ISDS Chattanooga is not actively marketing services to the surrounding communities. My training space and travel range is limited and if I actively marketted or advertised services I would be overwhelmed with potential clients.
ISDS is available for training services but currently with limitations that make commercially offering services an unwise strategy.
For more information about ISDS services and details about me, the owner, please visit the following sites:
My Martial Arts Blog
My Youtube Channel
My Yahoo Answers Page
ISDS Facebook Fanpage
Feel free to contact me at ISDSchattanooga@gmail.com for further questions and information. I am confident in my ability to meet your self-defense needs, whether it be through my services or by referring you to a commercial organization locally who can give that which you are seeking.
Lastly, visit ISDS Chattanooga's official web site for a comprehensive list of services offered.
Thank you for your interest.
Sincerely, Sean.
ISDS Chattanooga.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
ISDS Newsletter V.1, Issue 1.
Integrated Self Defense Services Newsletter.
Vol. 1, Issue 1. April 14, 2010 – May 1, 2010.
Integrated Self Defense Services,
Sean Carrigan, sole proprietor.
1875 N Prairie Cir
Hixson TN 37343-1575
Ph. 423-802-1273
Http://facebook.com/isdschattanooga
E-mail: isdschattanooga@gmail.com
This is the first official ISDS Newsletter. Integrated Self Defense Services is a sole proprietorship business owned and operated by Sean Carrigan. The mission of ISDS is to provide personalized comprehensive self-defense education and training to individuals and small groups in the Chattanooga area community.
Business:
Integrated Self Defense Services was licensed by Hamilton County on April 14, 2010 to Sean Carrigan as a sole proprietorship. The office location is home based in order to keep starting costs and overhead down to a minimum. ISDS is a part-time business, operating between 15 to 20 hours/week.
Staff:
Sean Carrigan, sole proprietor.
Accomplishments from April 14 – May 1, 2010:
- Business license received April 14, 2010.
- Google e-mail and blog launched. Blog site = http://isdschattanooga.blogspot.com
- Facebook business page launched. http://facebook.com/isdschattanooga
- Initial contact made with Sifu Chris Edwards of Body Martial Arts and Sensei Corey Green of Green's Karate.
- Proposed a plan to Wesley Campus Ministry for conducting self-defense classes. Will be teaching self defense classes one night a week during the Fall '10 and Spring '11 semesters of UTC.
- Acquired 1st set of clients. 1 group of 3 persons to start training in June 2010.
- Met with and interviewed Sensei Corey Green of Green's Karate.
- Participated in the March of Dimes March for Babies charity event.
- Established a Yahoo!Answers account and began answering questions in the Y!Answers martial arts category in order to conduct market research and practice answering martial arts and self-defense related questions. Site: http://answers.yahoo.com Username: Integrated Self Defense Services.
Projects in progress:
During this period I have worked on marketing research, establishing business networking contacts among the Chattanooga martial arts and self-defense service providers, writing lesson plans, and finding community service and charity events opportunities in which to participate.
I am working on compiling a complete and up to date catalogue of available martial arts schools and instructors available in the Chattanooga area. This catalogue will be used to help clients who are interested in training in the martial arts find a school that fits their needs and wants.
I am working on a complete list of services available through ISDS and a price list for those services. Services will include education, training, consultation, and referrals.
Reason for starting ISDS:
To whom it may concern,
My name is Sean Carrigan and I am the owner of Integrated Self Defense Services. The idea and inspiration for starting this business came from a combination of several events. First, my daughter Madison was born and her arrival was a joy and a wonder to myself and my wife. Madison recently celebrated her first birthday. During that first year of my infant daughter's life I grew and matured in my perspective on life and my role in this world. The love I felt for my daughter and the duty I felt as her father caused me a great shift in behavior and priorities. I became more concerned about the community and world around me. I worried more about our family's financial outlook in the future. And I examined my own life and found it lacking in the necessary direction needed to provide the best for my daughter and my family.
