Recently we were given an ultimatum by our affiliate head that was very unfavorable. Being our head instructor is only a purple belt this put us in a position to accept to ridiculous offer or search for a new affiliation. He chose neither. Luckily, we know 3 black belts who as friends are going to assess and promote us students. This is almost unheard of. I'd like to hear some opinions, both positive and negative. BTW we don't give a shit about competing in ibjjf.
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Do what's best for you
checkuroil -Do what's best for you
Not my decision, but this does seem best. One student in particular is not in favor of parting ways with the original affiliation.
What was the ultimatum?
Good luck to you guys.
Give him the business ($0.00) or he wouldn't be our affiliate. The purple belt who owns the business just stuck about $20,000 into remodeling and other upgrades. Dead serious.
He would allow the current owner and on other guy remain as part time teachers, but everything else would be his. His reason was he was raising his standards.
fuck em
Do you mean literally hand over ownership to the head affiliate as payment to be an affiliate?
Red Stuff - Do you mean literally hand over ownership to the head affiliate as payment to be an affiliate?
Hand over ownership to remain an affiliate, yes. A shakedown.
Good for you guys. Wish your instructor the best in building and maintaining the school.
liuk3 -Good for you guys. Wish your instructor the best in building and maintaining the school.
Thank you very much. I think we'll be better off. The only real benefit we got out of the affiliation was repping his flag, which who really cares anyway. The benefit was all his with monthly dues and expensive belt testing fees.
Affiliation is pointless, it doesn't assure quality control of the product, and it doesn't help with new business since new people have next to no idea who anyone in jiu jitsu is except for perhaps a vague understanding of the gracie name. If you have a good gym culture where people are training, learning new things, pushing themselves physically, and maintaining standards for behaviour, that's all you need. Affiliation is for dad bods that want to feel like they are members of the Sons of Anarchy. If anything, affliation loyalty can result in pupils not learning new things b/c it isn't the affiliations philosophy or it comes from a rival organization.
Wish your academy much success.
nek -Affiliation is pointless, it doesn't assure quality control of the product, and it doesn't help with new business since new people have next to no idea who anyone in jiu jitsu is except for perhaps a vague understanding of the gracie name. If you have a good gym culture where people are training, learning new things, pushing themselves physically, and maintaining standards for behaviour, that's all you need. Affiliation is for dad bods that want to feel like they are members of the Sons of Anarchy. If anything, affliation loyalty can result in pupils not learning new things b/c it isn't the affiliations philosophy or it comes from a rival organization.
Wish your academy much success.
I think some people like feeling like they are part of something bigger and greater. That's why they rep the flag and wear the patches of the hero's with the big name. It's just a money grab. It's almost cult like in some cases. Look at a guy like Pedro Sauer. I'm "friends" with some of his black belts of FB and they way they worship and praise him to no end is uncomfortable to witness. Even their students who have probably never met him or trained with him are all decked out in his logos. $$$
Chesumodo -nek -Affiliation is pointless, it doesn't assure quality control of the product, and it doesn't help with new business since new people have next to no idea who anyone in jiu jitsu is except for perhaps a vague understanding of the gracie name. If you have a good gym culture where people are training, learning new things, pushing themselves physically, and maintaining standards for behaviour, that's all you need. Affiliation is for dad bods that want to feel like they are members of the Sons of Anarchy. If anything, affliation loyalty can result in pupils not learning new things b/c it isn't the affiliations philosophy or it comes from a rival organization.
Wish your academy much success.
I think some people like feeling like they are part of something bigger and greater. That's why they rep the flag and wear the patches of the hero's with the big name. It's just a money grab. It's almost cult like in some cases. Look at a guy like Pedro Sauer. I'm "friends" with some of his black belts of FB and they way they worship and praise him to no end is uncomfortable to witness. Even their students who have probably never met him or trained with him are all decked out in his logos. $$$
That's exactly what it is. You're there to get better at submission grappling, not to become part of a white collar (robe?) gang. And this day and age, there's alot of options for quality training, not just the affiliate you first started with.
Sounds like you guys got out of a toxic situations which is great. But don't get it twisted, with a purple belt coach you do need to find someone with more experience to help you guys develop. When you're in the middle of it it probably feels like you've got everything you need right there, but if you step into another legit gym you'll see what you're missing. Sounds like you've got some black belt buddies. Make sure you visit them for more than just belt testing day.
Easters -Sounds like you guys got out of a toxic situations which is great. But don't get it twisted, with a purple belt coach you do need to find someone with more experience to help you guys develop. When you're in the middle of it it probably feels like you've got everything you need right there, but if you step into another legit gym you'll see what you're missing. Sounds like you've got some black belt buddies. Make sure you visit them for more than just belt testing day.
As long as the purple belt has an "always learning" approach he'll do just fine. There are black belts that really haven't evolved since they received their black belt. This becomes more prominent with leg locks, for instance.
nek -Easters -Sounds like you guys got out of a toxic situations which is great. But don't get it twisted, with a purple belt coach you do need to find someone with more experience to help you guys develop. When you're in the middle of it it probably feels like you've got everything you need right there, but if you step into another legit gym you'll see what you're missing. Sounds like you've got some black belt buddies. Make sure you visit them for more than just belt testing day.
As long as the purple belt has an "always learning" approach he'll do just fine. There are black belts that really haven't evolved since they received their black belt. This becomes more prominent with leg locks, for instance.
It's always the loudest guy who is completely out of his element.
Chesumodo -Red Stuff - Do you mean literally hand over ownership to the head affiliate as payment to be an affiliate?Hand over ownership to remain an affiliate, yes. A shakedown.
Is it a big name affiliation? I cant imagine any well known big affiliation demanding such ridiculous terms. Most big name affiliates just want X amount of $$$ per month for the affiliation. Demanding ownership sounds like something from someone lesser known
Would you be comfortable throwing him under the bus here? sounds like a dick
^ This
$/month
Who’s this guy demanding such terms? Helio?
Name and shame. And it totally sounds like a small time guy overplaying his hand. One of my old isntructors did something very similar, and his affiliate (who was a brown belt at the time) did the same as your instructor.
James
Lol. I'd probably whoop someone's ass on sight if they made that ultimatum to me. When I was blue/purple I would travel every weekend to train with legit guys to keep skill set up. We went independent and really just had to find solid bb for promoting.
as long as you keep training with legit bbs to keep level high you’re good. Don’t be the ronin purple with non existent skills.