Martial artists respect the efficient and effective, so I’m going to deliver my message like a well thrown punch to the nose: The martial arts world (“The Industry”) is thinking too small and it’s off course.
It’s time to slow down all the talk of sales and gross income and marketing in our industry. What we need to hear and heal this industry is smart talk from its leaders. Instead of sales chatter, let’s hear someone say, “We are being disrespectful to our planet, let’s do something about it.” Let’s hear them say, “We are massacring children, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and all in the name of fear and hate and borders and religion and misunderstanding and greed. We can -and will -as a community do something about it.”
Let us, as an industry, have the courage to talk about responsibility to nature, about the stupidity and evil of war and violence, of the absurdity of the distractions we pursue to avoid the things which really ought to have our attention. Let’s bring the integrity back to the martial arts (to life) by being the heroes we so admire.
If all of you are, indeed, pursuing “the martial arts” at its highest levels, then seek to define “mastery.” I, for one, am in the pursuit of mastery -and by looking for something I think one is more likely to find it. I am not a “master” -I am actively involved in the discussion, the study of, the pursuit of, the idea that represents “the master’s work.” I’m not seeking to become a master, I am seeking to create change and clarity in a way that indicates some degree of mastery.
When I can bottle this (all of the above), and use it on the floor when I’m teaching my classes, I don’t need the fancy newspaper ads, I don’t need the “student renewal strategy.” I don’t need the phone script, the employee’s policy manual, the statistics, and the upgrade strategies; all of those things become less important when my subject matter is so vital and charged with life.
The message is that we need to think globally about self-defense and the martial arts in general -and the thinking needs to translate itself into definitive action. We can start tomorrow, with a deep awareness of what we consume -and the cause and effect of that consumption. Let’s teach what really needs to be taught, not just what “sells lessons.” Let’s start small and build momentum by engaging in a quality of thinking -and action -that represents the “powers” we so often relate to the martial arts.
Our opportunity is to alter the intent and purpose of learning the martial arts -of its value as a form of “education.” If we do this, we can charge a rate for our lessons that supports our endeavors. We will also find some of the passion that fuels the fire of a business -that transcends the meaning -and we can become teachers like the great, but simple, men and women (MASTERS) we all admire.
Tom Callos is a 6th degree black belt, innovator in the international martial arts community, and founder of The New Way Network. Check out Tom’s FREE online newsletter with specific tips and strategies for martial arts school promotion. You can sign up right now at: Martial Arts School Tips.