Second, a co-worker of mine approached me and asked about my martial arts training. She commented on how at peace and calm I seemed to be in my daily work life and thought perhaps it was my training and work outs that helped me maintain a relatively stress free attitude at work. I had been talking to my co-workers about looking for part-time work to supplement my family income and had expressed my frustration in being unable to find a part-time job that had a flexible enough schedule to allow me to spend time with my family. My coworker suggested I train people in self-defense and said she and a couple of her friends would love to take lessons from me. I listened to her suggestion and thought it over for quite some time before coming to any decision.
After several weeks of thought and prayer, I began to form the idea for ISDS. I wanted to make the world a better place for my daughter. I wanted to provide for my family. And I wanted to serve my Church and my community. As I thought about all these things I wanted to do I began to understand I had the skills and experience necessary to provide a service to the community, and that service is self-defense education and training.
Through self-defense education and training I can do some small part to influence people towards the goal of making the community and world around us better and safer. And no matter how small a part my influence plays in the world, it is still a lot more than I was doing before.
I started training in the martial arts when I was three years old. It formed my identity and shaped my life as I grew to be a man. I served in the U.S. Navy for six years, and during my service I was trained in physical security and tactics. I realized my love for and training in the martial arts and the military was not only great experience but also a gift because I would enjoy every day I spent operating a business that revolved around self-defense and martial arts.
I am very excited to start ISDS and have enjoyed every moment I have spent working on the ISDS mission. I've already met interesting people, learned new things, and experienced new parts of the community that I never knew about. I look forward to the future of ISDS and all the adventure it will bring.
Thank you for your time and your support,
Sincerely,
Sean Carrigan,
Integrated Self Defense Services.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
April 26 news
16-Year-Old Charged With Assaulting Brothers 6, 8 At Bus Stop
posted April 26, 2010
Chattanooga Police arrested a 16-year-old boy on Monday morning for assaulting two brothers, ages six and eight, at a local bus stop.
Police were called to 2700 E. 34th St. at 8 a.m. on an assault report. They were informed by a school bus driver that the two younger boys were assaulted by the 16-year-old while waiting for the bus.
Both brothers showed visible signs of bruising in the face, elbow and around the neck, where one of them had been choked.
Parents of all the children were notified and responded to the scene. The 16-year-old was taken to the Juvenile Detention Unit, where he was charged with two counts of assault. The two brothers were released to the care of their mother.
A motive in the assault is unknown.
source=http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_174327.asp
posted April 26, 2010
Chattanooga Police arrested a 16-year-old boy on Monday morning for assaulting two brothers, ages six and eight, at a local bus stop.
Police were called to 2700 E. 34th St. at 8 a.m. on an assault report. They were informed by a school bus driver that the two younger boys were assaulted by the 16-year-old while waiting for the bus.
Both brothers showed visible signs of bruising in the face, elbow and around the neck, where one of them had been choked.
Parents of all the children were notified and responded to the scene. The 16-year-old was taken to the Juvenile Detention Unit, where he was charged with two counts of assault. The two brothers were released to the care of their mother.
A motive in the assault is unknown.
source=http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_174327.asp
April 27 News
Police Blotter: Taxi Driver Assaulted, Robbed
posted April 27, 2010
Police said a cab driver was assaulted and robbed at a car wash on Rossville Boulevard.
Andrew Dame of All American Taxi said he was vacuuming out his cab at the car wash at 4900 Rossville Blvd.
He said he was leaning inside the vehicle when he suddenly saw a shadow looming over him. He was then struck in the head with some type of blunt object and knocked to the ground.
He said an older white man jumped on him and pinned him down, while demanding money.
He gave the robber his money clip that contained $15, then the man ran away.
The cab driver said he heard the robber toss the money clip, so he retrieved it nearby - minus the $15.
* * *
Police said a clerk at the Kangaroo convenience store at 3740 Tennessee Ave. was robbed at gunpoint.
The clerk said a black male armed with a silver handgun demanded all the money in the cash register. He handed over $162, then the man ran toward the nearby Bi-Lo.
