School Owner Talk

In this motivational podcast episode, Professor Duane Brumitt and Shihan Allie Alberigo discuss practical and inspiring strategies to end the year on a high note. They cover goal-setting, effective holiday sales, reconnecting with students, running impactful events, and even balancing family and personal development. Plus, hear insights on maximizing martial arts business potential and fostering gratitude. Perfect for school owners and martial arts instructors looking to finish strong and set up for a successful new year!  

Reference in the podcast:

My Plan For Living To 156: By Dan Sullivan

I Trained Like A Black Belt For 90 Days

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA7i0xdQVCs

In this insightful session, we explore the transformative potential of ChatGPT and AI in martial arts school management. Join Duane Brumitt, Shihan Allie Alberigo, and special guest James Bret Dunlap as they dive into practical AI applications—from automating marketing tasks to streamlining school operations. Discover how AI can save time, enhance productivity, and elevate the student experience. Whether you're new to AI or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode is packed with actionable advice.

Resources mentioned:

Make.com

Lead Hunter Media

High Income Skills

Exceptional Classes

In this episode, Duane Brumitt and Shihan Allie Alberigo dive deep into the innovative ways martial arts school owners can use ChatGPT to streamline their business operations. They discuss practical applications for marketing, student engagement, retention, content creation, and even time management. Discover how ChatGPT can save time, generate creative content, and improve communication with parents and students alike. Whether you're a martial arts school owner or just curious about using AI tools in business, this episode is packed with actionable insights!

In this episode of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Shihan Allie Alberigo welcome back digital marketing expert Gus Lopez from Lead Hunter Media. They dive deep into the latest trends in digital marketing for martial arts schools and how to navigate the evolving landscape. Gus shares invaluable insights on leveraging social media, AI, and content creation to drive student engagement and retention.

Discover how a blend of paid advertising, personal branding, and innovative tools can help you grow your school and improve retention rates. Plus, learn about Gus's game-changing licensing system and how it can simplify marketing for school owners.

In this episode, Duane Brumitt and Shihan Allie Alberigo discuss the critical importance of defining and communicating your brand message as a martial arts school owner (or any business). They explore how your message is more than just your style or art—it’s about the values, vision, and purpose that your school stands for.

The conversation highlights:

Understanding Your “Why”: Your passion for teaching martial arts (or any service) must align with your brand message. What do you want to achieve? This will help define your purpose and connect with your audience on a deeper level.

Crafting Your Brand Message: Simplify and clarify your message. Whether you focus on leadership, family, or self-defense, your message should be consistent across all touchpoints—from your website to your in-class announcements.

Tying Your Brand to Your Audience’s Needs: Knowing your target audience is key. What are their pain points, and how can you help solve them? If you're a family-focused school, for example, speak directly to parents’ concerns about discipline, confidence, and leadership for their kids.

Storytelling: A powerful brand message includes storytelling. Sharing real-life success stories from your students or personal experiences helps make your message relatable and memorable.

By the end of the episode, Duane and Shihan emphasize that to effectively communicate your brand message, consistency and emotion are vital. When you connect emotionally with your audience and reinforce your message at every opportunity, you create a lasting impact that can transform your school’s culture and success.

In this follow-up episode, Shihan Allie Alberigo and Duane Brumitt continue their discussion on the critical topic of time management for martial arts school owners. They dive deeper into the emotional and practical challenges of running a successful dojo, covering strategies to deal with student attrition, maintaining motivation over years in the business, and adapting to an ever-evolving industry.

Duane shares his time management framework—dividing time into on the mat, off the mat, free from the mat, and clean the mat—and emphasizes the importance of scheduling personal downtime to prevent burnout. The duo also discusses avoiding “time vampires” (those pesky distractions) and the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) to focus on high-impact tasks that drive success.

Listen in for practical tips on balancing personal life with the demands of running a martial arts school, including strategies for fostering community, empowering staff, and creating lasting relationships with students. Plus, hear about the tools and systems they use to stay organized and productive, from automation to standard operating procedures.

In this episode, Duane Brumitt shares his practical approach to time management, breaking down his schedule into four key categories: on the mat, off the mat, free from the mat, and clean the mat. He and Shihan Allie Alberigo dive into the importance of intentionally scheduling free time to avoid burnout, while offering actionable advice on setting boundaries and avoiding "time vampires"—those distractions that drain productivity.

Duane introduces the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) and explains how focusing on the 20% of high-impact tasks, such as lead follow-up and student retention, can drive 80% of the results.

They discuss strategies like time blocking and prioritizing high-value activities to ensure school owners stay productive without sacrificing their personal time. With more insights to share, they agree to continue this important conversation in a future episode.

Tune in to learn how to take control of your time and boost your martial arts school’s success!

In this candid episode, Shihan Allie Alberigo and Duane Brumitt dive deep into the day-to-day challenges of running a martial arts school. From student attrition to managing finances, they discuss the emotional toll of navigating the ups and downs of business ownership. Shihan and Duane share their experiences of losing long-term students, the pain that comes with it, and how they’ve learned to develop thicker skin while maintaining their passion for teaching.

They reflect on how the newer generation of students and parents often allow children to quit when they lose interest, posing a challenge for school owners trying to instill discipline and retain students. As seasoned martial arts instructors, they discuss how their energy levels and teaching styles have evolved with age, and share strategies for transitioning from head instructor to business owner.

Shihan emphasizes the importance of fostering camaraderie among instructors through team-building events, while both hosts highlight the value of having a supportive network of fellow school owners to lean on. They also share exciting plans for their upcoming virtual class collaboration, where they will teach each other’s students remotely.

Whether you're a martial arts school owner or instructor, this episode offers real-world insights into the challenges and rewards of staying in the trenches of martial arts business ownership.

In this episode, Shihan Allie Alberigo and Duane Brumitt dive into one of the most significant challenges martial arts school owners face: student retention. While it's rare for students to stay with the same school throughout their entire martial arts journey, Allie and Duane share insights on how to foster deeper, more meaningful connections to keep students engaged long-term.

Drawing from their decades of experience, they discuss the importance of creating a sense of belonging and value, getting to know students and their families personally, and creating a community through events and activities like movie nights, picnics, and progress review meetings. Shihan Allie also reflects on how the sense of reverence and respect for the martial arts has evolved and how instructors can cultivate this mindset in students today.

As they navigate the changing landscape of martial arts instruction—including the increasing role of video demonstrations—Allie and Duane provide actionable advice for school owners to adapt their teaching methods and build stronger relationships with their students and families. Whether you're a martial arts school owner or an instructor, this episode offers valuable insights into the "relationship business" of martial arts and how to build lasting connections that drive student retention.

From a thrilling virtual forms tournament to a cozy movie night featuring classic martial arts films, discover how these events aim to foster community spirit and engage students. Plus, get a sneak peek into other schools' celebratory initiatives and learn effective promotion strategies.