Keeping students in your classroom is a big part of maintaining a successful
business, of course. In an effort to do that, you may want to look at how
comfortable students are in your classroom. Think about what causes the
most anxiety: messing up techniques, pre-test examinations, and testing
itself. Many students have quit because they couldn't learn a technique
or were worried about what the test would be like. If you make a conscious
effort to help new students feel more comfortable when they train in your
classroom, they will be more likely to stay enrolled. This boost in retention
is an excellent thing for any school and these ideas can be employed at
any level of the student's progress.
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Identify the specific requirements that each student will be tested on.
Let them know if they'll have to go through a form or not.
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Provide the students with a written curriculum which will give a list of
the specific techniques that they will need to demonstrate at their test.
As an idea, give them this list at the end of their second lesson.
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During class time, you can teach more advanced techniques as a challenge
or to more advanced belt ranks. Be sure to mention that the techniques
are bonus material that is not required at their next test (this gives
them a sneak preview of what they have to look forward to without the pressure
of having to perform the more advanced material before they're really ready).
It let's them simply have fun learning without the pressure of getting
it right.
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Students need to know that it isn't the end of world if they do not have
the grasp of a technique. Explain that for the first class after your black
belt test, you began working and correcting on your yellow belt techniques.
It is a never-ending process. It's not an over-night process.
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On test day, make sure that you have prepared a script of techniques to
be called out by the test conductor. This is taken directly from the requirements
list that each student has been provided with. This helps so the conductor
won't accidentally ask a student to perform a technique from a higher rank.
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When students are presented with their new rank, give them the requirements
list for their next level. This way, students can start focusing on new
material for their future stripe test. It also shows them that this level
is not necessarily the best they can do.
This process can help you develop detailed lessons plans to make sure that
the requirements were being covered in class by himself and the other instructors.
If implemented on all levels, this can increase retention at all of the
levels. By letting students know what will be expected at each belt level,
you need to also make sure that enough class time is dedicated to the teaching
of the expectations and consistently testing those specific expectations.
Doing so sets students up for success. Students who experience success
are happy and therefore stay in class.
You can repeat the step by step process with all of your belt ranks.
If these concepts are new to you, then start with your beginners
and work your way up to your upper ranks. The more people that are
truly learning and enjoying their martial arts training, the better
your school community will be.
Works Consulted
- Martial Arts Professional. National Association of Professional Martial Artists- NAPMA
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