The Growth Standard: An EFC Podcast

For this month’s coaching call, we have Hanshi Dave Kovar and Grandmaster Farshad Azad of Azad’s Martial Arts Center sharing how to turn summer from your slowest season into one of your strongest. Some takeaways: Hanshi’s Super Summer Series for keeping current students engaged, vacation tracking to cut quits and holds before they happen, and morning class slots that catch kids before they hit the...

Hanshi Dave Kovar and Alexis Tearney Kuhl talk grassroots marketing—what's working right now and why the old-school stuff is back. Alexis shares how she turned social media into her storefront during COVID by shooting her own content with her own students. Hanshi runs through five plays every school should be running: posting consistently, following up with old leads, reconnecting with inactiv...

Hanshi Dave Kovar and Master Matthew Hogan reveal how belt promotions are far more than recognition ceremonies—they're strategic retention events that recommit wavering parents, re-energize burned-out students, and convert guests into paying members. Hanshi breaks down the Rule of 3: for every student being promoted, you should have three people in the audience. He explains why most schools st...

Hanshi Dave Kovar delivers his tactical blueprint for the most critical growth window of the year—the period between now and January 31st when conversion rates peak and opportunities multiply. Hanshi focuses on two metrics that drive school success: quit rate and student value. He demonstrates how improving retention from 7% to 2.5% transforms a student's lifetime value from $3,000 to $8,800—a...

Hanshi Dave Kovar delivers his essential year-end checklist for martial arts school owners who want to finish 2025 strong and hit the ground running in 2026. Hanshi breaks down the fundamentals most school owners overlook: tracking the right stats to identify weak spots, auditing your facility with fresh eyes, conducting performance reviews that build trust, and setting realistic growth goals. He...

Hanshi Dave Kovar shares his proven framework for maximizing back-to-school enrollment success with his comprehensive 9 R's system - from refreshing your physical space to reactivating former students. Dave explains why this season is "prime time" for martial arts schools and reveals why 64% of enrollments still come from grassroots marketing, his approach to achieving high monthly r...

In this high-powered episode of Raising the Standard , three of the martial arts industry’s top minds— Mr. Jason , Professor Bruce Hoyer , and Rick Herbster —come together to deliver a no-fluff blueprint for school owners ready to go from surviving to scaling. Whether you’re stuck at a plateau or just want to sharpen your systems, this episode is packed with hard-earned insights, proven growth str...

In this episode of "Raising the Standard," we’re joined by industry leader Jim Bundy , who shares his powerful roadmap for transforming a martial arts school from good to world-class . Drawing from years of experience coaching top-performing schools, Jim reveals the four essential components every owner needs to scale with clarity, purpose, and long-term success. You’ll learn how to develop a visi...

In this episode of "Raising the Standard," we sit down with Kirsty Dickson, an accomplished educator and martial artist, to uncover the high-impact verbal and nonverbal strategies that can instantly transform the way you teach, lead, and connect. Drawing from her years of experience on the mat and in the classroom, Kirsty breaks down the subtle cues that influence student behavior, boost retention...

In this episode of "Raising the Standard," we're joined by Alexis Tearney-Kuhl, second-generation owner of Tearney's Martial Arts in Syracuse, New York. Alexis shares her remarkable journey of rebuilding her family's martial arts school from scratch during the COVID-19 pandemic while facing her father's cancer diagnosis. Learn how she transformed her social media presence...

In this episode of "Raising the Standard," we're joined by Professor Pete McHugh, owner of McHugh Jiu-Jitsu with over 800 students at his headquarters location. Pete shares his proven strategies for exceptional student retention, starting with assimilation before students even step on the mat. Learn about his automated response system that alleviates new student fears, his "three foot rule" for gr...

 In this insightful episode, martial arts school owner Steve Sohn shares his philosophy on student retention - the engine that keeps a martial arts school running. Steve explains why keeping existing students is more important and cost-effective than constant recruitment, and offers practical strategies for creating an environment students don't want to leave. From staying connected with every stu...

In this episode of "Raising the Standard," we're joined by Alexis Tearney-Kuhl, second-generation owner of Tearney's Martial Arts in Syracuse, New York. Alexis shares her remarkable journey of rebuilding her family's martial arts school from scratch during the COVID-19 pandemic while facing her father's cancer diagnosis. Learn how she transformed her social media presence into a powerful recruitme...

Listen as martial arts legend Buzz Durkin shares the proven principles that have helped his students stay for decades - not just years. With students who have trained with him for 30, 40, and even 50 years, Buzz reveals his "people first, martial arts second" approach and how focusing on personal transformation creates lasting relationships. Learn practical strategies for building a school culture...