Is Being a Part-Time Martial Arts School Owner a Bad Thing?
April 4, 2008 by Ryan Wheaton
Filed under Raves & Rants
In my opinion, there seems to be an extreme focus on becoming a full time, multi-school owner when I read martial arts school owner related magazines, email newsletters, and websites. The “little guys” always seem to looked at as those that need the most “help” … like there is something that is wrong with them.
While having the goal of being a full time multi-school owner is for some, it’s not the goal for everyone. That is what seems lost on the chain marketing gurus that have made it big – not everyone wants that. There are different levels of “success” out there.
I understand these marketing and business associations point that you can make a lot of money and become wealthy from their business methods and marketing tactics. I’ve seen it and respect those who have achieved that but clearly that is what they wanted. Kudos to association that helped them realize their dream.
However, that is their goal and I feel like sometimes they’re projecting their beliefs a little too much onto the rest of us who might want different.
I’m not saying being a full time chain owner is a bad thing, either. To each his own. My beef is with those that tell you what you’re doing isn’t success in their eyes. I don’t know about you, but I’m perfectly happy being a part time school owner at this time and have more students than I can handle. To me, I’m successful for what I’ve set out to do.
I’ve had several people tell me I’m nuts that I don’t have a full time studio. Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching and want to help as many people as I can. I have 8 black belts instructors at my school and have run out of room and time to teach more students. Clearly, there is demand and I’m leaving money on the table.
But, I’m ok with it. My goal was to get a strong studio with great students and get them to black belt – not open a dozen studios in a year. Now that I have the black belt staff, it would be much easier to move into more hours and days. I have a growth plan and I’m sticking to it. Its gotten me this far and I’m happy with it.
I think there is a way to be an effective marketer, make good money, still be part-time, and never feel like you’re selling your soul. I say, grow and succeed in a way that aligns with who you are and what you want to do.
Me, I’m proud to be part time. If you want to stay part time, then that’s the best thing for you and your studio. There’s nothing wrong with it my opinion and you can be incredibly successful – however you personally define it.
Agree or disagree? Let me hear from you in the form of a comment below!
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I'm Ryan Wheaton and I work with martial arts school owners to help them attract more students. Many martial arts school owners are confused at how to best market their business and feel awkward in selling situations. I help them overcome those challenges to become confident and competent in marketing and selling their services - helping them become more profitable so they can live the lifestyle they want to live.
I tend to agree with your thoughts about operating a single location or having a multi location of martial art schools. As a new martial arts school owner that has not opened his doors yet, and a student that came from a multi location school – I feel success of one’s business is all relative. One can minimize their costs and improve their quality by operating one school. And possibly be very wealthy by charging a premium price for premium lessons. I will consider myself a successful school owner if I am able to make an impact in my community and to my students.
Javier
The Dojo of Karate
Javier – Well said and thank you for taking the time to comment and push the conversation further. Also, congratulations on the school. You seem to be preparing in a very strategic manner. — Ryan
Thank you for this insitghfil article. You are changing the dialog on what “success” means in the teaching of martial arts. I have 50 students in a 1500 square foot dojo ( a rented space in a recreation center).
We teach a Samurai martial art from a Christian perspective. We are a unique school with a unique style — definitely not a cookie cutter “McDojo”.
It comes down to the QUALITY of your program not the quantity of your students.
I’m proud to say I know every student by name, have the respect of their parents, and have developed a reputation for quality and service above all else. THAT is what REAL success is about!
In 15 years of consulting with martial arts professionals, we feel there is a real danger for most owners to expand to more than one location. Two schools is usually three times the stress, work, and liability.
You move from happy, successful instructor to stressed out manager. You become dependent on your staff and when there is a fall out, and there is almost always a fallout, you can’t be two places at one time.
MATA specializes in small schools that either want to grow or get more results but with less work. I launched MATA after Century got NAPMA in 2004.
Mr. Graden – Thank you for visiting and for your insight. I’m glad to hear you don’t push this a measure of success in your martial arts marketing association. It’s definitely not for everyone.
I agree completely. I know when I decided that I wanted to have a school of my own I had in my mind what I wanted to create but I did know how to get there. I looked at school owners that had the type of school that closely fit the type of school I have envisioned. I want a school that produces quality student not fortune or as you wrote “a strong studio with great students and get them to black belt” Most of those people I spoke to that had good quality schools said start in a fitness club, community center and grow from there.
The decision should be about personal goals and objectives.
I’m concerned about the feeling of “selling your soul” or the comment of quality vs. quantity and “McDojo”
The difference between being “full-time” and “part-time” is how much time and effort you have available to devote to your school and your students.
You’re not unsuccessful or successful by being part-time or full-time.
The correct questions are always:
1. How do I maximize the value that I give to my students (keep them training, develop high quality physical, mental, emotional skills, etc.)
2. Is my return on time and effort reasonable and equal to or more than my other opportunities – or,
Am I doing this purely as a hobby and therefore structuring appropriately (ie. no long-term expensive lease, etc.)
We teach school owners to be able to run their school full-time if they choose and make a better income than their other career options while delivering extremely high student value.
Stephen Oliver
National Association of Professional Martial Artists
Great topic! I myself have come full circle. I started out part-time with 1300 sq. ft. of blood and guts adults only, went to a full-time 6000 sq. ft. studio (150+ students and growing)complete with a fitness center, lost that to Katrina and am now back to part-time with 2000 sq. ft. of hard-core Kenpo and BJJ. There is alot to be said about working for yourself but it’s also nice to have the security of a good job and benefits. I joined NAPMA when it first started and they did help with school growth. After a while though, the material became a little repetative. Same ideas, different packaging. I could always find one thing that I could use in their monthly package but decided that the return wasn’t worth the price. With so much info. from the internet now, a little research will give me that tid-bit that I can use with a significant reduction in cost. I am not saying that NAPMA, MATA, etc… are not worth the investment especially if you are starting from scratch. After you figure out what’s going on with the business side of it though, it’s all about keeping the back door closed and ensuring you have enough students to meet your monetary goals, whatever they may be. I have an MA school down the road that markets the fact that they have produced over 2000 black belts in 14 years. He has a beautiful 10,000 sq. ft. facility he built from the ground up and over 300 students paying $120-$180 a month. Is he succesfull? Yes, but at what cost. I have had three of his black belts walk through my doors including a 3rd degree that didn’t have the first clue about defending themselves. I have produced 7 black belts in the same period. Two have used their kenpo to save their lives. Several of my students that are LEO and military have used what they’ve learned to protect themselves as have many kenpoists in our org. The great thing about being part time is that my job is to teach self defense, not make people feel good about themselves. If I get somebody on the mat, adult or child and they don’t want to put forth the effort it takes, I recommend they go somewhere else. No matter what the full-timers say about maintaining the integrity of the art, a student out the door means no braces for Timmy or no NAPMA seminar in FL. Part-timers have more control over who and what they teach. Full-timers have to keep their students coming back but again, at what cost.