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Post by Kurisu on Sept 21, 2011 21:00:19 GMT -5
Do you have an admissions policy? We're thinking of instituting this but I wanted to get some feedback. Recently, we've been getting some MMA jocks that have bad attitudes and are really just there to take what they think they need and split.
We want to create a good training environment where people feel comfortable but are pushed hard by the instructors. I would rather have a group of beginners that have never trained than a group of jerks that think they're the next BJ Penn.
In the past, when the MMA jock or guy with a chip on his shoulder showed up and wanted to try a class we would make class so hard that people were running to the bathroom. That usually worked to weed out the rotten ones but it also took a toll on the regular students. I don't know if we can sustain the class if we're blasting everyone every time a jerk shows up.
We've been thinking of either doing a questionnaire or interview before someone that seems questionable joins. We're also thinking about making it absolutely clear that we discourage cross training at other gyms. We're in a position now where we can financially start turning people away.
Any thoughts / feedback is appreciated.
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Post by ironcastknight on Sept 21, 2011 23:20:58 GMT -5
Kick their legs off during kumite? Destroying their ability to walk out of the dojo without holding onto the walls and crying every time they see stairs seems like it'd either drive them right out forever or encourage them to stick around. I know the asswhuppin's I got in the short time I got to go to y'alls dojo make me want to visit Guam again for a few weeks just so that I can experience them again, and you guys weren't even going rough on me.
On the less leg-murder laden route, probably the short interview would be the best route, as the complete douchebags tend to be fairly obvious.
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Post by powerof0ne on Sept 21, 2011 23:47:54 GMT -5
I've been interviewed by a few dojo in the past, and one dojo was very weird of how they went about it. Husband and wife...their oldest son, and they're all Caucasian BTW...interviewing me, asking me what I thought about kata, kumite, etc. All of a sudden their daughter comes to serve us green tea..to which the wife says domo arigato...I about lost it right there. I actually trained a few times with them them due to convenience and how cheap they were. However, they didn't want me to train with the other students....when I asked the wife what her dan grade was, she wouldn't tell me and gave me some weird speech of how they don't believe in dan grades. The wife also wanted me to teach her kata she didn't know. Yeah, I lasted 2-3 sessions with them, and they didn't want to do kumite with me.
LOL, my experience is sort of rare, I'm sure.
I do believe in letting students cross train, but I think there comes a time when it's not practical, and is practical to cross train. I let students know, the more dedication and training they put in, the more I'm going to teach them. If they come only every once in a while and don't put forth the effort, I'm not going to teach them much of anything new.
Learning new techniques, kata, etc. is a gift only the deserving karateka receives...not the wannabe, at least by me. I'm greedy in much of what I have to teach, but the cost of learning it is very low, monetarily.
I'm happy for you, that you can be picky in who you teach, and are able to afford refusing students. For myself, at this point, I'd only refuse somebody that was somehow a danger to other students...but always an exception.
Osu!
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GJEC
Member
LOUGHBOROUGH ENSHIN
Posts: 3,218
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Post by GJEC on Sept 22, 2011 0:22:06 GMT -5
We have a 'trial month'. If someone doesn't fit in, I'll tell them as nicely as I can and suggest another place may suit them better.
We don't get many with a bad attitude, it's usually just the lazy I have to move on.
Gary
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Post by noahh on Oct 11, 2011 5:35:00 GMT -5
Osu!
I like the idea of an interview although we have not found it necessary. New students not of Kyokushin (or similar) background, I simply require to complete the 8 week beginners programme. Weeds out the thugs for the most part.
Neither my students or I are there to provide sparring partners for walkins with unknown skills it presents too much risk (ussually to them) but potentially to my students if you get a nutter. I agree with you, hard out sessions constantly to weed out thugs can be to the determent of your good students.
I encourage cross training, provided when they are in my dojo they train Kyokushin. I had one cross training student who recurrently during training would regurgitate the wisdom of his other instructor, at that point I gave him a choice. Haven't heard any wisdom since.
Osu!
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Post by Kurisu on Jan 19, 2012 23:56:11 GMT -5
I've turned away 2 people this month because they wanted to suppliment their MMA training. I personally don't like the idea of coming to the dojo just to improve their striking because they take what they need then split. We're trying to build a heatlhy organization and having these MMA guys come in doesn't accomplish that goal.
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Post by Ros on Jan 20, 2012 3:16:24 GMT -5
I've turned away 2 people this month because they wanted to suppliment their MMA training. I personally don't like the idea of coming to the dojo just to improve their striking because they take what they need then split. We're trying to build a heatlhy organization and having these MMA guys come in doesn't accomplish that goal. Why would having some diversity in training goals be detrimental to a healthy organisation? Assuming they are paying customers, why shouldn't they take what they need? Everyone else does ultimately. Who knows, you might even learn something from them.  I'm not trying to be argumental (no, really  ), just interested in your reasons. What do other instructors think? |
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GJEC
Member
LOUGHBOROUGH ENSHIN
Posts: 3,218
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Post by GJEC on Jan 20, 2012 3:20:39 GMT -5
I'd love to be that choosy, but quite frankly at the moment I'll give anyone a start.
Their fees would help keep the dojo in the black.
