Balance = Success

[sensei8]

Sensei8 From the last post is like to say I agree I laugh when I see "Karate" on a building and it's a TKD school. 1 mile north of me this is the case, from a marketing standpoint to the average consumer who doesn't know the different this is competition because we both have a karate sign. They of corse are not karate. A friend of the family was here from Korea, and she isn't very up on American stuff. When I showed her my studio she said "karate is Japanese"! I said "to Americans they think it's all karate". I don't know if you guys have ever seen "kickin it", but he comes from a school in California which is primarily known for teaching Tang Soo Do, and the sign out front says karate. How about "no surrender" with van dam, in the beginning of the movie there is a scene at a studio which is karate, and has again "Tang Soo Do" window art. Technically "karate" is Japanese, BUT Tang Soo Do is very commonly referred to as karate. Why, I guess because it's a Korean variant of shotokan in reality. In my case I would prefer to have a sign that says "Martial Arts" but as you know sensei8, and others may know if they saw my post, I got the sign as a part of my deal. I could remove it, but I'm ok with it even if I don't teach traditional Japanese karate. It's similar to how I refer to my uniform as a "gi" or my studio as a "dojo". I grew up saying dojang for studio, and dobok for uniform. I count in Korean and can speak basic introductions in Korean as well as commands like "attention" and "begin"! I use English in my class, but I could use Korean and no other Asian language if I chose. Why do I use the Japanese words then? Popularity! I often assume many of you may not know what the heck I'm saying if I say I have a black "dobok" with red trim. If I say "gi" then I am understood and there is no need to answer questions and distract us from the real value in our conversation. Anyways lol...

I get what sensei8 is saying, I believe! If I'm right he is saying that one should certainly make buisness separate from the core ethics of the program. Keep my standards my standards and don't let buisness effect that, as even if it does it will even out in time as the core of the program will be true, and solid. About right? I agree. I agree. Thanks for the "I got your back" comment. We know each other through the Internet but I still find the supportive gesture a positive thing, so thanks.

Don't fret about the wording on the sign...the message will speak for itself, and there's no use in explaining as to the why about the sign to any prospective student. Besides, the landlord did you a favor by saving you some money by leaving the sign right where it is.

Run the dojang as a dojang! Run the business as a business! One or the other will suffer if you try to run them both at the same time!! You'll have to wear two hats...one for the dojang and one for the business. Emotions drizzle from one to another, this I know from my own experiences.

When I'm on the floor...I'm there to teach...NOTHING ELSE!! When I'm not on the floor...I'm there to run the business. My minds on THAT, at that time, and nothing else. If I worry about a bill or something relating to the business while I'm on the floor, I'm not giving my students my undivided attention, and they deserve that from me always. Vice versa, when I'm managing the business, I don't have time to think about the dojo/classes, otherwise, I might forget to pay a bill or some other important business aspect.

I just have to remember what hat to wear at the right time and moment; can't wear two hats at the same time. Oh, sure, my hats switch a lot all the time and all day/night.

On the floor...TEACH...off the floor...Administer!!!!

[Luther unleashed]

Sensei8 From the last post is like to say I agree I laugh when I see "Karate" on a building and it's a TKD school. 1 mile north of me this is the case, from a marketing standpoint to the average consumer who doesn't know the different this is competition because we both have a karate sign. They of corse are not karate. A friend of the family was here from Korea, and she isn't very up on American stuff. When I showed her my studio she said "karate is Japanese"! I said "to Americans they think it's all karate". I don't know if you guys have ever seen "kickin it", but he comes from a school in California which is primarily known for teaching Tang Soo Do, and the sign out front says karate. How about "no surrender" with van dam, in the beginning of the movie there is a scene at a studio which is karate, and has again "Tang Soo Do" window art. Technically "karate" is Japanese, BUT Tang Soo Do is very commonly referred to as karate. Why, I guess because it's a Korean variant of shotokan in reality. In my case I would prefer to have a sign that says "Martial Arts" but as you know sensei8, and others may know if they saw my post, I got the sign as a part of my deal. I could remove it, but I'm ok with it even if I don't teach traditional Japanese karate. It's similar to how I refer to my uniform as a "gi" or my studio as a "dojo". I grew up saying dojang for studio, and dobok for uniform. I count in Korean and can speak basic introductions in Korean as well as commands like "attention" and "begin"! I use English in my class, but I could use Korean and no other Asian language if I chose. Why do I use the Japanese words then? Popularity! I often assume many of you may not know what the heck I'm saying if I say I have a black "dobok" with red trim. If I say "gi" then I am understood and there is no need to answer questions and distract us from the real value in our conversation. Anyways lol...

