I know this was posted along time ago, but i want to let the unsuspecting public know what GKR Karate is really about.
A year ago i applied for a job with GKR. the job title was a karate instructor trainee.
I was to attend meetings to train me up to yellow belt as soona s possible even though i had no experience in martial arts.They wanted me t o be training as soon as possible even though i couldn't pull a simple yellow belt
cata together! Instructors should, in the real world, a few years practice under their belt at least!! before they even thinkk about training students.
Now the catch here is that you have to go door to door canvassing trying to recuit new members and the main target is children and to then get the parents involved which i have to say is a good thing at fist glance.
However, i know for a fact hat the people they employ are not screened and not checked if they have a criminal record, or anything of the sort. there is no screening process for any of the trainees.
The main client base for GKR is children. It is ridiculous that the people working for GKR are not screened for previous convictions. The children are left in the instuctors care like they would a teacher. Teachers are database checked for any previous convictions so why are'nt these instructors??
That is the first point i would like to make. The second i the agressive selling technique used by GKR.
OK now this is how it works, each canvasser has a t-shirt saying that they are with GKR and to make them lok proffessional.
Each canvasser has to learn a script which j=has been developed to get you, the potential cutomerto ask the canvasser to come back in about an hour or so with some info.
What they are actually doing is coming back into your home to pressure sell the membership to you right there ad then.
You see, each canvasser works on a conmission only pay system.. No memberships, no pay.
the canvasser charges each person a £25 lifetime membership which they say is normally £80 but if you sign up today you can have it for 25 quid. as a one off promotional offer.
This is a load of bull because the system worked that of the £25 paid, £20 went into my pocket for getting the member and the other £5 went to GKR.
While i was working, i came across a lady who had had us round before about a year ago and was not very forthcoming due to the fact that the canvasser who called on her last time round would not leave until the lady signed up. She signed up just to get rid of the guy!
What i am trying to get across is that the cavnassers are not practicing karate indtructors, they could be anybody, not even the person employed them knows who they really are.
Each sensei works an area and in that area they will have x amount of canassers getting new members. the whole system is about geting as many new members in as possible so the senseis' are under pressure to employ new recruits to get the new members, the more members got the more commission and bonuses an area manager (sensei) would get. because of this factor they are rushing out to get any tom dicjk or hary to do the canvassing for them and also teaching these complete novices karate to try and turn them into instructors (which would be at a very low standard). Again this is a business.
what GKR are trying to do is expand as quickly as possible and open as many new dojos as possible with so called instructors. It is just a money making scam employed by RObert Sullivan based in Australia who is i am sure graet at karate. but the level of teaching in this country by the wanna be instructors is at an appaullingly low level.
You see, as canvassers, we would go round knocking on every door we could between 4pm and 6pm because this is the time when the kids are back from school, anyway, of the few that said wanted some more info, we woulod call back round later that evening and because we relied on getting memberships to get paid, there is enormous pressure for the canvasser to make the deal and get them signed up. This is the bit which is so dangerous to the general public.
these people who could theoretically have no real CVs or backround history are allowed to walk about and come in to your homes and pressure sell you a product that you said you were just interested in.
JUST SAY NO!!! They try all kinds of tricks to gt you to do it there and then.
They're excuse for you not allowed to come to the dojo and sign up is because;
1: They will be too usy teaching the class and they havn't got the time.
2: You (the customer) will not be insured to be on the premises, this is why we come round and do the leg work for you.
Remember, you are dealing with sales people, not genuine instructors and they can be extremely convincing. BEWARE!!!
This is all part of the ploy tro make you think you will be missing out of a great deal if you don't act now.
ARE YOU STILL WITH ME? ok so you can get what i am saying about this compay. they're selling methods are unorthadox and very much frowned upon by alot of people.
Ultimately it is up yo you what you do but at least now you will be a bit better informed when they come knocking at your door with they're made to measure scripts and dodgey selling techniques.
GKR listen up!! you've got to buckle your ideas up! ok so your selling technique isn't illigal and it does get you alot of business and better known, but you have got to control and regulate the people who represent you. The most important thing here is to maybe employ a criminal record screening system before the new employees are let loose on the public. c'mon get withh the times. Your people are intimidating your potential clients!!
You need a better system so your canvassers do not pressure people into buying your memberships. give them a flat rate so if they dont make the deal, they dont make the deal but still get something at the end of it to pay the bills and dont feel the ned to pressure sell to the unsuspecting, probably too trusting public.
If you are thinking about joining this oprganisation, you'd better think again.
I personally found the sensais' draining and manipulative. At the end of the day all i could see them as is sales peple and noithging more.
The karate was just the side line of the main business, which of course was getting new members and making money.
Hope this helps anyone wanting to know more about GKR.
