Looking for suggestions on preparing and conducting Zoom classes. We are still on lock down and I have been doing a Zoom class once a week to keep folks engaged. It becomes challenging because most people do not have a partner or a grappling dummy handy. Anyone have any recommendations on how to keep the classes interesting and beneficial to the participants? There are only so many solo drills you can do before it starts to get boring and long winded. Any ideas are welcome. Thanks in Advance Edited: Keep in mind I have all age groups, from kids to adults

We were doing a ton of those between all the various Yamasaki gyms. Everyone had different ideas. Some guys were doing video breakdowns of matches which was super popular for the competitors. Other people were doing solo drills only. Different crowd for those. What we learned was that it's best to do different classes of various topics and let them know ahead of time. I personally hate solo drills and so I only ran classes that required a partner.

I sent you A PM bro

Thanks for the advice folks! I really appreciate it.

Let us know what kind of feedback you are getting, please. While we aren't doing any Zoom classes now, the reality of the future is that there will be more shutdowns and need for virtual learning. If you find a formula that seems to be working we would love to 'borrow' your notes.

Yeah: this has been one of the things I've been trying to see as a silver lining to all the pandemic awfulness. Being forced to work on a whole new teaching format, along with the technological aspects, has meant I've learned a lot. Those are skills I'm hoping to continue honing after lockdown, like with distance learning students. I have a few ex-students I've been helping to keep training despite being locked down, especially one of them who was stuck in Melbourne during their very strict several months long lockdown last year. She was both getting depressed about the situation and about her lack of training, so being able to offer her a training option via Zoom was pretty cool.

We even just setup of Google cameras for a constant stream of the gym for people to watch if they choose. Which we never would have done without the pandemic.

Awesome! I've always wanted to do that, but don't have a decent WiFi connection at the place I rent. In dreamland, where I finally own my own place, I will for sure do that. :D

I totally understand that...I started in a TKD gym 12 years ago and was scared TO DEATH to sign a lease for our own place when we moved.

We can't even go into our academy right now let alone live stream it. I'm doing zoom from home. I am hoping they loosen up restrictions on the 22nd. Fingers crossed

5 minutes to make one. FIVE whole minutes. :P https://www.facebook.com/[...]3273128496

Yeah. I'd be more than happy to buy somewhere, I just don't have the money. Renting my own place, that I'm doing already, but I hate the feeling of instability. Mainly because my previous venue got bought by developers, so I had to really scramble to find somewhere else at short notice. Worked out well, but it means I will never feel 100% secure renting (though meh, I don't currently have a choice, same as most small gyms I guess ;) ).

Ugh, that really sucks. Are you guys getting any type of debt relief up that way? Like, do you need to keep paying rent even though you can't be open?

I hear ya man. I kept my day job and paid all expenses almost out of pocket for the first.....5 years or so? Seemed like an eternity. I finally quit my 'job' about 2 years ago but the pandemic put a squeeze back on. Trying to get back to where we were but it's not easy for sure.

I've only taught a couple of zoom classes (covering for my judo coach) but attended them regularly too. Solo movement, circuits indisguise (cardio is a necessary evil against the covid kilos), stand up uchikomi using fitness bands. I don't have a grappling dummy but found a gi jacket can be helpful with drill visualisation but also some spider stuff etc. Also. Yoga for bjj as been helpful for cool downs and extended mobility sessions.

I've only taught a couple of zoom classes (covering for my judo coach) but attended them regularly too. Solo movement, circuits indisguise (cardio is a necessary evil against the covid kilos), stand up uchikomi using fitness bands. I don't have a grappling dummy but found a gi jacket can be helpful with drill visualisation but also some spider stuff etc. Also. Yoga for bjj as been helpful for cool downs and extended mobility sessions.

I think the academy owner is getting some kind of Covid relief. (I teach free there and work full time in construction) He is managing to keep the place afloat for now but it remains to be seen in the long term if this continues. Sad situation for club owners here.