My Tenets for Technique Creation

Keep it simple, direct, and concise

I’ve seen great techniques created by the FQIs who came before me. The ones I appreciate the most are quick, clean, and easy to execute.

Complex techniques can be fun, and I enjoy them too. But in a pressure environment, complexity is less likely to hold up.

My personal filter was simple:
If I can’t do it cleanly under pressure, it needs to be simplified. Even then, I completely biffed a couple during my test.

Focus on the setup, not the follow-ups

When I was creating techniques, I kept wanting to add more, extra variations, extra follow-ups, extra “just in case” options. It was too much. I was going too far down the rabbit hole.

Eventually, I shifted my focus toward techniques that create a strong setup. If the setup is solid, it naturally leads to multiple follow-up options, depending on the opponent’s reaction. That’s what I want to give my students too: strong setups that create choices, not complicated scripts

When I wanted to show a favorite follow-up:
I would demonstrate only the setup first, then add the follow-up at the end as an optional variation.

There’s no such thing as originality

Every move that can be moved has been moved. If you create something that feels original to you, it has probably shown up somewhere in someone else’s training, too. That doesn’t make it less valuable.

About a month before my Level 7 test, GM’s third book was released. When I got to the section on countering the groupings, the first counter to Group 1 was something I had never seen before, but I had stumbled into it myself and built it into one of “my” twenty-four techniques.

That experience reinforced something important for me.

Original is not the goal.
Functional is the goal. Reliability is the goal. Teachable is the goal.

Substance over style

One of my favorite things about Taboada Balintawak is that GM encourages us to put our previous arts into our techniques. That approach is brilliant, and it makes the art personal.

My one frustration is when someone tries so hard to “put their art in it” that the technique becomes over-stylized. It can start to look like an awkward hybrid instead of a clean application.

I think it’s better to bring in the principles of your art, not the costume of it.

Principles travel well. Poses don’t.
The principle should be visible in the result, not the shape. Pressure doesn’t care what it looks like; it cares what holds up.

GM once told me, “I want to see your Kung Fu in it.” I told him my Kung Fu is in everything I do; I just don’t try to make my Balintawak look like a Kung Fu movie.

Let go of attachments

During the creation process, you are going to find techniques you like that just don’t work well. I did too.

At one point, I was holding onto a mediocre technique because I really liked the idea behind it. That’s a trap. Forcing a technique to work just because you want it to be good rarely works.

A good idea is not the same thing as a good technique.
If it didn’t hold up with honest timing, I cut it, even when I liked it. If it’s not holding up, let it go. You can always come back to it later. Just avoid letting it block better work.

Find the counters, but only to a point

When you create a technique and then find a counter, you now have two techniques. That’s valuable. But for me, the real benefit of finding counters was improving the original technique. I didn’t try to chase every possible counter during the creation phase because it would have become an endless study.

Instead, I preferred to pressure-test my techniques with other students and teachers. I wanted to see how they naturally countered what I was doing. That feedback helped me refine the technique into its best version.

Use counters to sharpen the blade, not to start a new collection.
A few good counters helped me tighten the original, then I moved on.

Now that I’m Level 7, I’m excited to explore counters more deeply. At this point, the deeper rabbit hole becomes part of the work.

Looking Further Beyond the Twenty-Four

Now that I’ve created my twenty-four, tested them, and reflected on them, there are a couple of things I might do differently.

Choose techniques that teach

The first question I would ask sooner is this: Can this technique be used as a teaching tool? Can it serve as a foundation for learning, exploration, and coaching, rather than just a “cool sequence” for a test?

Some techniques are effective, but they aren’t valuable teaching tools. Others open up an entire training conversation, timing, range, angle, pressure, and principle.

If I were doing it again, I would prioritize techniques that teach.

Explore multiple setups, without disappearing into the rabbit hole

The second thing I would do differently is explore different ways to set up each technique.

Not different follow-ups. Not endless variations. Just different entries that lead into the same core idea.

That matters because in real training, and especially under pressure, you won’t always get the exact same feed or the exact same moment. A technique that only works with a single perfect setup is fragile. A technique that can be entered from two or three common situations is much more durable.

A simple rule I like: Keep the technique the same, but be able to do it as both the feeder and defender.