I get what sensei8 is saying, I believe! If I'm right he is saying that one should certainly make buisness separate from the core ethics of the program. Keep my standards my standards and don't let buisness effect that, as even if it does it will even out in time as the core of the program will be true, and solid. About right? I agree. I agree. Thanks for the "I got your back" comment. We know each other through the Internet but I still find the supportive gesture a positive thing, so thanks.

Don't fret about the wording on the sign...the message will speak for itself, and there's no use in explaining as to the why about the sign to any prospective student. Besides, the landlord did you a favor by saving you some money by leaving the sign right where it is.

Run the dojang as a dojang! Run the business as a business! One or the other will suffer if you try to run them both at the same time!! You'll have to wear two hats...one for the dojang and one for the business. Emotions drizzle from one to another, this I know from my own experiences.

When I'm on the floor...I'm there to teach...NOTHING ELSE!! When I'm not on the floor...I'm there to run the business. My minds on THAT, at that time, and nothing else. If I worry about a bill or something relating to the business while I'm on the floor, I'm not giving my students my undivided attention, and they deserve that from me always. Vice versa, when I'm managing the business, I don't have time to think about the dojo/classes, otherwise, I might forget to pay a bill or some other important business aspect.

I just have to remember what hat to wear at the right time and moment; can't wear two hats at the same time. Oh, sure, my hats switch a lot all the time and all day/night.

On the floor...TEACH...off the floor...Administer!!!!

I respect your opinion and I hold I regard for your input. In a business aspect I am obviously very new to this. I have only been teaching for about 2 1/2 years, and have been running my business since about a year and a half ago. I absolutely try to learn everything I can as I want to be as much of an open book as I Canby, somethings I have found work better for me then other instructors, but many things I'm still experimenting with. I like the way you are referring to keeping things separate, and I see no reason why I would not try to do that so thank you for that input on that .

[Nidan Melbourne]

A ton to quote and I just don't get how to do multiple post quotes like you guys do.

Sensei8 From the last post is like to say I agree I laugh when I see "Karate" on a building and it's a TKD school. 1 mile north of me this is the case, from a marketing standpoint to the average consumer who doesn't know the different this is competition because we both have a karate sign. They of corse are not karate. A friend of the family was here from Korea, and she isn't very up on American stuff. When I showed her my studio she said "karate is Japanese"! I said "to Americans they think it's all karate". I don't know if you guys have ever seen "kickin it", but he comes from a school in California which is primarily known for teaching Tang Soo Do, and the sign out front says karate. How about "no surrender" with van dam, in the beginning of the movie there is a scene at a studio which is karate, and has again "Tang Soo Do" window art. Technically "karate" is Japanese, BUT Tang Soo Do is very commonly referred to as karate. Why, I guess because it's a Korean variant of shotokan in reality. In my case I would prefer to have a sign that says "Martial Arts" but as you know sensei8, and others may know if they saw my post, I got the sign as a part of my deal. I could remove it, but I'm ok with it even if I don't teach traditional Japanese karate. It's similar to how I refer to my uniform as a "gi" or my studio as a "dojo". I grew up saying dojang for studio, and dobok for uniform. I count in Korean and can speak basic introductions in Korean as well as commands like "attention" and "begin"! I use English in my class, but I could use Korean and no other Asian language if I chose. Why do I use the Japanese words then? Popularity! I often assume many of you may not know what the heck I'm saying if I say I have a black "dobok" with red trim. If I say "gi" then I am understood and there is no need to answer questions and distract us from the real value in our conversation. Anyways lol...

