is our karate class broken

[ozm8]

Ok when i first joined my karate class we were averaging about 10-20 people every session, with a nice mix of kids and adults. Now for the last 3 months since i recovered from my broken ankle there is only me, my little brother, 2 old ladies and my instructor who is only 20.

I feel so out of place lol, but to be honest i do prefer smaller classes, probably because of my anxiety.

Sometimes we do get one new person but then they don't come back ever again.

[Spodo Komodo]

It is very hard to say what is wrong (if anything) without going along and seeing a class. There can be lots of reasons for class drop-offs, a lot of people underestimate the difficulty of training, some don't like the formal atmosphere of a karate dojo, kids losing interest (as they do) can drag parents off to the next craze. Add in external factors such as season, holidays, work, school and a McDojo down the road offering easier lessons with more (irrelevant) incentives and you have a whole host of things that might have an effect without there being anything wrong with the school itself.

[sensei8]

It is very hard to say what is wrong (if anything) without going along and seeing a class. There can be lots of reasons for class drop-offs, a lot of people underestimate the difficulty of training, some don't like the formal atmosphere of a karate dojo, kids losing interest (as they do) can drag parents off to the next craze. Add in external factors such as season, holidays, work, school and a McDojo down the road offering easier lessons with more (irrelevant) incentives and you have a whole host of things that might have an effect without there being anything wrong with the school itself.

Solid post!!

As confusing as this might appear to be, I'd enjoy the semi-private lessons atmosphere!! Train on, and train hard!!

[Karate_John]

I agree with sensei8, I had a few lucky days that turned into semi-private lessons because of external factors. You get some great fine tuning on days like that.

[cathal]

ozm8, you are the best judge of the classes. After all you're there! Is the instructor insulting, demeaning, and/or prone to yelling or bullying?

Do the classes get filled with non-stop exercise but very little in the way of instruction and learning? Is your instructor demanding money money money?

Is the place a comfortable atmosphere where questions are answered, help is given, and there's even some fun? Do you personally want to keep training under your sensei because he's a good instructor and person?

As others have said there can be many reasons for drop-offs in students. Class sizes will always fluctuate over time just like sizes of youth groups. Do not get discouraged but keep training

[bushido_man96]

Martial Arts classes tend to have a rather high attrition rate. People either find it more challenging than they thought, or just find its not for them. But, it could be a slow week, too, and the class could fill back in.

[Spartacus Maximus]

It is possible that your instructors age could have something to do with the drop off. In general it is difficult for most people to accept the idea of being taught by an instructor as young as 20.

It is an age where a person is still inexperienced in life and likely still growing and learning themselves. Most adults at 20 years old are just starting in life and have yet to find their place. At twenty I was in my first year of post secondary school and had no idea where I was going.

Not knowing anything else about your instructor and your dojo means that it can be almost anything. Location? Expenses? Dojo atmosphere? So many things..

[sensei8]

I don't think that your dojo is broken. One the contrary, it could be just the evolution of the dojo; change is inevitable and this is just a needed change that is needed.

[DWx]

Ok when i first joined my karate class we were averaging about 10-20 people every session, with a nice mix of kids and adults. Now for the last 3 months since i recovered from my broken ankle there is only me, my little brother, 2 old ladies and my instructor who is only 20.

I feel so out of place lol, but to be honest i do prefer smaller classes, probably because of my anxiety.

Sometimes we do get one new person but then they don't come back ever again.

ozm8, do you actually enjoy the classes? Do you value your sensei's instruction? If so then just keep training. Could just be a lull due to holiday season... Also first few months of the year you do see a drop off; lots of people make it their new years resolution to get fit, maybe learn a martial art, by the time Easter comes around they're bored of it and move on to the next thing.

If class being small is an issue, why don't you offer to help promote it for your sensei? Bring a few friends for a trial session or ask if you can distribute leaflets of help in some other way.

[DWx]

It is possible that your instructors age could have something to do with the drop off. In general it is difficult for most people to accept the idea of being taught by an instructor as young as 20.

It is an age where a person is still inexperienced in life and likely still growing and learning themselves. Most adults at 20 years old are just starting in life and have yet to find their place. At twenty I was in my first year of post secondary school and had no idea where I was going.

Everytime the age argument comes up in such discussions I'm a bit conflicted. On the one hand I would agree that a lot of (narrow minded) people are turned off by the thought of taking instruction from someone younger. Mostly due to pride or some notion that they should know better than the young whippersnapper and that there is no value in their instruction.

Yet on the other hand I'm of the opinion that if the 20 really wants to instruct (or do anything in life) it's on them to stand up and make people take them seriously. A lot of people are inexperienced at that age but equally a lot aren't and if you want to be taken seriously the responsibility is on you to act accordingly and change people's minds. So in my mind it's not a valid excuse.