2. An Example of How to Benefit from an MMA Program, Even If You Don’t Teach It
When NAPMA launched its Cardio-Karate Program, many members added it to their curriculums (with NAPMA’s help), even though they didn’t teach the classes. They hired a Cardio-Karate specialist to teach it, and NAPMA recommends you do the same (if you are not a grappling instructor) to benefit fully from the Edge MMA Program.
That is exactly what Phil Beatty did. He is a NAPMA consultant and owner of Phil Beatty’s Elite Training Center in St. Petersburg, Florida. Mr. Beatty has a Black Belt in Karate and is an excellent striking instructor, but was not qualified to teach grappling.
He was compelled to offer a grappling or mixed martial arts program, however, because of the repeated inquiries from both phone and walk-in traffic, especially adults. According to Mr. Beatty, 60% of the hits on his Web site relate to MMA. When local grappling enthusiasts asked to rent mat time at his school, he decided to initiate a comprehensive grappling program, so he could attract more of those students and at a higher price point.
Mr. Beatty invited Eduardo de Lima, a Gracie Black Belt and a school owner in nearby Clearwater, Florida, to teach grappling at his school.
“That is one of the best business decisions I ever made,” said Beatty. “Adding Eduardo to our staff not only expanded our curriculum, but also resulted in a series of remarkable opportunities that has boosted the attractiveness and profitability of my school.”
According to Beatty, he discovered that many MMA and grappling students communicate with each other extensively and are regular Internet users, searching for MMA programs throughout the country. There are virtually no MMA or grappling martial arts schools listed in the local phone book, so as soon as the first students found Beatty’s program, others quickly followed.
Beatty’s grappling program has also attracted many local law enforcement and military personnel, which adds greatly to the credibility and rep of his school.
“Eduardo’s greatest feat may have been the day he was invited to MacDill Air Force Base to teach grappling to a group of Marines,” said Beatty. “To earn their respect, he offered to fight all of them, no-striking. After about an hour on the airbase tarmac in the Florida summer sun, he tapped out 13 Marines, who now consider him the equivalent of a super hero. As a result, more military personnel are enrolling at my school.
“Now that our new grappling program is attracting new audiences, it is exposing them to other programs we teach, including karate and F.A.S.T. Defense,” said Beatty. “I knew it was a good idea to offer grappling and bring in a specialist to teach it, but I didn’t expect to benefit in so many other ways.” |
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