Just a couple of thoughts:

First. I took a look and you are not a NAPMA member that I can find.
Perhaps you are referring the the fact that you receive Martial Arts Professional Magazine.

Second. With regard to NAPMA there are over 1,200 members in the U.S,
20,000 who get the magazine. I certainly cannot vouch for the humility or
respect level of them all. Your interactions with them were likely before I had
any direct involvement in the organization anyway since I formally assumed
control of the organization a little over 9 months ago, and we’ll host the first
live event under new ownership in September.

Third. My question before was why a school owner would have that type
of stuff on his school website. I’m sure it does nothing but confuse prospective
students and little to support a case for training with you.

Fourth. The whole “Bullshido” thing. I do believe that there are individuals,
including some NAPMA members who may not be what you or I would consider
to be “legitimate martial artists” on the NAPMA side we have no control over
their martial arts background and are specifically not a Martial Arts curriculum
association. The Bullshido posts and various “rants” were by that crowd attacking
Mile High Karate. I believe that their posts and comments miss several very
important points:

A. In a forum like that there are may “wannabes” with little experience
in any martial art. What they have seems to be predominantly BJJ or
MMA. Few if any of the participants run successful commercial schools.

B. There are many reasons to teach martial arts. Not everyone has to
subscribe to the type of “ground and pound” philosophy to be legitimate
or to be teaching a true martial arts program.

The UFC stuff is nothing new. We were original “Mixed Martial Artists”
in the 1960’s training first in Judo, using pretty much “no holds barred”
in open tournaments. And, then modeling Bruce Lee along with Jhoon
Rhee (my instructor along with Jeff Smith) along the way and culminating
in professional kickboxing.

Most professional schools cater to families and kids. The training expectation
for an 8 year old or a 45 year old mom is different than for a 25 year old MMA
student with aspirations to train in the UFC.

In our Mile High Karate schools we teach some BJJ and really are a MMA school
going back 25 years, we aren’t going to have our clientele training for the UFC
or allow instructors to cuss at students and have 25 tattoos and 10 piercings.

Fifth. You can run just about any type of school and do it profitably. There are
MMA schools & BJJ schools now grossing $1,000,000 a year or more teaching
very solid curriculums in that martial art to 25 to 35 year olds. There are also
schools teaching Kickboxing, focusing on 40+ adults, and anything else you
can think of operating very successfully.

The principles are the same:

1. Effective Marketing to get in front of your target audience.

2. Proper communication and sales skills to facilitate their enrollment and insure
commitment.

3. High quality teaching methodology to insure that they learn the techniques
appropriately and that the process facilitates proper physical and
mental skills development.

4. Happy students - who stay and train, pay their bills, refer their friends.

5. Charging appropriately so that the revenue is maximized.

Unfortunately many “Hardcore” MMA guys really don’t want to run a school or
learn to run a business. They want “fresh meat” and want to insult those who not
only have mastered the physical but moved on to become a Master Teacher then
Master Business person.

Lloyd Irvin who’s a friend and student (and BJJ $1,000,000 school operator)
describes the Bullshido crowd well by saying:

“if you hang around with 9 broke people” you are bound to be the 10th.

I’d recommend that you open your mind enough to learn how to run your school as a business.
And, invest in materials that will help you get a head start on that process.

First. Decide who you want to teach.
Second. What you want to teach them (making sure it’s what they want to learn)

Then learn to market and sell your “product.”

Far from needing to water it down, the better you are at what you do the more attractive
you will be to the right segment of the population.

Unfortunately Peer pressure in our industry is high to be a failure.

Stephen Oliver

———————————————————————-

On Jul 9, 2008, at 10:43 AM, Fusion Mixed Martial Arts wrote:

Hi Stephen,

I admire and respect what you are trying to do with the martial arts
industry. I have a monthly subscription to your NAMPA. A lot of your
advices are very good. I have been a big fan of Dan K, and Jay A for a
long time, before you have mention about them in your current NAMPA.

But there are a few things I am concern about. I see a lot of martial
arts school that subscribe to your teaching/methodology, let’s say
that a lot of it is really not that good. I see kids young as 12
working around declaring that they are a black belt this/ black belt
that. When I see them move the lack fundamental bio-mechanic
understanding, they lack depth, etc.

I went to and CPR workshop and hearing parents proudly telling me that
their child is a black belt in training. There child is only 5 years
old. A student of mine bring his son to come to train with me because
his son current martial arts school does no sparring, runs around and
play game every class. His son will be getting his black belt this
coming January, and let’s just say he knows how to play tag very well

The instructor in my town preaches respect, humility, etc. But they
are some of the most arrogant and prideful people I have ever met.
I have met at least a dozen instructors that are part of your NAMPA,
and let just say most of these guys, I don’t want to be in the same
life boat with.

I feel this is a result of some of your strategies, technique that you
preaching. I am sorry I feel that you are really close and passionate
about what you are doing, so I feel at time you will fail to see what
your critics are saying.

Why do I post this, is because I want to educate the consumer that
there is more to martial arts than what they see in the stripe mall.

I understand that my profit margin is no where near what your school
or school similar to yours. I feel that must be a way to have great
martial arts training at the same time make money.

Like I said on my web site is a “work in progress”. I am still trying
to figure these things out.

Also my clientele are very different they are young man who have
previous train in martial arts and realize that they are a by-product
of typical stripe mall martial arts school. They are here to get
martial arts training that are physical and mentally challenging.

Please excuse my lack of English writing skills.
Mong

On Wed, Jul 9, 2008 at 11:08 AM, Stephen Oliver
<stephenoliver@milehighkarate.com> wrote:
I’m curious as a school operator how you figure this might be helpful.
On Jul 9, 2008, at 9:16 AM, Fusion Mixed Martial Arts wrote:

Hi Stephen
Thanks for your email. I know you are super busy, so I am surprised
you are interested in what I have on my web site.
I am assuming your mind is already made up about why I post this on my
site, since you call what I am posting crap…
If you objection or have an opinion about my post you are more than
welcome to submit replied. I will post your replied or whatever
portion you want on my site.
I am sorry my comment button on my site in not working. I deleted the
comment code of my web site by accident. And I am too busy to re-enter
the coding.
If you are still interested in why I post what I post, I will be more
than happy to do so.
Mong