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[tmd]

The training at our dojo is very varied I feel but it seems to be sods law that whenever new students come to give us a try out were on a bash up session getting read for a tourney or it's just before a grading so we are doing a lot of high intensity stuff and sometimes the last we see of them.

I have an idea about this but would like to open it up to the forum - How do we encourage those who come for the first time to keep coming? How do we demonstrate on that first night the path they would undertake to lead them to getting out of Karate what they are looking for?

[Bloke]

Im lucky in that I run a dojo with another instructor so we can divide the class if we need to so if someone comes in and we are preparing for a tournament that can still train and be told that what they are seeing is if they want to fight and some time away for them.

[DKKC]

We give them 1 month free training - so people have more time to make up their minds.

Also, we explain to them what is going to happen in the session and why (ie tournament coming up, grading etc.) and another black or brown belt cat take the beginner on one side and work with them on specifcic drills while for a while.

Some delf defence at the end of the session and pair up the beginners with high grades so that they get a lot of positive attention. It's a good way to warm down and shows the beginners what they want to see

[Deaken]

I have had two experiences, the one above, where someone comes and never comes back because we "train too hard", as well as visitors who expect that because of Kyokushin's reputation that we would be kicking the C**P out of each other every class, and walk away saying that we are a weak school because we are doing kata and kihon that day.

I find the best way is to explain to the newcomer what is going on for that class, and what our revolving class schedules consist of (when do we spar, when do we do kata, self defence, what are we working on for this calandar quarter, etc.). I also always make sure that either I or one of my senior students gives them some one on one time no matter what we happen to be doing that class. It's not a foolproof system, but it weeds out the "fools" while helping me maintain as many new prospects as possible.

[Aunty Ichigeki]

Good topic. I think it's hard to get it perfect. We took the attitude a few years ago not to try to hard for newbies because they either like it or not & it seems the harder you try the less likely they are to stick it out long term but then we have other instructors who make themselves very available and explain all about our classes & what a newbie can expect (we also offer 2 weeks free). Thinking on it I'm not sure it's the content of the class that puts people off or how friendly the instructors & students are. If you're smacking each other crippled but look like you're enjoying it, still speak to each other afterwards and have time to smile and nod at the newbie that goes a long way. We consider greeting and knowing the names of the others in the class step one in leadership training & Uncle tests the high grade kids sometimes. One time he got the high grades to lie down & the kids whose names were forgotten got to walk on their belly while their sempai recited their name 5 times each! They didn't forget and the newbies feel like they belong.

[meguro]

Why not have a beginners' class? We have a beginners' class where the white belts get acclimated, the injured and those recovering from injuries can wade around in the shallow end of the pool, and where those taking promotion tests can brush up on their basics.

[tmd]

Originally Posted by meguro

Why not have a beginners' class? We have a beginners' class where the white belts get acclimated, the injured and those recovering from injuries can wade around in the shallow end of the pool, and where those taking promotion tests can brush up on their basics.

This is actually what I am planning to ask my Shihan if I can run, a Sunday AM course for all the local newbies and anyone looking to brush up on their basics or who have come over from another style and are struggling to get to grips with the minor differences.

Not this Sunday though - we've got beach training!

[kakatootoshi]

Dear tmd,
In your case I think explanation is most important as it has been pointed out. There are also newbies who think you are not teaching authentic Kyokushin when you happen to focus on Kata and not sparring hard on that night and you never know. Let them know there is variety (in terms of training focuses) in your dojo while Kyokushin is a whole. Too much misconceptions for beginners (we will spar hard every night/well take it easy we always go soft on you) are not good. Many of these people cannot go further than white or orange.

OSU!

[kanku]

perhaps slightly off thread but when you have got the newbies interested i found an attendence card appeared to work.

all you do is issue the card and when it comes to grading time these cards are given in and whoever is grading can see what their attendence has been since the last grading.

this gives incentive to the student+ help to the instructors.

plus it got extra money in for the dojo.

[tmd]

Originally Posted by hasbeen

perhaps slightly off thread but when you have got the newbies interested i found an attendence card appeared to work.

all you do is issue the card and when it comes to grading time these cards are given in and whoever is grading can see what their attendence has been since the last grading.

this gives incentive to the student+ help to the instructors.

plus it got extra money in for the dojo.

