Maya is the CEO and founder of Alchemize Fightwear. They were exhausted of the fightwear options for women.

So they decided to build woman’s gear that made sense for women's bodies, that is fashionable, fitting, and durable.

Maya shares her journey in martial arts and the challenges women face in combat sports.

She discusses the need for better gear designed specifically for women and the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive community.

Maya emphasizes the benefits of jiu-jitsu for women, including increased confidence and the ability to be present in the moment. She also highlights the importance of building trust and providing value to customers in order to grow a successful business.

Maya also discusses the process of starting a business and finding the right audience, as well as the significance of growing an online presence. She highlights the importance of meeting customers where they are and leading with value to build a community.

She also discusses the realities and challenges of entrepreneurship, including dealing with rejection and loneliness.

You can find Alchemize Fightwear here: https://alchemizefightwear.com/

Want to see clips of episodes and behind the scenes footage of what it is like running martial arts schools? Follow Matthew on Instagram here: @blackbeltbrenner1

Want to grow your martial arts business without relying on ads? Email me "Triangle Codex" to : [email protected]

Shane Tassoul, owner of Champion Martial Arts, shares his journey in the martial arts industry and the challenges he faced along the way. He is also a consultant for MAIA (Martial Arts Industry Association).

From starting his first martial arts school to opening a second location, Shane discusses the highs and lows of running a martial arts business.

Shane emphasizes the importance of transparency and relatability in connecting with others.

In this conversation, Matthew Brenner and Shane Tossel discuss various topics related to business and personal growth.

They touch on the devastating loss Matthew experienced when a publicly trading company he invested in went bankrupt.

They also discuss the challenges of consulting, including being patient and dealing with clients who don't take action.

The importance of listening and the struggle of implementing change are also explored. Shane shares the book that was most instrumental in his career.

Want to see clips of episodes and behind the scenes footage of what it is like running martial arts schools? Follow Matthew on Instagram here: @blackbeltbrenner1

Want to grow your martial arts business without relying on ads? Email me "Triangle Codex" to : [email protected]

Stephen Reinstein, CEO and founder of Market Muscles, a marketing and website design company that helps martial arts schools create websites that generate new leads consistently.

Stephen discusses the importance of strong websites for lead generation in the martial arts industry, and the problems most website have.

He shares his experience of reaching 1 million leads and highlights the key trends in website design, including the use of AI and chatbots.

Reinstein emphasizes the need for a professional-looking website that focuses on the customer's journey and pain points.

He also discusses the challenges and frustrations of working in the website development industry and the importance of customer retention.

Reinstein concludes by sharing the growth and expansion of Market Muscles and its headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia.

Stephen emphasizes the importance of work-life balance and the impact of the book 'E-Myth' on his business. He also mentions essential tools like Slack for communication and shares personal stories and embarrassing moments.

Contact Stephen here: facebook.com/sreinstein

Want to see clips of episodes and behind the scenes footage of what it is like running martial arts schools? Follow Matthew on Instagram here: @blackbeltbrenner1

Want to grow your martial arts business without relying on ads? Email me "Triangle Codex" to : [email protected]

MJ Singh shares his journey from being a student to eventually opening 3 locations of Empower Martial Arts.

He emphasizes the importance, as an owner and manager, of having a strong relationship with your instructors.

MJ discusses his model of running boutique martial arts schools with a focus on quality over quantity. He also shares his strategies for finding and developing instructors, managing multiple locations, and marketing to attract new members.

In this conversation, Matthew Brenner discusses marketing strategies for martial arts schools, the importance of diversifying investments, long-term investing and the compounding effect, keys to success in business, personal finance and savings, balancing personal life and business, hobbies and interests, influential books, and personal insights and beliefs.

In this episode, Kevin Kowalczik, founder of Raptor Martial Arts, shares his journey in martial arts and the inspiration he drew from Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles as a child.

He discusses the importance of discipline and focus in martial arts and how it helped him navigate challenging environments.

Kevin also talks about his experiences with bullying and the self-defense skills he developed.

He emphasizes the importance of building confidence in martial arts and teaching students to stand up for themselves.

Additionally, Kevin introduces Raptor Martial Arts, an online training platform for martial artists of all levels. In this conversation, Kevin Kowalczik discusses the diverse martial arts programs offered at his school, including Jiu Jitsu, Krav Maga, and MMA. He talks about the expansion of the MMA program, with plans to add forms, weapons, kickboxing, and an interactive virtual system.

Kevin shares his personal training experiences in Jiu Jitsu and kickboxing, highlighting the importance of being a well-rounded martial artist.

He addresses the misconception of performance martial arts and emphasizes the need for strong fundamentals before advanced moves.

Kevin also discusses the balance between being a martial artist, business owner, and competitor, and the importance of active training and competing.

