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[Rawhide]

For the last about 10 years or so we've had several martial arts organizations arise that provide advice and training to the school owner - NAPMA. MAIA. MATA, the alphabet soup of martial arts.

One of the best things these organizations did for the industry is raise the level of professionalism by giving advice on payment schemes (and what schemes they are!!), uniform choice, curriculum, testing and the various aspects of the business that the public perceived through kung-fu movies and karate kids, etc.  Basically the general publiv thought we were all a bunch of nut cases (generally right) and a bunch of tough guys betaing the hell out of each other (bingo).

A professionak instructor in  the main stream keeps the language clean (there are a few exceptions).  Makes the training fun, relevent; has people skills and the ability to listen.  Wears a clean, recognizable uniform along with a WELL TRAINED STAFF that emulates the chief's demeanor and actions.

The professional keeps the room(s) clean that appeals no only to the men but also the women (the dark dank dungeons of the past needs to stay there), the room is kept clean by vacuuming or sweeping & mopping; there are TWO (2)  CLEAN bath rooms appropriately decorated (wives and girl friends or female students as well as men with fashion and interior decorating sense are best used here) plenty of TP, soap and towels (a paper towel dispenser is best) clean and emptied trash cans, uncluttered office space.

Will end here for now.  Think it over!

[mleone]

Intresting Geoff,
 I came from a system that the students served the system instead of the system serving the students.
I left that system and now see the light. It seems like the students is what we should serve in the end.
After all they pay for our overhead and all the other things! It seems like we work for them they do indeed work for us in return but we serve. Is this correct mentality to take?

Whats your take on this?

  Mario

[damien]

 I certainly do not mind helping out around the school that I am attending but please do not ask me to spend twenty minutes after class to be your janitor. I do not sweep the floor at my gym and do not expect to have to sweep the floor at a martail arts school. Unless of course you are trainning me for free. The professionaly run a school is generally the more students enroll. I have never run a school but I did earn the nick name "dojo hooper" for a reason. I have trainned at a lot.

[mleone]

I was asked to mop and clean windows I left the day they asked and did not turn back.
They gave me a speech about giving back to the organization. I left
never looked back

[Professor]

Popcorn:  Check.
Coffee:  Check.
Comfy chair:  Check.

Fireworks:    priceless.....

[Rawhide]

The HOT SEAT is burnin' But at least it'll pop De Professor's popcorn and keep him warm in cold Texas!

I suppose its all relative to what you expect.  Some people are looking fro someone to tell them what to do and there are plenty of people willing to do that.  My opinion on the cleaning subject is to use a British, Australian and NZ term (although they son't have a monopoly on the term): Bugger that!

The training hall, as De Professor so eloquently put it elsewhere is for the average Joe or Jane who makes the training their hobby.  Abything beyond getting social, sweating and a few non serious bruises is going to keep people away AND they talk!  People talk (as the study seems to say) 9x MORE about a bad experience then a good one (I guess people like to complain and whine).  Bad for the rep and word gets around. 

try getting little Junior to mop & clean the bathrooms Mom & Dad are going to take his $100 butt doen to the local karate school and sign a contract and leave you without it (hopefully he comes to me !)

It is not difficult OR expensive to get someone to clean your windows I pay about $250 a YEAR!  As for highering a cleaning service?  Its a little more expensive, maybe pay a student who needs to money?  Is willing to do it?  We did for a few years until that person could no longer do it.  For about the same amount we highered a bonmd cleaning service,  what a joy!

And yes Mario we SHOULD be the servants of the students.  Some where wlse Hock addresses this same issue (I can't remember where though) Excellent article. I'll try and find it.

We make a living by doing the best we can for the student not making them form fit into a particular system, although some people need that structure