Black Belt Business

Brannon is the founder of One Martial Arts in San Francisco, where they have just shy of 1,000 students enrolled. In this episode, we discuss best practices for running martial arts school for longevity, including Matthew's strategy for ensuring quality instruction- that he calls Game Film Review. You need to steal this idea! In addition, we discuss marketing strategies for martial arts schools, a...

Ron Sell, CEO and CTO (Chief Technology Officer) of Spark, shares his journey from being a martial arts instructor to becoming a successful software entrepreneur- with no previous experience! He discusses the challenges he faced in starting and growing his businesses, the importance of perseverance and learning from failure, and the impact of personal health and family on his entrepreneurial journ...

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...

In this episode, Matthew Brenner interviews Stephen Oliver, a well-respected martial arts school owner, entrepreneur, consultant, and coach. They discuss Stephen's background in the martial arts industry, his transition to franchising, and the pitfalls of multiple locations. They also explore the evolution of marketing in the industry and the importance of building trust and credibility. Stephen e...

Donovan Ryder shares his journey from being an Olympic Taekwondo competitor to opening and expanding to 8+ martial arts schools in just a couple of years. He discusses the challenges and successes of running after-school programs and the importance of training and role-playing with staff. Donovan also highlights the benefits of being part of a mastermind and the ongoing learning process in the mar...

In this episode, Matthew Brenner interviews Hannah Westerman, the founder and creative director of Avenue West, a design agency. They discuss the benefits of design services for small businesses, the process of working with professional athletes, and the importance of branding and website design. Hannah shares her experiences working with high-profile clients and the timeline and pricing structure...

If you are a parent or teacher of ANY kind, this episode is for you. Melody Johnson is a child development expert and founder of SKILLZ, a child development program designed to help martial arts teachers motivate their students to become the the best version of themselves, using science backed strategies. In this episode, Melody discusses her brain bank theory, which emphasizes the importance of m...

Matthew Brenner interviews James Noto, owner and instructor at Ambition Martial Arts, and Double Your Dojo Client Alumni. In this episode, you will discover how James used the Triangle Codex, an evergreen strategy to recruit new student predictably without paying for ads from Grade Schools, Daycares, and Businesses. They discuss various topics related to martial arts instruction, including his ste...

Reid Presley is a renown martial arts competitor and co-owner of CE Karate. More recently, he launched Equipped, an online training program for martial arts athletes. Reid his background in competitive martial arts, his martial arts family, and the development of his own branded bow staff. He shares his journey from competing to training others and the importance of performance martial arts in boo...

In this conversation, Lance Trippett, CEO of Academy Kings, a coaching company for martial arts businesses, discusses his experience in the martial arts school business and the transition to consulting. He emphasizes the importance of leads and retention in the industry, as well as the need to expand the market for martial arts to include more women and kids. Lance shares effective offers and sale...

Woooh am I excited to share this one with ya'll. Rob Ingram, founder of @McDojoLife on instagram,(550K Followers), shares his journey in martial arts and how he started exposing frauds in the industry. He discusses his experience with bullying and how martial arts helped him gain confidence. He explains how McDojoLife became a full-time venture and how he monetizes it. We also talk about the real-...

In this episode, discover how to create a HYBRID program for your BJJ or Martial Arts school. I speak with Brendan, the CEO of Wodify, a software designed to streamline processes for fitness based businesses (Crossfit/ BJJ/ Karate) and take them into the digital world by combining "in person" training resources with easy-to-manage digital training, to create a seamless experience for students. Wod...

In this inspiring episode, join us as we sit down with Dave Silver, the visionary founder of Rec Philly and a Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee. Rec Philly, a thriving creative community, is dedicated to the belief that "independent doesn't mean alone." Their mission is clear: to provide creators, musicians, and artists with the essential support and resources they need to monetize their talents and achi...

I sit down with Josh Vogel, the co-founder of the Jiu Jitsu Company in Philadelphia and my personal instructor. Discover the intriguing journey that led Josh to leave his former Jiu Jitsu school and take the bold leap into starting his own academy. In a candid conversation, we dive deep into the world of modern Jiu Jitsu schools, examining the common pitfalls and misconceptions that many academies...

In this episode, your host Matthew Brenner is joined by a true expert in the world of digital marketing, Steve Cassano, the founder and CEO of Bowtie Social. Get ready to dive deep into the fascinating world of marketing as Steve shares his insights, experiences, and expert advice on how to navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. Steve and Matthew start by exploring the common digital market...

In this captivating episode, we sit down with the renowned Dr. Sheena Howard, an award-winning writer and masterful storyteller who's known for her behind-the-scenes work with business executives and billionaires. Dr. Howard peels back the curtain on the world of ghostwriting, offering us an exclusive peek into the minds of some of the most successful people on the planet. Ever wondered what it ta...

In this episode, we sit down with Brandon Rasean, the founder of the renowned boutique gym, The Gym Philly, to delve into the secrets of success when it comes to managing a thriving business and staying in top physical shape. Join us as we explore the importance of morning and bedtime routines, and how they can set the tone for a productive day. Brandon shares his personal rituals and provides inv...

I ignored the warnings and took a big risk! I paid $1300 to have a stranger I never met stay at my house for a week. In this episode, I chat with Stephen Venter & Jake Marconi and tell their stories. These 2 guys have vastly different backgrounds. Stephen is a nationally ranked martial arts competitor in South Africa, and Jake is a scientist in a lab who has NEVER trained in martial arts befor...

In this episode of Black Belt Business, join host Matthew Brenner as he sits down with Pete McHugh, the remarkable owner of a million-dollar Jiu Jitsu school. Prepare to be inspired as Pete shares his extraordinary journey, starting from humble beginnings in a trailer park to building a thriving martial art school. In the first segment, Pete opens up about his childhood and how martial arts became...

Meet John, He's been training in martial arts since he was 5, but he never imagined he would make it into a career. In this episode you'll discover - The insane age he started his first school - How he got seed funding - How he made $100,000 before graduating college - The type of "vision casting" that inspired him as a young instructor to open up a school - How long it took him to become "success...

Everyone in the martial arts world knows this guest. In this episode, Martial Arts Legend, also known as the "teacher of teachers" Dave Kovar discusses -How he overcomes imposter syndrome - How he's using his experience in Martial Arts as a launchpad for public speaking gigs - How he shows leadership with his own kids - The story behind the massive expansion attempt that imploded and put him in ma...

In this episode, instead of talking to a martial arts school owner, I brought in Stephanie and Marc, who together have sold over $120M in real estate. Today, we dive into the topic of investing your business profits into real estate to increase your net worth and compound your earnings. Stephanie and Marc share their step-by-step process for investing in real estate, including how to find a good a...

In this episode, we speak with a successful martial arts school owner who launched 3 schools in 3 years from scratch. Our guest shares his journey of leaving his comfortable engineering job to pursue his passion for martial arts and entrepreneurship. We delve into his background in youth ministry and how it influenced his approach to designing a curriculum that not only teaches martial arts but al...

Welcome to the Black Belt Business podcast, where we explore the intersection of martial arts and entrepreneurship. In this episode, we have a special guest Rochelle Brenner, a former journalist, golden gloves boxer, and now a successful multi-martial arts school owner and operator. Rochelle shares her journey from being a journalist to discovering her passion for martial arts and ultimately becom...

In this episode, we have a special guest, Seth Bittner, who is a successful entrepreneur and martial arts school owner. Seth shares his experience of completing a four-day water-only fast and the lessons he learned from it. He also talks about the challenges and benefits of running multiple martial arts schools compared to running a single school. One of the most interesting aspects of the convers...