Donovan Ryder shares his journey from being an Olympic Taekwondo competitor to opening and expanding to 8+ martial arts schools in just a couple of years.

He discusses the challenges and successes of running after-school programs and the importance of training and role-playing with staff.

Donovan also highlights the benefits of being part of a mastermind and the ongoing learning process in the martial arts industry.

In this conversation, Matthew Brenner discusses various aspects of running a martial arts school and investing in real estate. He shares insights on creating offers for entrepreneurs, structuring ownership percentage, and how to sell equity in your business.

Matthew also highlights the power of revenue and profit, financing and loans, and the journey to success.

He emphasizes the reality of real estate as an investment and dispels the myth of passive investing.

Takeaways

Opening and expanding multiple martial arts schools requires careful planning and adaptation to changing circumstances.

After-school programs can be a significant source of revenue for martial arts schools, but they come with their own challenges and require dedicated staff.

Regular training and role-playing with staff members can improve their performance and create a high-energy environment in the martial arts school.

Being part of a mastermind or coaching group can provide valuable insights and support for martial arts school owners.

Running a martial arts school requires constant learning and adaptation to ensure continued success. Creating an offer for entrepreneurs requires understanding their individual perspectives on hard work and providing incentives that align with their goals.

When structuring ownership percentage, a common approach is to calculate it based on a multiple of the net profit, such as 3X net profit.

Buying into a location can be determined by reaching revenue benchmarks and multiplying the net profit by a certain factor.

Real estate can be a lucrative investment, especially when combined with other businesses in the same building, but it requires careful consideration and effort to fill vacancies.

Work-life balance is situational and seasonal, with different periods of intense work and downtime depending on the business's needs and goals.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:17 Martial Arts Background and Olympic Training

09:26 Transition to Teaching Martial Arts

12:45 Opening the First Martial Arts School

17:27 Expanding to Multiple Schools

20:35 Starting After-School Programs

23:22 Challenges of Running After-School Programs

28:28 Training and Role-Playing with Staff

32:46 Mastermind and Coaching

35:39 The Thorn in Running a Martial Arts School

40:00 Creating an Offer for Entrepreneurs

40:30 Structuring Ownership Percentage

41:23 Buying into a Location

42:06 Power of Revenue and Profit

42:35 Financing and Loans

43:27 Transition from Financing to Loans

44:17 Investing in Martial Arts School

45:13 The Journey to Success

46:07 Real Estate as an Investment

47:31 The Reality of Real Estate

48:00 The Myth of Passive Investing

49:27 The Book that Changed Everything

51:03 Feeling Most Alive

52:00 Teaching and Work-Life Balance

53:23 Effective Communication with Marco Polo

55:12 Achieving Childhood Dreams

55:40 The Seasonality of Work-Life Balance

57:28 Documenting the Process of Hiring from Overseas

58:53 The Challenges of Visa Processing

01:00:48 Connecting with Donovan Rider

Follow me 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 Hannah Westerman, the founder and creative director of Avenue West, a design agency.

They discuss the benefits of design services for small businesses, the process of working with professional athletes, and the importance of branding and website design.

Hannah shares her experiences working with high-profile clients and the timeline and pricing structure of design projects.

If you are a parent or teacher of ANY kind, this episode is for you.

Melody Johnson is a child development expert and founder of SKILLZ, a child development program designed to help martial arts teachers motivate their students to become the the best version of themselves, using science backed strategies.

In this episode, Melody discusses her brain bank theory, which emphasizes the importance of making deposits and withdrawals in our mental resources.

She explains that deposits can be made through activities such as getting quality sleep, exercising, eating well, learning, and connecting with others. Johnson also highlights the significance of building connection with children and making more deposits than withdrawals in their brain banks.

She suggests being attuned to a child's nature and developmental needs, as well as empowering them to make choices. Additionally, Johnson emphasizes the importance of self-care and making deposits in our own brain banks.

She delves into the concept of behavior by fear versus behavior by desire and how it applies to teaching martial arts. Melody also shares insights on coaching her son's flag football team.

She discusses the effects of COVID-19 on children and offers advice on building positive conversations.

