Martial Arts Media™ Business Podcast

Paul Zadro has spent 55 years in martial arts and built 8 full-time IMC centers across Australia. As former president of ISKA for 34 years and operator of the oldest continuously running martial arts school in Australia, Paul shares the business lessons, mistakes, and mentorship that shaped his journey. IN THIS EPISODE: How Paul Zadro built 8 full-time martial arts centers across Australia over 55...

From multiple martial arts schools to semi-retired: How Robbie built systems that run his IMC martial arts business empire while he works just 2-3 days a week. IN THIS EPISODE: Why Robbie deliberately stopped being "the face" of his schools The 5-year instructor-to-owner career path system revealed How 80 students earning $2,000/month exposed the #1 business killer The conversation that unlocks te...

168 - The 5A Content System: How This Martial Arts School Owner Grew 127K Instagram Followers Alan La from Invincible HQ™, grew to 127K Instagram followers using his 5A Content System,without fancy equipment or viral stunts. In this episode, he breaks down how martial arts school owners can escape the "instructor trap" and create content that actually converts. IN THIS EPISODE: Why the martial art...

David Jenkinson reveals how his BJJ school automated 50% of lead follow-up while improving conversions. The system that handles price objections. IN THIS EPISODE: Why David was "worried about bothering people" (and how it was secretly killing conversions) The automation breakthrough that handles price shoppers better than humans How BJJ leads actually prefer talking to a bot first (the psychology...

Craig Harmer discusses operating multiple martial arts programs in a small town while balancing a full-time law enforcement career and competing at world championship level. IN THIS EPISODE: How to successfully operate Taekwondo, Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and 4 other programs simultaneously From 50 struggling members to 150+ profitable students Why world championship success matters for small-town business...

Frank Cirillo teaches both Kyokushin Karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a town of 26,000 people. Here's how he built 250 students and achieved financial freedom by combining traditional and modern martial arts. IN THIS EPISODE: How Frank started teaching BJJ as a white belt because no instructor was available Why combining hard-style karate with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu created unstoppable programs The...

Lifelong martial artist Daniel Jancek shares how fixing pricing and surrounding himself with growth-driven school owners helped him step away from his job and go all-in on his martial arts business. IN THIS EPISODE: How a simple pricing mistake kept a 500-student school stuck. Why shifting from pay-as-you-go to real memberships created instant stability. The fear every school owner faces when rais...

Tom Lowe grew Horizon Taekwondo from 40 to 250 students after a year-long plateau at 200. In this episode we discuss how he broke founder-dependency, and rebuilt the school with stronger systems and support. IN THIS EPISODE: The long plateau around 200 students and what helped shift momentum again The identity change required to stop doing everything alone How building an instructor team opened sp...

Getting martial arts leads but they keep disappearing? You're not alone. Most martial arts school owners blame "tyre kicker" leads, but the real problem is your follow-ups. Here’s the exact automation system that fixes it. IN THIS EPISODE: Why calling leads "tyre kickers" kills your martial arts business growth The 60-second automation system that stops lead ghosting How Amanda turned 11 martial a...

Why Facebook’s latest update is changing how martial arts ads really work, and what school owners can do to stay ahead without relying on agencies.   IN THIS EPISODE: How Facebook’s Andromeda update reshapes martial arts ad targeting and what you should do first. Why your content strategy has become your new targeting system. The unseen cost of having no control over your Facebook ads. How bu...

Almost all martial arts school owners are disappointed with their agencies or have a horror story to share. Here’s how I see both sides of the story IN THIS EPISODE: The flawed martial arts agency model of overpromising. The unrealistic "microwave expectations" about martial arts marketing. The power of the marketing-to-mats feedback loop. The strategic mindset shift from focusing on cost to focus...

Behind-the-scenes of 15 cash-boosting martial arts marketing strategies inside Martial Arts Media™’s Partners community, and how you can get access. IN THIS EPISODE: Timetable efficiency that actually simplifies martial arts marketing. The secret to using AI that goes far beyond simple social media posts. A simple conversation framework designed to dramatically increase your sales. How a single, n...