The goal is not to collect variations. The goal is to make the technique easier to access when things are messy.

And if the setup exploration starts getting too deep, I treat that as a sign that I’m building a second technique. That’s not bad, it just means I should label it separately and move on.

Final Thought

I’m not claiming these are the best or only rules for technique creation. But these tenets kept me honest, and they kept my techniques functional.

If you stay simple, build strong setups, avoid over-stylizing, and pressure-test with good training partners, your twenty-four will come together faster than you think.

And more importantly, you’ll come out of the process with a deeper understanding of the art.

Why They Exist, Where They Came From, and a Better Way to Handle Them

I recently posted a video about testing fees as a red flag for parents shopping for martial arts schools. The response from fellow school owners was… passionate. Some of the messages I received were, frankly, nasty.

So let me be clear about something before we go any further: I am not against schools making money. I own a school. I pay rent, insurance, and instructors. I understand what it takes to keep the lights on, invest in your program, and put food on the table. Schools should be profitable. Instructors deserve to be compensated well.   I charged testing fees for years!  Once I realized why I was taught to do it, and what they represent, I stopped.

What I am against is the way our industry has been taught to use testing fees, and the way that practice erodes trust with the families we serve. This article isn’t a lecture. It’s a conversation between colleagues. I’m going to walk through where testing fees came from, why they’re used the way they are, and then offer what I believe is a better model. One that actually makes your revenue more predictable while building more trust with parents.

Testing Fees as a Sales Tactic

Let’s be honest with each other. Most of us know exactly why testing fees exist in their current form: they make advertised tuition look lower.

If your program costs $175 per month to operate per student when you include the cost of testing events, belt materials, certificates, and instructor time, but you advertise tuition at $149 per month and then charge $75–$150 per test two to four times a year, you haven’t made your school more affordable. You’ve made your price tag more attractive while hiding the real cost. That’s not a tuition model. That’s a sales tactic.

And parents know it. Maybe not immediately, but eventually. That first testing fee invoice creates a moment of friction: a moment where a parent thinks, “Wait, I thought I was already paying for this.” Every time that moment happens, you lose a small amount of trust. Over the years and multiple belt levels, those moments add up.

Here’s the thing: this isn’t a criticism of any individual school owner. Most of us were taught to do it this way. The model was handed to us by the industry itself.

If This Sounds Familiar, It Should

Parents, you’ve seen this exact playbook before, just in a different industry. Think about Airbnb. For years, hosts could advertise a nightly rate of $120, and you’d click “Book” feeling great about the price. Then at checkout: a $75 cleaning fee. A $30 service fee. Suddenly, your $120 night was $225. The advertised price was never the real price. It was a door price. Designed to get you in, not to tell you the truth.

The backlash was enormous. Guests felt deceived. Trust in the platform eroded. Reviews started mentioning hidden fees more than the properties themselves. It got bad enough that Airbnb eventually changed its policy, requiring hosts to display the total price upfront in many markets. The lesson was clear: when customers feel like you’re hiding costs, they don’t just get annoyed. They lose faith in the relationship as a whole.

Now apply that to your martial arts school. A parent sees your tuition advertised at $149/month. They sign up. Three months later, they get a notice: “Testing is coming up! The fee is $85.” That parent is having their Airbnb checkout moment. And just like travelers who started filtering by total price instead of nightly rate, parents are getting savvier about asking the right questions before enrolling.

And yes, most schools explain testing fees at registration, but psychologically, the decision to join has already been made, so new members gloss over them, or are embarrassed to “back out now.”

The difference is that Airbnb had to be forced to change by regulation and public pressure. School owners have the opportunity to get ahead of it. You can be the school that shows the real number from the start, and let that transparency become part of your reputation.

When Testing Fees Make Sense

Before we go further, I want to be fair. Not every school that charges testing fees is running a bait-and-switch.

If you’re an instructor running a program out of a YMCA, a Boys and Girls Club, a community center, or any space you don’t own, the economics are completely different. You may not have a fixed monthly overhead that absorbs testing costs. You might be renting mat time by the hour. You might be volunteering your time during regular classes and only getting compensated when you run a special event like a belt test. In programs like these, a testing fee isn’t a sales tactic. It’s how the instructor covers real, incremental costs: extra facility time, belt and certificate materials, and compensation for the additional hours a proper evaluation requires.