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:27 The Brain Bank Theory

06:34 Making Deposits in Children's Brain Banks

07:27 Building Connection with Your Child

08:50 Making Deposits in Others' Brain Banks

09:19 Self-Care and Making Deposits for Yourself

13:23 Understanding Your Child's Nature

16:11 Attunement and Empowering Your Child

23:22 Balancing Deposits and Withdrawals

26:39 Energizing Activities and Recharging

29:44 Love Languages and Acts of Service

30:12 The Power of Active Service

30:57 The Five Love Languages

31:26 Theory X and Theory Y CEOs

32:25 Behavior by Fear vs. Behavior by Desire

33:23 Teaching Positive Behavior in Martial Arts

35:16 Using Trickery to Teach Focus

36:13 Coaching Youth Sports

37:12 Building Behavior by Desire

38:09 Understanding Child Development

41:02 The Impact of Negative Parenting

45:48 The Effects of COVID-19 on Children

46:43 The Importance of Positive Conversations

47:39 The Influence of Parental Conversations

48:09 Helping Children Earn Their White Belt

51:13 Building Behavior by Fear vs. Building Behavior by Desire

52:10 The Impact of Punishment on Identity

55:30 Giving Children Options to Earn Their Belt

58:54 Connecting with Melody Johnson

59:24 Recommendation for Martial Arts Schools

You can contact Melody here: [email protected]

Join her free facebook group here: Melody Johnson's Free SKILLZ Tips

Follow me on Instagram here: @blackbeltbrenner1

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

Matthew Brenner interviews James Noto, owner and instructor at Ambition Martial Arts, and Double Your Dojo Client Alumni. In this episode, you will discover how James used the Triangle Codex, an evergreen strategy to recruit new student predictably without paying for ads from Grade Schools, Daycares, and Businesses.

They discuss various topics related to martial arts instruction, including his stealth strategy for how to keep kids engaged during camps, the challenges of changing instructors, the impact of martial arts on students' lives, and the importance of memorable moments in martial arts.

James shares a story about an unfortunate incident at his Brooklyn school and highlights the importance of staff training and certification. He also discusses his decision to join Double Your Dojo for coaching and the impact it has had on his school's growth.

The conversation explores the value of martial arts, the importance of physical representation in training, the journey of discovering martial arts as a career, the impact of martial arts on personal growth, and the connection between art and martial arts.

Takeaways

00:00 Engaging Kids with Fights on YouTube

01:22 Introduction to Ambition Martial Arts

02:19 An Unfortunate Incident at the Brooklyn School

03:14 The Impact of Martial Arts on Students' Lives

07:30 The Challenges of Working with Parents

09:20 The Debate on Instructors' Physical Fitness

10:47 The Importance of Transitioning Instructors

13:09 The Long-Term Commitment of Martial Arts Training

15:35 The Challenges of Instructor Changes

17:03 The Impact of Martial Arts on Students' Lives

19:27 The Importance of Memorable Moments in Martial Arts

21:54 The Challenges of Staff Training

23:20 The Impact of Implementing Staff Certification

31:52 The Decision to Join W.O.Dojo

37:26 The Importance of Customized Coaching

40:14 The Impact of Staff Training and Certification

45:18 The Importance of Financial Growth in Martial Arts

46:45 Recognizing the Value of Martial Arts

50:02 The Importance of Physical Representation in Training

51:22 Discovering Martial Arts as a Career

55:40 The Impact of Martial Arts on Personal Growth

56:36 The Connection Between Art and Martial Arts

58:57 Contact Information

Contact Matthew here:

email: [email protected]

instagram: @blackbeltbrenner1

Reid Presley is a renown martial arts competitor and co-owner of CE Karate. More recently, he launched Equipped, an online training program for martial arts athletes.

Reid his background in competitive martial arts, his martial arts family, and the development of his own branded bow staff.

He shares his journey from competing to training others and the importance of performance martial arts in boosting confidence and self-expression.

Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the role of martial arts in personal growth and overcoming shyness.

Reid Presley discusses his family's martial arts history, his experience teaching professionally at Premiere.

He also shares insights into pre-sales and school launches, as well as his future plans for opening a brick and mortar school.

Reid reveals his favorite and least favorite weapons, discusses the similarities between himself and Matthew, and shares the book that has shaped his career.

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Branded Bowstaff

03:43 Competitive Martial Arts Background

07:25 Injury and Double Bowstaff

10:12 Performance Martial Arts vs. Combat Sports

15:51 Competing and Traveling

22:04 Popularity of Performance Martial Arts

25:26 Boosting Confidence and Community

26:52 Dealing with Nervousness

28:17 Family Involvement in Martial Arts

29:13 Family's Martial Arts History

32:06 Teaching Professionally at Premiere

34:30 Role as a Success Coach at Premiere

37:17 Workload and Responsibilities at Premiere

39:41 Pre-Sales and School Launches

43:25 Transitioning to Equipped and CE Karate

46:59 Future Plans for Opening a Brick and Mortar School

47:25 Favorite and Least Favorite Weapons

50:51 Similarities Between Reid and Matthew

52:58 North Pole or Sahara Desert

53:45 Cheese Curls or Popcorn Kernel

54:15 Book that Shaped Reid's Career

54:53 Feeling Most Alive

In this conversation, Lance Trippett, CEO of Academy Kings, a coaching company for martial arts businesses, discusses his experience in the martial arts school business and the transition to consulting.

