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What is every gym doing wrong?
1 year(s) ago • 927 views • 3 replies
CBBrown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I was thinking about this lately, but I wanted to look at the other side of things. Instead of the usual, what makes a successful gym, I'm interested in what everyone thinks most gyms are doing badly, or what are gyms not doing that you with they would. Please, go crazy. No ideas are too wild
Here's my pick:
1) Over focus on kids. Adults are member too. They shouldn't get less attention, especially since they're paying more.
2) I love a weight room in the gym. An all in one place is awesome.
3) Clear goals for every belt. I like the informal nature of BJJ, but that there's no real goals for each belt lights up my OCD.
4) Talking to the members about their goals. Competitors are different from people who just want some activity. These should be considered in their promotion goals.
5) Dedicated Class days. I like there being specific topics for specific classes. Again, raging OCD, but it drives me nuts when I see someone "warm up" withstand up for 20 minutes then spend the rest of the class doing Half Guard.
Here's my pick:
1) Over focus on kids. Adults are member too. They shouldn't get less attention, especially since they're paying more.
2) I love a weight room in the gym. An all in one place is awesome.
3) Clear goals for every belt. I like the informal nature of BJJ, but that there's no real goals for each belt lights up my OCD.
4) Talking to the members about their goals. Competitors are different from people who just want some activity. These should be considered in their promotion goals.
5) Dedicated Class days. I like there being specific topics for specific classes. Again, raging OCD, but it drives me nuts when I see someone "warm up" withstand up for 20 minutes then spend the rest of the class doing Half Guard.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
I was thinking about this lately, but I wanted to look at the other side of things. Instead of the usual, what makes a successful gym, I'm interested in what everyone thinks most gyms are doing badly, or what are gyms not doing that you with they would. Please, go crazy. No ideas are too wild Here's my pick: 1) Over focus on kids. Adults are member too. They shouldn't get less attention, especially since they're paying more. 2) I love a weight room in the gym. An all in one place is awesome. 3) Clear goals for every belt. I like the informal nature of BJJ, but that there's no real goals for each belt lights up my OCD. 4) Talking to the members about their goals. Competitors are different from people who just want some activity. These should be considered in their promotion goals. 5) Dedicated Class days. I like there being specific topics for specific classes. Again, raging OCD, but it drives me nuts when I see someone "warm up" withstand up for 20 minutes then spend the rest of the class doing Half Guard.
I'm a little confused as to whether you like having a weight room/ clear goals etc, or if that's still included in things you don't like, like kids class.
To respond to the topic, I would say that my gripes are a little more "big picture":
1) Having a toxic training culture: we have enough douchebags in the world. We don't need another D-bag fighting factory.
2) Having a program that does not cater to beginners: there are billions of people in the world who will never try jiu-jitsu because instead of trying to attract new people, some gyms have a "business model" based on poaching.
3) "Women's only" classes run by dudes: nothing says women's empowerment like some roided-out bro telling the little ladies how to do the thing.
OK, so that last one is probably more of a pet peeve, but it still fits the description :).
To respond to the topic, I would say that my gripes are a little more "big picture":
1) Having a toxic training culture: we have enough douchebags in the world. We don't need another D-bag fighting factory.
2) Having a program that does not cater to beginners: there are billions of people in the world who will never try jiu-jitsu because instead of trying to attract new people, some gyms have a "business model" based on poaching.
3) "Women's only" classes run by dudes: nothing says women's empowerment like some roided-out bro telling the little ladies how to do the thing.
OK, so that last one is probably more of a pet peeve, but it still fits the description :).
CBBrown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
To clarify, Weight room and clear goals are in the "positive thing most gyms don't do" category. Exclusive focus on kids was a dislike.
BVBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
I think good points have been made already.
What I think is a turn off for a gym, when you have a trainer that demands loyalty and respect, but doesnt give any of that to his members, basically setting up a cult. Secondly I think its important to moderate public communication groups, especially when you want to be a family friendly gym. Ive heard stories where group app with instructors included would post sexist and pornographic content. This made a lot of people feel uneasy.
Another one is where you have to be overly formal, bowing to pictures of old diseased brazilians, and have to wear obligatory club uniforms + paid belt testing. This is not the 1950s.
What I think is a turn off for a gym, when you have a trainer that demands loyalty and respect, but doesnt give any of that to his members, basically setting up a cult. Secondly I think its important to moderate public communication groups, especially when you want to be a family friendly gym. Ive heard stories where group app with instructors included would post sexist and pornographic content. This made a lot of people feel uneasy.
Another one is where you have to be overly formal, bowing to pictures of old diseased brazilians, and have to wear obligatory club uniforms + paid belt testing. This is not the 1950s.