The issue I’m addressing in this article is the commercial, brick-and-mortar school model, where a school with a dedicated facility, full-time staff, and a predictable monthly revenue stream charges testing fees on top of tuition as a way to keep the advertised price lower. That’s a different situation entirely. Context matters, and I want to make sure we’re drawing that line clearly.

Where Testing Fees Actually Came From

Testing fees are not an ancient martial arts tradition. They’re a modern American business innovation, and their history tells us a lot about why the practice feels wrong to so many parents.

The Traditional Model

In traditional Asian martial arts, promotion was at the instructor’s discretion. There was no separate “event” to charge for. The colored belt ranking system itself only dates to the 1880s when Jigoro Kano introduced it in judo, and colored belts beyond white and black didn’t become widespread until the mid-20th century. In that world, testing was simply part of training. The idea of charging separately for it would have been foreign.

Commercialization in the 1960s–70s

When martial arts became a commercial enterprise in post-war America, pioneering school owners had to figure out how to turn an art form into a sustainable business. They did extraordinary work building an entire industry from scratch, and we all benefit from that foundation today.

But as the business grew, so did the pressure to optimize revenue. Schools began experimenting with fee structures that went beyond flat monthly tuition.

The Consulting and Billing Era

The real acceleration came in the 1980s and 1990s, when martial arts industry associations and billing companies began offering business consulting as part of their services. These organizations (and if you’ve been in the industry for any length of time, you know exactly who I’m talking about) taught school owners a specific revenue model: keep advertised tuition competitive, then build margin through testing fees, equipment requirements, upgrade programs, and special event charges.

This wasn’t framed as a sales trick. It was framed as “professional business practice.” The consulting pitch went something like: “Your competitors advertise $99/month. If you advertise $175/month, you’ll lose the price comparison. But if you advertise $129/month and add $75 testing fees three times a year, you end up at the same revenue with a more attractive sticker price.”

That logic made sense on a spreadsheet. And for a generation of school owners who were incredible martial artists but had no formal business training, this advice felt like a lifeline. Nobody was being malicious. They were following the best guidance available at the time.

But the result was an industry-wide norm where the real cost of training was obscured from families. And that norm has stuck around long past the point where we should have outgrown it.

The Real Problem: Unpredictable Revenue

Here’s what gets lost in the testing fee debate: the current model is actually worse for your cash flow than the alternative.

Testing fees are lumpy, seasonal revenue. They come in two to four times a year in unpredictable bursts. Not every student tests on schedule. Some defer. Some quit right before a test because they see the fee and reconsider whether it’s worth it. Others feel pressured to test before they’re ready because the “testing cycle” is happening, and they don’t want to miss it.

So you end up with revenue that spikes a few times a year, students who feel nickel-and-dimed, and parents who are quietly comparison shopping because they feel like costs keep creeping up beyond what they signed up for.

Meanwhile, your monthly tuition, the steady, reliable number you can actually budget around, is artificially low. You’ve traded predictable income for periodic windfalls. That’s not a strong financial foundation.

The Better Way: Fold It Into Tuition

The fix is simple in concept: calculate your actual per-student testing costs and add them to your monthly tuition. Advertise one transparent price. Testing is included. No surprises. No hidden fees.

The Math

Here’s how to calculate it:

Why the 1.15–1.25 adjustment?

Not every student tests exactly on schedule. Some take longer between belts. Some skip a cycle. If you divide testing costs by the minimum number of months, you’ll slightly under-collect over the life of the student. The adjustment factor accounts for that reality. Use 1.15 if your students are fairly consistent testers, 1.25 if you see a lot of variation.

What This Gives You

• Predictable monthly revenue. Students pay the same amount every month. No seasonal spikes or valleys. Your budget becomes something you can actually plan around.
• Transparent pricing. Parents know the full cost from day one. No “surprise” invoices. No awkward conversations at the front desk. No one Googling “are martial arts testing fees a scam” after their first bill.
• Higher perceived value. When you tell a prospective family, “Testing is included in tuition: no hidden fees, no extra charges,” that is a powerful differentiator. You are now the transparent school in a market full of hidden costs.
• Better retention. Students don’t quit before tests because of fee anxiety. Parents don’t quietly resent the program. The relationship stays clean.
• Simpler administration. No tracking of who owes what for which test cycle. No chasing payments. No exceptions or discounts that create inconsistency.

