Centennial, CO

I have been in the martial arts for over 12 years and have achieved the rank of 3rd degree black belt. 

 

I have been active in the fitness industry for over 8 years as a kickboxing instructor, but have only committed to it professionally for the last 4 years. I started as a trainer in a small studio where they provided clients for me. 

 

2 years ago, I started my own company, "Martial Arts Conditioning" when I realized that several people from the martial arts community were seeking me out as their trainer because I understood their needs and desires as a martial artist.

 

I have since become "independent" of the small studio where I started, although I still bring my clients there to train (& pay the owners rent for the time).  I teach 4-7 kickboxing classes/week, 11 taekwondo classes/week, in addition to 12-15 personal training appointments each week.  The classes do not pay as well as the personal training sessions, but they provide a constant stream of people who sign up for training sessions.

 

I also have an obligation as a black belt to teach my juniors.  My senior instructor is 100% behind me and tries to promote me and my business whenever he can. I am a member of the American Taekwondo Association which is the largest martial arts association in the country.  My ultimate goal is to become the "Training Expert" for the ATA.

 

I have a series of 7 DVD's on the chalkboard called the "Martial Arts Conditioning Classroom" which will cover Kicking conditioning (beginning, intermediate and advanced), Core conditioning, Sparring conditioning(beginning and tournament) and Board breaking.  I will complete the Core conditioning DVD and have it ready to sell at the November tournament in Denver. My first DVD, "Every Day Flexibility" has sold over 200 copies in the first year.  I want each of the new DVD's to reach yearly sales of over 1000. I will contract with a major distributor by February, 2007 (Turtle Press, Amazon.com, World Martial Arts, etc.)in order to reach this goal.

 

Recently, my basement was flooded by my 24 year old washing machine that decided to keep filling (for over 2 hours!).  I want to put aside $1000/mo. to help pay for the complete renovation of the basement which will include a workout studio and an office for Martial Arts Conditioning.

Here's What Diane Feels She Can Contribute to the Members of the Group

I did not "grow up" in the industry.  I don't have a lot of the pre-set conditions or ideas that come from being immersed in something too long.  I can provide an "outsider's" perspective.

Here's What Diane Would Most Like the Members of the Group to Do To Help Her

Helping me figure out how to break into the "big" market for my DVD's.
Helping me develop a seminar rate structure and travel schedule.
Helping me redefine my value as a trainer.

I have moved from a "trainer in a small studio" where the owners fed me clients, to a business owner focusing on training martial artists.  I have been able to marry my martial arts career with my personal training career and am now generating my own clients and trying to become the "training expert" for the American Taekwondo Association.