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As my eyes glaze over……. ( or, face it – your style's nothing special – to the only person who counts)
A few weeks back I took the trek to the computer store. You see one of my laptops broke and Jodi needed a new one .. right now.. for college and other needs.
I strolled up to the laptop section – and, immediately encountered the ultimate techno-nerd. When asking about the various machines he immediately launched into a long conversation about MHZ and GIG-A-BYTES and, AMD vs. INTEL. Although I consider myself extremely computer literate – it was amazing how quickly I found my mind wandering and my interest waning.
This isn't an uncommon phenomenon.
Think about any somewhat technical purchase.
Ever had the stereo sales person explain in excruciating detail the watts, distortion ratio, peak RMS, etc., etc. when basically you wanted easy to install, loud enough, and extremely deep base for your home theater and clean sound for music?
How about this… you walk into the bike shop – wanting a nice bike for you and the wife and kids to entertain yourselves with on the weekends and draw as a sales person the ultimate racing mountain biker. He immediately launches into how the brakes save 3 ounces and the manufacturing process used on the frame.
Or, you go to buy a car and immediately start getting technical details about the suspension, engine, and the ignition system. I don't know about you – but, what I'm interested in mostly boils down to do I like the way it looks, does it go real fast, and will hot women like it. Sound familiar?
Well, now don't take this personally – but, almost every martial arts student prospect ends up having to negotiate a ridiculous monologue about how incredible your martial arts style is, how it was brought down from the hills of China ( Korea , Japan , etc.) and personally handed down father to son, father to son, until ending up in your possession.
It's really important the step back and understand one important fact.
That is that your student prospects are there because of their needs not yours and, in the vast majority of the cases don't know Tae Kwon Do from Aikido from Kickboxing.
They have their own interests and their own concerns.
In all most every case they know little or nothing about different styles of martial arts – and, frankly could care less. The more you explain the intricacies and details about your unique style and curriculum – the more their eyes glaze over .
Certainly each prospect is different but generally they do want hear about:
How will your teaching process be fun – and, keep me or my child interested and motivated?
Will you help my child feel more confident and deal with the neighborhood bully – without becoming one himself?
If at some point if necessary will I be able to defend myself (remember that means I want to be able to repel any attacker without ever having to “fight.”)
Will I be comfortable with you and with the other students in your school?
Will this be safe – or, am I or my child at risk of being hurt?
How's the philosophy of your school? Are you in sync with where our family wants to be or, will you contradict how we are developing our child?
Think this is heresy?
Do you think that your students flock to you because of your incredible style of martial arts and your unimpeachable lineage?
How about this?
Think about the last time it happened to you. You meet an instructor at the “NAPMA-
World Conference,” at one of my “Mini-Bootcamps,” or at the local martial arts tournament.
You make the mistake of asking – so what do you teach?
And, immediately he (or, she) launches into “The Monologue” explaining who his Master Instructor was – the history and evolution of his style – and, the intricacies of what's unique about their patterns, structure, or defense strategies.
Ok, you're a martial artist. Even one who's a professional. Let me ask – how long does it take for YOUR eyes to glaze over?
Now if you were a new student prospect – how enthused would you be for your chance to join the school – and, learn more and more about this?
Now, don't get me wrong. There are important issues of curriculum content and structure that help with student retention, physical and mental mastery, renewals or upgrades. Certainly, developing an appreciation of the lineage and development of your style helps students gradually develop an higher appreciation for you and your school – It just has to be presented at the right time and place – and, has little to do with whether a student enrolls in your school or, whether they stay.
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