If you want to introduce a market friendly, long term , modern adult training program into your school - then keep reading.
What is the C.O.B.R.A. Fighting Systems program?
It’s a smooth transition into a long-term, modern, non-traditional, adult program. No gate keepers of tradition, no kata, no forms, uniforms are modern (even the women will like them) and easy to get prospects involved in. 95% of the curriculum is straight from the original C.O.B.R.A. Self-defense program, so it’s easy for instructors to pick up and teach. The remaining 5% are kickboxing drills, easy to teach by any instructor and it adds a fun and exciting striking-with-gloves-on element to the curriculum.
A C.F.S. Class Looks Almost Identical To a C.O.B.R.A. Self-Defense Class. This Shot Is From a Recent Black Belt Test
In fact, you have to be certified as a C.O.B.R.A. Self-Defense instructor to teach the C.F.S. program. That's how close they are in format.
All training pictures in this post are from a C.F.S. classes/Black Belt Test.
The Student experience is seamless and it's an easy sell when you offer it in this manner:
They enroll in a short-term program that has none of the martial arts structure or protocol that scares away most of the adult market. Students are excited by their experience and they trust you. The general response by most of the self-defense students is, "What do we do when C.O.B.R.A. ends?'
Great question, you can join the long-term version of C.O.B.R.A. where you can take more time to practice and refine the training you received in your self-defense program.
This is a win/win situation for everyone.
The instructor and student are already familiar with the training.
The student is an easy up-sell since they are staying in the same training program.
They continue to re-sign month after month for years, taking their initial student value sky high.
You build a large adult training program in an easier and more efficient manner.
We ask our school owners who run a traditional program the following: When was the last time you received 5-10 calls in a month from an adult asking specifically to sign up or for more information about your "insert style here".
Most state that they have very few adults and receive little to no consistent activity for their adult MA program. Stop right there if you're thinking that's an insult to your style or teaching strategies- it's just a market fact. You are in business to spread your knowledge to as many as you can - and make a living at it. Not to struggle for 3% of the market.
Please read the following and "Think Outside Your Gi" for a second.
If you are a die-hard traditional instructor, you can keep your traditional classes because the C.F.S. is not that. That’s the best part! You can keep the old and offer the new, which will build your long-term adult program
A quick analogy:
It’s the year 2015 and you hear your friend complaining about how slow business is at his VCR sales and repair shop. Can you spot the challenge yet? What advice would you offer him?
How about selling DVD/Blue Ray and flat screen TVs, since that is a more marketable and a better way to sell home entertainment. Also, if you still want to offer the VCR sales and repair you can offer that as well, but it shouldn't be what you count on to put food on the table.
We use the same analogy for someone wearing a beeper in 2015. What do we want out of this as an end result? More adults and more revenue on a consistent basis.
If you insist on doing business wearing a beeper in today's world, you will be passed up and outrun by every Smart Phone owner.
All it takes is changing the vehicle, or means by which we accomplish this, and that takes courage in business.
Here is a quick testimonial on the market you may be missing:
Karen Lee— 5 star Google Review
“Never in a million years did I think at the age of 50 something, I would be taking martial arts. This class is awesome. Already at week 6 and I love it. A must do for everybody...”
More Frequently asked questions:
What's the difference between C.F.S. and other styles?
To be clear, it doesn't fall under the term style as most often martial arts are referred to. The word "style" creates invisible handcuffs and walls. C.F.S. is a modern adult training system developed from the COBRA Brand.
You could take 20 instructors from different styles and have them watch a C.F.S. class and they could probably point out a technique from their specific style. The C.O.B.R.A training format, whether self-defense or Fighting Systems, has a Law Enforcement Training structure which is very specific.
Why would more adults prefer C.F.S.?
* No mandatory traditional protocol - Bowing - Masters -Katas - etc.
*Modern Uniform - C.F.S. training shirts and shorts/pants
*Modern rank display - C.F.S. students can wear a colored wrist band to display rank with the belt being optional. Walking into Applebees in a full Karate uniform after class will have people staring at you likes it's Halloween. The wrist band is an attractive, modern and subtle display of your rank.
* The options to test in phases, or no testing at all until Black Belt- This also make teaching less complicated.
* A credit system, much like college, evens the playing field so students advance based on their commitment to training.
*There's a huge market for adult training but many adult students just don't want a Kwon, Fu, Do, itsu, MMA, or anything of that sort. They want to learn realistic personal protection in a modern, non-sport-oriented way, and they want to get in shape doing it.
* It's a one-stop shop for students to go from a C.O.B.R.A. Self-Defense program onto the C.F.S. program. Not to mention you are offering them training in a world wide brand, not just the local Karate school down the street.
Should I abandon my existing style of Martial Arts?
If you enjoy teaching it and you are signing up adults, then no. You're not offering a different style. We've established that C.O.B.R.A. doesn't carry that label. You are just offering a different training option for your adult market.
Where is all the curriculum located?
It's already on your owner's site.
Will I get to use the C.F.S. brand and for Marketing & Merchandise?
Yes.
Will I get a training Manual and support?
Absolutely, that's why we are here.
Can adults join C.F.S. even if they don't sign up for C.O.B.R.A. Self-Defense?
Yes , that's very common.
How much can i make with the C.F.S. program?
Outside what a student might pay for Self-Defense you can make $1,200 - $1,500 per year per student . Merchandise purchases not factored in.
Will the word "Fighting" scare my market?
Believe it or not, the title itself brings a great deal of pride to the student wearing the shirt and training in classes. Even the 45-year-old stay-at-home mom wears her shirt to class with pride. As a Joe Lewis Black Belt, I never considered the word "Fighting" anything but part of the organization's title. "The Joe Lewis Fighting Systems". It's a complete description of the training and fits perfectly into the C.O.B.R.A. brand.
Do I need a Black belt in the C.F.S. to teach it?
You already have your credentials , you are a certified C.O.B.R.A. Instructor. You have been using your training to teach short-term classes in the self-defense section so far. The C.F.S. program is just the extended version, you still have the training and credentials to run the program. Again, this isn't a traditional program so keep "thinking outside the Gi".
You already have the C.O.B.R.A. format , drills , scenarios and training model, so now it's understanding how to duplicate that into a longer term program.
We will be holding 3-5 tests per year for Black Belt and we do recommend highly that you do test. It will only add to your program and training credentials. Those who run the program will be C.O.B.R.A. Fighting Systems Instructors . You will stay at the Black Belt apprentice level until you can test.
You have plenty of time as your student will take 24-36 months before they are eligible to take a black belt test. As a C.F.S. instructor, you can train your students up to and through Black Belt because you are certified as a C.O.B.R.A. Instructor.
If you are an active certified C.O.B.R.A. training center and want to offer this in your facility please sign up between March 6th & April 3rd. This will be the small promo period where current owners can purchase the program for one low price and NO additional monthly license fees outside their current one.
Before the National launch, we market tested in 4 locations in the Tampa Bay area with great success. These locations will not be available for licensing the C.F.S. program, as they are already taken.
Unavailable territories- Tampa - St.Pete - Tarpon - Clearwater.
