So yesterday we discussed how serotonin and oxytocin can play a role in student retention. 

As you might recall, serotonin is released when we experience social dominance - moving up a notch in the social structure. And oxytocin is released when we experience a feeling of trust and belonging with a group.

What we determined was that students chase rank at least in part because of the good feeling they get when serotonin is released. And, that they are most likely to want to continue training when they experience an environment where they are mentored by higher-ranking students.

Today, I want to talk a bit more about creating the right atmosphere in your dojo.

ADRENALINE, CORTISOL, AND STUDENT RETENTION

Earlier in this email series, I discussed adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline and cortisol are both released when the body is under stress or when the brain anticipates stress.

Adrenaline is designed to give the body a sort of boost, to help you escape or fight off danger. It's your "fight or flight" brain chemical.

On the other hand, cortisol is the body's "stress hormone" - it performs certain functions that help the body deal with long-term stress. 

Now, in the short-term, both of these brain chemicals serve functions that have a net positive effect. However, our bodies are simply not designed to function under high levels of stress - and the subsequent high levels of adrenaline and cortisol that result - over long periods of time.

THE BODY IS NOT DESIGNED FOR CONSTANT STRESS

Some people learn to enjoy the feeling that adrenaline gives them - that so-called adrenaline rush. Yet, the adrenal glands aren't designed to allow for a 24/7 adrenal high. 

And eventually, if overtaxed, they will no longer be capable of performing their intended function, at least not until they are given sufficient time to replenish and recover.

Say if you go skydiving or engage in some other high-risk activity once a week for an adrenaline rush, no big deal. Your adrenal glands can easily handle that level and frequency of excitement.

But, if your brain is constantly being startled, frightened, angered, or otherwise "tricked" into releasing adrenaline, multiple times a day, eventually your body is going to be negatively affected.

Remember also that cortisol is released under stress, and no one likes the feeling they get when their cortisol levels are high. Cortisol gives you a nervous, uneasy feeling that tells you to avoid whatever it is that is making you feel that way. It basically tells you to seek out comfort and avoid pain or discomfort.

NO ONE WANTS TO BE MORE STRESSED OUT

So, what do you think is going to happen with a student who experiences an adrenaline and cortisol release, every single time they train at your class?

In other words, what happens to students who are stressed out by your classes, either because you are too militant in your training approach, or senior students treat them like fresh meat, or they are otherwise mistreated in training?

That's right - eventually they're going to say, "Screw this crap," and they're going to go sign up for golf lessons or some other less stressful activity or sport.

LET'S BE HONEST HERE...

Now, for many of us who teach martial arts, our natural reaction to this is to say they "just couldn't take it," "they wussed out," "they weren't cut out to be a black belt," or some other nonsense. 

This is because, when you're an ass, you rarely take ownership for being an ass. 

Let that sink in for a moment. I'll wait.

YOUR JOB IS TO HELP THEM ESCAPE AND RELIEVE STRESS

Look, the bottom line is that people aren't going to put up with being mistreated for long - not unless they're one of the less than 1% of the population who is naturally, incredibly resilient (the type who end up becoming Navy SEALs and what-not), or they're mentally imbalanced and seeking a dysfunctional relationship.

And for the most part, people are already stressed out enough as it is. And when they come looking for a workout or recreational activity, they aren't looking for more stress - they're looking for an ESCAPE from all that stress, or a way to relieve it.

In other words, they are looking for a POSITIVE experience.

So here's the deal - save the high-stress training for specific situations. There's definitely a place for that training, such as for adrenal stress response training and so-called stress inoculation training (important for self-defense preparation, but not a lot of fun to do all the time), black belt tests, and so on.

But putting students under high levels of stress all the time is a sure recipe for high attrition and low retention. So keep in mind that it's much more effective to motivate students using the carrot and not the stick. You'll keep students around longer, and they'll be much more likely to refer their friends as well.

---

Tomorrow we're going to talk about putting all this info together in context, and with practical applications for how we might structure our classes and programs to align with what we've learned the past few weeks.

Keep an eye out for that email.