Jason Chambers
9th January 2001, 00:40
A friend of mine and I started a dojo together back in January of 1993. It was to be an Isshin Ryu & Jujutsu school. Throught the next few years to follow, we would see Isshin Ryu interest diminish in the already small community where we opened.
Shortly after, our partner and Isshin Ryu instructor left due to a conflict of ideals as to which direction the school should take. We still operated as an Isshin Ryu school and brought other black belts in to rank our senior students to at least Shodan. That idea was doomed from the start and soon we were back where we were with no Isshin Ryu black belt.
In mid 1994, the decision was made to change to a more generic program of karate which worked quite well. Enrollment picked up. Students would still come and go, but that is the nature of the beast I suppose... All in all, we saw our stats improve. We were still offering Jujutsu but the folks who were coming to the dojo weren't interested in learning "traditional" jujutsu. Again, a change. We began to combine the karate and the jujutsu together into one program, taking out the "traditional" aspects. This did not sit well with me but I endured.
That very next year my partner had devised a strategy that was supposed to see us each a profit of $300 each month. The plan failed and we continued to generate just enough revenue to support the dojo. I left the dojo at the end of 1995 when I got married.
Over the next two years, I kept in touch with my friend to see how things were going. They were still about the same, save for the addition of a former Tang Soo Do instructor and a new program.
In 1997, I was asked to return and be an "advisory member" of thier newly created Board of Directors. What the heck?! Right? I went back. The dojo was still self sufficient and my role was limited to maintaining a web presence and publishing. I wanted to keep it that way. ;)
With the coming of Y2K, and after teaching, advising and teaching some more, I decided to join a formal organization and further my own training.
My friend/partner has maintained the dojo to this day and several students that were there when we opened are still there today. But unfortunately, the dojo's future is cloudy and there has been talk of closing up shop after a 7 year run... :(
I am wondering if any of you have had similar instances where you feel that your efforts just are worht it anymore... just as he feels. He blames low enrollment as a main issue, but it is just the time of the year. That offers him little comfort. It saddens me to see him this way. His school has always been his dream. I spoke with him the other day and he looks as if he has just found out the truth about Santa. You know? The gleam in his eye is gone.
I have since begun to do "my own thing" and have some success. I think that bothers him too.
What can one do to empower him to continue to pursue his dream?
Shortly after, our partner and Isshin Ryu instructor left due to a conflict of ideals as to which direction the school should take. We still operated as an Isshin Ryu school and brought other black belts in to rank our senior students to at least Shodan. That idea was doomed from the start and soon we were back where we were with no Isshin Ryu black belt.
In mid 1994, the decision was made to change to a more generic program of karate which worked quite well. Enrollment picked up. Students would still come and go, but that is the nature of the beast I suppose... All in all, we saw our stats improve. We were still offering Jujutsu but the folks who were coming to the dojo weren't interested in learning "traditional" jujutsu. Again, a change. We began to combine the karate and the jujutsu together into one program, taking out the "traditional" aspects. This did not sit well with me but I endured.
That very next year my partner had devised a strategy that was supposed to see us each a profit of $300 each month. The plan failed and we continued to generate just enough revenue to support the dojo. I left the dojo at the end of 1995 when I got married.
Over the next two years, I kept in touch with my friend to see how things were going. They were still about the same, save for the addition of a former Tang Soo Do instructor and a new program.
In 1997, I was asked to return and be an "advisory member" of thier newly created Board of Directors. What the heck?! Right? I went back. The dojo was still self sufficient and my role was limited to maintaining a web presence and publishing. I wanted to keep it that way. ;)
With the coming of Y2K, and after teaching, advising and teaching some more, I decided to join a formal organization and further my own training.
My friend/partner has maintained the dojo to this day and several students that were there when we opened are still there today. But unfortunately, the dojo's future is cloudy and there has been talk of closing up shop after a 7 year run... :(
I am wondering if any of you have had similar instances where you feel that your efforts just are worht it anymore... just as he feels. He blames low enrollment as a main issue, but it is just the time of the year. That offers him little comfort. It saddens me to see him this way. His school has always been his dream. I spoke with him the other day and he looks as if he has just found out the truth about Santa. You know? The gleam in his eye is gone.
I have since begun to do "my own thing" and have some success. I think that bothers him too.
What can one do to empower him to continue to pursue his dream?