Absense Of Equity!!

[sensei8]

How does an instructor of the MA conduct classes without one of the most important elements...available SPACE??

Well...they simply don't! Student need it as well as their instructors. Yes, outside is an option, but imho, it's an infavorable one for many reasons. Weather being one of the biggest reasons not to teach outside.

Imho, three things are needed to conduct a frutiful lesson:

1) Space~ Must have a place to teach!

2) Training Equipment~Have to contact/hit something!

3) Advertisement~ Even it's just word of mouth!

The last two can come later, but not too much later, but, space is tantamount, imho!! Not all available space is appropriate, and not all spaces are willing. Can't teach in an old car repair facility because the hoists will be in the way. Can't teach at the local dance school because they don't want karate there because it's a direct competitor for revenue. Not all churches want the MA being taught in there church because many churches think that the MA promotes violence and the like.

Front window space isn't cheap, and in my town alone, three schools have closed because of rent prices. For example, one on Main Street wanted $1200 per month for just over 1000 square feet.

Can YOUR school/dojo/dojang effectively compete against the YMCA prices? Not many, and I mean not many. Why? The YMCA for the most part, only charges $30-$35 per month. In that, our local ATA charges $120 or more per month, and when you weigh the difference, one might see why the YMCA has more students per square foot.

What's one to do??

[mal103]

We end up in small halls and community centres because the big places want to charge too much. Difference is sometimes as much as £10 or £40 per hour.

[Zaine]

I've spent a lot of time doing Martial Arts outside (I'm doing that currently and it just freezed in DFW) and it can be fun but there is a very definite want of climate control. It's difficult, however, finding a space that you can afford without the income of students for the first couple of months (if you're lucky) much more thinking about advertising. In short, I definitely get training outside but inside is definitely worth it if you can swing it.

[Wastelander]

I've trained in parks, garages, small church halls, community centers, warehouses, and some modern dojo in commercial building suites. Having space is important, but where that space is doesn't matter as much, in my opinion

[CredoTe]

We're having to deal with the cold, hard reality of high rent for small space right now. We have a choice location at the front of a strip mall next to a major chain store, and the strip mall we're in is next to a Walmart superstore. So, rent is pretty high.

But, space is barely adequate, and our student body isn't the largest. We're actually in talks with the land management company to renegotiate rent because we're not sure how much longer we can pay it...

We might be forced to find a community center or the like very soon...

[Zaine]

Nothing wrong with community centers. The first school I trained at happened in a trailer park rec center, then a church, then a park, then another church, then a gym.

[CredoTe]

Nothing wrong with community centers. The first school I trained at happened in a trailer park rec center, then a church, then a park, then another church, then a gym.

No, definitely not. I should have clarified, rather than ending my comment with what I did. No disparage intended regarding community centers...

[Zaine]

Nothing wrong with community centers. The first school I trained at happened in a trailer park rec center, then a church, then a park, then another church, then a gym.

No, definitely not. I should have clarified, rather than ending my comment with what I did. No disparage intended regarding community centers...

I feel you! Anywhere is awesome for training as long as you can do it! When my school finally moved into a gym though it was because we had a partnership with a couple other schools. If your school is close to a couple of other schools a way to keep the space you have (or find a bigger space) is to share space with other schools.

[CredoTe]

...

I feel you! Anywhere is awesome for training as long as you can do it! When my school finally moved into a gym though it was because we had a partnership with a couple other schools. If your school is close to a couple of other schools a way to keep the space you have (or find a bigger space) is to share space with other schools.

Hmmm... That's a good idea... I may have to talk with my CI about your suggestion and see what we come up with...

[sensei8]

We end up in small halls and community centres because the big places want to charge too much. Difference is sometimes as much as £10 or £40 per hour.

These are possibles, but one has to sell the idea to them so that they'll laydown the welcome mat for you. It has to appeal to them first, I suppose.

Good idea!!