I get what sensei8 is saying, I believe! If I'm right he is saying that one should certainly make buisness separate from the core ethics of the program. Keep my standards my standards and don't let buisness effect that, as even if it does it will even out in time as the core of the program will be true, and solid. About right? I agree. I agree. Thanks for the "I got your back" comment. We know each other through the Internet but I still find the supportive gesture a positive thing, so thanks.

Lowereastside I hear you. Here is how I look at numbers though. I run a class on average, of about 10 to 15. On certain days like sparring I put the classes together and can easily be over 20. When sparring it's not an issue because they need little instruction. We learn to spar by doing it, but on a different day we do drills and learn sparring concepts, so 20 or more can be run efficiently. On a day when we do Hyung/forms/kata/poomse (you like that? Lol) we break into groups of 3 to 5. Again, based on the way I split the groups I feel it is just as effective. The way I run the class will make the difference and I think that's what sensei is saying. My issue isn't with numbers as far as the quality, I feel more as though if I was to teach privately for free, and not as a "job" then I may set a standard differently then I do. I am often troubled by the feeling that if I hold a standard too high, then will too many people leave, as I believe we are in a society that desires certificates, fast rank, and not the lessons. I always sought out the technical aspects and cared little for rank, but that's me and I believe I'm an anomaly. That's my problem mostly, how to balance a gold standard, with a successful moving and growing business.

Nidan Melbourne I think that's incredibly smart to involve other programs/instructors into yours. The most you see this nowadays is with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Many places in the Phoenix area are offering this style in TKD places, and King fu places. Some are incorporating the style into their program, and others are subletting, meaning letting them use the space when it's available opposite of the main school program. I'm doing this, I found a guy that teaches Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Phoenix, and he's coming in to run a few classes a week. I take a cut for him using my space and I also get to say "my business name here" also offers Brazilian Jiu -Jitsu even though I have very novice experience in the art myself. It's a win win to me. Also, these classes will be running at my new location while I'm at my old location so it fills in for me, very excited about it and hope it works out. The other things you mentioned like boxing are great ideas. I heve seen a good deal of success from yoga and Zumba classes as well. I'm looking to find some instructors but nothing yet. I do have a "maybe" from a tai chi guy though. Guess we'll see.

Well for us it isn't us going you can bring your own business here and advertise etc. We are going to have it under our name therefore we can have a say of timing and the instructors that teach it are held accountable also.

The Instructors would be paid for their time and receive a fair share of fees paid by students, but we control times and costs of memberships etc.

It would work for us as we would be operating multiple martial arts and a fitness club at the same site (multiple levels), so if they were say a Personal Trainer or Higher they would be able to be employed by us so they wouldn't have to travel too far to go teach.

[JR 137]

Something I've wondered is what is my liability if an instructor of a different art/activity in my dojo gets sued? I.e. I let a BJJ guy teach on my off days/hours (they pay him, not me, but I'm getting a cut), he does something stupid and someone gets hurt, and he's held liable. I'm most likely named in the lawsuit, but does it get dropped easily or is it 'your building, your tenant, you're paying too?"

I know, way too vague and so many scenarios to consider to make it easy to answer.

[sensei8]

If someone's going to sue, then they will, and there's nothing anyone can do about it; it's their given right to do so. Then it's up to a judge to rule accordingly to the facts presented in a court of law.

All a MA school owner can do is protect anyone who is in their school, and this means EVERYONE who's in their school, especially, those engaging on the floor. Purchase the necessary insurance for those things that your school is partaking in. Have a visitor instructor come into teach...under the proper insurance, the school is protected.

Things happen! Just be prepared for the unknown!