Confessions of a Failed Martial Arts School Owner: Part One
Lifting the red and black puzzle mats off the floor, revealing the empty and imperfect vinyl imitation hardwood floor is more painful the second time around. While they only had students on them for a total of eighteen months over the last two years, I could still feel the excited energy of their eagerness emanating from them. Each mat taken off the ground and placed in the back of my SUV carved another empty square in my heart.
I stripped the walls bare, taking down whiteboards, calendars, belt displays, Korean and Japanese tapestries I’d collected over the years, and flags. The only thing left in their place were the holes in the walls made by the hanging fixtures. Holes in the wall mirroring the holes punctured in my soul at a second failure.
What hurt more than my personal pain and disappointment at failing, twice, in one of my life’s dreams was the sadness and disappointment I put my students through because of my failure. Sure, there were angry parents due to the time and financial loss of my business going bankrupt, but I cared more for the students who put their faith and trust in my teaching and leadership. Faith and trust that was broken, for the second time, without the knowledge or understanding of business or financial issues. All they knew was that their instructor was no longer there for them.
Standing at the back exit of my martial arts school, office, and training area devoid of evidence that good training and growth took place there, I couldn’t help but feel the same cavernous void inside myself as I saw in my former school. Flicking off the lights one final time and sitting in my car, the back full of the last load of equipment, I wept at the loss and wondered how I got to this place. Was it a string of uncontrollable events that led to this inevitability? Did I fail because I was not prepared, or willing, to do the things necessary for success? Is this heartbreak and failure my fault?
Shooting My Shot
“Carpe the Diem! Seize the carp!” -Confucious, I think
“I have a little over six months until I leave active duty. With my salary now, and our reduced living expenses, I think I can float the rent and utilities for a martial arts school location until I get enough students to cover the business expenses.” I told my, then-partner with wide-eyed excitement in my voice.
“How many students would that be? What’s your magic number?” She knowingly asked as she was a veteran martial arts school owner herself.
“Only fifteen! I can do that in six months!” My math was correct. My assumptions, not so much.
“And you’ll have another job after active duty because you’re doing this internship from home?” The question was more of a search for assurance than encouragement.
“Of course! I’m a shoo-in for a permanent position with this company. The great part is that it’s a remote role because of the pandemic!” I said, encouraged.
“Then I say do it! Pull the trigger! Life’s too short not to seize the day!” This was definitely her encouraging me.
In the span of a single month, I incorporated my business, found the perfect location, signed the lease, set up a website and social media accounts, got my very talented friend to create a business logo for the brand, ordered mats, ordered training equipment, and subscribed to a customer resource management system specifically designed for small business martial arts schools. The overhead expenses weren’t terrible. I was amazed at how easy it was to create a business out of thin air, an idea, and buckets of excitement.
What happened in the following several months was a river of dreams. I just didn’t realize the river ended in a waterfall crashing over rocks.
Stay tuned for Part 2!
Jeff Curry
- Confessions of a Failed Martial Arts School Owner – Part 3 - July 13, 2023
- Confessions of a Failed Martial Arts School Owner – Part 2 - May 23, 2023
- Confessions of a Failed Martial Arts School Owner – Part 1 - May 12, 2023
Jeff, this made my heart hurt for you. I’m sorry for the pain you’ve gone through in the name of love for martial arts. The writing is lovely, though, and I’m looking forward to reading part 2.