KarateBuilt Martial Arts · Enrollment Conference

The My Karate Schedule — the page that locks the commitment

By Chief Master Greg Moody, Ph.D. · For KarateBuilt enrollment staff

The My Karate Schedule is the one piece of paper the family carries out the front door. By the time you fill it in, the family has watched their child succeed in a lesson and they are saying yes to the goal. This page captures that yes in writing and sends it home — onto the refrigerator, where the whole family sees it every day. It turns “we signed up for karate” into “we have class Wednesday at 5:10pm.”

Run the script below and, on enrollment day, the family leaves with their next four classes scheduled, their first Training Conference set, a spot at the next parent night out, their first belt graduation on the calendar, and a vision of first- and second-degree Black Belt.

What goes home

The family leaves with the My Karate Schedule — the black-and-white page they just filled in. They do not take the full class schedule home. The full schedule is what they choose their classes from in the room; the My Karate Schedule is what goes on the refrigerator and what they live by.

Watercolor of an instructor at a school front desk with a parent and a child in a white uniform, setting the schedule — The Close: the family picks their classes off the laminated schedule — you write them on the My Karate Schedule.

The process, step by step

This is the exact script. Say it the way it is written. The gold passages are your words; the brown text in brackets is what you fill in for this family.

Step 1 — Move into the schedule

The lesson is done and you are discussing the schedule. This can be the moment you ask whether they can make it twice a week, or whenever the schedule first comes up.

Step 2 — Pick the two classes a week

Bring out the beautifully laminated class schedule that is only for them — the Black Belt Qualification Family Classes, for example. Hand it to them and say:

“Pick the two classes a week you’re going to come.”

RESOLVE here: If they can’t decide, or something comes up, fix it right now. Maybe Grandma is bringing the kids and nobody told you, or the parents need a quick discussion. If you truly can’t resolve it, you may not go further and you resolve at the next class — but that should be very unusual. We resolve about 98% of the time.

Step 3 — Write in the next 4 classes

Pull out the My Karate Schedule — the main document, the black-and-white paper — and write in the next 4 classes. As you write, say:

“Excellent — so you’re coming in Wednesday the 11th at 5:10pm and Saturday the 14th at 10:30am, then the following week Wednesday the 18th at 5:10pm and Saturday the 21st at 10:30am.”

NOTE: Those four classes are what get them to their 1st Training Conference (Progress Check).

Watercolor of a parent and child in a white uniform looking at the schedule held by magnets on the refrigerator — The four classes go on the page — and the page goes on the refrigerator.

Step 4 — Set the Training Conference

Schedule the first Training Conference (Progress Check). Say:

“Great! Now let’s schedule your first training conference. This is with the whole family and anyone else in charge of schedule, finances, transportation or custody, and we go over progress towards your goal of [DESCRIBE GOAL]. Is after their 4th class going to work for everyone?”

RESOLVE: If the 4th class doesn’t work, fix it — maybe they do a different day for that class. It’s fine to hold the conference after class 3 or on class 5. Write the day, time, and date, and circle the “both Parents / all Caregivers” line on the My Karate Schedule.

Step 5 — Confirm the special class

Invite them to the next special class or parent night out. Say:

“Fantastic! We have our Nerf War and Pizza night coming up on the 20th — we can expect you guys there, right?”

THEN: Get the confirmation, hand them the flyer for the event, and write it on the My Karate Schedule.

Step 6 — Set the next graduation

Put their first belt graduation on the page. Say:

“Perfect! Now their next graduation is in August on the 17th, and that’s going to be their [BELT COLOR] belt!”

THEN: Write it on the My Karate Schedule.

Step 7 — Set the goal: Black Belt and beyond

Give them the long-range vision and write both dates down. Say:

“Since we’re all working towards Black Belt and Beyond, let’s figure out when you’re going to get there! It takes about 3 years to get to 1st degree Black Belt, so that’s July 2029” [write it in] “Of course, no one wants to get to Black Belt and quit, so every one of our students’ goal is at least 2nd degree. That’s another 2 years, so that’s July 2031!” [write it in]

THEN: Write both the 1st degree and 2nd degree dates on the My Karate Schedule.

Watercolor of a child in a white uniform looking up at a folded black belt resting on a wooden stand — From day one, the whole journey is on the page — first degree, then second.

Step 8 — Continue and enroll

Continue and enroll them.

Step 9 — Enter the classes in your system

Enter these next four classes in your scheduling and reminder system for all parents and caregivers, so everyone responsible gets the reminders.

What goes on the page

The class grid — the next four dated classes that carry the student to the first Training Conference.
Notes — one specific reminder if needed (for example, “Next class, be about 10 minutes early”).
Next Training Conference — the day, time, and date; circle the “both Parents / all Caregivers” line.
Special class(es) — the next parent night out or special event, with the flyer.
Next graduation — the date and the belt the student will test for.
Estimated 1° and 2° Black Belt — about three years to first degree, another two to second.
Member Only Information — the bottom box you set up once for your school (your direct line and member website).

The rules: always and never

Always

Resolve any schedule issue in the room before moving on — we resolve about 98% of the time.
Write the next four specific classes that carry them to the first Training Conference.
Set the Training Conference and circle the “both Parents / all Caregivers” line.
Set the first belt graduation and the 1st- and 2nd-degree dates — on enrollment day.
Send the family home with the My Karate Schedule.

Never

Never send the full class schedule home — only the My Karate Schedule goes.
Never leave the Training Conference unset or the caregivers line un-circled.
Never skip the Black Belt vision — the 1st and 2nd degree dates are the whole point.
Never pick the classes for them — they choose two a week off the laminated schedule.
Never let an unresolved schedule issue slide without trying to fix it in the room.

The outcome

On their first enrollment day

The family has their next four classes scheduled, their Training Conference set, a spot at the next parent night out, a goal for their first belt, and a vision of first- and second-degree Black Belt — all on day one.

Use it everywhere

Final note

The My Karate Schedule can be used for anything. Use it whenever a schedule changes (meet with a student and get their classes figured out), when you are doing a Training Conference and they are an “A” and you set up the new schedule with their Leadership classes in it, or any time they need to change class times.

— Chief Master Greg Moody, Ph.D.

Internal staff reference · KarateBuilt Martial Arts.