| Martial arts programs for children have enjoyed a | | | | Marketing tactics to bring in business but deliver |
| lot of popularity, especially in the Fredericksburg, | | | | very mediocre service. This is the middle of the |
| Stafford, and Spotsylvania areas. However, there | | | | road for most schools. They teach okay, and get |
| seems to be immense criticism of schools that | | | | a decent number of new students every month |
| try to run high quality, professional programs. | | | | but they can never really provide a great |
| Here are some of my answers to these | | | | experience for their students. Tuition is probably |
| criticisms. | | | | pretty reasonable but sometimes they may be |
| Problem 1: A Professional School is a "belt | | | | forced to test "borderline" students to make the |
| factory". The children just show up and get their | | | | bills. Not a terrible situation, but I would not go |
| belts. It's a waste of time and money. | | | | there. |
| Unfortunately, there are some children's martial | | | | Scenario 3 - Develop Good Sales and |
| arts programs out there that follow these | | | | Marketing Tactics, Charge A Higher Tuition Rate, |
| unethical practices. The fact is; schools like these | | | | Deliver Better Service. This is the few and far |
| are a waste of time and money. You can't judge | | | | between type of school. Yes, these schools will be |
| every school out there solely from the actions of | | | | a bit more expensive. But there are certain things |
| a few "bad apples". Let's say you go to an Italian | | | | you buy cheap, and others you buy by quality. |
| restaurant and the service was slow, the food | | | | Remember these things when you're choosing |
| tasted awful, and the staff was completely | | | | schools. Scenario 1 might look good initially until |
| incompetent. Would you swear off all Italian | | | | your 2 years in and you realize you've spent |
| restaurants based solely on your bad experience | | | | thousands of dollars and your children haven't |
| at one place? The fact is you need to do your | | | | learned any martial arts. Scenario 2 could be okay |
| research before you buy anything! | | | | as long as your child is actually learning and not |
| Problem 2: A Professional School is "in it for the | | | | simply "run through" the system. Scenario 3 is |
| money" | | | | your best bet if you can afford it. Personally, if I |
| This is a very tricky situation. A Professional | | | | was signing my children up because I wanted |
| Martial Arts school is a business. The truth is; it | | | | them to learn discipline, good values, and gain |
| can be very expensive to run a high quality school | | | | some confidence I certainly would not choose a |
| in a nice location. School owners are faced with a | | | | program based on the cheapest alternative. |
| couple different scenarios. | | | | These problems aside, if you're interested in |
| Scenario 1 - Charge an extremely low rate; | | | | improving your child's confidence, focus, and self |
| test everyone every single month to pay the | | | | esteem you can check out Danny Margoupis's |
| rent. They can never advertise, add staff, or | | | | Mountain Kim Martial Arts. This is in the Stafford, |
| make improvements to the school because they | | | | Spotsylvania, and Fredericksburg area. You can |
| never have enough money to pay their bills. | | | | take advantage of the 2 week free trial program |
| Would you like to go to this school? | | | | that they have. |
| Scenario 2 - Develop Good Sales and | | | | |