MARTIAL ARTS INDUSTRY NEWS Page 2

Consumer Response to the International Martial Arts Alliance

We are getting feedback from instructors advising us that more and more new and existing students are asking if their school is a member of the ‘International Martial Arts Alliance' and wanting to know how the instructors gained their qualifications.

What the consumers are really asking is, ‘are you professional and are you governed or use a code of practice or guided by an overseeing orginisation / peak body'. Consumers want to be confident they are choosing the right club and are looking for schools that have met and operate by some form of industry standard.

Like every other industry there are professional / peak bodies that instill consumer confidence, so by purchasing from a member of that body, they feel safe and that the trainers in this case, are qualified to teach.

Members of the International Martial Arts Alliance (IMA) have met a minimum qualification standard and are offered numerous opportunities to up skill and learn new business and coaching methods. Our commitment to helping / directing the industry has been recognized by government departments, all the insurance companies, numerous registered training orginisations and more importantly for members, the consumers who are your students and clients.

Without consumer confidence, schools will find it hard to recruit members. That's why we have made a commitment to help instill that confidence by educating instructors to do the right thing by their students. We have been and will continue to promote the benefits of martial arts through our online and TV network. With over 100,000 visitors per month to the website and over a million viewers to our TV series it is not surprising we are making a positive impact on how people view the martial arts.

As a member put your ‘Certified Instructor' certificate on the wall of your dojo, wear your badge on your gi, show students your member card and tell them what this membership means to them. You can also use the IMA logo on your website (linked to us) and your promotional material. Let them know that you have had to meet an industry standard to obtain it. Tell them about the website, point them to the TV series, invite them to attend some of the professional business / coaching seminars we have.

We will be helping members further by posting your schools on the website in a new directory so that consumers can check you out. We will also be including a profile page for those instructors who want to take it up. It will have an instructor's name, school, credentials, photo and a video and or technique (self defence / kata / fitness etc) at no cost. You can get involved straight away by submitting your material, see technical requirements below:

Instructor: John Smith (Title Shihan)
Years of experience: 35
Rank: 5 th Dan
Coaching Qualifications: Cert IV Sports Coaching
Other Qualifications: Cert IV Workplace Trainer
Current Insurance: Yes
Current First Aid: Yes
Holder: Blue card or other state government working with children card
Style: Karate and Kobudo
Name of School : John Smith Martial Arts Academy
Photo: Portrait or Action 200 x 250
Photo Technique Series : 4-6 photos 200 x 250 with text explanations
Video Technique Series: Any subject
Format: WMV
File size: No more than 5mb
Length: No more than three minutes
Contact: 03 9999 9999
Teaching location: Preston, Coburg , Heidelburg, Northcote

For more information via discussion call us on 03 9897 3213