The martial arts have so many physical and mental benefits that make it an ideal activity for children and teenagers in the growth stages of their lives. But how do you reach those kids and get them interested in beginning training? Here are a few ways that a martial arts business can market their practice and make it appealing to a broad audience.
Martial Arts Marketing Tip #1 – It’s Not Just About Fighting
Children and adults tend only to see martial arts as portrayed in the movies. Even though films tend to play up the violent nature of martial arts, it’s important to get out the message that the martial arts are not just about fighting. People can come to martial arts and have no particular interest in fighting or engaging in MMA-style matches. The ultimate goal of martial arts training is to commit oneself to a nonviolent mindset. This most often involves practicing avoiding confrontation as beginners will too often resort to a physical response to only the smallest provocation.
Knowing how to protect yourself and those you care about in potentially hazardous situations is important in this day and age. It’s still important to know the techniques to protect yourself should a threat arise. One of the major lessons a martial art student learns is the value of safety and self-defense. But it’s unfortunate that the martial arts are often misunderstood as only a means to attack an opponent. Not only does the physical fighting aspect of martial arts become less relevant as martial arts training progresses, other aspects of the training start to take over as a student advances.
Martial Arts Marketing Tip #2 – Fitness, Fun and Camaraderie
Most martial art students enjoy practicing and taking advantage of the fitness benefits of training. The children of today are too often indoors, staring at screens (televisions or tablets) and not getting enough exercise. Martial arts is a great activity for staying fit and improving one’s stamina. It’s also an excellent venue for meeting new friends. Children, even if they are from different schools, can bond together when they have time to socialize before and after class.
There are many different martial art schools to choose from. If you are trying to market your martial arts business to children, you’re better off appealing to what matters most to them. Instead of emphasizing the philosophy of your particular school, tell them some unique things about your school that would make them think it would be right for them. It also helps to show plenty of photos of your students engaged in learning and of course having fun while doing it.
Martial Arts Marketing Tip #3 – Appeal to the Parents
Martial arts has a mental element that goes hand in hand with the physical training. Martial arts not only improves the mind’s focus but also aids young people to develop self-control. As a martial arts business owner, this is obviously an aspect that you want to bring to the attention of parents. Martial arts is an effective way of teaching stress management and other inner centering techniques that will especially help children and teenagers.
You can emphasize to parents the training options you have available at your studio. These could be individual sessions, group classes as well as tournament travel. Parents are particularly eager to hear how their child can gain a sense of accomplishment that comes with martial arts achievements. The boost in self-confidence is especially crucial for children and teenagers who may need something to improve their self-esteem. An increase in confidence can have profound effects in other areas of a young person’s life.
A significant benefit of martial arts training to communicate to parents is to show that children become more disciplined from the unique requirements of martial art training classes. Former “problem” kids with negative attitudes could become well-behaved and respectful of others just from taking classes a few times every week. The child’s usual world of physical and mental chaos will be met with less hesitation and fear after training. A martial arts instructor reaching out to parents with problem children could be like throwing them a lifeline.
Martial Arts Is A Way of Life
Children and the parents who care for them are often looking for guiding principles to help them through life. Teenagers especially feel powerless in how to deal with hard situations in life. Martial arts training shows people how to dramatically increase physical power through proper body training. Martial arts can help young people feel empowered in a world that often makes them feel out of balance. Martial arts teaches proper stances, efficiency of movement and strong striking skills. Most importantly of all, martial arts help people feel the feeling of being balanced.
As training progresses, students learn that physical balance is an important part of emotional control. Sometimes people can feel very rigid and resist changes. By helping students develop more flexibility, martial arts can help teach young students how to loosen up. This makes them more open-minded towards how to solve problems and makes them more receptive to feedback.
There may also be times in a young person’s life where they feel tired and unable to physically cope with the demands placed on them. Martial arts helps students develop their physical stamina. A good martial arts training regimen not only helps a student increase their energy, it also helps develop mental toughness to grind through life’s numerous challenges.
Martial arts training involves many little steps and progressions that end in belts gained as the trainee’s confidence improves. By focusing the student’s energy and emotions on the task at hand, martial arts can guide a student towards staying centered, staying present and staying focused until they reach their goals. But the hardest step of all is getting them to take that first step into the rewarding world of all that martial arts has to offer them.
Every week Master Chan Lee hosts a conference call with the clients of the Martial Arts Marketing Network. The blog post above is based off of a conference call that Master Chan Lee gave in early July. To listen to the original call just use the player below.
To learn more about the Martial Arts Marketing Network and the services we provide you can visit http://mamnetwork.com/all-services/ or contact us here at http://mamnetwork.com/contact-us/.