He was described as in his 20s, 5'5" and 210 pounds. He was wearing red pants, a green jacket, red tennis shoes and a red ear flap with fur on it.
Bi-Lo employees reported seeing two black males run behind the store, then go off in two different directions.
The same pair had been behind the store prior to the holdup, and the one who carried out the robbery asked a truck driver for a light for his cigarette.
* * *
Rose Green said someone broke into her house on E. 4th Street while she was worshipping at church.
The burglar got through a side window and took her TV, XBox, IPod and phone.
Source=http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_174369.asp
A PlayStation was also removed, but it was found on the street outside the home.
posted April 27, 2010
Police said a cab driver was assaulted and robbed at a car wash on Rossville Boulevard.
Andrew Dame of All American Taxi said he was vacuuming out his cab at the car wash at 4900 Rossville Blvd.
He said he was leaning inside the vehicle when he suddenly saw a shadow looming over him. He was then struck in the head with some type of blunt object and knocked to the ground.
He said an older white man jumped on him and pinned him down, while demanding money.
He gave the robber his money clip that contained $15, then the man ran away.
The cab driver said he heard the robber toss the money clip, so he retrieved it nearby - minus the $15.
* * *
Police said a clerk at the Kangaroo convenience store at 3740 Tennessee Ave. was robbed at gunpoint.
The clerk said a black male armed with a silver handgun demanded all the money in the cash register. He handed over $162, then the man ran toward the nearby Bi-Lo.
He was described as in his 20s, 5'5" and 210 pounds. He was wearing red pants, a green jacket, red tennis shoes and a red ear flap with fur on it.
Bi-Lo employees reported seeing two black males run behind the store, then go off in two different directions.
The same pair had been behind the store prior to the holdup, and the one who carried out the robbery asked a truck driver for a light for his cigarette.
* * *
Rose Green said someone broke into her house on E. 4th Street while she was worshipping at church.
The burglar got through a side window and took her TV, XBox, IPod and phone.
Source=http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_174369.asp
A PlayStation was also removed, but it was found on the street outside the home.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Chattanooga Crime Stats
Chattanooga Crime Statistics
Year Population Violent Crime Murder Rape Robbery Assault Property Crime Burglary Theft Car Theft Arson
2006 N/A 949 11 57 241 640 5,855 980 4,313 562 5
2005 156,480 1,754 23 116 442 1,173 12,606 2,190 9,365 1,051 23
Year Population Violent Crime Murder Rape Robbery Assault Property Crime Burglary Theft Car Theft Arson
2006 N/A 949 11 57 241 640 5,855 980 4,313 562 5
2005 156,480 1,754 23 116 442 1,173 12,606 2,190 9,365 1,051 23
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Chattanooga Pulse 4/21/2010 - 3
Attemped Child Rape, Abduction In Chattooga
Written by Louis Lee
April 21, 2010 – 1:55 pm
The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an attempted rape and child abduction. It happened Monday night around 7 pm. Investigators say a silver, late model Ford Expedition pulled up to a young girl who was jogging near her home.
They said two men in the truck pulled her into the vehicle and tried to tear her clothes off.
The girl was able to fight them off … then her attackers pushed her from the vehicle onto the pavement.
The late model silver Ford Expedition had either dark gray or black trim around the bottom, running boards on the sides, and a dark cloth interior that was very clean.
The vehicle had a Georgia license plate.
The driver is described as a white male, bald head, wearing a long sleeve dark shirt and a gold ring on his right hand, possible a class ring.
The other man is a white male, dark hair, military-style cut with bangs. Both men appeared to be in their thirties.
Written by Louis Lee
April 21, 2010 – 1:55 pm
The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an attempted rape and child abduction. It happened Monday night around 7 pm. Investigators say a silver, late model Ford Expedition pulled up to a young girl who was jogging near her home.
They said two men in the truck pulled her into the vehicle and tried to tear her clothes off.
