What do you do when a parent is upset with one of your instructors? In this episode, Chip Townsend and guest Manny De Los Santos break down how to handle parent concerns without undermining your team. You’ll learn how to listen well, lead with clarity, and back your staff professionally even when emotions run high.

In this episode of The Team Chip Podcast, Chip Townsend is joined by Glyn Ann to tackle a challenge many martial arts school owners face but don’t often talk about: parent-to-parent conflict. Whether it’s tournament tension, drama in the seating area, or past personal issues creeping into the school, these situations can quietly chip away at your culture if left unchecked.

Chip and Glyn Ann break down where these conflicts come from, how to spot the early warning signs, and what to do when it’s time to step in. They share real stories, practical strategies, and the mindset it takes to lead with clarity, calm, and confidence.

If you’ve ever had to manage awkward tension between parents—or want to set a strong foundation that keeps your school family-focused and drama-free—this episode is packed with tools to help you lead well.

Conflict is part of running a martial arts school, but handling it well is what sets strong leaders apart. In part one of our conflict resolution series, Chip Townsend shares why parent conflicts happen, how to respond with professionalism, and how to prevent issues before they start.

Learn how to stay calm under pressure, communicate clearly, and build the trust that makes future conflicts easier to manage.

Subscribe and stay tuned for part two of the series.

In this episode of The Team Chip Podcast, Chip Townsend breaks down a major mindset shift: moving from treating your martial arts school like a hobby to running it like a serious business. Many school owners start with passion—but without structure, systems, and a business mindset, even the most dedicated instructors can burn out or stall out. Chip dives into what a hobby mindset looks like, why it holds school owners back, and what practical steps you can take to start building a strong, sustainable business that serves your students and community better.

In this episode of The Team Chip Podcast, Chip Townsend is joined by Brian Lacroix, local owner/operator at Chick-fil-A, to explore how to effectively manage and lead young staff.

Brian shares practical strategies for working with teens and young adults, including how to build accountability, create a culture of growth, and provide meaningful mentorship. If you’re leading a team of younger employees—whether in a martial arts school or another business—this episode is full of helpful insight.

If you enjoy the conversation, please subscribe and leave a review. It helps us reach more school owners and leaders like you.

In this follow-up to the popular “Raising the Bar” episode, Chip and Glyn Ann Townsend return to unpack a subtle but powerful concept: the difference between giving your best effort and achieving the best performance.

Together, they dive into how constant comparison can chip away at a child’s confidence, create burnout, and stunt long-term growth—especially in high-expectation environments like martial arts. Instead, they offer a better way: teaching students to take pride in giving their best, regardless of outcome.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why comparison is the thief of joy (especially for kids)

How to shift focus from external validation to internal effort

Practical ways to encourage progress, not perfection

How this mindset shift builds stronger, more resilient students

Whether you're a parent, instructor, or martial arts school owner, this conversation is packed with insight and strategies to help the next generation rise to the challenge—with heart, hustle, and healthy perspective.

In this episode of The Team Chip Podcast, Chip Townsend breaks down a powerful truth: How you do anything is how you do everything. The small habits you build—whether in training, business, or daily life—shape your long-term success. Chip dives into why details matter, how cutting corners in the little things leads to bigger failures, and how discipline in martial arts translates to excellence in all areas of life.

In this episode of The Team Chip Podcast, Chip is joined by Ron Sell to dive into the power of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for martial arts schools. They break down what makes a great CRM, how to choose the right system (even if you're not tech-savvy), and the key ways CRM can save time, boost retention, and help your school grow. Plus, Ron shares insights on Spark Custom Relationship Management and how it’s built specifically for martial arts businesses. Tune in for practical strategies to streamline operations, strengthen student connections, and take your school to the next level!

Spark: https://sparkmembership.com/ 

In this episode of The Team Chip Podcast, Chip Townsend is joined by Manny De Los Santos to explore how martial arts goes beyond techniques to instill life-changing character traits. They discuss why teaching life skills is a must when empowering students with the ability to defend themselves and how traits like discipline, perseverance, and integrity shape students both on and off the mat. Tune in for practical strategies on integrating character development into your curriculum, using focus anchors, mat chats, and themed training cycles to reinforce values like accountability and leadership.

Check out the Matheny Manifesto here: https://dt5602vnjxv0c.cloudfront.net/portals/7572/docs/mikemathenylettertoparents.pdf 

In this episode of The Team Chip Podcast, Chip Townsend sits down with Christopher Tersak to discuss key tips for keeping your martial arts students engaged and committed. They cover strategies like creating a varied curriculum, offering personalized attention, setting clear goals, and maintaining consistent communication to boost student retention and satisfaction.

To learn more about Tersak's Family Martial Arts Academy: https://tersaksmartialarts.com/