What About Equipment and Special Events?

To be clear, this model covers standard program costs: the things every student needs to progress through your curriculum. Equipment like sparring gear, weapons, and uniforms can still be separate charges because they’re tangible products with obvious costs. Special events like seminars, tournaments, camps, and clinics can also be separate because they’re genuinely optional and outside the normal training path.

The line is simple: if a student is required to do it to progress in rank, it should be included in tuition. If it’s genuinely optional, it can be a separate fee. Parents understand that distinction. They don’t understand why they’re paying extra for something their child is required to do.

Addressing the Pushback

“But my tuition will look higher than competitors.”

Yes. And that’s the point. Your tuition will look higher because it actually reflects the real cost.

“Testing fees motivate students to take testing seriously.”

If the only thing making a student take their belt test seriously is a financial penalty, that’s a curriculum problem, not a pricing problem. A well-structured testing process with clear standards, preparation requirements, and meaningful instructor feedback creates seriousness. Money doesn’t.

“We’ve always done it this way.”

Respectfully, that’s the weakest argument in any business. We’ve always done it this way is how industries get disrupted. The schools that adapt to what modern families expect, transparency, simplicity, and value, will be the ones that thrive. The ones that cling to a fee structure designed by billing consultants in the 1980s will increasingly struggle to explain it to parents who have access to more information than ever.

The Bottom Line

I’m not asking anyone to leave money on the table. I’m asking you to pick it up differently. Charge what your program is worth. Charge for your time, your expertise, your facility, and your materials. Charge enough to make a real living doing what you love.

Just put it all in one number. Give families the respect of knowing what they’re signing up for. And build a revenue model you can actually predict from month to month instead of hoping everyone shows up for the next testing cycle.

Your martial art deserves better than a billing trick. So do the families who trust you with their children.

Carlton | Marysville Martial Arts
Kung Fu 4 Kids

Embark on a journey of empowerment, discipline, and fun this summer with Kung Fu 4 Kids in Marysville, Washington. Our summer camps are not just a way to keep your child occupied during the school break; they are a transformative experience that teaches valuable life skills through martial arts. Let’s dive into why Kung Fu 4 Kids is setting the standard for summer camps in Marysville, Washington, and how our unique approach to martial arts can benefit your child.

At Kung Fu 4 Kids, located in the heart of Marysville, we specialize in martial arts for children, providing a safe, engaging, and educational environment where kids can learn Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do. Our mission is to empower your children with confidence, self-esteem, and life skills that will help them succeed far beyond the dojo. Unlike any other martial arts school in the area, we focus exclusively on children’s martial arts, ensuring that every class is age-appropriate, fun, and impactful.

Our summer camps offer a comprehensive curriculum that blends physical activity with mental growth. Each session is designed to challenge and inspire, helping kids to discover their inner strength and improve their focus. Through a variety of dynamic exercises and games, campers will learn the fundamentals of Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do, alongside valuable lessons in respect, discipline, and perseverance.

But Kung Fu 4 Kids is more than just a martial arts day camp. We provide a holistic summer experience that includes team-building activities, leadership training, and a strong emphasis on personal development. Our camps are structured to give kids a sense of achievement and belonging, fostering an environment where they can grow both as martial artists and as individuals.

Parents looking for summer camps in Marysville, Washington, will find that Kung Fu 4 Kids stands out for several reasons. First and foremost is our commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment. Our experienced instructors are not only martial arts experts but also passionate educators who are dedicated to helping children achieve their best.

As we gear up for another exciting summer, we invite parents to consider Kung Fu 4 Kids for their children’s summer camp needs. Not only will your child learn from the best martial arts instructors in Marysville, but they’ll also gain life-long skills and make new friends along the way. It’s an experience that goes beyond the typical summer camp, offering a summer of growth, learning, and unforgettable memories.

To learn more about our summer camps and to register, visit our website or contact us directly. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to give your child a summer filled with adventure, learning, and personal growth. Join us at Kung Fu 4 Kids in Marysville, Washington, for a summer camp experience like no other. Let’s make this summer the best one yet for your child!

