Black Belt Business

In this conversation, Matthew Brenner meets with Adam Kifer, founder of Muv Martial Arts, Relentless Media Agency, and Relentless Mastermind. They also delve into the importance of updating martial arts curriculum and removing traditional elements to create a more effective and engaging experience for students. If you are shackled by tradition, this episode is not for you. The conversation highlights the challenges of managing people and the financial aspects of running multiple businesses. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the need for continuous improvement and staying ahead of industry trends. Adam also discusses the importance of asset protection and working with an estate planning attorney. He emphasizes the need to be educated on legal matters and understand the why behind certain decisions. Matthew also shares his approach to tax savings and financial planning, highlighting strategies such as the Augusta rule and paying children and investing in IRAs. Adam provides insights into maintaining a healthy relationship with family while managing multiple business ventures. He discusses his favorite luxury item, his travel experiences, and his plans for new ventures and kickboxing. Finally, he shares the books that have had the most significant impact on his career. Find Adam on instagram @adamkifer Checkout his website here: https://www.relentlessmediaagency.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 : matthew@doubleyourdojo.com

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 : matthew@doubleyourdojo.com

In this episode of the Black Belt Business podcast, Matthew Brenner shares a compelling story about how he generated 47 new adult leads for his martial arts school through organic marketing strategies. He discusses the importance of diversifying marketing efforts beyond paid ads, recounts a heroic act by one of his instructors that garnered significant media attention, and details the challenges faced in bringing a talented instructor from South Africa to the U.S. The conversation highlights the power of community engagement and the impact of personal stories in marketing. In this conversation, Matthew Brenner shares his journey of leveraging community stories and local engagement to enhance marketing strategies for his martial arts school. He discusses the importance of capturing authentic narratives, utilizing social media effectively, and creating strategic partnerships to drive student enrollment. Through a compelling story about a community member's experience, he illustrates how organic marketing can lead to significant media coverage and sustainable growth.Follow @blackbeltbrenner1

In this lightning series podcast episode, Jennifer Waters shares practical advice on getting new students for martial arts schools. The conversation covers the importance of lead generation, the trust triangle in ad campaigns, the role of the school owner in ads, the importance of organic and paid advertising, and the long-term ROI of paid advertising.TakeawaysPaid social media ads are effective for lead generationBuilding trust with a trust triangle is crucial in ad campaigns

The conversation covers the importance of staff training and culture in scaling martial arts schools. It delves into the need to grow revenue to attract good staff, defining and maintaining a strong culture, structuring training for high-quality instructors, and guiding meetings based on weaknesses.TakeawaysStaff training is crucial for scaling martial arts schoolsDefining and maintaining a strong culture is essential for attracting and retaining the right staffChapters00:00 Scaling Staff for Multiple Locations05:15 Structuring Training for High-Quality Instructors

In this special Lightning Episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, host Matthew Brenner speaks with Andrew Cunnane, who operates three martial arts schools in Toronto, Canada, serving 1000+ students. The focus of their discussion is on effective student retention strategies, particularly the importance of tracking attendance. Andrew emphasizes that consistent attendance is crucial for student progress and retention, as it allows instructors to identify students who may be falling behind. He shares insights on how attendance data informs their retention policies and helps maintain student engagement.Andrew also discusses the significance of personalized communication with students and their families. By reaching out to students who have been absent, instructors can foster a sense of care and concern, which often leads to more honest conversations about any issues affecting a student's motivation or interest. This proactive approach not only helps in retaining students but also strengthens the community within the martial arts school. The episode concludes with Andrew sharing his ideal attrition rate and the strategies that have contributed to his schools' success in keeping students engaged and progressing toward their black belts.

The conversation with Dave Kovar covers the essential aspects of training staff for martial arts schools. It delves into the effective staff training formula, hiring the right staff, training the staff, treating the staff right, and involving adult instructors in the training process. Key takeaways include the importance of hiring, training, and treating staff right, as well as the significance of mentoring and involving students in the training process.TakeawaysHire right, train right, treat rightMentoring and involving students in the training process

Chris Berlow, a multi-school owner, shares insights on staff training and development for martial arts schools. He emphasizes the importance of personal training, treating staff as teachers, and sharing success with them.TakeawaysPersonal training is essential for martial arts school owners and staff.Treating staff as teachers and sharing success with them is crucial for staff development.

