Recently I was approached by the family of one of my students. This person, who I prefer keeping anonymous, shared an experience I had never heard like this before. Her son recently started training Martial Arts at our studio. He came in with a sunny disposition, and a great spirit, but neither him nor anyone in his family had ever done any Martial Arts of any kind.
We decided to try the trial program, and he got going. A few classes in he seemed happy though I was not sure he would stay. To my pleasant surprise he decided to continue the program including private and group lessons. Right after a few lessons he said the following to his mom: “mommy, I like my karate, but I like my private class more. The group is ok, but I like my class”.
I was so moved by those words that I decided to add this story. Personal sessions are a cornerstone of our system. It is ok to work as a group with other students, similar ranks, even higher ranks, but having a one on one session with your instructor is priceless. Often I get asked, how much are your lessons, and the honest truth answer is “I am not sure”. This comes not out of a desire to confuse people, but better out of pure and sincere doubt, since it is hard to put a price on the value of a personal session. I am very grateful to this family for making my day, but most importantly for showcasing the value of personal attention.