Why most martial arts school owners are struggling with Facebook ads, the influence of AI, and how to take back control of your results.  IN THIS EPISODE: What’s really changed with Facebook ads for martial arts schools The downside and power of AI  The agency trap that keeps school owners stuck and returning to zero A 5-step framework to improve your ads from offer to follow-up The pitf...

How Australian Martial Arts Academy's head instructor turned chronic fatigue into a leadership edge - driving growth and retention at a top-tier school. IN THIS EPISODE: The Belt-By-Belt Recovery Story That Changed Mark’s Life (And His Students') Walking Away From Medicine To Pursue The Martial Path Full-Time The Hidden Energy Technique That Helps You Show Up Big—Even When You’re Running On Empty...

Following up on Episode 155, Hakan Manav shares martial arts staff development strategies to build a high-performing team - giving you the freedom to scale and grow. IN THIS EPISODE: • How to transition from solo instructor to building a scalable team • The first hire that can make or break your martial arts school's growth • Why letting go is essential for business expansion and instructor succes...

Hakan Manav reveals how they solved 4 growth obstacles martial arts school owners face and built a thriving, full‑time operation with 4 locations, a 30 staff, and 1,800 students. IN THIS EPISODE: • Explore the hidden product tweak that keeps students smiling and sparks unstoppable growth • Uncover a fresh staff-training approach that secretly sculpts high-performing instructors • Follow a surprisi...

After 13 years and working with 400+ martial arts school owners, I share my refined vision from helping school owners break the 100 student barrier, to 300, to $1M revenue per year.  IN THIS EPISODE: The three-part framework to attract, convert, and retain students for long-term growth Why most martial arts school owners struggle with marketing—and how to fix it A new lead follow-up engine th...

In this Martial Arts Media™ Business Podcast I took Michele Ciampa from Shotokan Karate Club Tasmania through The Price Amplifier which boosted his student value by 52%.   IN THIS EPISODE: How a simple, weekly social media post became the primary driver of student enrollment for a growing martial arts club. A surprising shift in pricing structure that could more than double annual revenu...

In this martial arts business case study, Evan and Erica share how they scaled their martial arts school from 30 to 170 members, boosting monthly recurring revenue by $10,000.  IN THIS EPISODE: A unique perspective of Evan and Erica on the connection between music and martial arts The business relationship when it comes to their martial arts school Problems that Evan and Erica faced in their...

Breaking down the price barrier: Are your martial arts tuition fees simply too cheap? Are you undervaluing your classes? There’s poison in the pricing, and it might not be what you think. IN THIS EPISODE: The stigma surrounding martial arts schools that charge premium prices The Myth of the "McDojo" label often given to successful martial arts schools  Overcoming the mindset blocks around mar...

The tables turn as the interviewer becomes the interviewee: George Fourie shares his life experiences and journey through marketing and martial arts on the Kyl Reber Podcast. IN THIS EPISODE: George's journey from studying computer programming to selling computers, working on a cruise ship, and eventually starting Martial Arts Media™ The story behind George's most impactful $37 sale George's near-...

If you’re running Facebook ads and all your martial arts leads are tire-kickers, your problem might be two-fold. Here’s the fix. IN THIS EPISODE: What’s potentially causing the wrong quality of martial arts leads The pitfall of labeling your martial arts prospects as tire-kickers How better Facebook ads attract better martial arts prospects Fixing low-quality martial arts leads with paid trials An...

Here’s how using an irresistible martial arts offer can almost completely squash your no-show rate for martial arts trial appointments. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:  Adding a human touch to automated messages with martial arts prospects  How to write a successful follow-up email sequence Comparing free and paid martial arts trials Using high-converting landing pages when you’re time-...

Discover how Buzz Durkin, the headmaster of Uechiryu Karate, effortlessly keeps martial arts students for as long as 52 years.  IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:  Internal marketing – a strategy used by Buzz Durkin to attract new students Community building within a martial arts school Teaching beyond physical skills and the importance of using the physical curriculum What is AAA theory –...

George Fourie explores the highlights and game-changing strategies shared from the Partners Intensive - a live martial arts business event held on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. IN THIS EPISODE: What Was Covered At The Partners Intensive: A Premium Martial Arts Business Event The 1 Thing That All Martial Arts Business Owners Desire What’s Special About Hosting Martial Arts Business Events On The S...