In this episode, Chris shares insights on using birthday parties as a powerful tool for acquiring new students. He discusses the structure of a successful birthday party, the importance of collecting information and offering value, the process of converting guests into students, and the role of birthday parties in retention and staff training. Additionally, the value of providing high-quality t-shirts as part of the offer is emphasized.

In this special episode Matthew Brenner flies out to Pittsburgh to interview Taekwon Lee, the CEO of the ATA, during one of their large tournaments. This is a live recording, so please give us some grace with the audio. They delve into the intricacies of event management, financial planning for tournaments, and the evolution of the ATA to meet modern needs. The conversation also highlights the importance of creating safe environments, effective marketing strategies, and the role of leadership in supporting school owners. Personal growth and overcoming adversity are emphasized as key themes, along with a vision for the future of the ATA.

Courtney Eardley is a Taekwondo enthusiast and social media mentor. In this episode, we explore the challenges and triumphs of inspiring the next generation of female martial artists. Discover how Courtney's journey from TKD olympic athlete to mentor is paving the way for young women to break barriers and find their place in the martial arts community. Whether you're a seasoned instructor or a newcomer, this conversation offers valuable insights into fostering inclusivity and empowerment in martial arts. Tune in to learn how you can make a difference.

If you wanna learn how to enroll new students from birthday parties, this episode is for you. Matthew Brenner interviews Jason Purcell, a successful martial arts school owner in Seattle, who shares insights on how to effectively use birthday parties as a marketing tool to enroll new students. It's the main marketing strategy Jason used to scale to $135K per month in recurring gross revenue. He provides detailed strategies for creating engaging birthday party experiences that not only entertain children but also promote the school's values and programs to parents, so the guests turn into new students.

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner and social media expert Lizzy Friedman, founder of Iconic, dive into the essentials of crafting a compelling social media presence for martial arts schools. Listeners will learn:Effective Social Media Strategies: Discover how to create engaging content that attracts new students without overwhelming your schedule.You'll also see live audits and insights: Gain valuable insights from live audits of real martial arts school Instagram accounts, highlighting what works and what doesn't. Building Community and Engagement: Learn the importance of community involvement and how to leverage social media to foster connections and drive business growth.Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your social media game.

Stop waiting weeks to enroll new students. Here's how to enroll new students faster.

Matthew Brenner interviews Jesse Isaacs, the owner of Integrity Martial Arts, with 6 locations grossing $4M/ year. If you want to learn how to scale your schools past 1 location or create one HIGHLY profitable school, this episode is for you. They discuss their strategy for instructor pay, how to keep business and family relationships healthy without killing each other, and what to think about BEFORE opening your 2nd location.

In this episode, Matthew Brenner interviews Stan Lee, a martial arts instructor and business owner, about the importance of character development in martial arts schools. He shares what martial arts school owners do wrong, specifically with younger students, and what they should do instead so character development sticks. Stan spends 6 months yachting, and 6 months at his school. Pretty cool, huh? If you

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner interviews Chris, a seasoned martial arts instructor turned corporate speaker and coach. Chris shares his journey from running martial arts schools to engaging with corporate audiences and youth groups. He shares his strategies from turning instructors into leaders. From Chris's Desk.. 🥋 ATTENTION MARTIAL ARTS COMMUNITY!We’re inviting all of our students, instructors, and school owners to an unforgettable celebration honoring one of the most iconic figures in martial arts history — Bill “Superfoot” Wallace turns 80!🎉 Join us for the Superfoot 80th Birthday Bash🗓️ November 7–8, 2025📍 Indianapolis, Indiana✅ Friday Night Meet & Greet with martial arts legends✅ Saturday Training Spectacular with world-class instructors✅ Saturday Evening Dinner Celebration honoring Superfoot’s legacy🎟️ Early Bird Tickets are available now through September 30th 🔗 https://bit.ly/4nPTElQ

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, host Matthew Brenner interviews martial arts master Greg Silva, who shares his extensive experience in the martial arts industry. Silva discusses his journey from opening his first school in 1972, closing 5 successful locations, to becoming a successful consultant. He reflects on the evolution of the martial arts industry, the importance of location and marketing, and the challenges of managing personnel. The conversation also touches on the impact of MMA on traditional martial arts.

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner interviews Zulfi Ahmed, founder of Bushi Ban international. Zulfi shares his journey from Pakistan to the United States, detailing his experiences in building a successful martial arts empire. He discusses the importance of leadership, systems, and mentorship in the martial arts business, as well as the various types of school models he employs. The conversation also touches on student recruitment strategies, the impact of technology, and how to maintain healthy relationships with your instructors.

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.