Signing a lease before even having a dedicated team of instructors was the first sign of trouble. Such a decision indicated a rush to open, possibly at the expense of ensuring the quality and commitment of instructors. This rush may have been a symptom of the franchise model, where rapid expansion oftentimes overshadows the need for thorough preparation.

Then came the shocking news during the summer of 2023: Premier Martial Arts Marysville South was closing down. What exacerbated the situation was the sudden departure of the last instructor just three days before students were to be tested for their next belts. This abrupt exit left many children and parents in a state of disbelief, with emotions ranging from anger to sadness.

For children, trust is paramount. When they commit to a discipline such as martial arts, they are not just learning techniques; they are building bonds of trust with their instructors and peers. They look up to these figures as mentors who will guide them in their journey. Imagine the emotional turmoil a child feels when this trust is betrayed. Suddenly, the safe space where they learned, grew, and thrived is gone, leading to feelings of abandonment and confusion.

This unfortunate incident underscores the potential pitfalls of enrolling children in a franchise martial arts school. While not all franchises suffer from these issues, there’s an inherent risk. Franchises often focus on business growth, sometimes at the expense of maintaining the ethos and dedication required for a genuine martial arts experience. The individuality and tradition that can be found in independent schools may be replaced with standardized, business-centric models in franchises.

While the excitement and promise of new martial arts schools can be enticing, parents must be discerning. The closing of Premier Martial Arts Marysville South serves as a lesson in the importance of stability, commitment, and genuine passion in any educational endeavor. Before enrolling their children, parents should do thorough research, ask questions, and ensure that any institution — franchise or independent — prioritizes the well-being and growth of its students over rapid business expansion.

Marysville Martial Arts is excited to announce a nunchaku seminar led by Sifu Carlton, a martial arts weapons specialist with a focus on flexible weapons.

The seminar will take place on Saturday, February 4th and is open to all teen and adult students, as well as friends 16 and over, with parental permission.

During this seminar, participants will learn basic to advanced theories, principles, techniques, and applications of nunchaku inspired by Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and modern (Lissajous-do) methods.

Sifu Carlton will cover techniques that are not often taught in their regular classes, helping students gain a deeper understanding and mastery of the nunchaku.

Not only will participants improve their skills with the nunchaku, but they will also be able to translate and apply the knowledge to other martial arts weapons.

Registration for the seminar is available online at the https://marysvillemartialarts.school/nunchaku

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a skilled instructor and take your martial arts training to the next level.

About Marysville Martial Arts: Founded by Sifu Carlton Doup in 1996, the school has provided thousands of students with the opportunity to learn valuable self-defense skills, improve their physical fitness, and develop discipline and confidence.

1. At Marysville Martial Arts, we teach kids to respect others. This includes showing respect for their teachers, training partners, and opponents. This value extends beyond the school and can help kids develop empathy and understanding for others in their everyday lives.
2. Our classes also teach kids to control their emotions. In the heat of sparring or competition, it is easy for kids to become angry or frustrated. But at Marysville Martial Arts, we teach them to stay calm and collected, even in the face of adversity. This self-control can help them remain compassionate and level-headed when dealing with others.
3. The martial arts also teach kids to be humble. At Marysville Martial Arts, there is always someone better than you. This can be a humbling experience, but it can also teach kids to be grateful for their abilities and to acknowledge the strengths of others. This humility can foster compassion and a desire to help others.
4. Our classes teach kids to be resilient. The martial arts are challenging, and kids will inevitably face setbacks and failures. But at Marysville Martial Arts, we teach them to persevere and to keep trying. This resilience can help them develop compassion for others who are facing their own struggles.
5. Finally, martial arts teach kids to be inclusive. At Marysville Martial Arts, kids learn to train and compete with others who may be different from them in terms of age, gender, size, and ability. This inclusivity can help them develop compassion for people from all walks of life.

The martial arts can be a powerful tool for helping kids develop compassion. At Marysville Martial Arts, we offer a range of programs for children of all ages and abilities. Contact us today to schedule a free trial class and discover the benefits of martial arts for yourself. We look forward to seeing you at our school!

