Do you want a team of instructors that can teach just as well, if not better, than you?
Hereโs what Iโve learned working in a top 1% martial arts organization that develops over 200 instructors across multiple locations every year.
Iโve seen school owners run instructor training programs where they obsess over the perfect front kick or kata step, but forget to teach the soft skills that actually make students stay.
If your instructors only learn how to teach martial arts, and not how to lead, motivate, and connect with students, theyโll always fall short. And the school will always depend on you. Students donโt quit because of a lackluster kick, they quit because theyโre bored, disconnected, or confused.
Hereโs how to level up your instructor training:
1. Teach Them What to Say First.
Give your instructors specific language patterns and scripts.
Example: โWow, that was awesome! Try that one more time and aim a little higher just like a black belt would!โ
Most instructors donโt struggle with what to do, they struggle with what to say. Fix that first.
2. Train Presence Over Perfection.
Iโd rather have an instructor with average technique and a huge voice than a ninja technician who mumbles.
Your team needs to walk tall, use names, smile big, and have contagious energy.
3. Use the I.D.E.A. Method.
I teach all my clients this framework for instructor development:
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Instruct (explain the move)
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Demonstrate (show it clearly)
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Evaluate (walk around and fix)
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Acknowledge (praise improvement loudly)
If your team can do those 4 steps every time, their classes will shine.
Bonus Tip: Give Real Feedback
Donโt say, โGood jobโ at every staff meeting. Thatโs not feedback.
Record them teaching. Watch it together (I call this Game Film Review). Celebrate the wins, then give ONE specific area to improve. Just one, anything more, itโs overwhelming and you wonโt see any improvement.
Small adjustments lead to big results, if you make training a priority, your school will run smoother, retention will go up, and youโll finally be able to take a vacation without everything falling apart.
Train your team like your business depends on it, because it does.
I made a ONE PAGE document with a 9 Week Plan on how to train your staff, with a new lesson each week. Itโs super simple and easy to follow.
Want it for free? All that I ask is your subscribe to my podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2856LiVpcDfu16uZJw0wIu?si=cUaERgiQSS6jCgBTeWZS0A and give it a 5 star rating! Send me a screen shot, and iโll send over the document for free. Fair enough?
As always, 3 min read, all strategy, no fluff.
Your hype man,
Matthew
P.S. Do you want to add 30 new students in 60 days organicallyโwithout spending a dime on ads? I am the only coach that contractually guarantees your results or your money back. Schedule a 10-min Discovery Call with me HERE to see if your school is eligible ๐ https://calendar.app.google/4iebpmfcm547p5Bu6
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