It's well known that Ed Parker based his business plan for the spread of American Kenpo Karate on the Arthur Murray Dance studios, and he thought of McDonalds as a very successful example of what he wanted to do.[\quote]
It is so ironic that you mention Arthur Murray Dance studios because I have both learned at one and worked at one for a short time :lol2:. American Kenpo is just that - an American creation, therefore, applying American conventions to it is much easier. Ed Parker himself was very much open to change and experimentation, and his kenpo was a reflection of that, so he wouldn't run into the same problems as say, teaching the Japanese Koryo where strict adherence to a specific tradition is of the utmost importance. A kenpo instructor would be able to be far more flexible to meet his/her customers' needs due to the more flexible nature of kenpo itself. However, a more traditional martial art wouldn't be so easy where the focus is on adhering to a particular tradition and doing things "properly" according to that tradition. Far less leeway for the instructor to accommodate the students, and that impacts new enrollment and retention. This is of course assuming that the instructor is operating in good faith and wants to teach the authentic version of said art. I guess it all comes down to what the school teaches and how marketable the "product" is. If we are talking MMA gyms or dancing as you stated, then the business side of things is probably far less of an issue. I am looking at it more from a TMA standpoint. So I will have to revise my own position - I don't like the idea of *traditional* martial arts being about business. Very interesting stuff, though.
