Originally posted by RCastillo
I've decided to try and shift to different days so that I will not compete with a kick boxing class that averages 25 people, among other things.
I've found that kickboxing classes tend to attract a different crowd than traditional martial arts, so they're not stealing potential students. Several things you could try:
1) offer a "self defense" course on days different than the kickboxing days and advertise with the current students. Explain how you can show them how to properly execute the things they are currently learning into self-defense situations.
2) advertise with the current kickboxing students to try to pull in their husbands and boyfriends. Say that it's beneficial for mutual support for their goals and allows them to "be together".
3) not what you want to hear, but provide some sort of kid's class at the same time as the kickboxing so that women who have kids have some place safe they can keep them while they work out.
You may have to look hard at the programs you are currently offering, too, and see what would make them more exciting or friendly for "today's" adult. I don't know how long you've been teaching, but hard-core training isn't as desired any more. Fitness is always good, but people tend to want things that are more fun to do. The hard part is figuring out what is fun that still sticks with your core art.
I only teach adults, and I wanna keep it that way.
My school is about 80% adults, but it's a difficult market. People are willing to shell out a lot for their kids, but seem to not want to do things themselves. They have different desires than the kids and tend to want more fitness than forms/katas, some want more realistic sparring and self defense.
I'm stuck, and have run out of ideas. I sure as hell hate to beg, chase for students.
Why don't you join a management group such as NAPMA or MAIA. They continually have ideas on teaching, advertising, etc. If nothing else, NAPMA has an instructor listserve on Yahoo that anyone can join. You may get more ideas there too. I don't know much about MAIA.
For me, I've changed my advertising strategy to directly attack the target market. My yellow page ad was OK, but pulled in the same number of people as my targeted local newspaper ads, which are half the cost. I'm advertising a lot of 12-week "Intro to" classes to help get people started.
I'm also starting a 12-week rotating self-defense course that addresses stand-up punch and grab defenses, ground defenses, and weapon defenses. Each class touches on fitness drills, self defense techniques, and self-defense discussions. I think it'll be slow to start up, but I have high hopes for the future. I think self defense classes will be the next Tae Bo wave.
WhiteBirch