The girl was able to fight them off … then her attackers pushed her from the vehicle onto the pavement.
The late model silver Ford Expedition had either dark gray or black trim around the bottom, running boards on the sides, and a dark cloth interior that was very clean.
The vehicle had a Georgia license plate.
The driver is described as a white male, bald head, wearing a long sleeve dark shirt and a gold ring on his right hand, possible a class ring.
The other man is a white male, dark hair, military-style cut with bangs. Both men appeared to be in their thirties.
Chattanooga Pulse 4/21/2010 - 2
Police Investigating Dalton Store Stabbing
Written by Louis Lee
April 20, 2010 – 8:15 am
Police in Dalton are investigating a fatal stabbing there. Investigators say it happened at a Kangaroo convenience store near Cedar Ridge Road. Whitfield County deputies arrived on the scene around 9 o’clock Monday night.
There’s no description of the man who was stabbed nor of a possible suspect.
Written by Louis Lee
April 20, 2010 – 8:15 am
Police in Dalton are investigating a fatal stabbing there. Investigators say it happened at a Kangaroo convenience store near Cedar Ridge Road. Whitfield County deputies arrived on the scene around 9 o’clock Monday night.
There’s no description of the man who was stabbed nor of a possible suspect.
Chattanooga Pulse News 4/21/2010
Whitfield County Fishing Trip Ends In Stabbing
Written by Gary Poole
April 20, 2010 – 2:08 pm
A Whitfield County fishing trip turned deadly Monday night. Sheriff Scott Chitwood said a vehicle pulled into the parking lot of a store on Highway 52 with a man inside who was bleeding from a stab wound.
By the time emergency personell arrived, 28 year old William Wesley Vaughn Jr. had died from his injuries.
The suspect, Bryan Shelton Dennington, fled the scene on foot before officers arrived.
However, he was quickly apprehended at his home, arrested and has been charged with Murder and Aggravated Battery.
Sheriff Chitwood explained that four men had gotten together to go fishing, but started drinking instead leading to a fight between Dennington and Vaughn which resulted in the stabbing.
Investigators recovered the knife on the side of the road.
Written by Gary Poole
April 20, 2010 – 2:08 pm
A Whitfield County fishing trip turned deadly Monday night. Sheriff Scott Chitwood said a vehicle pulled into the parking lot of a store on Highway 52 with a man inside who was bleeding from a stab wound.
By the time emergency personell arrived, 28 year old William Wesley Vaughn Jr. had died from his injuries.
The suspect, Bryan Shelton Dennington, fled the scene on foot before officers arrived.
However, he was quickly apprehended at his home, arrested and has been charged with Murder and Aggravated Battery.
Sheriff Chitwood explained that four men had gotten together to go fishing, but started drinking instead leading to a fight between Dennington and Vaughn which resulted in the stabbing.
Investigators recovered the knife on the side of the road.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
From The Pulse, local newspaper Chattanooga
Teen Girl Raped In Apartment Bathroom
Written by Gary Poole
April 19, 2010 – 2:07 pm
A 28 year old man has been arrested and charged with the rape of a 14 year old girl. Martinas Kelley, known as “Slim”, is accused of following the teen into an apartment on Hixson Pike and then forcing her into a shower.
The girl’s older sister and a friend told police that they found the victim in the bathroom wearing only a towell while Kelley was still in the shower.
Officers arrested Kelly, who faces several charges in the incident.
Written by Gary Poole
April 19, 2010 – 2:07 pm
A 28 year old man has been arrested and charged with the rape of a 14 year old girl. Martinas Kelley, known as “Slim”, is accused of following the teen into an apartment on Hixson Pike and then forcing her into a shower.
The girl’s older sister and a friend told police that they found the victim in the bathroom wearing only a towell while Kelley was still in the shower.
Officers arrested Kelly, who faces several charges in the incident.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Contacts and Networking
I've started the process of compiling a list of local business offering martial arts classes and am starting initial contact with them. I'm hoping to build a catalogue of services available in the Chattanooga area in order to provide referrals to my clients who wish to find a school for martial arts training.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
ISDS Marketing Survey, PLEASE E-MAIL COMPLETED SURVEY TO ME.