CHECK OUT OUR FOUR-WEEK INTRODUCTORY PROGRAM
with a 100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE!

Some kids are thrilled to go back to school every year. Some kids are terrified. Some couldn’t care less. Kids aren’t the only ones with mixed emotions about returning to school. With new school supplies, clothes, open houses, and new routines, there is plenty for parents to worry about.

We hope these ten tips help this year’s back-to-school transition the best your family has ever had.

Organize your family’s calendar

Family calendars work best when kids have input and are a part of the creation process. Get them involved. Make it a family activity. Create and display a calendar of your family’s regularly scheduled activities and important dates. 

Children crave structure so knowing there is a defined plan in place will help ease a ton of their back-to-school, new-routine anxieties.

Make a school-year plan

Work with your kids to design a school-year plan. Figure out—with them—when they will wake up, leave for school, get home from school, go to bed, and when they will be doing their homework, chores, and other activities. Be sure to schedule some free time for them to do what they want each day. These can also be added to your family calendar. 

Create a structured morning routine

Getting ready for school in the morning can get pretty hectic, especially at the beginning of the new school year. Don’t wait till their first day! Instead, start a morning routine a couple of weeks before Day One. Get your kids used to getting up early enough to get ready, eat, and be out the door. 

Design a specific/special space to do homework

If possible, find a place at home that can be used exclusively for homework. Try to find a quiet and distraction-free space, decorate it with uplifting images (avoid too much text), and stock it with essential supplies. This is a tip students use up to and through college!

If you can’t make room for a designated homework space, use your family calendar to let everyone know when other spaces—like the kitchen table—are reserved for homework. 

Visit the school and meet the teacher 

Not knowing who their new teacher will be is one of the primary causes of back-to-school stress for kids. If your child’s school offers back-to-school orientations and meet-and-greets, get these on your family calendar ASAP. Children who meet their teachers and see their classrooms in advance usually exhibit less nervousness on the first day of school.

Ee-establish bedtime routines

Child development experts are split on whether it’s better to re-establish bedtime routines before or after the school year begins. Either way, getting kids to bed earlier, when they’ve likely spent the summer staying up later than usual, can be tough. Don’t try to do it all at once! Gradually, five to ten minutes at a time, push their bedtime earlier and earlier. It helps to add this to the family calendar.

Stay positive about any stress or anxiety your children are expressing

The most important thing parents can do is stay positive and encouraging when their children are exhibiting anxiety about returning to school. As stressed out as you may be, you must be a positive and motivating force for your children. Also, recognize when you are more stressed for them than they are. It’s easy for us adults to project our feelings onto our children.

Get them back into those activities you put on hold

Do your kids usually attend classes or sports after school? If you’ve taken a break from classes for the summer, start back up a couple of weeks (at least) before school starts. Lots of parents prefer to give their kids a chance to acclimate to school before putting them back into activities. According to many child psychologists, this is backward. Children are more benefited by reintroducing familiar social routines before introducing new ones like a new teacher and a classroom full of new kids. Get these back on your family calendar today.

Reconnect your child with peers from school before they return to school

Give your kids a chance to reconnect with friends they haven’t seen for the summer. Re-establishing familiar friendships gives kids a huge boost to their self-esteem and confidence. This is one reason that getting your children back into the activities you put on hold is so important. 

Send them back to school with confidence and self-esteem

Confidence and self-esteem are likely the two most important factors determining a child’s success in school. Kids with healthy self-esteem:

• feel liked and accepted
• feel proud of what they can do
• believe in themselves
• feel confident
• have the confidence to try new things
• are more likely to try their best
• try again, even if they fail at first
• are less likely to be bullied
• and so much more . . . 

There are lots of activities that can help kids build confidence and self-esteem. We may be a bit biased, but we believe our martial arts classes for kids are one of the best. We believe it is our purpose to inspire and empower our students to do and be their personal best every day!

Give your child a headstart on the school year and send them back to school with two of the most important school supplies you won’t find on any list . . . confidence and self-esteem.

CHECK OUT OUR CONFIDENCE BUILDING
SIX-WEEK INTRODUCTORY PROGRAM
with a 100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE!

