Stephen Oliver's Million Dollar McDojo

[StephenOliver]

"We start with 2 lessons to 2 weeks as a trial.
Do a 12 month contract sometimes with a 90 day evaluation period.
Then ask for a commitment to train to Black Belt."

Then post #138 contains a copy of one of your e-mails which says in part.

"Third:

You must have an upgrade system to move students up through higher tuition rates. At my schools, we move students to the Master Club at $259 per month within 8 to 16 lessons (that’s 1 to 2 months). Often, this results in a PIF at $7,800.00 or more. "

So 1) Is this $259 figure dated since I thought your entire leadership package was priced at approximately $300 a month.

2) What do you promise or tell them to upgrade within 8-16 lessons? I know you have a written script, so if its proprietary what are its themes?

3) The times seem a little off, is the 8-16 lessons the same as the 90 day evaluation period?

Master-Club and Leadership are diffferent.
PIF = Pre-paid.
We'll have approximately 1/2 of students who enroll renew (upgrade) within two months (16 or so lessons) 25% approximately in the next 60 days. 25% or so that either we don't want or who are not interested in commiting to Black Belt. Not so much a promise as a commitment of their part to train to Black Belt.

[StephenOliver]

Mr. Oliver:

Do you find that a majority of your parents enroll their children in your program for the life skills program or the self-defense offered? Or is there something else that I may not be seeing there?

In order of priority:

1. Confidence, Focus, Academic achievement.
2. Other life-skills
3. A positive environment with a positive peer group and positive role models.
4. Self Defense
5. Athletic Achievement.

Pretty typical of the parents objectives.

Stephen Oliver.
Mile High Karate

[biomed190]

Interesting opinion.
Not terribly useful - but interesting.
Obviously you should go try to find something similar at that price.

I don't need to find something similar. I don't need to pay you 300 a month to tell my child he should clean his room. What I would want out of a school is to teach my son martial arts. The parenting is my responsibility.

[Sam Browning]

Hi Mr. Oliver, what is your policy on having children black belts? They seem to be over-running the industry right now.

How does one teach a child responsibility by having the parent sign a contract?

[El-Wood]

No. Her husband wouldn't appreciate it I'm sure.

Much like my wife, what he doesn't know won't hurt me... :3some:

[Sam Browning]

El Wood, you married a man? :)

[Sam Browning]

Age of starting class, or age of achieving black belt? Sorry with my dial up it takes forever to load video.

[Fantasy Warrior]

Sorry, but it pretty much looked like every Karate competition I have ever seen.

Unless you can post a "Heart Attack Close" then your really stretching the criticism, even for newbs.

If you don't see something a bit silly with that whole synchronised kata thing, and a 12 year old testing for black belt, well you have become desensitised to McDojoism. If they were testing for a dancing academy I’d understand, though it was a crap dance. You need to stop going to silly karate competitions mate.

[biomed190]

I have never heard of Schools offering black belt that young. My Hapkido and my BJJ school require you to be 18 years old to get a full fledged black. At 16 my Hapkido school will give you a rookie black.

[El-Wood]

El Wood, you married a man? :)

Yep with children even (newest arrived 2 weeks ago - 8lbs6oz little girl), and as happily married as anyone can be when they're monotonous, err that should have been monogamous, yeah that's the ticket...

:ohyeah:

**** TALK ABOUT GETTING BURNED AND COMPLETELY MISSING IT!!! DAMNED YOU MR. BROWNING! DAMNED YOU! And Mrs. El-Wood throws a mean right cross, all 170cm and 46kg of her...