Integrated Self Defense Services Marketing Survey
Integrated Self Defense Services,
Sean Carrigan; sole proprietor.
E-mail: isdschattanooga@gmail.com
Facebook Fanpage: Integrated Self Defense Services
Hixson, TN, 37343
Integrated Self Defense Services (ISDS) is a small business licensed in Hamilton County, TN, owned by Sean Carrigan; sole proprietor. The mission of ISDS is to provide comprehensive self-defense education, training, and services to the Chattanooga community. In order to better serve the needs of the Chattanooga community, ISDS is seeking volunteers to fill out this marketing survey. The information gathered in this survey will be used to develop and refine the services offered by ISDS. All personal information provided will be kept private and no contact will be initiated except by request of the individual filling out the survey.
The survey will be divided into the categories of Self Defense, Martial Arts, Safety, Advertising and Demographics.
Thank you so much for your time, participation, and support.
--Sean Carrigan.
Please provide a first name and e-mail address so data can be verified as coming from a valid member of the target market.
Name:
Age:
Sex:
Location (miles from Chattanooga, TN):
E-mail:
Self Defense:
Rate answers to questions 1 – 15 from 0 to 9; 0 being "not at all" and 9 being "very".
- How interested in self-defense education, training, and products are you?
- How interested in physical fitness are you?
- How interested in safety are you?
- How concerned are you about your personal safety?
- How concerned are you about the safety of a friend or loved one?
- How concerned are you about being attacked by a dog?
- How much do you know about the self-defense laws in Tennessee?
- How much do you know about the concealed weapons laws in Tennessee?
- How often do you work out?
- How often do you travel?
- How often have you felt uncomfortable or threatened by the actions of some one else?
- How confident are you in your abilities to defend yourself from physical harm?
- How confident are you in your abilities to defend yourself from psychological harm?
- How good is your self-esteem?
- How often do your friends compliment you?
- How interested would you be in a self-defense service that offered to come to a location of your choosing to provide training personalized to your individual needs?
Answer questions 17 – 32 as completely as possible, using detailed statements.
- Have you ever taken a self-defense class?
If yes, please describe your experience and how helpful you feel the self-defense class was.
- Have you ever watched self-defense instructional videos?
If yes, please name the video and describe how helpful you found the content.
- What services do you feel a self-defense instructor should provide to a paying customer?
- In your opinion, what are the most important aspects of "self-defense"?
- When you imagine a self defense instructor and business, what images come to mind?
- What kind of clothes would you expect a self-defense instructor to wear when meeting him/her for the first time? When taking lessons from him/her?
- In your opinion, is a club, knife, or gun more dangerous? Why?
- Have you, or anyone you know, been the victim of violence ?
- Have you, or anyone you know, been the victim of verbal abuse/bullying?
- Do you engage in high-risk activities?
- Without looking it up, define the term "hard-target".
- Without looking it up, name three businesses in the Chattanooga area who offer self-defense training.
- To the best of your ability, describe the training you believe those three businesses provide to the Chattanooga area community.
- Do you believe that women need self-defense classes more than men do?
- If your spouse or significant other took self-defense classes, would you take them as well?
If no, would you take them if they were free to the spouse or significant other of the paying client?
If no, why not?
- Do you want to be contacted in order to receive information about self-defense services available to you in the Chattanooga area community?
If yes, please provide contact information and your preferred method of contact (e-mail, phone, or postal mail).
Martial Arts:
- How interested in the martial arts are you? ( 0 – 9 )
- How much do you know about martial arts? (0 – 9 )
- In what styles of martial arts are you interested?
- Do you know the difference between a hard style and a soft style? If yes, give a short definition.
- Do you know the difference between an external style and an internal style? If yes, give a short definition.
- Have you ever had martial arts training?
If yes, what style and how long?
