427 | Are We Running the Hardest, Easiest Business There Is?



Podcast Description



Nearly three decades into owning martial arts schools, Duane and Allie keep coming back to the same paradox: Are we running the hardest business or the easiest business?



In this raw and honest episode, they dive deep into both sides of this question. From the emotional weight of student quits and tragic incidents to the incredible fulfillment of watching shy kids become confident leaders, they explore why running a martial arts school can feel like both extremes—sometimes in the same day.



Whether you're a brand-new school owner drowning in overwhelm or a seasoned veteran looking for validation that you're not alone, this episode will resonate. Duane and Allie share their hardest moments (including a heartbreaking story about an instructor who committed murder), their easiest wins (like the former student who became a pediatrician and credited martial arts for his success), and the real shifts that happen when you stop waiting for it to get easier and start building the right systems, team, and culture.



This isn't about complaining or bragging—it's about being honest. Because the truth is, the same things that make this business incredibly hard are often the exact same things that make it incredibly rewarding.







Key Takeaways



1. The Paradox is Real: It's Both the Hardest AND the Easiest Business



After nearly 30 years, Duane keeps coming back to this question: Are we running the hardest business or the easiest business? The honest answer? Both.



The same emotional investment that exhausts you is also what fulfills you. When you pour your heart into students and they quit, it's depressing. When you pour your heart into families who genuinely care and they tell you how much you've impacted them, it's what motivates you to keep going.



The reality: Running a martial arts school is unique because the things that make it incredibly hard are often the exact same things that make it incredibly rewarding.



2. The Hardest Moments Can Be Devastating



Both Duane and Allie have experienced some truly difficult moments:




Duane: An instructor left the studio one night, kidnapped his girlfriend, and by morning had killed his girlfriend, her friend, and then took his own life. Duane thought he would lose everything. He had to bring in a social worker to help students process the trauma.



Allie: A 45-year-old student passed away on the floor during a sword class from a "widow maker" heart attack. There was nothing anyone could have done—it was a hidden defect.



Allie: Had to kick out 12 students who formed a toxic "coup" in his school, constantly talking negatively and creating drama. When he finally removed them, the entire lobby erupted in applause—he had no idea how toxic they were to the good families.




Other hard moments include:




Quitting your day job and facing financial stress



Kicking out a student (or parent) for the first time



Dealing with problem parents who don't align with your values



Asking yourself daily: "Why am I still doing this?"




3. The Easiest Moments Make It All Worth It



On the flip side, there are moments that remind you why you got into this business:




The perfect class where everyone is engaged, high energy, and everything just clicks



Student breakthroughs like the shy kid who finally speaks up or the struggling student who nails the technique



Parent testimonials that bring tears to your eyes



Former students who come back years later to say thank you




Allie's story: A former student who quit at blue belt around age 12-13 walked back into the school as a pediatrician and said, "You changed my life. I used a lot of what you taught me to become a doctor, and I still use it every day."



Allie's other story: An autistic student named Caleb who used to run out of class, lay on his back, scream, and put his feet on the wall. After three years, his dad came to Allie at the Christmas party with tears in his eyes and said, "You have changed my son's life. Everyone in his life has said it—his teachers, his aides. He is a different kid."



These moments are why you keep going.



4. The Emotional Weight is Real—And It Never Leaves You



Unlike punching a clock at a regular job, when you own a martial arts school, the business is always with you. Even when you leave the building, the emotional weight stays.




You're shaping lives, not just running a business



Every student's success or failure feels personal (especially in the beginning)



The pressure of being a role model 24/7 is exhausting



Students' personal struggles, family issues, bullying, confidence problems—you carry all of it




Duane's insight: After nearly 30 years, it's not as personal as it used to be. In the beginning, he wore everything on his sleeve. Now, he's learned to manage the emotional toll better—but it's still there.



Allie's insight: It used to take him six months to get over a difficult situation. Now it takes two or three days. But even when he's mentally over it, he'll wake up in the middle of the night still thinking about it.



5. You Wear Every Single Hat (Especially in the Beginning)



When you start, you're not just the instructor. You're:




The janitor



The marketer



The accountant



The therapist



The salesperson



The social media expert



The curriculum developer



The event planner



The customer service rep




The challenge: If you don't do it, it doesn't get done. And even when you hire staff, you still carry the burden because no one seems to do it quite like you do.



Allie's example: While he was away in Europe for 10 days, his staff sold a few signups and a few pink belts for the breast cancer fundraiser. The night he got back, he signed up 10 people for the Halloween party and sold 12-15 more pink belts. It's frustrating because you know what you're capable of, but training others to be like you is incredibly difficult.



6. Burnout is Real—And You Have to Learn to Shut Off



Physical exhaustion. Mental exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion. Burnout is real.



Duane's story: He used to give everything on the floor—emotionally involved in every class. He'd come home at 9:30 or 10 p.m., and his wife would ask why he was so late. He needed 30 minutes to decompress before he could even function.



Allie's story: On his days off, he wakes up, has coffee, watches TV, and then goes into his office and works for seven hours. "This is my day off," he says—because he's not physically at the school, but he's still working on the school.



The lesson: You have to learn how to shut off. Allie's trip to Europe forced him to disconnect (spotty internet, no TV in English), and it was the first time in years he truly relaxed. He realized how important it is to take real breaks.



7. Modern Business Challenges Add to the Overwhelm



When Duane and Allie first opened their schools, they didn't have websites. They didn't have social media. They didn't have apps.



Now, you have to:




Post on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube



Update your website and app



Send push notifications and emails



Create content constantly



Manage online reviews



Run digital ads




Allie's frustration: "It used to be we just taught and it was fine. Now we have to do all this other stuff on top of teaching."



The old days: You made a bulletin board announcement, handed out a flyer, and everyone came to your event. Now, you have to sell it across six different platforms, and people still don't show up.



8. Why This is Actually the EASIEST Business



Despite all the challenges, there are real reasons why running a martial arts school can be easier than other businesses:



Parents are desperate for what you offer:




They want discipline, respect, focus, and confidence for their kids



Martial arts already has built-in credibility and cultural appeal



You don't have to convince people martial arts is valuable—they already believe it




Low overhead to start:




Minimal inventory (no perishable goods, no seasonal issues)



You don't need expensive equipment in the beginning



You can start in a small space or even teach in a park




Recurring revenue model:




Membership-based income provides stability and predictability



Long-term relationships with students (some stay for years)



Multiple streams of income: classes, testing fees, camps, events, retail, private lessons




Family enrollment:




Once one child enrolls, you often get siblings and even parents joining



Multi-family households create deeper loyalty and higher lifetime value




Fulfillment factor:




You're doing work that genuinely matters and changes lives



You get immediate feedback and gratification (when you ask for it)



Former students come back years later to thank you




Community and loyalty:




You're building a tribe, not just a customer base



Strong school culture does the selling for you



Referrals come naturally when families are bought in




Lifestyle flexibility:




You control your schedule (mornings off, evenings teaching)



No corporate boss



You can design your business to fit your lifestyle



You can close for holidays and take time off when you need it




Systems and scalability:




You can standardize your curriculum and teach others to teach it



Once you have the right team, you can work ON your business instead of IN it



You can scale to multiple locations (if you do it right)




9. The Real Shifts That Change Everything



Most school owners are waiting for it to get easier. They think, "Once I hit 100 students..." or "Once I hire this person..." or "Once I have these systems..."



But that's not how it works. It doesn't just get easier. It shifts.



Here are the real shifts that change the game:



Shift #1: Get the Right Systems in Place




Stop reinventing the wheel every day



Document processes for enrollment,