(Budo AI)
How Artificial Intelligence will affect
The Martial Arts industry
Time to Ponder
I have read about the new AI ChatGPT or what is now GPT-4.5 and it is obvious that the quality of the material that comes from this new paradigm will reduce (or even eliminate) the need for so many bloggers and authors, especially small contributors like myself.
In fact, I asked GPT-4 a question related to one of my previous articles and the result was as good as what I wrote. This made me realize that an untrained writer like myself will be out of a job even before I have one. In fact, in my opinion, one of my previous professions, namely Financial Planning will be one of the first to be made redundant by AI, probably within 5 years (A new AI for the Financial Planning Industry was just released – Advisor AI, which looks to become the first step in the redundancy stage for the industry).
While I see this AI trend as something imminent and unavoidable, I do feel the best way to overcome these new algorithmically created articles is to try and “humanize” the content of these stories. Within a few years, Artificial Intelligence – AI – will be a dominant force in our society. As mentioned, it will make certain industries redundant, but will also assist other industries in professionalizing themselves. The Martial Arts Industry could be one of those latter industries, but only if handled correctly.
It is the human factor that I feel we may take for granted in such a societal setting as a martial arts class. Any good martial arts school has instructors who are always interacting with their students in a very human way. No AI program can replace this and something that is of value in our ever-increasing technical (and online) world. There are many examples where the new AI paradigm is slowly encroaching into our daily lives, which in turn can reduce the human interaction that we are all use to.
For example, I play a sizable amount of chess and while I was a ranked player when I was 13, I stopped playing due to my Martial Arts involvement. After retirement, I decided to pick up the game again and the one thing that has changed the most in those many years I was away from chess was the increased involvement of computers.
Computer chess engines of today are so good that they will beat a human 100 out of 100 times. They are just too powerful and getting more so with the inclusion of AI, to the point that most casual players use the AI “Bots” rather than other ‘human’ players. Nevertheless, when watching some of the more popular Chess tournaments, there is always some expert saying things like “Well the computer likes the setup for white, but as a human, I ‘feel’ that black has a better strategy. It is this connotation that I feel is now necessary in any article not written by AI.
What is Required?
While researching the possible effects that AI could have on the martial arts industry, I decided to complete the MATA Teacher’s Certification course (for the second time). When reviewing its contents in detail, almost the entire 25-module course is on Risk Management. The way to teach, what to teach, who to teach and while a number of the courses tried to use various aspects of psychology, the majority of the courses were instructive to ensure the safety of the student and the business, using insurance, videos, and adherence to very strict processes.
It is concerning that these courses are necessary due to the incredibly litigious society we now live in. Nevertheless, the main component underlining the entire course was the “human factor. This very detailed and instructive Martial Arts teaching certification course gets updated regularly as it takes into consideration the evolving values of today’s society (as well as its sensitivities). This is part and parcel of our industry, especially considering the number of young children in our martial arts schools. It is here where AI can assist in ensuring that we remain vigilant in our Risk Management and Safety Governance strategies. For example, you can use AI to monitor all aspects of proper adherence to insurance coverage requirements, including staff training.
I also watch several martial arts consultant webinars regularly, mainly to keep track of what the martial arts industry is up to these days. Unfortunately, since the pandemic, signs are not positive. The frustration of some of the more popular consultants is obvious and sometimes smacks of desperation in their attempts to professionalize the industry. Today’s Martial Arts industry is as fragmented as it was 50 years ago, with more than 90% of all martial arts schools today still being a single-person operation run by hobbyists more so than business people.
I have recently noticed how many school owners have finally realized that martial arts are not a priority on anyone’s list these days, especially after the recent pandemic. The ability to attract new students and more importantly, to retain existing students is now predicated completely upon over-the-top ‘customer service’, which in today’s market is a rarity.
When I worked for the Bank, it was stressed to me that the competitor Bank’s money was just the same as our Bank’s money with the only difference being customer service. This is becoming very true for the martial arts industry and those who don’t appreciate this fact will be constantly struggling for students (i.e.: paying customers).
Should we use AI in our Industry?
With the advent of AI, together with the automation of our society in so many facets of our lives, the only way to truly succeed in our industry is to humanize our services, our curriculum, and our community. This doesn’t mean that we should stop using all these new technologies or systems, but rather we need to leverage our human side with these new methodologies, not replace them.
Still use technology but only for convenience. Use it to provide a ‘frictionless” onboarding process but do not allow it to replace a friendly face-to-face conversation.
Still use social media but be kind and informative. Create an online community with a family-like feel. Use social media to tell your story of inspiration and dedication. Be honest, and fair, and ensure you humanize every post.
Still use all types of marketing, just don’t be superficial. Include get-togethers and informal gatherings as part of your marketing plan. Invite students, their friends, their parents, their spouses, and their children, and market to them with sincerity and a wonderful smile.
Our world is changing rapidly with technology slowly taking over the majority of our day-to-day chores. This is not bad, but we must do our part not to allow technology to dehumanize our interactions. Sometimes I worry this may be too big an ask for our ever-changing society.
I think the one fact that came out of the recent pandemic was that humans are social animals. We need to have contact with others “directly” in order to really feel human. Maybe we should be using our martial arts community to emphasize this human aspect of our industry. It really couldn’t hurt … all that much!
Pruim Shihan has regularly travelled to Japan in order to train with one of the world's foremost Karate masters, the late Kanazawa Hirokazu Soke (10th Dan Shotokan Karate) and his present instructor Shuseki Shihan Manabu Murakami (8th Dan).
Pruim Shihan also attended the International Budo University, located in Katsuura, Japan on several occasions for advanced Budo training where he was introduced to Atarashii Naginata.
Andries Pruim has written several articles over the past 30 years, with his most recent work focusing on the business side of the Martial Arts Industry.
- My Japanese NaginataExperience - September 8, 2024
- Sports Karate Business Benefits - August 1, 2024
- Using Martial Arts AI to create Article on Sumo - July 8, 2024
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