What's Missing In YOUR Ads?

[sensei8]

Over the many past years, I've seen this type of generalization in TV ads, phone book ads, flyers, and newspaper ads, to name just a few types of media's available to each and every martial arts school owner to advertise on.

For example...

Our Programs Help With...

 

*Respect, Courtesy & Self-Discipline

 

*Positive Behavioral Changes

 

*Self-Confidence

 

*Focus & Concentration

 

*Improving Grades & Productivity

 

*Goal Setting & Self-Control

Its meaning is quite understood by its consumers, and its fairly harmless. Yes, the martial arts does help with these as noted at the bullet points in the ad above. I don't question that content at all.

What's missing in ads of this type, imho...

EFFECTIVE SELF-DEFENSE

This school of the martial arts seems to forget that the martial arts is for one; learning effective self-defense. Albeit, the items in the above ads bullet points are just the by-product of learning the martial arts.

Why are martial arts schools so afraid to mention that they'll teach effective self-defense, first and foremost?

Possibly they don't mention effective self-defense because they don't teach ANY self-defense.

BTW, we can say all of the bullet points in the ad above in your own ad, but hopefully you'll be mentioning the style(s) that your school does teach as the first bullet point in your ad...or...just mention your style(s) as the only bullet point(s)!!

Your thoughts?

[Adamo]

I've noticed that very point lately! I've seen about 3 different schools not mention it.

Here's the blunt truth. Most people don't know effective martial arts. I think it's a good thing if they know that and therefore don't advertise that way. A lot of people know their style and that's fine. It's good for you in many ways. But to claim it's effective is very controversial anymore. Most marital art schools as I've realized will claim to teach it but what they teach is 30 techniques for one situation or it relies upon fine motor movements. I've seen very few people actually understand the fight or flight reaction and that their style addresses it. Styles like Krav Maga and Haganah address this issue (at least they claim) and some styles of Karate. Or you'll see the zombie knife attacks and you know the exact counter. That's not practicing very good self defense honestly.

I also believe that there's a general movement towards sport martial arts. MMA and Taekwondo, etc., are very big these days. They give great characteristics for self defense, but that's not their main concern nor do they address it to the fullest. It's a good thing when they don't claim to teach effective self defense.

Does this make sense?

[sensei8]

What you're saying does make sense.

I used the words "Effective Self-Defense" in my opening post to take the place of words like, Tae Kwon Do or Shotokan or BJJ or MMA or Judo or any of the many styles of the martial arts. So, let's just forget about effective self-defense for the moment because its not the main reason for my post.

It's like most schools of the martial arts are trying so hard to be so political correct in their ads, however, they don't want to list the style(s) that they teach atop the by-products of learning the martial arts.

*Shindokan Karate-do Saitou-ryu & Kobudo

*XX years of experience

*$$ (monthly price of tuition)

That's it! Nothing more and nothing less. List all they want to list. List things like the locker rooms, like the square footage, like the length that they've been at their location, etc. Cluttering their ads anyway that they want to is OK, imho, just as long they list their style(s) in its prominent spot.

Their ads, imho, make it appear as though they're ashamed to mention their style(s) in any shape, way, and/or form. But, as I've already said, their ads are harmless, and in that, there's no real problem with them. It's just like a pebble in my shoe when I see ads similar to the sample ad in my OP.

[Jeffrey]

EFFECTIVE SELF-DEFENSE is what should set you apart from all other organzied sports. Other sports can teach what you listed but self defense can not be learned in baseball or hockey as an example. Depending on your team I guess. LOL!

All sports can teach as you stated...

*Respect, Courtesy & Self-Discipline

*Positive Behavioral Changes

*Self-Confidence

*Focus & Concentration

*Improving Grades & Productivity

*Goal Setting & Self-Control

We live in a sometimes scary world and EFFECTIVE SELF-DEFENSE should be seen as point number one when trying selling any MA class.

[Lupin1]

The class I'm looking at joining (I'm definitely signing up for the first month, we'll see after that) has pretty much all those bullet points and also says "improved self-defense skills". I'm not sure how much actual self-defense I'll learn in it, though. I'm mostly just taking it for the exercise... I think I'll relay on my Isshinryu class to teach me actual martial arts and the Taekwondo class for getting me into shape.

[Montana]

Hmmm..I'm wondering if "Effective Self-Defense" might be considered a legal bad idea? You can teach people and they can walk out feeling like they're supposed to be able to defend themselves, but if they get their butt-whooped by some punk on the street, they might come back and sue the dojo for false advertising, or "not as described" perhaps?

[isshinryu5toforever]

I would say MOST martial arts schools are far better at character building than they are at teaching you effective self defense. That might be why it is missing from their advertising.

[sensei8]

I would say MOST martial arts schools are far better at character building than they are at teaching you effective self defense. That might be why it is missing from their advertising.

Good point!

[sensei8]

Our Programs Help With...

*Respect, Courtesy & Self-Discipline

*Positive Behavioral Changes

*Self-Confidence

*Focus & Concentration

*Improving Grades & Productivity

*Goal Setting & Self-Control

I can understand why schools of the martial arts target parents. These achievable goals are geared more for the kids than the adults, but I suppose adults might still need these as well.

[Adamo]

I would say MOST martial arts schools are far better at character building than they are at teaching you effective self defense. That might be why it is missing from their advertising.

Good point!

I'll 2nd this!

I think it's not exactly a bad thing either. It's a necessary starting point as it helps keep people from becoming criminals amongst other things. Keeps them busy and hanging out with a great group of people (hopefully). That in a sense, is effective self defense.

But as mentioned above, Sensei8, I gave my explanation of why you don't see that often. That's because, it would be misleading. That is probably the main thing about the martial arts that separates it from so many other hobbies as mentioned by Jeffery. But why advertise yourself as effective self defense when most schools don't know effective self defense? Having a martial arts school and being a black belt doesn't make you knowledgeable in self defense.

I think what they should be advertising is the other 2 possibilities. The chance to learn a fun cultural fighting art. Many of the marital arts were designed for self defense, but are very impractical in the modern world. But I think most people can admit, that they love watching a Kung Fu monk work their magic with a chain whip or sword. It's a great way to learn about another culture and it's history. You don't get this from playing basketball. Or they should advertise that they are a martial art sport. This is a different form of sport compared to what most people are use to doing. Advertising effective self defense would of course be the last thing but that should be left to those highly knowledgeable in that field.