If yes, do you feel your martial arts training is sufficient to serve your self-defense needs? Please explain.
If yes, are you currently active in your training? Where/with whom?
- Without looking it up, name three places you can receive martial arts training in the Chattanooga area.
- To the best of your ability, describe the three places you named.
- Would you be interested in a catalogue that described in detail all the martial arts services available in the Chattanooga area; including their styles, instructors, locations, and mission statements?
- Would you be interested in consultation services that helped you find a martial art most suited to your needs, helped locate a school in your area that met those needs, and facilitated contact between you and the martial arts instructor of that school?
- Do you want to be contacted in order to receive information about martial arts services available to you in the Chattanooga area community?
If yes, please provide contact information and your preferred method of contact (e-mail, phone, or postal mail).
Advertising:
- Where would you look to find out about what services in self-defense and martial arts are available to you in the Chattanooga area?
- Where would you expect to see flyers, brochures, and advertisements for self-defense services?
- Would you be more likely to seek self-defense services if referred to the business by a friend or business associate?
- In your opinion, what businesses are most likely to benefit from a relationship with a self-defense service provider?
- What kind of music do you listen to?
- Do you listen to the radio? If yes, what station?
- Do you read the newspaper? If yes, which publication?
- Do you read magazines? If yes, which ones?
- Would you be more likely to purchase services from a self-defense provider if they donated a portion of their proceeds to a charity of your choice?
- Would you be more likely to purchase services from a self-defense provider who recycled and used "green" products?
- Would you be more likely to purchase services from a self-defense provider if they offered to donate a portion of their proceeds to a church of your choice?
Demographics:
- Are you married or single?
- Do you have a high school diploma?
- Are you attending, or have you graduated from, a college?
- Do you attend services at a church?
If yes, which one?
- Do you feel you are more likely to be targeted for verbal and/or physical abuse due to your race, religion, and/or lifestyle?
- Are you active in political rallies, protests, and/or demonstrations?
- Are you a missionary who travels to other countries to do work?
End:
Again, thank you so much for your time and participation. If there is any other information you feel would be helpful, please feel free to include it in your response to this survey. Your input is very valuable to me. Have a great day!
--Sincerely,
Sean Carrigan.
Integrated Self Defense Services;
Sole Proprietor.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Business License Application #6139 -- APPROVED
All right, the business license application was approved and has been paid. I'll be receiving the license in the mail soon. I ordered 250 business cards yesterday, very basic and simple until I get rolling.
I wrote up a rough draft of a marketing research survey. The business plan is about 40% complete. It's slow going because I'm just working on it in my spare time. Since I have a few prospective clients lined up already who are waiting on a scheduled session, I have been writing up a lesson plan.
I will have to start teaching so the lesson plans can be refined for time and content as I gain experience in how much information can be reasonably taught in a one hour time frame. I think I'll go and talk to Dr. Watson at UTC and get some insight on how he plans for his one hour lectures and how much he can cover during that time.
I'm going to look for the local SCORE (Society of Retired Entreprenuers) branch and schedule some time with one of their members to gain some insight to launching a small business.
I didn't apply for a tax code number, but I suspect I will need to very soon. It said you wouldn't need to if you make under $400.00 in a certain time period. We'll see how it goes.
I plan on pushing start up costs way down by working with bare essentials and slowly aquiring things I need as I earn income. A laptop computer is in the near future. I'm fully capable of keeping a paper record of accounts using the cash accrual method, but I don't want to do that for too long or I'll end up spending just as much money in filing cabinets and folders as I would in a cheap laptop. Plus... paper is hard and time consuming to back up by hand.
Things are going well and I'm having fun. As long as I don't overreach and overwork in this process, as long as I take baby steps forward and focus on careful planning, then everything will move along nicely.
I wrote up a rough draft of a marketing research survey. The business plan is about 40% complete. It's slow going because I'm just working on it in my spare time. Since I have a few prospective clients lined up already who are waiting on a scheduled session, I have been writing up a lesson plan.
