set'n up a new shop

[freeman]

hello all
ill try and keep this short. what im wondering is if im way off from this notion i have. i have a 3000sqft commercial building with 45x80ft oak floors that is screaming "work out center". i am in no position 2 teach anybody but 2 other friends and myself "work out" one is a purple belt in bbj and the other is a very accomplished state wrestler, myself a wrestler mixed with marine corps bjj and life experiences. does it seem realistic 2 offer a some what furnished "gym" (large mat 2 roll on, heavy/speed bags etc.) 4 people that r like minded? $75 registration and $10 per visit. any thoughts?

[dredd1990]

I'm an instructor as well, i did much of the same thing as you. with your backgrounds, i suggest teaching american wrestling and that sort, but u may want to offer weight training as well, or find someone who can teach a traditional martial art. if your aiming for a workout gym... sure, grab some machines, set up some hard rubber flooring, and go for it, all power to ya. but. if your going for a martial arts school, then i suggest you find a qualified instructor, and hire him, advertise a bit and set up shop. you and your friend could teach wrestling, and with your training in the marines, im sure your pretty good in close quarters combat or quick kill strikes. i suggest keeping any kill strikes for later belts, do not teach kill strikes until student reach the brown belt or black belt status. you should only teach student that you trust. if you doubt them, excuse them from your school. if you have any questions, please message me. =D

~Strick~

[Penance]

Nobody has ever been successful without trying.

That being said, be sure you think about potential pitfalls. You don't want to get blindsided, but also don't let that discourage you.

Don't pass yourselves off as something that you are not. A purple belt, state wrestler, and an ex-marine are self defense or sport jiu jitsu experts. I roll with monster ex-state champs and purple belts all the time. They are good, but they are not masters or good teachers. Just because you are good skill-wise, doesn't mean you will be a good teacher. You'll be cheating your students by letting them think you are.

Without instructors with solid credentials, you will probably end up being just a place for people to spar/drill or workout. That's not a bad thing. But think about the law suits or situations you might be exposing yourselves to. What if a bunch of meat heads try to take over the place, or bully other members? What if someone gets injured?

If you want to succeed, you'll have to provide a safe, fun, clean, inviting workout environment and make sure that people know what they are getting. In addition to open mat time, renting out time/space to instructors and clubs or hosting seminars could be quite profitable.

[DickHardman]

i say put down some grappling/judo mats and have yourself a little grappling gym. grappling is growing more and more popular everyday. go ahead and tell people interested in joining the truth. just tell the people that you guys arent experts, you guys just know some grappling and are fortunate enough to have a place to train, so others are welcome to use the place for a small fee as well. you can do something like this, establish some basic rules for your place, and maybe add some workout equipment like weights or even hang up some heavy bags etc....

good grapplers who just want a cheap place with mats to train on may show up, and you could learn from them as well. you could get a lot out of this as well.

[freeman]

my feelings exactly!

Thats exactly the way i was thinking! liability is a consern so i checked on MMA insurance which is available 4 $450 a year, seemed reasonable and offered good coverage. I figure the way the sports r growing there would be a few regulars in no time and it would be good times like our wrestling team in high school! $10 @ the door is easily affordable and if im open 4 only a few hours expenses should b low. i think im going 2 just throw it together and see if there is an interest.
im a carpenter and found my self fixing some doors in the Lakeview Wellness Center which is a Gym in my town. making a few trips through the building i found my self thinking "man these people r not doing this right" u either have the people that think and strut like they r something becuase they can pick up heavy things to people that r just going through the motions and wondering why they r still winded in a short time. Going all out 4 three six min. periods in wrestling and the practices or being "locked" up with someone uses all your core muscles and they scream 4 oxygen! thanx!