🥋 The Best Class Blueprint: 5 Levels to Unforgettable Classes

Creating an unforgettable class experience requires a solid foundation. That’s where the Best Class Blueprint comes in—a pyramid-style approach that builds from the ground up, with each level supporting the next. Think of it as the blueprint to construct a class experience that keeps students progressing, parents impressed, and your school thriving.

Level One - Preparation: Laying the Groundwork

Preparation is the foundation of the Best Class Blueprint. A clear class plan with drills that have intent is essential. Fun is a bonus, but without progress, students won’t stick around for long. Be intentional: if you're working on double kicks, incorporate warm-ups focused on hip mobility and knee stabilization so every element builds toward the main skill. Every class segment should also have a set time, ensuring you cover everything you planned. Students deserve classes that are thoughtfully constructed, and this foundational level makes the next steps far easier to achieve.

Takeaway: Prep with purpose. Design drills that connect to the skill being taught and set specific times for each section.

Level Two - Structure: Building Order into Every Class

When parents watch your class, do they see discipline or disarray? Structure reassures parents that discipline is more than just a slogan—it’s part of your everyday class routine. Use floor markers to keep lines straight and establish systemized callouts for partnering, lining up, and huddling, which makes transitions smoother and quicker. Add “focus anchors” for standing, sitting, and kneeling positions, so students know exactly what to do, wherever they are in class. With structure in place, students can anticipate the flow, reducing distractions and keeping the class focused.

Takeaway: Show structure. Make your floor space an example of order with markers, callouts, and focus anchors to reinforce discipline.

Level Three - No. Down. Time.

Downtime kills engagement and creates openings for distraction. Keep your class moving with transitions under 10 seconds, ensuring non-stop action that keeps students energized and focused. Have assistants setting up the next drill as you’re finishing the current one to eliminate any pauses. Keep explanations short and impactful, or better yet, explain while students perform the moves with you to keep them active. The energy of a class relies on its pace, so keeping downtime to a minimum is essential for maintaining momentum and interest.

Takeaway: Keep the flow. Aim for less than 10-second transitions and have students practice moves with you as you explain them.

Level Four - Rep Til Correct: Set High Standards, Always

Praise is nice, but standards build martial artists. Ensure that praise is earned, not just given freely, so students value it. After a correction, require three perfect reps before moving on, so the correction sticks and becomes habit. Never lower the standard; instead, find new ways to explain or demonstrate, or have an assistant work one-on-one with a struggling student. This not only reinforces skills but also teaches problem-solving and resilience, showing students that true confidence is earned.

Takeaway: Hold the line. Give students strategies to meet the standard rather than lowering it, building a culture of resilience.

Level Five - Quality: Is Your Product McDonald’s or a Wagyu Filet Mignon?

When preparation, structure, flow, and high standards are in place, quality naturally follows. Your mat becomes a place of high-energy learning where every student feels challenged to reach their potential. To assess your quality, record yourself teaching a class and watch it back—ask yourself if you’d be proud to post that video online as a representation of your school. This process of self-review helps you keep the bar high, ensuring each class is something you’d happily showcase. When every class is treated as a demonstration of excellence, your students will rise to meet that level.

Takeaway: Consistently evaluate. Quality is the natural result of mastering each level; aim for a class you'd confidently showcase anywhere.

With these five levels in place, you’re not just running classes; you’re building a high-performance culture that leaves a lasting impression on students and parents alike. The Best Class Blueprint isn’t just about teaching martial arts; it’s about creating a culture of focus, discipline, and excellence that resonates with everyone who steps onto your mat.

💪 5 Must-Try Martial Arts Drills to Power Up Your Classes!

Level up your classes with our top 5 martial arts drills of the week! These hand-picked techniques are designed to boost engagement, sharpen skills, and add some fresh energy to your training sessions. Try them out and watch your students step up their game! (click on the image to see the full video of the drill)

1. Border Battle! - Okay, we just made up that name but this game looks like the perfect game for a Fun Five at the end of class. What do you think?

😂 1.2.3.4… I Declare a MEME War

Last week in The Kick: Martial Arts Business Community, we kicked off an epic Meme War, and only one person had the chops to sweep the leg and take home the title of All Valley Meme Champion…

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Brannon Remaklus!!! Brannon’s victory earns him a $50 Amazon gift card, which he can probably use to buy Century Martial Arts gear at a price that that is cheaper than us school owners can actually sell it for. 😆 Congrats, Brannon!

Brannon’s Winning Meme (which got 4 Million Views on IG!) ⬇️

Have a MEME that you want feaured? Send them to us at [email protected] or tag our instagram account @thekicknewsletter.