I will have to start teaching so the lesson plans can be refined for time and content as I gain experience in how much information can be reasonably taught in a one hour time frame. I think I'll go and talk to Dr. Watson at UTC and get some insight on how he plans for his one hour lectures and how much he can cover during that time.
I'm going to look for the local SCORE (Society of Retired Entreprenuers) branch and schedule some time with one of their members to gain some insight to launching a small business.
I didn't apply for a tax code number, but I suspect I will need to very soon. It said you wouldn't need to if you make under $400.00 in a certain time period. We'll see how it goes.
I plan on pushing start up costs way down by working with bare essentials and slowly aquiring things I need as I earn income. A laptop computer is in the near future. I'm fully capable of keeping a paper record of accounts using the cash accrual method, but I don't want to do that for too long or I'll end up spending just as much money in filing cabinets and folders as I would in a cheap laptop. Plus... paper is hard and time consuming to back up by hand.
Things are going well and I'm having fun. As long as I don't overreach and overwork in this process, as long as I take baby steps forward and focus on careful planning, then everything will move along nicely.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Working on a business plan
I'm working on a business plan. It's a pretty straight forward process from the information regarding business plans I've gathered from SBA. I've been researching my potential competitors, which it seems upon first glance there are lots but when I really think about it only RAD is offering anything similar to what I plan to offer. Even so, RAD doesn't have any updated or active scheduled classes listed. I'm going to have to contact them to see if they're still actively teaching classes at UTC.
All the other potential competitors in the "self defense" category are all listed as Martial Arts schools, with the exception of Chattanooga State's Advanced Women's Self Defense classes in their physical education electives. I plan on offering a major focus on self-defense education in awareness, safety, risk assessment and avoidance with a minor aspect of physical self defense techniques. I don't see the services I will offer directly competing with martial arts schools that market direct physical self-defense techniques as their primary curriculum.
Interestingly enough, there doesn't seem to be any regulatory board or certification requirements for teaching self-defense. I suppose the free market will decide which system sells the most value in self-defense services; hopefully no one dies in the process.
Since I am a student of Dr. Wong's Kung Fu Academy, I have sought Michon's blessing in this business venture.
As part of market research I will be visiting several, if not all, of the businesses listing self-defense as part of their offered services.
All the other potential competitors in the "self defense" category are all listed as Martial Arts schools, with the exception of Chattanooga State's Advanced Women's Self Defense classes in their physical education electives. I plan on offering a major focus on self-defense education in awareness, safety, risk assessment and avoidance with a minor aspect of physical self defense techniques. I don't see the services I will offer directly competing with martial arts schools that market direct physical self-defense techniques as their primary curriculum.
Interestingly enough, there doesn't seem to be any regulatory board or certification requirements for teaching self-defense. I suppose the free market will decide which system sells the most value in self-defense services; hopefully no one dies in the process.
Since I am a student of Dr. Wong's Kung Fu Academy, I have sought Michon's blessing in this business venture.
As part of market research I will be visiting several, if not all, of the businesses listing self-defense as part of their offered services.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Starting up ISDS.
Hello. My name is Sean.
Martial Arts Experience:
I've studied the martial arts since I was very young. My father started teaching me Goju-ryu Karate when I was three years old. During my lifetime I continued to train in one form of martial art or another as we moved from place to place. At age eleven I studied .Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do and Judo at TTJC (Tennessee Taekwondo Judo Center) in Alcoa, TN. At age 15 I, and my best friend, took private lessons in Tae Kwon Do from a korean minister. From age 16 to 20 I studied Tae Kwon Do at Rick Hall's TKDplus in Chattanooga, where I attained the rank of 2nd Degree Black belt. At age 20 I joined the United States Navy and served for six years as a Firecontrolman. During my service in the Navy I studied Jeet Kun Do Concepts with Duane Walden and Roy Harris, instructors in the Progressive Fighting Systems. In the JKD Concepts system I learned techniques and applications from Kali Stick and Knife Fighting, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Thai Kickboxing, Wing Chun Kung Fu, and Jeet Kun Do. In 2003 I started training in Bai Mei Kung Fu under Dr Y.Q. Wong. I am presently continuing my training in Bai Mei Kung Fu.
