To Hotbox Leaders(or any others willing to contribute)

Hey guys,

Just had a quick question for guys currently running hotboxes or in the process of starting up their own gym.
As you some of you may know, I have been attempting to start a 10th Planet Hotbox here in Tokyo with some degree of success over the past year.
The main problems I have run into are
A)mat space (currently working on this)
B)working a full time job (at a Japanese company)
C) instilling the no-gi mentality(imagine being in the 2007ish era in the states)

I have found a lot of my success sharing my game with open minded teachers and students, but since I don't exactly have a standout competition background and am still a purple belt, it is an uphill battle.

So my question would be how successful hotbox leaders have been able to manage and grow their HBs with limited time, belt rank and experience. ( I know hard work is important ingredient but some more details would be great)

I am trying to do this not only for myself but for all 10P brothers who travel and live on this side of the world and and also so that we can grow the roots of the system worldwide.

Please help a brother out.
Thank you,
Sanni

I can't add much, since our little hotbox is the only game in town. No-gi or nothing. As for working full time, make some set times for classes as your schedule will allow and stick to it. It is hard for others to commit if the training dates and times are not consistent. I could only do two days a week, but I have missed very few days in the last 4 years, and when I did miss, I made sure class was still ran by someone else even if it was just open training. Focus on growing a small core group through consistency and let them HELP.

Sanni

Sorry to interject but are you able to update the position about training no gi in Tokyo? I sent a PM but did not hear back.

To date the most successful hot boxes have been competitors, its the only way you're going to stand out amongst an ocean of gi schools.

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Originally Posted by chris herzog

to date the most successful hot boxes have been competitors, its the only way you're going to stand out amongst an ocean of gi schools.

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this!!

Thanks for the advice guys.
I know it is not impossible just have to stay consistent and make some noise at competitions, even if they are mostly Gi.
It's funny when you are working full time the gap between the days you perform and don't perform is much wider. When I was still in school most days averaged out unless I was studying for a Final or something.
So much respect to those who keep up a full schedule of training while working.
You rock!
Peterm>> I will send you a PM once we figure out our steady location for the summer.
But of course you are welcome! :)

Thanks Sanni.

From interview with Kon Ying who describes himself as 'a chubby 40 year old recreational purple belt':

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BJJ Rants: Do you have any tips for people wishing to have their own academy?

KY: Although there are far more people qualified to help the potential school owner, I can share with you several thoughts and tips I have learned in the 16 months that I have been open.

First and foremost, do not kill yourself with a high overhead. I have a very small academy with only about 550 square feet of mat space. When Marcelo first moved to NYC and taught at Studio X, we had just enough space to have 4 pairs of people training at one time. Thus, in the back of my head, I knew I only needed to start off with enough mat space to fit 8 people. Fortunately, I was able to find a big enough space that also fit my budget (I wanted to a space that I could afford with my very limited disposable income, even if I had zero students). Fortunately, after 1 year of teaching, I now have enough students to cover my costs and have a small bit of money left over to get paid approximately minimum wage for the hours I spend at the academy.

Now that you have your bills squared away, the most important thing is provide good solid technical instruction. Fortunately, we have a lot of tools to do so these days. I would have personally gone crazy in my bjj journey if I knew I was missing out on Marcelo’s teachings every day. But, with MGinaction.com, I can teach myself and my students the very same lessons and techniques that Marcelo teaches his students in his own academy. Now, I can teach with confidence that the moves I am showing are Marcelo’s moves- ones that work at the highest levels of competition- they are not just moves that have worked for me while I was rolling with my friends.

Once you know what you are teaching, don’t be lazy- teach as much as possible. Don’t let that lower belt lead warm ups or teach fundamentals class. Just like improving your butterfly sweep takes tons of reps, so does teaching. After 4 years of teaching, I feel that I am finally hitting my stride and feel much more comfortable and at ease teaching to my students or visitors.

The last advice I have is not to put too much pressure on yourself to sell bjj to everyone that comes through the door. Granted, I am in an enviable position that my primary income is not derived from teaching, but from my experience, it is impossible to tell who is going to fall in love with BJJ. Sometimes the meekest, most uncoordinated person, may end up being your most dedicated student, and the prodigy beginner that trains 5 times a week, will be the one that inexplicably quits. Just try to create a welcoming, friendly environment and be nice to everyone; whoever ends up staying will stay in large part because of their own dedication and determination and probably not because they were convinced by a well rehearsed sales pitch.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sanni

Hey guys,

Just had a quick question for guys currently running hotboxes or in the process of starting up their own gym.
As you some of you may know, I have been attempting to start a 10th Planet Hotbox here in Tokyo with some degree of success over the past year.
The main problems I have run into are
A)mat space (currently working on this)
B)working a full time job (at a Japanese company)
C) instilling the no-gi mentality(imagine being in the 2007ish era in the states)

I have found a lot of my success sharing my game with open minded teachers and students, but since I don't exactly have a standout competition background and am still a purple belt, it is an uphill battle.

So my question would be how successful hotbox leaders have been able to manage and grow their HBs with limited time, belt rank and experience. ( I know hard work is important ingredient but some more details would be great)

I am trying to do this not only for myself but for all 10P brothers who travel and live on this side of the world and and also so that we can grow the roots of the system worldwide.

Please help a brother out.
Thank you,
Sanni

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B) Schedule your time just like your students will have to. Find something that will work for everyone and do your best to stick to it.
C) Most people that walk in the door THAT YOU HAVE A REAL CHANCE TO KEEP in your position will be new to training so no-gi will make sense if you explain it.

Like it or not, at this stage you are mainly going to get people that chose you because you are teaching for free and many of them will be less serious at least at first. That was my experience when I taught at my hotbox. Gradually, I started having people with prior experience trickle in and eventually developed a credible reputation in the area.

Like Zog said, competition is going to have a big impact on your credibility in the area.

I also liked allot of the other posts on this thread as well. Good luck my friend :)

Hey Sanni,

I'm just across the river in Shanghai. Do you guys have a website or class schedule up somewhere?

I have been trying to get in touch with Leonard in Korea for a couple months but haven't heard anything back from him at all :(

Thanks

Tyler