All my life I have been a martial artist. My father and my uncle were both instructors since before I was born. I grew up learning and loving the art, so when it was time for me to become an instructor I couldn't understand why the student dropout rate was so high. I figured that not everyone had the same passion for the art as me, but then I saw a report that said that only an average of 2% ever make it to a black belt.
That means that the student dropout rate was a staggering 98%!
After talking with other instructors about it, they would usually say things like; people are lazy, non-committed, it's too hard for them, or it's just not for them. After hearing it over and over, I even began to think this way myself. But then my martial arts training taught me that above all else, observation and awareness were important keys to success.
Experience and good teachers taught me that the principles of the martial arts are supposed to be universal, and so I should be able to apply them to learning what caused such a high dropout rate. So I decided I would watch and learn from students and teachers to see if I could find what might be missing, or what could be changed to help increase student retention.
After several years I realized something that would change the way I viewed the student/teacher relationship forever.
That means that the student dropout rate was a staggering 98%!
After talking with other instructors about it, they would usually say things like; people are lazy, non-committed, it's too hard for them, or it's just not for them. After hearing it over and over, I even began to think this way myself. But then my martial arts training taught me that above all else, observation and awareness were important keys to success.
Experience and good teachers taught me that the principles of the martial arts are supposed to be universal, and so I should be able to apply them to learning what caused such a high dropout rate. So I decided I would watch and learn from students and teachers to see if I could find what might be missing, or what could be changed to help increase student retention.
After several years I realized something that would change the way I viewed the student/teacher relationship forever.
What I learned
The relationship!
Most students that stay, even when it is hard (whether it's physical, time, or money) all say the same thing. It is the bonds that are built that gets them through those difficult periods. They want to be around their peers, they want to be motivated by them and they want to motivate others too.
Now that doesn't mean that they see their instructor as a friend. That actually makes dropout rates INCREASE! And this is what the great revelation was for me. It wasn't about me at all, or the art as much as it was about the bonding experience the students were getting.
This brought me to my first renovation that made a huge difference!
Now that doesn't mean that they see their instructor as a friend. That actually makes dropout rates INCREASE! And this is what the great revelation was for me. It wasn't about me at all, or the art as much as it was about the bonding experience the students were getting.
This brought me to my first renovation that made a huge difference!
Each One Teach One
Traditionally in the martial arts there is a hierarchy. In Japanese the term is "sensei", and although it means teacher, it actually translates literally as "one who has gone before" and implies a father figure. The next level is a "senpai", which means "senior", which implies an older brother/sister figure. Which naturally means that "kohai", meaning "junior" is meant to imply a younger brother/sister relationship. I realized that this relationship was an important aspect of the bond building process, so I began to research other similar methods. What I came across was the African American proverb "Each One Teach One", that originated in the U.S. during slavery. |
Each one teach one was a movement that was meant to spread education to that was denied to African Americans. Each person would take a proactive role to help spread education by mentoring others to the best of their ability. I saw this as a perfect parallel to what the hierarchy was supposed to represent, and what I imagined it would have been like in ancient times when clans worked together as a community to raise the young.
What I did was pair up a more advanced student with a newer student, making sure that I chose carefully so that the bond could be mutually beneficial. I told the senior student that it was up to them to share any notes and any tricks they have learned along the way to help ease the learning process. Also, I would take how well they were able to cultivate their new "kohai" into consideration when rank testing.
This worked out beautifully! Not only did the newer student feel like they were able to feel a bond building, but they learned and grew faster than before. The more experienced students also seemed to feel a sense of accomplishment as their juniors would meet their goals, planting the seed to want to teach others (and continue training towards black belt).
The problem with this that I had was that if one person did end up dropping out, it usually would also effect the other. So I had to think of a way to integrate this idea in a broader way.
What I did was pair up a more advanced student with a newer student, making sure that I chose carefully so that the bond could be mutually beneficial. I told the senior student that it was up to them to share any notes and any tricks they have learned along the way to help ease the learning process. Also, I would take how well they were able to cultivate their new "kohai" into consideration when rank testing.
This worked out beautifully! Not only did the newer student feel like they were able to feel a bond building, but they learned and grew faster than before. The more experienced students also seemed to feel a sense of accomplishment as their juniors would meet their goals, planting the seed to want to teach others (and continue training towards black belt).
The problem with this that I had was that if one person did end up dropping out, it usually would also effect the other. So I had to think of a way to integrate this idea in a broader way.
Mastermind Groups
In every art there are different skills to learn and develop. Each skill may be important and there may be a group of skills that are required for everyone to learn, but what you usually will see is that there is a specific set of skills that a person might focus on. Whether it be a specific weapon or a specific aspect of the art, it is not realistic to think every person will develop every skill equally. |
Also people love to be a part of a team. While the overall camaraderie should make them feel right at home in your school, I had already learned that what really matters to the student is their direct experience and the way their bonds make it all that much more enjoyable.
So what I decided to do was to make groups and give them projects. I broke the class up into 3 groups. Each group would have to brainstorm to solve a particular problem that we would "pressure test" later. Afterwards each group would teach what they have practiced to the others while I would oversee it all.
End result? It worked out great! Over 50% of the student base I had 2 years ago are still with me today!
If you want an example I used that had students talking about it for months, just fill out below and I will send it to you.
So what I decided to do was to make groups and give them projects. I broke the class up into 3 groups. Each group would have to brainstorm to solve a particular problem that we would "pressure test" later. Afterwards each group would teach what they have practiced to the others while I would oversee it all.
End result? It worked out great! Over 50% of the student base I had 2 years ago are still with me today!
If you want an example I used that had students talking about it for months, just fill out below and I will send it to you.
Let me know your struggle or experience!
Was there something that really worked for you?
Want a way to personalize my methods for your school?
Let me know below!
Want a way to personalize my methods for your school?
Let me know below!
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