Blog Post 2 - Membership Costs: Why So Expensive?

This has to be the one of the most common objections I hear from prospective members [followed closely by the BS “I need to get in shape, first” line]. The costs are just too high. It’s made even worse when one compares the price of a regular gym to a martial arts studio [something like $50/month compared to $140/month]. Why pay so much more? Is it even worth it?

Traditional Gym Membership vs Martial Arts Studio

Let’s stay with the comparison of the traditional gym to what we do at Fight Syndicate. When you pay your monthly membership at the traditional gym, you’re paying access to the space and its amenities (weights, equipment, etc.). You’re pretty much left to your own devices and can use the space any way you please (in accordance with the gym’s rules). As long as the building is open and your membership is current, you get access to everything you need to obtain your fitness goals.

When you sign up for a martial arts gym, you’re not only gaining access to the space but also to the knowledge and experience of an instructor, their assistants, and also your fellow members who are more experienced than you and can help you with your journey. You’re not on your own because now you are part of a team, sharing a common vision with other goal-oriented people who want to push you to be better each day. Plus, not only are you getting more fit by taking classes, you are also learning skills necessary for sport and self-defense.

The only skill development going on at the traditional gym would be if you hired a personal trainer. You’re going to have to pay extra for the PT sessions (usually an hourly rate or discounted if you buy multiple sessions at once, a common practice). Depending on things like location and qualifications of the PT, you’re likely paying anywhere from $40 to $100 per session (a quick Google search says the national average is $65/hour). Assuming the PT is good, they’ll take you through their plan and explain why you’re doing what you are doing each session. You’ll learn proper technique for each exercise and what muscles are being targeted. Five sessions at $65/hour comes out to $325, which is double the $160 we currently charge for a whole month of classes.

Still think our prices are too high? Let’s further discuss…

I can’t speak for every martial arts gym in the world, but I don’t operate on volume for memberships. That’s another point of comparison with the traditional gym where they sell memberships that far exceed their building’s capacity. Imagine if everyone who had a membership at your local 24 Hour Fitness showed up to workout at the same hour on the same day.

The Fire Department would shut the place down.

But that’s their business model. They know for a fact that most people who sign up will pay the monthly membership and only use it sparingly, if at all.

That’s not at all how my gym works. I know all of my members by name and many of them have become my closest friends. I never take any of my members for granted and I truly do try to give them my best each day. They are trusting in me, and paying me, so I feel as though I owe it to them to be the best coach I can.

“But I’m only there for an hour each day, why am I paying so much?”

Great question.

YOU may be there for only an hour, but I certainly am not. It turns out, there is so much that goes on when you are not there.

I get to the gym early and leave late.

I’m there for each class or I need to find coverage if I’m out of town.

Also, the gym does not clean itself. I spend countless hours each week cleaning the gym to meet a high standard of hygienic practices. Skin infections are the scourge of our sport, but the number one defense against them is prevention. Each day I clean and disinfect the mat space and the equipment used during classes. And yep, the cleaning products also add to the cost of business.

Furthermore, it didn’t take me an hour to gain the knowledge and skills that I teach each class. It took years of hard work and dedication. Much like someone who gets a degree in their chosen field of study, it took me a lot of time and money to learn all that I have (and I’m still learning).

“Why are the kids' classes so expensive?”

You try teaching toddlers how to fight and see if it doesn’t want to make you walk off a cliff.

The youth classes are hands down the most exhausting, albeit sometimes the most fun. The kids can really take it out of you and can be the most challenging class of the day. Plus the extra strain put on my body really does add up. Kids love to jump on me, tackle me, punch me, and in general just try to wreck me. It’s so much fun working with them, but equally as stressful mentally and physically.

So that’s why the kids' classes cost so much. Though footsweeping the children does help let out some steam.

“Man, you must be killing it! I’m counting all the members you have and doing the math!”

Hey man, there is such a thing as overhead…

It’s quite expensive owning and operating a business, especially in California. Did you know that you have to pay the state of California $800 each year just for the privilege of running a business in their borders?

The start up costs can be quite high let alone the costs of keeping the place going. My monthly rent is the number one expense, plus utilities. I also have to pay for my membership software that I use to track payments.

Everything we use in the gym has an expiration date (heavy bags, pads, gloves, shin guards, kick shields, the mats, etc.) These things break down with use and must be replaced. Those costs can quickly add up.

In my line of work, my body must be performing at optimum levels in order to sustain my career. So, I need to spend money each month on various recovery methods (massage, chiropractor, etc.).

And all these payments are in addition to my normal monthly expenses (groceries, bills, etc.).

So you can count up my members and do the math, go ahead. But don’t think for one second that 100% of that is my takehome pay. That’s just ignorant.

Conclusion

That covers a good chunk of it, I would say.

Honestly, unless you see the value in what we do, you’d never look at our prices and think they’d be worth it. If there was a way for everyone to understand exactly what they get out of martial arts training, I would have a waiting list for membership.

The issue with what we do is that it is not easy. Your ego can take a pretty serious bruising, which is very difficult for many people to deal with. They would much rather walk around with the false impression that they could defend themselves should the occasion arise (“I just see red, bro”).

So many people avoid things that are hard because they don’t understand the rewards that lie on the other side of the struggle. What I do is not easy, but I fully believe it to be worth my time and effort. But I also believe I should be compensated.

All love and respect,

Coach Red