He emphasizes the importance of leads and retention in the industry, as well as the need to expand the market for martial arts to include more women and kids.

Lance shares effective offers and sales strategies for martial arts schools, highlighting the significance of continuous learning and investing in masterminds and coaching programs.

He also discusses the balance between running a business and personal life, and shares his experiences living in Colorado.

We discuss various topics including hunting, moving the academy, favorite books, and more

Takeaways:

Chapters

Woooh am I excited to share this one with ya'll.

Rob Ingram, founder of @McDojoLife on instagram,(550K Followers), shares his journey in martial arts and how he started exposing frauds in the industry.

He discusses his experience with bullying and how martial arts helped him gain confidence.

He explains how McDojoLife became a full-time venture and how he monetizes it.

We also talk about the real-life consequences of exposing fraudulent martial arts instructors. He shares a personal experience of being sued for defamation by an instructor who had a registered sex offender at his facility.

The importance of background checks and safety measures in martial arts schools is emphasized, with Matthew highlighting the need for local and federal background checks, cameras, and audio surveillance.

He also discusses the need for measurable standards in the martial arts industry and the importance of running a martial arts school as a business.

The conversation concludes with a reflection on the role and responsibility of martial arts instructors and the impact they can make.

Takeaways

Chapter breakdown

In this episode, discover how to create a HYBRID program for your BJJ or Martial Arts school.

I speak with Brendan, the CEO of Wodify, a software designed to streamline processes for fitness based businesses (Crossfit/ BJJ/ Karate) and take them into the digital world by combining "in person" training resources with easy-to-manage digital training, to create a seamless experience for students.

Wodify makes it easy for martial arts business owners to connect their brick and mortar to the online space- even if they aren't "tech savvy."

Brendan explains how Wodify is digitizing the fitness experience for martial arts schools, including the use of looping videos and in-app chat.

He discusses the company's focus on configuring the software to fit different martial arts and shares insights and data to help gym owners improve their businesses.

Brendan and Matthew talk about the challenges of building a SAAS (software as a service) brand that appeals to multiple verticals.

Matthew shares the difficulties of being a CEO, particularly in attracting and retaining talented individuals. He discusses the importance of developing relationships with employees and communicating the impact of their work.

Key Takeaways

Want to try out Wodify? Black Belt Business listeners get 50% off the first 3 months, visit wodify.com/podcast

Tune in to learn more!

In this inspiring episode, join us as we sit down with Dave Silver, the visionary founder of Rec Philly and a Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee. Rec Philly, a thriving creative community, is dedicated to the belief that "independent doesn't mean alone."

Their mission is clear: to provide creators, musicians, and artists with the essential support and resources they need to monetize their talents and achieve success.

Dave shares his journey as an entrepreneur, discussing the challenges he faced while building a platform that empowers artists and fosters collaboration.

We delve into the core values of Rec Philly and explore how they are shaping the future of the creative industry.

We also discuss what people don't tell you about the hardships of entrepreneurship.

Discover new trails to explore and gain insights into the mind of a young entrepreneur who is changing the game for artists everywhere.

Tune in to this episode for a glimpse into the world of creativity, entrepreneurship, and the beauty of the American wilderness, all in one exciting conversation. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and get inspired by the resilience of the creative spirit.Follow me @blackbeltbrenner1 on instagram

I sit down with Josh Vogel, the co-founder of the Jiu Jitsu Company in Philadelphia and my personal instructor. Discover the intriguing journey that led Josh to leave his former Jiu Jitsu school and take the bold leap into starting his own academy.

In a candid conversation, we dive deep into the world of modern Jiu Jitsu schools, examining the common pitfalls and misconceptions that many academies stumble upon. Josh shares his valuable insights into what it truly takes to create a thriving Jiu Jitsu community and foster a positive learning environment.

But that's not all! We also explore the unique dynamics of running a business alongside his wife, uncovering the challenges, rewards, and secrets to their successful partnership.

And, for a delightful twist, Josh opens up about his unexpected obsession with cats, offering a glimpse into the fascinating intersection of martial arts and feline fascination. You won't want to miss this episode filled with valuable life lessons, business insights, and a charmingly unexpected cat connection!

Questions? DM me @blackbeltbrenner1 on instagram Josh Vogel DM him @theslothresport on instagram