Black Belt Business

Before joining the Double Your Dojo program, Master Michael Mertens was already at the top of the martial arts industry. His five Taekwondo schools in Western New York were serving over 1,700 active students, with a proven team, decades of experience, and a reputation as one of the region’s most established operators. But despite that, Michael knew there was more potential, especially with organic...

This episode is a continuation from the Part 1 episode with the same name. In this episode, Matthew and Solomon Brenner discuss the journey of scaling martial arts schools, focusing on the transition from the Builder Phase to the Scaler Phase. Revenue Range : $30K–$50K/month Focus : Build the machine. Stop being the machine. Key Responsibilities : Full-time team roles (head instructor, program dir...

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast , Matthew Brenner is joined by his brother and Action Karate founder, Solomon Brenner, to reveal the 4 phases every martial arts school owner must go through to scale from $0 to $1M in annual revenue . Whether you're just starting out or you're already making over $50K/month, you'll walk away with actionable strategies tailored to your school’s gr...

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner interviews his brother, Solomon Brenner, the founder of Action Karate. They discuss the impact of the current economic climate on the martial arts industry, the benefits of pop-up locations, and strategies for negotiating leases. Solomon shares insights on build-out costs and the importance of organic marketing in attracting new s...

Matthew Brenner interviews Jewelianna Ramos Ortiz, a martial artist, stunt actor, and aspiring film producer. They discuss Jewels' lifelong journey in martial arts, the challenges faced by female martial artists, and the importance of building a personal brand on social media. Jewels shares her insights on encouraging more women to become martial arts instructors and the value of martial arts in e...

Matthew Brenner interviews Adam Kovacs, a former martial arts athlete turned entrepreneur, who shares his journey from a young karate practitioner in Hungary to becoming a successful fighter and later the co-creator of Karate Combat. Adam discusses the evolution of karate, the challenges of transitioning to a professional fighter, and the cultural shifts in how karate is perceived today. He also d...

Host Matthew Brenner interviews Cody Brien, a super fan and content creator for Cobra Kai. Cody shares his journey from being a passionate fan to becoming a YouTube creator, discussing his experiences on set, interactions with the show's creators, and the impact of Cobra Kai on martial arts culture. The conversation also delves into Cody's future plans for content creation, monetization strategies...

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 f...

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner interviews Adam Snyder, the owner of the Fight Science Collective, who specializes in sports performance for martial artists. Adam shares his journey from a young martial artist to a professional coach, emphasizing the importance of recovery, nutrition, and a scientific approach to training. He discusses the unique challenges mart...

Get a sneak peek behind the curtain of how Solomon Brenner runs the staff training and development for 30+ martial arts schools.

Want to learn how to enroll new students without depending on ads? Learn the 3 pillars of the Triangle Codex system that Matthew uses with clients to enroll new students from schools, daycares, and businesses.

In this episode, I tackle the 4 biggest myths about running school talks and show martial arts school owners how to turn them into a student-enrollment machine. 💥 Whether you think your area is too tough, or you’ve been burned by programs that didn’t convert, this episode is for you. Learn how to hack your way into local schools, convert 1-3% of students into paying members, and avoid burnout whi...

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, host Matthew Brenner interviews Aaron Hensley, a seasoned martial arts school owner of Premier Martial Arts, about his upcoming event in February 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. They discuss the event's keynote speaker, Andy Elliott, known for his controversial yet motivating style. Hensley shares insightful stories about his journey in martial arts...

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, host Matthew Brenner speaks with Matt Chapman about his journey from running a successful martial arts school to transitioning into an online martial arts business. Chapman shares his 35-year background in martial arts, his decision to move online after burning out from his physical school, and the use of the Thinkific platform to deliver his cou...

Matthew Brenner interviews Scott Bailey, a successful martial arts school owner who has achieved remarkable revenue and retention rates. His school makes almost $2M per year, with a 40% profit margin. Scott shares his journey from starting his martial arts school to becoming the number one school in the Spark software system. He discusses innovative programs, financial strategies, and the importan...

Join host Matthew Brenner on the Black Belt Business Podcast as he sits down with Samantha Mitling, a martial artist, influencer, and five-time world champion. Samantha shares her incredible journey from starting karate at age five to becoming a competitor on the Amerikick National Team with over 200K followers on instagram alone. In this inspiring episode, they discuss Samantha’s rise as a martia...

Discover the secrets behind martial arts business success in this inspiring interview with Jennifer Waters, CEO of Seven Figure Dojo. Jennifer shares her journey from growing up in martial arts to building a seven-figure business that transforms martial arts schools nationwide. Learn the core values, strategies, and systems she used to scale her business, the role of organic lead generation, and h...

Before you run paid ads or organic marketing, you are going to want to listen to this. If you're running a martial arts school or thinking about scaling your business, this episode is packed with actionable insights! Josh Arcemont, a successful multi-school owner, shares his journey from running a family business to building a martial arts empire with over 350 students. Discover how Josh leverages...

"Why Small Dojos Lead to Big Profits" isn't just a catchphrase—it's a proven strategy that martial arts school owners need to know. In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner sits down with David Alvas, a multi-school owner, real estate investor, and personal finance coach. Learn how David scaled his martial arts business to over $1.2M a year while leveraging smart partner...

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, host Matthew Brenner interviews Matt Tracy, a top performer in the martial arts school industry. Tracy operates a highly successful martial arts school in Westchester County, NY, boasting 514 students and generating $145,000 in monthly revenue. The conversation covers various aspects of martial arts school management, including revenue generation...

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, host Matthew Brenner chats with Chris Casamassa, CEO of Red Dragon Karate. Chris details his extensive martial arts background and outlines Red Dragon's model for growth and instructor development. They discuss the strategic process for opening new locations, focusing on internal development and maintaining quality through a combination of weekly...

Martial arts business success isn’t just about passion—it’s about applying proven strategies to grow, retain students, and build sustainable systems. In this Black Belt Business Podcast episode, host Matthew Brenner interviews Grandmaster Park (GMP), a serial martial arts entrepreneur with a lineage of excellence. Discover how GMP grew from being a Taekwondo grandmaster to owning martial arts scho...

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, host Matthew Brenner interviews Michael Dillard, the CEO of Century Martial Arts. They discuss Michael's journey to becoming CEO, taking over from his father, who founded the company. The conversation covers family dynamics in business, Michael’s early exposure to the company, and his passion for martial arts. They explore the challenges and stra...

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, host Matthew Brenner interviews martial artist Jamie, who shares her inspiring journey from a competitive gymnast to a retired MMA fighter, single mother, and advocate for domestic violence survivors. Jamie discusses her martial arts background, her experience overcoming abuse and homelessness, and her aspirations to start her own martial arts sc...

In this conversation, Matthew Brenner interviews Chris Malgeri about his successful transition from a brick-and-mortar martial arts school to an online program, focusing on how he generates revenue through remote training. Chris shares insights on breaking into the homeschool market, building relationships with associations, and creating a unique online training experience that caters to families....