Tools.

You need them for your business.

But most people don’t use them at all, and those who do often use the
wrong tool for the job, or they use them improperly.

Money is a tool. But most people have deeply ingrained beliefs about
money that keep them from achieving their goals.

Many people believe that money corrupts, money is the root of all evil
(see 1 Timothy 6:10 for the correct quote), all rich people are
crooks… I think you get the point.

These irrational beliefs cause them to self-sabotage when it comes to
building their school. In the back of their mind, someone who holds
negative beliefs about money is thinking, “If I become successful I will
become a corrupt person who is greedy and takes advantage of others.”

But the truth is…

Money is a tool - nothing more.

I can kill with a knife… the knife is not inherently evil.

I can protect myself or others with that same tool, or use it to perform
numerous useful chores and tasks.

It is my action that is evil if I harm others for my own gain or
pleasure.

Money is a tool that can be used to help others.

Do you want a nice school? Lots of students? Do you dream of coaching
others to success in competition, and traveling far and wide? Do you
want to inspire others through martial arts instruction? Do you believe
you have something valuable to give, and you’d like to help as many
others as possible with your gift?

Money is a tool that will help you achieve your dreams.

It is not something to be lusted after. You should be completely
unemotional about it, and simply use it as a tool that allows you to
achieve your dreams and help others.

Change the way you view money, and it will change your life.

Until next time,

Mike Massie
Martial Arts Business Anti-Guru
Author, “Small Dojo, Big Profits”
Email: massie@small-dojo-big-profits.com
Website: http://www.small-dojo-big-profits.com
Blog: http://www.small-dojo-big-profits.com/articles/

Something I hear from a lot of our readers is about how
they have a hard time attracting and keeping adults. As
I’ve mentioned in previous articles, it’s all about giving
them what they want, which 9 times out of 10 is to get in
shape and learn self-defense.

Let’s talk about self-defense for a minute… if your idea
of teaching a self-defense program is doing one-step
sparring at the end of class once a week, you’re missing
the boat. Adults don’t want to do that stuff, because they
are much more informed these days about what works and what
doesn’t (thank you, Mr. Al Gore, for inventing the
internet).

So, what ARE they looking for in a self-defense program? If
you’re thinking “MMA", think again. There’s no denying that MMA
(when modified for the street) can be a brutally effective method
of self-defense. However, brutal is the key word here. The average
executive/housewife/professional does not want to get hurt
taking self-defense lessons. They’ve seen “The Ultimate
Fighter” and know that MMA training is rough.

But, they still want self-defense training that is proven
to work and easy to learn.

If you want to know what I teach my private clients when
they need realistic, practical, proven self-defense skills
they can learn in a fraction of the time it takes to get
good at traditional martial arts, you need look no further
than good ole’ WW II American combatives and CQC. No BS, no
rituals, and a good quality curriculum will only teach the
mean, nasty stuff that a law-abiding civilian needs to
protect their family and loved ones.

The problem for martial arts instructors is that most
people who have legitimate training in WW II American
combatives don’t talk about it or don’t share it publicly.

However, one of our subscribers does have a quality program
in self-protection methods that are based on WW II
combatives, and he’s created a very good series of DVDs
that share these methods in clear, detailed instructional
modules.

You can read more about it here:

http://www.theselfdefenseco.com/self_defense_training.asp

Until next time,

Mike Massie
Martial Arts Business Anti-Guru
Author, “Small Dojo, Big Profits”
Email: massie@small-dojo-big-profits.com
Website: http://www.small-dojo-big-profits.com
Blog: http://www.small-dojo-big-profits.com/articles/

Today’s post is going to be more of a Q&A session… I’m
going to answer some questions I frequently receive that
deserve some attention. Here goes:

Q: I heard you trained with Roy Harris. Was it worth the
time, effort, money, etc.?

A: First off, let me say that I do not hold any rank in
BJJ. I’ve had it offered to me, and won’t take any rank in
jiu jitsu without earning it. I’ve trained with too many
guys who are full-time mat rats that worked like crazy to
earn their rank, and I don’t want to get anything given to
me just because I paid a seminar fee and know some people.

That’s what I like about Mr. Harris - he doesn’t give you
jack without your earning and deserving it.

Now, about the original question…

If you want to get a good introduction to grappling with
the gi or without (Level 1 BJJ and Grappling/No-Gi courses)
and also get a lot of information on how to actually teach
grappling, then yes, do it. At $500 for the programs, you
won’t find another instructor who gives as much information
for that price.

