I have a quick origin story that sets up the important lesson in this short article.
Goodbye Batman
On the way to my first karate class on February 12,1974 I convinced my dad to get a copy of Professional Karate magazine.
When I looked at the guy on the back cover picture, the course of my life changed.
This guy looked like a real super-hero. He was movie star handsome with bulging muscles. He was flying through the sky with his kick slicing through the air with a facial expression of bad intent.
Good bye Batman. Hello Joe Lewis.
Joe Lewis was at the top of his game and widely regarded as the best black belt fighter ever. I read every word of every article about him for years.
The magazine’s editor was John Corcoran, who used to be Lewis’ roommate in Los Angeles.
The publisher was Mike Anderson who promoted the first Professional Full Contact Karate event on ABC TV in 1974 in Los Angeles.
Within three years, Mike Anderson moved to my area and has been a close friend since then. He had a huge house in Madeira Beach, Fl.
In 1984, John Corcoran moved in with Mike after his girlfriend was murdered in Tampa. She was the first victim of sexual sadist serial killer Bobby Joe Long.
I drove him back and forth to the police and detective agents offices during the investigation. John was an early suspect, until other bodies were found. After that, we became close friends for over a decade.
Around the same time, Joe Lewis moved in with Mike as well.
Passing the Torch
All three of them mentored me for the next 2-3 decades.
In a 1993 Black Belt magazine cover story, Joe Lewis proclaimed to the world that he was passing the torch to me and my brother Jim.
This was surreal. It still is.
Stay with me here. To many of you, that story resonates because it’s an amazing coincidental chain of events with major players in American karate history.
However, to many more of you, no one I’ve mentioned means anything to you.
I get it. It’s a generational thing. I was an Emerson Lake and Palmer fan as a teen. I’d be shocked if you’re under 50 and have any idea who that is.
A Common Mistake in Martial Arts
However, I tell you this story to help you avoid this common mistake that is passed on to each generation.
This local dojo's post on a social platform illustrates what I mean. The school owner is trying to help prospects know that he is the most qualified instructor around.
“We teach KENPO Karate, which was introduced to the WORLD in 1,000 B.C. as CHUAN FA (FIST LAW) in Chinese or KEN PO= FIST LAW in Japanese)”
As you can imagine, this ancient Asian history lesson, which predates Jesus Christ, evolved to China and then Japan means NOTHING to ANYONE but the guy who wrote it!
All you are doing is adding complexity to the process. Nothing about that description benefits the student.
What kind of gun defense was being taught in 1,000 B.C.?
Just like me saying I’m a protege’ of Joe Lewis. It means little or nothing.
Wouldn't it make more sense to take the focus off the style history and put it on the benefits the student will enjoy?
It’s what you can do for the student that matters. Describe what you teach by what it can do to help the student, not your style history.
Why My Dad Got Really Mad
Oh, before I wrap this, my dad was shocked to walk into our karate school and see a Korean flag on the wall. He was even more upset that we were required to bow to it.
He fought in the Korean War. Can you imagine a Vietnam vet watching his kids bow to a Vietnam flag. Or a 911 victim son bowing to a Muslim flag?
To be clear, I have great respect for Asian culture, but I don’t bow to their flags or their masters.
Emphasizing your style and/or lineage just creates distance between you and the prospect.
None of that matters. All that matters is the quality of the connection you create with your prospects and students.
- Are they engaged in classes?
- Does what you teach actually make sense?
- The most important question, Do they keep coming back for more?
The answer to all three has to be “Yes.” BTW, Yes was my favorite band in high school (still is :0).
What do you think? Please leave your comments and join MATA.