At first glance, trying a couple free martial arts classes sounds great: Of course you want to ensure you like the school for yourself or your children, so why wouldn’t you want to try it out first? Plus, who doesn’t like free? 

That is exactly what they are counting on.

But . . . what could possibly be wrong with trying a free class? There are two significant problems that you need to be very aware of.

First, schools that offer a free martial arts class are demonstrating that they don’t understand, or don’t care, that one or even two classes are not enough to make an informed decision. For adults and older teens, a free class or two MAY be enough, but this is particularly important when choosing a martial arts school for children.

The first class may be (and usually is) great: The instructors are very aware that new students are trying out the school, and they go out of their way to tailor that class to be as fun as possible for that student. Is the next class going to be as fun? Are subsequent classes also going to be satisfactory? It’s easy to offer great classes once or twice, but consistency is key. That’s why it’s essential to try at least 8–12 classes before joining long-term.

The second and more nefarious reason the “One Free Class” offer is a bad idea is the sleazy high-pressure sales tactics that will almost always follow. These schools know they can get you excited after just one class. They also know this is likely their one shot at getting some sort of down payment and your signature on a contract. They understand the psychology of sales and that giving you something free makes you feel appreciated and instills a sense of obligation to do something for them in return. Then, when your free class is over, and they transition into their slick sales pitch full of rehearsed stories, limited-time offers, and “What’s holding you back?” lines of questioning, you feel guilty for not joining. This tactic works well—really, really well.

The only thing sketchier than a free group class is the free “private” introductory lesson. They do this so you’re isolated and can’t observe the actual class dynamics or talk to other members about their experience at the school. You will feel very special when the instructor gives you 100% of their attention but how much attention will you or your child actually get with a full class?

To be clear, there are some wonderful schools that offer a free class. They will typically be smaller independent schools that fall into the first category (of not understanding a healthy decision-making process). But, if the school is part of a chain or franchise, you can bet they know exactly what they’re doing and that you are little more than another number they want to add to their bottom line.

Avoid the “One FREE Class” Scam!

CHECK OUT OUR FOUR-WEEK INTRODUCTORY PROGRAM
with a 100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE!

And then maybe you felt so grateful that you passed on the blessing and paid for the person behind you?  I’ve recently heard that these Starbucks chains can last hours.  One person after another after another pays for the person behind them.  

What’s crazy is that it started by one person saying, “I’m going to make their day a little brighter.”  Suddenly fifty people’s days were brighter.  

The first person started with a goal in mind, and then, little by little, many people wanted to reach that goal, too.  This is how leadership works. 

Speaking Of Leadership…

Isn’t it so much more inspiring to be LED rather than ORDERED?  Isn’t it nice to have people to look up to as mentors, as examples, as guides?  

Daily, parents are leaders to their children.  Simply doing the dishes, or apologizing for being impatient with them, or being honest are examples of leadership.  They are things that you do that your child can see, observe, and replicate.  

The scary thing is, children can also pick up all too quickly on your less-than-perfect habits.  Housework neglect, seatbelt safety, word choices, screen time – you name it. 

YIKES.

That’s a lot of power to hold.  Knowing that children will quietly observe and learn what is normal just from how you act is a big deal.  However, I’m not here to tell you how to be a better leader. 

What AM I Here To Say?

I’m asking you right now: What kind of leader do you want to see your child become? 

I’ve seen some children leaders in my life that are role model rockstars.  They set a good example, other children look up to them, and they openly care about people.  If we take a bit of time to teach children what it means to be a leader, we’ll be raising a phenomenal group of people.  

And NO, you don’t need to be a perfect parent yourself before you try to start teaching a kiddo about how to pursue leadership.  

Ready, set, go!

Topics Covered Include:

• Our own leaders
• Who we are leaders to
• Traits of leadership
• What motivates a leader 
• Importance of making good decisions

Wait!  We Can’t Forget To Define A Leader!

A leader is an example.  It is a person others look up to with respect and awe.  It is someone who inspires others to work hard and dream big.  It is someone who leads by actions, not words.  It is someone who we support, who also supports us.  A leader is someone who stands ahead of us to guide the way, who stands beside us to support us, and who stands behind us to make sure we’re moving forward.  

“Who Do You Look Up To?”

Step 1. Ask your child who they think sets a good example.