Security Experience:
In the Navy, as CIWS work center supervisor of the Combat Systems division, I was part of the Ship's Security Force and participated in training for small arms, guidelines for use of deadly force, close quarters combat, and maintained the ship's armory.
Small Arms Experience:
I earned the Expert Marksman medal for pistol and the Sharpshooter Marksman medal for rifle while serving in the military.
Integrated Self Defense Services:
ISDS is the name of the business I am starting in order to provide services and education in self defense to the Chattanooga area community. I decided to start this business when a co-worker of mine approached me asking if I've thought about teaching self-defense as a way to supplement my income. As we discussed it she said she and a few of her friends would be interested in learning self-defense if I was willing to teach them.
I thought about this idea for several weeks and finally decided to go for it. I have business minor in entreprenuership at UTC (unfortunately I haven't completed the requirements for my major in Psyshology yet) and felt it would be better to start a business revolving around self-defense services rather than just teaching a few people for cash.
So far I have applied for a business lisence, am working on a business plan, and am writing a series of lesson plans for self-defense classes. I've decided on a sole proprietorship for now and will market to individual clients through my social network, referrels and word of mouth.
The purpose of this blog is to document my experience in starting a small business, to discuss self-defense, and provide a forum for people to see what Integrated Self Defense Services is all about.
Thank you for reading.
--Sean
Martial Arts Experience:
I've studied the martial arts since I was very young. My father started teaching me Goju-ryu Karate when I was three years old. During my lifetime I continued to train in one form of martial art or another as we moved from place to place. At age eleven I studied .Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do and Judo at TTJC (Tennessee Taekwondo Judo Center) in Alcoa, TN. At age 15 I, and my best friend, took private lessons in Tae Kwon Do from a korean minister. From age 16 to 20 I studied Tae Kwon Do at Rick Hall's TKDplus in Chattanooga, where I attained the rank of 2nd Degree Black belt. At age 20 I joined the United States Navy and served for six years as a Firecontrolman. During my service in the Navy I studied Jeet Kun Do Concepts with Duane Walden and Roy Harris, instructors in the Progressive Fighting Systems. In the JKD Concepts system I learned techniques and applications from Kali Stick and Knife Fighting, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Thai Kickboxing, Wing Chun Kung Fu, and Jeet Kun Do. In 2003 I started training in Bai Mei Kung Fu under Dr Y.Q. Wong. I am presently continuing my training in Bai Mei Kung Fu.
Security Experience:
In the Navy, as CIWS work center supervisor of the Combat Systems division, I was part of the Ship's Security Force and participated in training for small arms, guidelines for use of deadly force, close quarters combat, and maintained the ship's armory.
Small Arms Experience:
I earned the Expert Marksman medal for pistol and the Sharpshooter Marksman medal for rifle while serving in the military.
Integrated Self Defense Services:
ISDS is the name of the business I am starting in order to provide services and education in self defense to the Chattanooga area community. I decided to start this business when a co-worker of mine approached me asking if I've thought about teaching self-defense as a way to supplement my income. As we discussed it she said she and a few of her friends would be interested in learning self-defense if I was willing to teach them.
I thought about this idea for several weeks and finally decided to go for it. I have business minor in entreprenuership at UTC (unfortunately I haven't completed the requirements for my major in Psyshology yet) and felt it would be better to start a business revolving around self-defense services rather than just teaching a few people for cash.
So far I have applied for a business lisence, am working on a business plan, and am writing a series of lesson plans for self-defense classes. I've decided on a sole proprietorship for now and will market to individual clients through my social network, referrels and word of mouth.
The purpose of this blog is to document my experience in starting a small business, to discuss self-defense, and provide a forum for people to see what Integrated Self Defense Services is all about.
Thank you for reading.
--Sean
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