I've been running my gym for a few years now, but sometimes ago the caretaker asked me if I don't mind if another person wish hire the gym on Friday and the weekend. I said who? He said it some Karate guy who goes to the same church. I said, I can't see any harm in it, as long as they (him & his students) don't wreck my equipments (pads etc.) I didn't feel threat because I assumed he only wanted to use the place to practice his katas etc.

At the time, apart from old fighting posters at the gym, I didn't have any brochures about myself and our gym's achievements and history, because everyone at the area knows. I think this guy has just moved in from UK or USA where he learned his Karate (but he is a New Zealander).

But first, let me describe you where our gym is to give you a fair idea. Our gym is situated at a dead end street, behind a church. A separate building behind downstairs. Very concealed that most people have to look for it twice before they actually find it. Obviously this guy has been advertising it at the Auckland University and obviously scored some followers. The first week he was there, I found flyers advertising it around my gym, so that my students can not miss it. There flyers and ripped off pieces of paper with his contacts offering for free classes etc. Of course I have never went to the gym during his classes, as I don't want him to think I was spying on him to know who train with him. Anyway, I looked at it (brochures) and said, geez what a good idea. I think I should do one. I did photos of our champions (Ray Sefo and few others) put the gym history and made brochures and than put it on the front desk when new people comes in. Before long, I started noticed a few guys trying out classes from Karate background and almost joined immediately. Only a few months after he opened his classes at my gym, he had to closed. I found out later that a lot of my students were from his karate class. I have this policy that if I find someone who is from another school or style, I always advice him/her to let his/her instructor know that he/she is also training with me. I think he tried to steel my students but backed fired. I found out late also that a couple of my students actully tried out a free class, but never joined.