Gary
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Post by powerof0ne on Jan 20, 2012 3:26:58 GMT -5
I understand where Kurisu is coming from and am implementing some new rules with my students as well. This is to sort out the ones that want to train, and the ones that don't want to train. I'm going to implement an attendance policy that I already had them sign, more or less saying if they miss more then 2 weeks of lessons without a good justification (I am very reasonable), I can put them on probation, and ultimately expel them if it becomes a habit. My reason for doing this is because students that aren't up to speed with the rest of the class slow the rest of the class down because I can't progress with new material when I have a student or two that doesn't know the old material. I have tried to separate the class with beginners and more advanced students, it doesn't really work out well with me running back and forth. Examples of how I'm reasonable, if someone has a family emergency, is really struggling with a university class, any real medical issues!, job, etc. Some times life throws us hurdles, but if someone just doesn't feel like coming to class for a few weeks, and makes a habit out of that, then why come at all? The way I teach and the "plan," or the syllabus I have, requires students to show up on a regular basis. They're welcome to train else where if they don't like this, I don't force anybody to train . The other one is having a cut-off date for new students. At the beginning of fall and spring semester, only within the first 3 weeks will I allow a new student, not any time of the year. This is because the time is limited, and I want to progress as efficiently as possible with the days I have to teach them. I have enough students right now that I'm content with, if I receive no more next month, I won't shed a tear . However, of course I'd like to get some more, but they better come within the first 3 weeks! There are exceptions to every rule I said, I'm very reasonable to special circumstances and so forth. I'm also changing my tuition to no longer accepting monthly payments. Logistically speaking, it didn't work out to have students paying monthly, when they "felt like" they could just show up one month and not, the next. I only accept semester, or year tuition from now on, no exception on that. $150 a semester, $250 for a year, I know, I'm soooo expensive(if someone really can't afford that at once, I'll work something out in private, like I said, I'm reasonable). With all of my new rules, I have a few students in for a rude awakening next month. I have a strong group of 8 students that are with me right now, they understand where I'm coming from and if I only have 8 students then so be it...I'll help them be the best karateka they can be...as long as they want it and put in the work! Osu! |
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Post by seattle on Jan 20, 2012 3:40:52 GMT -5
I would like to be picky about who gets to train but I would probably have turned away some of my better students. New students are brought in and not separated from regular class on their first couple of nights. I don't do much basic training of new students until they have sweated with us. That way I am not wasting my or my students time. I explain the process to them before class. Gives them a general idea of the class to make a educated decision if the class is for them.
Kumite class is a bit different, I usually ask them to come to regular class a few times. If they are cross training then I will let them join us but make sure that day we do some good and tiring pad drills. Most of them get exhausted then when we get to actual kumite practice they get tired very quick.. I also pair them up for the first 3 or 4 rounds with advanced students who can hold their own against most people. At least they can dish out and take punishment if the guy (or gal) is good and overly aggressive. Doesn't happen very often.
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Post by powerof0ne on Jan 20, 2012 3:54:44 GMT -5
I would like to be picky about who gets to train but I would probably have turned away some of my better students. New students are brought in and not separated from regular class on their first couple of nights. I don't do much basic training of new students until they have sweated with us. That way I am not wasting my or my students time. I explain the process to them before class. Gives them a general idea of the class to make a educated decision if the class is for them. Kumite class is a bit different, I usually ask them to come to regular class a few times. If they are cross training then I will let them join us but make sure that day we do some good and tiring pad drills. Most of them get exhausted then when we get to actual kumite practice they get tired very quick.. I also pair them up for the first 3 or 4 rounds with advanced students who can hold their own against most people. At least they can dish out and take punishment if the guy (or gal) is good and overly aggressive. Doesn't happen very often. I think you're very fortunate that you have a larger group of experienced students then I do under you to help out. Having a dojo with experienced students really helps out in so many ways not really obvious until you're in a dojo full of beginners . For those not aware, Seattle has 8-10 yudansha off the top of my head and I believe at least 6 come on a regular basis, if not all of them. Osu! |
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Post by Kurisu on Jan 25, 2012 9:26:08 GMT -5
Ros, where I'm at "MMA fighters" bounce around from place to place. I really don't want to spend my time to teach someone when they don't have a long term plan to stick it out. Its not healthy for the dojo for people to show up for a few months then split. Right now our youngest black belt is 30 and we really need to bring up new talent. How can we do that when someone just wants to try to be GSP for 3 months?
Even though we're a commercial dojo, money is not my motivation. We want a consistent place to train and to provide our students with excellent training programs. If we can make some spending money along the way, great.. if not, as long as we cover our costs and have enough to get good equipment we're happy.
We have a great marketing plan that allows us to be picky with our students. I have to answer a lot of questions that some may see as stupid via email and phone but that comes with the territory.
My philosophy is it's our dojo, our rules. If you don't like it; train somewhere else. I've tried to be lenient and accommodating in the past but in the end we ended up getting burned.
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Post by Ros on Jan 26, 2012 11:00:40 GMT -5
My philosophy is it's our dojo, our rules. If you don't like it; train somewhere else. Fair enough, that's the bottom line really. |
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GJEC
Member
LOUGHBOROUGH ENSHIN
Posts: 3,218
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Post by GJEC on Aug 11, 2012 4:25:38 GMT -5
Saw this on the Crossfit Leicester site. What a GREAT opener!
MOTIVATED PEOPLE ONLY …
By entering our fitness arena, you agree to give 100% of what you have. There are no excuses or second chances . Everyday, every moment is an opportunity to excel to be more, to achieve your best. Do not squander your time by going through the motions. Train hard and get results. Do you have that level of commitment ? if so email, text, call us.
Mine would be:
By joining our dojo, you agree to do your best.
Every session is an opportunity to improve.
Do not squander your time or our coaching by merely going through the motions.
Train smart, work hard and you will get results.
Do you have that level of commitment ? if so email, text, call us.
Gary
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Post by meguro on Aug 11, 2012 19:26:10 GMT -5
I like it! Sounds like a dare.
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), just interested in your reasons. What do other instructors think?