Step 2. Ask them how (e.g., are they kind? Smart? Brave?)

Step 3.  Find out which one they think is the most important, and if they are eager to, help them build that trait within themselves.  

By doing this, they begin to understand what a leader looks like in reality.  Hopefully, this person is someone your child sees regularly, so they can get that first-hand role-modeling.  

“Who Looks Up To You?”

Talk to them about who might have the potential to see them as a leader. Does their little brother or sister watch them?  Do their friends at school follow them around?  Do their cousins look up to them?  

By helping them assess who their “audience” is, they are more able to see how they are already a kind of leader.  They are already somebody’s example.  

And now the trick is, you’ve got to teach them how to be that example responsibly.

“How Do You Think Leaders Act?”

Are leaders brave or timid?

Do they listen or do they shout orders?

Are they kind or do they only do ‘big important’ things?

Do they like attention or do they prefert to focus on getting a goal (task) done?

Are they lazy or energetic?

Do they work non-stop?  Is it okay to take breaks?

Questions like these probe children into finding what they perceive and understand to be “good” qualities versus “bad” qualities.  

Once you’ve asked them enough to make them think, you can follow up by asking them if they think they’re a good leader.  What qualities do they have?  What leader-like actions do they take?  What are some things they could be better at?

“Why Do You Think We Have Leaders?”

“Where did they come from?”  Perhaps you could explain, “Leaders happen because they find a goal, they set their eyes on it, and they take the initiative to go get it.  Some people see what that person is trying to accomplish, and they like it so much that they decide to go for it, too. Now the leader and the follower are working on a team, which is better than being alone.” 

Leaders also learn that people look up to them, people watch them, people trust them.  The leader knows that they need to make good choices so that all of these followers like to make good choices, too.  

“How Does A Leader Make A Good Decision?”

An example for children: If a friend asks you (and 3 of your buddies) to come to his birthday party at the trampoline park (before COVID-19 hit, of course), but you and those buddies had soccer practice during that time, what should you do?  Your buddies are waiting for you to decide.  They like you, so they’re going to do what you’re going to do.  Do you tell your coach sorry you can’t make it?  Do you tell your birthday friend you’re going to play soccer instead?  In this instance, the leader has to think about his commitments versus his desires.  He has to prioritize.  

In other instances, such as what car to buy (if younger siblings are along to learn), the leader may make a list of pros and cons.  One has better gas mileage, whereas the other is a lower price, etc.  Then, he can compare them, and use his analysis to make the best choice.

Can Mhttps://marysvillemartialarts.com/arysville Martial Arts Teach My Child Leadership Skills?

Um, YES!

At Kung Fu 4 Kids, we believe that every student has the potential to grow into a great leader.  Everyone is encouraged to set an example of respect and kindness to those around them.  These martial arts classes for kids are an additional way to guide your child toward positive leadership.  

In fact, there is an actual team designated to learning and implementing leadership skills in all aspects of life.  This Leadership Team is designed for students age 12 or older.  

I’m getting ahead of myself. 

Back on track.  Every month, the students at Kung Fu 4 Kids get to talk about a new Powerful Word.  Our partner Robyn J. A. Silverman, Child and Adolescent Development Specialist, has created a curriculum intended to help adults teach children about concepts such as compassion, teamwork, self-control, goal-setting, and so many more. Our daily chats are an opportunity for them to hear from our teachers, share what they’ve been doing, and ask questions.   In a way, each of these ties into leadership, narrowing in on one aspect of quality skills. 

Let Me Lead You To A Close

Leaders are pretty important.  I’m sure you’ve got your own way to define them.  Go for it!  Just remember that a rather crucial part of a leader is that they inspire others to work with them for something they both believe worthwhile.  

Kids love to teach others most of the time.  They like to be liked.  They like to be helpers.  Give them the tools they need to be able to do that and flourish.  They’ll thank you later, I almost guarantee it.  

Remember:

1. Ask who their leaders are
2. Ask who their followers are
3. Talk about leadership traits
4. Explain why leaders are leaders
5. Discuss the importance of making good decisions

Healthy leaders create healthy followers.  Best case, those followers turn into leaders themselves.  Start the chain.  Buy the coffee.  Inspire others.  Start with your kiddos.