And, he’s the most underestimated “name” instructor in the
industry - knowledge and skill-wise, I’d put Roy’s
knowledge and skill as an instructor up against anyone out
there, period.

Honestly, he doesn’t put up with any crap (but then who
does?), but you won’t find a nicer guy to train with,
anywhere.

Take a course with him or bring him into your school if you
get the chance. http://www.RoyHarris.com

Next question:

Q: I have trouble getting my students to pay me on time.
How do I deal with it?

A: You’re either teaching in the wrong area or you’re
attracting the wrong type of client. Move to an area where
the mean income is higher, or change your marketing
strategies so you attract a better class of client.

Next…

Q: Location seems to be important in the success or failure
of a school. What is better, getting a cheaper rate on rent
and doing lots of advertising or renting in a higher foot
traffic location with much higher rent?

A: First off, how good are your marketing skills? Second,
do you have enough money to pay all your bills for the
school and your bills at home for a year, even if you don’t
turn a profit? If you don’t have much experience in
marketing, and you have a lot of money, go for the high
foot traffic area (next to a major supermarket is a tried
and true tactic). However, if you have some marketing
chops, and you are short on cash, the lower rent method may
be better - but you still need to be able to pay your bills
when you open. If you’re broke, read my manual because I
show you how to do it.

Next question…

Q: The economy sucks/we’re in a recession/I live in a poor
area… how will this affect my school?

A: First, refer to the question and answer above on getting
your students to pay on time. If you open any business in an
area where people don’t have a lot of money, you are already
ice skating uphill in a headwind. Things will be twice as
bad when the economy goes south, which it will every 7-10
years or so.

However, most small businesses weather these times, and
some even thrive through slower economic periods. Just look
at real estate right now. A few years back, any fool with a
license to broker homes was making a killing - now, they’re
all bailing and only the strong and smart will survive. It
all depends on the individual, some probably do just as
well when the market drops out, some do poorly and quit to
become wage-earners, and some get resourceful and have
break out months.

Same goes for MA schools. Personally, this is turning out
to be our best year since we opened the new school almost
three years ago… it’s all about reaping what you sow and
finding ways to make things work, just like in any other
industry. Success is reserved for those who create their
own luck, not for those who are lucky.

—

I think that’s enough Q&A now. I’m going to go work on my
marketing for this month, and figure out how I can create
more time slots for my adult classes (Hint: Are you still
ignoring your adult market? Shame, shame…)

Until next time,

Mike Massie
Martial Arts Business Anti-Guru
Author, “Small Dojo, Big Profits”
Email: massie@small-dojo-big-profits.com
Website: http://www.small-dojo-big-profits.com
Blog: http://www.small-dojo-big-profits.com/articles/

If you haven’t heard of kettlebells by now, you’ve probably been living under a rock somewhere in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness. Kettlebells have been around for a long time, and they were a standard piece of training equipment for old-time strongmen. In addition, Okinawan and Chinese martial artists have been using similar equipment for years to develop core power and grip strength.

More recently, they’ve come into popularity with martial artists and fighters, mostly via the efforts of fitness and conditioning experts like Pavel Tsatsouline and Steve Maxwell.

Now, the main problem most people have with using kettlebells for strength training is the fact that you have to drop some serious cash on kettelbells to get a decent set. Why? Because traditional kettlebell designs don’t allow for weight adjustment, so once you outgrow your first kettlebell you either increase your reps or buy a new pair.

Well, not anymore. This Christmas the wife bought me my new favorite piece of training equipment - adjustable kettlebells.

Now, hang on because I know what you’re thinking. Adjustable kettlebells are shaped all wrong, the balance is off, they use awkward plate-loading systems, yadda, yadda, yadda. That’s what I thought too until I set my eyes on this piece of equipment. They’re a major improvement over any adjustable kettlebell design I’ve seen, because they look, feel, and swing just like a regular kettlebell… except you can adjust the weight from 30 to 70 lbs.

So, you basically get a complete set of quality standard kettlebells that don’t take up half your gym floor, and for about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost.

Here’s the link where you can check them out for yourself:

The best cheap adjustable kettlebells money can buy.

Until next time,

- Mike

This is the funniest thing I’ve seen since Rex Kwon Do.

Why? Because like all good comedy, it closely imitates reality:

http://www.thefootfistway.com

Yep, that’s what you get when you water down a martial art over the last 30 years or so by turning schools into black belt factories - you become a living caricature for all the world to laugh at.

And although it pains me to watch it, it’s pretty damned hilarious.

Kunye!