We use these and I have had good and bad feed back - good is the parents/ student knows what they have to do to get to the next grading and if they are short of classes they can train extra nights at our other clubs which gets them moving around - Bad is, and I'll limit this to the main issue; some think it is THE requirement to gain the next grade, they have done the right number of lessons, they attend the grading so where's the new belt? Especially problematic among some of the parents rather than senior students.

[kanku]

Originally Posted by tmd

We use these and I have had good and bad feed back - good is the parents/ student knows what they have to do to get to the next grading and if they are short of classes they can train extra nights at our other clubs which gets them moving around - Bad is, and I'll limit this to the main issue; some think it is THE requirement to gain the next grade, they have done the right number of lessons, they attend the grading so where's the new belt? Especially problematic among some of the parents rather than senior students.

fair point

[Aunty Ichigeki]

Originally Posted by tmd

Especially problematic among some of the parents rather than senior students.

Boy! That's not surprising is it! I despair of parents who think their kids should grade or worse double grade! I've had to issue a notice before every grading asking parents NOT to suggest to their kids they should aim to double grade because we have kids mortified that they only single graded!!!! Parents do my head in some times!

[tmd]

I have even had perants trying to talk to me or the instruictor while we're training their kids! When I build my own dojo (10 year wish list!) I'm gonna have a glass screen or similar for them to stand behind.

[Bloke]

Originally Posted by tmd

I have even had perants trying to talk to me or the instruictor while we're training their kids! When I build my own dojo (10 year wish list!) I'm gonna have a glass screen or similar for them to stand behind.

Dont forget the soundproofing!!

[seienchin]

thsi thread has some good stuff about managing karate parents:

http://www.kyokushin4life.com/forums...s-juniors.html

[Nix]

We are a relativelly large school (a couple of hundred members), so naturally we've divided them into several classes. Furthermore, we only take in new members twice a year, so for one, they will not be the only new students, and the class will not be very tough. Most of the people that quit almost before they started, do so because the lesons are too intensive, so it's important to go easy on them. Coincidentally, there is also sparring and bag work after their class, so they can see that more experienced students do more than just kihon. I also think it is important they get to do a wide variety of things, not only kihon/kata/whatever. Self-defence, sabaki, advanced kata are all things that might interest them.

Regarding attendance card:
According to our curriculum, you have to attend a certain percent of all classes during a set period of time. Therefore, the instructor will make roll-calls each class. This works nicely for us. The instructor should also stress that this is by far the only requirement - the student still needs permission from his instructor, so if he is not good enough, not dedicated enough, not in possession of the right spirit (including bad-mannered) the student will not be allowed to grade. Period. Also, we don't do double-grading, so that is not an issue.

[Paedde]

Originally Posted by Nix

We are a relativelly large school (a couple of hundred members), so naturally we've divided them into several classes.

Wow, may I ask how you advertise your dojo? That's a lot compared to where I train.

[Nix]

Paedde,

We simply put up posters around town. We used to advertise in the local newspaper, but the outcome didn't match the costs. It should be noted that most of the students are children - we get up to 50 new children every 6 months. It's relativelly much, comparing to the size of the city (59k), but I just think that we have a good reputation, plus we've been around for 34 years and have very decent premises.

[mcuz]

1. if possible have a begginers class
2. no matter what you do, people will come and go, kyokushin is not for everyone.
3. talk to newbie before class starts. bow in and acknowledge newbie and introduce to class
4. pair up higher grade with newbie
5. debrief at end of class
6. if class it kumite oriented, have newbie sit out when sparring starts!
7. Have newbie watch first class if possible

[DKKC]

A word about attendance cards - we have something similar for children: it's a card that contains all the stance, techniques and kata they need to know for their next grading. At every session if the teaching instructor considers that the child has performed a technique/kata/stance etc. well, he or she will sign against that technique - there is room for 3 signatures next to each technique and you need at least 2 to be allowed to grade. It keeps the kids motivated and trying hard, even focusing on the techniques they struggle with. The downside is that you have to 'build in' signing time as if you have 30 kids in a class all of them wanting your autograph at the end of the session, it can get a bit crazy.