Matthew Brenner and Dave Kovar what the "new school" model looks like for Kovars. They discuss the intricacies of martial arts education, school management, storytelling in martial arts, the challenges of opening new locations, and the significance of understanding demographics and market research. Kovar shares insights on negotiating leases, the role of content creation in business growth, and the importance of health and fitness for longevity in martial arts.

Matthew Brenner interviews Tim Hartman, a prominent figure in Filipino martial arts and a martial arts influencer. They discuss Tim's journey in martial arts, the importance of engaging youth, and the marketing strategies that can help martial arts schools thrive. Tim Hartman discusses his experiences in martial arts training, particularly focusing on situational awareness, training law enforcement and military personnel, and the real-world applications of martial arts techniques. He shares insights on the emotional weight of self-defense, the impact of violence on mental health, and the injuries sustained during training. The discussion also touches on the evolving perspectives on martial arts, the McDojo debate, and the significance of social media in growing his presence and business. Tim reflects on unexpected viral success and the recognition he has received in the martial arts community.

In this engaging conversation, Matthew Brenner and Adam Kifer explore the intersections of martial arts, fitness, and business. They discuss the differences in focus between martial arts schools and fitness studios. Adam shares insights on personal growth, God, spirituality, and how these elements influence business decisions. The conversation also delves into the use of AI in business strategies and effective organic lead generation techniques.

In this engaging conversation, Matthew Brenner and Adam Kifer explore the intersections of martial arts, fitness, and business. They discuss the differences in focus between martial arts schools and fitness studios. Adam shares insights on personal growth, God, spirituality, and how these elements influence business decisions. The conversation also delves into the use of AI in business strategies and effective organic lead generation techniques.

This episode is part 3 of the series on the 4 Phases Of Martial Arts Schools. This episode is focusing on the transition to the CEO phase ($83K+ / month). They emphasize the importance of hiring and developing leaders, understanding the challenges of management, and creating a team vision. The conversation also covers the significance of metrics tracking for success and the potential profit centers that can enhance revenue. Throughout the discussion, they highlight the need for continuous improvement and adaptation in the martial arts industry.

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner interviews Donovan Rider, owner of Charleston Taekwondo, who shares his journey from a competitive martial artist to a successful school owner with multiple locations.

Donovan discusses the challenges and strategies involved in scaling his business, including instructor recruitment, operational management, and real estate considerations.

The conversation provides valuable insights for anyone looking to grow a martial arts school or similar business.

Before joining the Double Your Dojo program, Master Michael Mertens was already at the top of the martial arts industry.

His five Taekwondo schools in Western New York were serving over 1,700 active students, with a proven team, decades of experience, and a reputation as one of the region’s most established operators. But despite that, Michael knew there was more potential, especially with organic marketing. 

“We were doing pretty well… but I knew there was still more juice in the lemon,” he said.

Although his schools had tried school and daycare programs before, they never found a consistent, scalable system that worked across all five locations without burning out the staff.

Yes, he got new students from doing school programs, and working with some daycares, but he knew there was more potential. 

It’s not about changing everything, it’s about small adjustments. Small hinges swing big doors. 

That’s when Michael scheduled a discovery call to learn more about the Triangle Codex.

Together, we helped his team:

✅ Build a fresh “Hit List” of overlooked daycares, afterschool programs, and third-party providers ✅ Simplify his outreach and program setup to avoid exhausting his team ✅ Refine his white belt graduation flow to increase conversions ✅ Train his staff (across all five schools) to enroll students consistently, without relying on leads from ads

The result?

📈 400+ new leads (worth $20,000+ in ad spend value) 📈 61 new students enrolled and counting 📈 $146,000+ in projected new revenue THIS YEAR 📈 26 school programs set up through a single third-party partnership 📈 51 New Strategic Partnerships in the education system. 

And they’re just getting started.

If you're tired of hearing “we're doing the best we can with the leads we have,” this is your sign to start giving your team the tools to create their own.

Should you run ads for your school? Yes, but that shouldn’t be your only source of new students. A strong team knows how to go out and recruit new students, even if the pipeline is dry. 

This episode is a continuation from the Part 1 episode with the same name.

In this episode, Matthew and Solomon Brenner discuss the journey of scaling martial arts schools, focusing on the transition from the Builder Phase to the Scaler Phase.

Revenue Range: $30K–$50K/month
Focus: Build the machine. Stop being the machine.

• Key Responsibilities:
• Full-time team roles (head instructor, program director, admin)
• Dialing in retention and pricing for profitability
• Weekly team meetings and accountability systems
• Must Master:
• Staff development
• Metrics tracking (conversion rates, attrition rates, per-student value)
• Leading vs. doing

We'll have a follow up episode for...

Level 4: The CEO Phase

Revenue Range: $50K–$83K/month

Stay tuned..

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner is joined by his brother and Action Karate founder, Solomon Brenner, to reveal the 4 phases every martial arts school owner must go through to scale from $0 to $1M in annual revenue.

Whether you're just starting out or you're already making over $50K/month, you'll walk away with actionable strategies tailored to your school’s growth stage.

From the Hustler Phase ($0–$10K/month) to the CEO Phase ($50K–$83K+/month), they break down the exact skills, systems, and mindset shifts required to grow a 7-figure martial arts business. They share personal stories from their journey scaling Action Karate to over 30 locations and $12M/year, plus what mistakes to avoid and what to focus on at each level of growth.

Perfect for school owners looking to:

• Increase student enrollment without relying on Facebook ads

• Improve retention with better systems and staff development

• Build a leadership team that runs your school when you're not there

• Stop feeling stuck at 100–150 students and finally break through

• Turn a small martial arts school into a million-dollar lifestyle business

If you're serious about growing your school and want to know how top-performing school owners are doing it without gimmicks, listen to this episode.

👉 Subscribe for more episodes on martial arts business coaching, student retention, marketing, team building, and leadership development.

This episode is part 1, part 2 will be released later for $30K+ schools and $50K+ schools.

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner interviews his brother, Solomon Brenner, the founder of Action Karate. They discuss the impact of the current economic climate on the martial arts industry, the benefits of pop-up locations, and strategies for negotiating leases. Solomon shares insights on build-out costs and the importance of organic marketing in attracting new students. The conversation emphasizes empowering teams to actively recruit and engage with the community to ensure the success of martial arts schools. In this conversation, Matthew and Solomon Brenner discuss strategies for growing martial arts schools, emphasizing the importance of compounding enrollments, embracing rejection, and understanding fixed expenses. They explore the impact of economic changes on business and the necessity of controlling one's own financial situation. The discussion also highlights the value of investing in oneself and the importance of human connections in a technology-driven world.