every full amenity available to whatever and everything.

What's included/involved in your schools Free Trial Lesson?

At our dojo new students get a free week of class which is the same training that everyone else in the dojo gets with the exception of their first day in which they get one on one with one of the senseis to go over some basic kihon

[DWx]

That seems a bit weird to give you only 10mins and not even in a normal class. What did they do in the 10mins? Was it any good?

Our school gives 4 free classes (once a week for a month) before you have to sign up. They aren't special one-to-ones, you just join a normal class.

BTW, when you visit the other schools, do you let them know you have a background in MA?

[beagstkd]

Our school doesn't offer any free trial. They have a 8 lesson begginers class for $40 which includes a gi.

If I went to a school for a "free trial" and got 10 minutes I would not be happy. (what can you learn in 10 minutes) I would think they are wasting my time and then trying to give me the hard sell to join. It sound like you are offering more customer service.

[bushido_man96]

Milage will vary on this issue, to be sure. I think that some instructors just expect you sign up for a month, and if you don't like it, you don't have to keep coming back.

I don't think we offer a trial; the customers call in, and the instructor sets up the orientation. After the orientation, which is about 3 weeks, I think, they go to regular class.

[rogue2257]

Generally what happens with new people joining any of the classes that we run (we run a number of classes every week, and not all in the same place) is that an individual is allowed to try out a few classes, and if they've decided they're interested they'll begin paying the monthly fee. It isn't uncommon for new people to be given a free month of classes when they start paying.

In terms of how they're treated though, they get thrown in the mix for warm ups, then one of the more advanced ranks typically takes them off to the side for the duration of the first class and orients them with the kihon and then they come back for the end of the class, at which point the majority of the class is usually doing kata, and they get to watch that.

[Montana]

I give two weeks of free lesson and toss the new prospective student right into the general population of white-black belts and they experience the exact same training and lessons as everybody else gets.

I pair the new prospective student with a mid-rank (green/blue belt usually) student that helps them as nuch as possible. Basically, it's the "sink or swim" introduction method.

I make sure they understand that they can expect to be totally lost for the first few classes, but they catch on fast normally and within those 2 weeks they are holding their own pretty good.

It's 8 hours of training in all.

[JusticeZero]

It's in the same class as everyone else, but I have a specific set of techniques that they go through on the first one or two classes.

Basic footwork, floor movement, chapa (single mule kick with both hands on the ground), esquiva and the outside crescent that most easily triggers it (and I tell them not to worry about the details on that yet).

This allows them to do a paired drill with an attack and a defense, drop down, move across the room, and have a way to shove an attacker away while doing it.

[cathal]

10 minutes is a joke, imho. The dojos I used to train in, and the one I teach at now, provide two weeks free of charge; eight classes in total.

[rogue2257]

10 minutes is a joke, imho. The dojos I used to train in, and the one I teach at now, provide two weeks free of charge; eight classes in total.

I agree. There is no realistic way that you can get an idea of how the class works out, the personality of the instructors, and even if you'll enjoy the atmosphere of the school. That takes several classes. Ten minutes isn't even enough to cover the basic kihon.