He shares his perspective on wearing multiple hats in martial arts and the joy of seeing growth in students

____

You can find Kevin on instagram @kevinkowalczik '

If you want help growing your martial arts school organically, you can email me [email protected] or DM me on instagram @blackbeltbrenner1

Jen Wetzel earned her 2nd degree black belt in December 2022. One year later, in December 2023, she was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer: glioblastoma.

Her prognosis was 18 - 24 months.

Even after the diagnosis, she continues to have perfect attendance at karate class. No more driving, no work as a doctor, long calls with insurance, family time and one trip to Florida.

But a predictable routine: Chemo, radiation, karate. 

She wears a hat to cover her lost hair. She moves slower. But she is one of the most dedicated karate students we have ever had. She takes class with her two teenage kids, both assistant instructors at Action Karate.

Her husband Tim Wetzel was the head instructor. He stepped back and now works as a part-time staff instructor to dedicate more of his time to family.

Following the chronology, she wants to test for third degree, but she has a difficult road of treatment ahead. The physical demands of the illness would make every segment impossible: the fitness, the memorization, the performance. 

The news of her diagnosis was crushing. Many karate families are part of the support system that takes her to doctor appointments and makes meals.

Instructors from all over asked what they could do for her and her family. 

We now have an answer:

Donate to the Wetzel Family Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-wetzels-weather-this-storm

Sign Up For Their Meal Train: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-wetzels-weather-this-storm

Read more about her story here: https://www.actionkaratema.com/post/a-third-degree-black-belt-test-like-no-other

Brannon is the founder of One Martial Arts in San Francisco, where they have just shy of 1,000 students enrolled.

In this episode, we discuss best practices for running martial arts school for longevity, including Matthew's strategy for ensuring quality instruction- that he calls Game Film Review.

You need to steal this idea!

In addition, we discuss marketing strategies for martial arts schools, and mindset mastery for entrepreneurs.

You can find him at brannonbeliso.com

Ron Sell, CEO and CTO (Chief Technology Officer) of Spark, shares his journey from being a martial arts instructor to becoming a successful software entrepreneur- with no previous experience!

He discusses the challenges he faced in starting and growing his businesses, the importance of perseverance and learning from failure, and the impact of personal health and family on his entrepreneurial journey.

Ron also talks about his upcoming office headquarters and his passion for helping martial arts schools and other fitness businesses succeed.

In this conversation, Matthew Brenner discusses his motivation, the importance of family, feeling alive through learning, the rapid advancements in technology, personal goals, business growth, the best gift he's received, his biggest fear, undesirable jobs, maintaining healthy business relationships, giving back, and spreading positivity.

Want to see clips of episodes and behind the scenes footage of what it is like running martial arts schools? Follow Matthew on Instagram here: @blackbeltbrenner1

Want to grow your martial arts business without relying on ads? Email me "Triangle Codex" to : [email protected]

Matthew interview Cris Rodriguez the founder and CEO of Grow Pro Agency, a digital marketing agency for martial arts schools.

She started as a martial arts student and eventually became the first female head instructor of a Taekwondo school. After falling in love with Jiu-Jitsu, she opened her own martial arts school, Gracie Pak MMA.

Later, she partnered with the Martial Arts Industry Association to offer digital marketing services to martial arts school owners, leading to the creation of Grow Pro Agency.

Cris emphasizes the importance of customer service and building a strong U.S. based local team.

She also discusses the significance of setting goals and practicing gratitude.

They discuss various topics, including financial literacy, the power of AI, and their goals for the future.

You can find Cris here:

Grow Pro Agency website: https://growproagency.com/

Want to see clips of episodes and behind the scenes footage of what it is like running martial arts schools? Follow Matthew on Instagram here: @blackbeltbrenner1

Want to grow your martial arts business without relying on ads? Email me "Triangle Codex" to : [email protected]

In this episode, Matthew Brenner interviews Stephen Oliver, a well-respected martial arts school owner, entrepreneur, consultant, and coach.

They discuss Stephen's background in the martial arts industry, his transition to franchising, and the pitfalls of multiple locations.

They also explore the evolution of marketing in the industry and the importance of building trust and credibility.

Stephen emphasizes the effectiveness of testimonials and community outreach in attracting new students.

Matthew Brenner discusses various aspects of running a martial arts school, including the adult market, understanding the needs of different demographics, marketing and enrollment strategies, the importance of long-term goals and retention, contracts the impact of online reviews and reputation management, different business models, and sales strategies.

He addresses misconceptions about his approach to sales and persuasion. Finally, they discuss the changing consumer tastes in martial arts and how to adapt to these trends.

Takeaways

You can find Stephen Here: martialartswealth.com

Want to see clips of episodes and behind the scenes footage of what it is like running martial arts schools? Follow Matthew on Instagram here: @blackbeltbrenner1

Want to grow your martial arts business without relying on ads? Email me "Triangle Codex" to : [email protected]