Courtney Eardley is a Taekwondo enthusiast and social media mentor. In this episode, we explore the challenges and triumphs of inspiring the next generation of female martial artists. Discover how Courtney's journey from TKD olympic athlete to mentor is paving the way for young women to break barriers and find their place in the martial arts community. Whether you're a seasoned instructor or a newcomer, this conversation offers valuable insights into fostering inclusivity and empowerment in martial arts. Tune in to learn how you can make a difference.
If you wanna learn how to enroll new students from birthday parties, this episode is for you.
Matthew Brenner interviews Jason Purcell, a successful martial arts school owner in Seattle, who shares insights on how to effectively use birthday parties as a marketing tool to enroll new students. It's the main marketing strategy Jason used to scale to $135K per month in recurring gross revenue.
He provides detailed strategies for creating engaging birthday party experiences that not only entertain children but also promote the school's values and programs to parents, so the guests turn into new students.
In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner and social media expert Lizzy Friedman, founder of Iconic, dive into the essentials of crafting a compelling social media presence for martial arts schools.
Listeners will learn:
Effective Social Media Strategies: Discover how to create engaging content that attracts new students without overwhelming your schedule.
You'll also see live audits and insights: Gain valuable insights from live audits of real martial arts school Instagram accounts, highlighting what works and what doesn't.
Building Community and Engagement: Learn the importance of community involvement and how to leverage social media to foster connections and drive business growth.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your social media game.
Stop waiting weeks to enroll new students. Here's how to enroll new students faster.
Matthew Brenner interviews Jesse Isaacs, the owner of Integrity Martial Arts, with 6 locations grossing $4M/ year.
If you want to learn how to scale your schools past 1 location or create one HIGHLY profitable school, this episode is for you.
They discuss their strategy for instructor pay, how to keep business and family relationships healthy without killing each other, and what to think about BEFORE opening your 2nd location.
In this episode, Matthew Brenner interviews Stan Lee, a martial arts instructor and business owner, about the importance of character development in martial arts schools. He shares what martial arts school owners do wrong, specifically with younger students, and what they should do instead so character development sticks. Stan spends 6 months yachting, and 6 months at his school. Pretty cool, huh? If you
In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner interviews Chris, a seasoned martial arts instructor turned corporate speaker and coach. Chris shares his journey from running martial arts schools to engaging with corporate audiences and youth groups. He shares his strategies from turning instructors into leaders.
From Chris's Desk..
🥋 ATTENTION MARTIAL ARTS COMMUNITY!We’re inviting all of our students, instructors, and school owners to an unforgettable celebration honoring one of the most iconic figures in martial arts history — Bill “Superfoot” Wallace turns 80!🎉 Join us for the Superfoot 80th Birthday Bash🗓️ November 7–8, 2025📍 Indianapolis, Indiana✅ Friday Night Meet & Greet with martial arts legends✅ Saturday Training Spectacular with world-class instructors✅ Saturday Evening Dinner Celebration honoring Superfoot’s legacy🎟️ Early Bird Tickets are available now through September 30th 🔗 https://bit.ly/4nPTElQ
In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, host Matthew Brenner interviews martial arts master Greg Silva, who shares his extensive experience in the martial arts industry. Silva discusses his journey from opening his first school in 1972, closing 5 successful locations, to becoming a successful consultant. He reflects on the evolution of the martial arts industry, the importance of location and marketing, and the challenges of managing personnel. The conversation also touches on the impact of MMA on traditional martial arts.
In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner interviews Zulfi Ahmed, founder of Bushi Ban international. Zulfi shares his journey from Pakistan to the United States, detailing his experiences in building a successful martial arts empire. He discusses the importance of leadership, systems, and mentorship in the martial arts business, as well as the various types of school models he employs. The conversation also touches on student recruitment strategies, the impact of technology, and how to maintain healthy relationships with your instructors.
Matthew Brenner and Dave Kovar what the "new school" model looks like for Kovars. They discuss the intricacies of martial arts education, school management, storytelling in martial arts, the challenges of opening new locations, and the significance of understanding demographics and market research. Kovar shares insights on negotiating leases, the role of content creation in business growth, and the importance of health and fitness for longevity in martial arts.
Matthew Brenner interviews Tim Hartman, a prominent figure in Filipino martial arts and a martial arts influencer. They discuss Tim's journey in martial arts, the importance of engaging youth, and the marketing strategies that can help martial arts schools thrive. Tim Hartman discusses his experiences in martial arts training, particularly focusing on situational awareness, training law enforcement and military personnel, and the real-world applications of martial arts techniques. He shares insights on the emotional weight of self-defense, the impact of violence on mental health, and the injuries sustained during training. The discussion also touches on the evolving perspectives on martial arts, the McDojo debate, and the significance of social media in growing his presence and business. Tim reflects on unexpected viral success and the recognition he has received in the martial arts community.
In this engaging conversation, Matthew Brenner and Adam Kifer explore the intersections of martial arts, fitness, and business. They discuss the differences in focus between martial arts schools and fitness studios. Adam shares insights on personal growth, God, spirituality, and how these elements influence business decisions. The conversation also delves into the use of AI in business strategies and effective organic lead generation techniques.
This episode is part 3 of the series on the 4 Phases Of Martial Arts Schools. This episode is focusing on the transition to the CEO phase ($83K+ / month). They emphasize the importance of hiring and developing leaders, understanding the challenges of management, and creating a team vision. The conversation also covers the significance of metrics tracking for success and the potential profit centers that can enhance revenue. Throughout the discussion, they highlight the need for continuous improvement and adaptation in the martial arts industry.
In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Matthew Brenner interviews Donovan Rider, owner of Charleston Taekwondo, who shares his journey from a competitive martial artist to a successful school owner with multiple locations.
Donovan discusses the challenges and strategies involved in scaling his business, including instructor recruitment, operational management, and real estate considerations.
The conversation provides valuable insights for anyone looking to grow a martial arts school or similar 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 marketing.
“We were doing pretty well… but I knew there was still more juice in the lemon,” he said.
Although his schools had tried school and daycare programs before, they never found a consistent, scalable system that worked across all five locations without burning out the staff.
Yes, he got new students from doing school programs, and working with some daycares, but he knew there was more potential.
It’s not about changing everything, it’s about small adjustments. Small hinges swing big doors.
That’s when Michael scheduled a discovery call to learn more about the Triangle Codex.
Together, we helped his team:
✅ Build a fresh “Hit List” of overlooked daycares, afterschool programs, and third-party providers ✅ Simplify his outreach and program setup to avoid exhausting his team ✅ Refine his white belt graduation flow to increase conversions ✅ Train his staff (across all five schools) to enroll students consistently, without relying on leads from ads
The result?
📈 400+ new leads (worth $20,000+ in ad spend value) 📈 61 new students enrolled and counting 📈 $146,000+ in projected new revenue THIS YEAR 📈 26 school programs set up through a single third-party partnership 📈 51 New Strategic Partnerships in the education system.
And they’re just getting started.
If you're tired of hearing “we're doing the best we can with the leads we have,” this is your sign to start giving your team the tools to create their own.
Should you run ads for your school? Yes, but that shouldn’t be your only source of new students. A strong team knows how to go out and recruit new students, even if the pipeline is dry.
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.
We'll have a follow up episode for...
Level 4: The CEO Phase
Revenue Range: $50K–$83K/month
Stay tuned..
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 growth stage.
From the Hustler Phase ($0–$10K/month) to the CEO Phase ($50K–$83K+/month), they break down the exact skills, systems, and mindset shifts required to grow a 7-figure martial arts business. They share personal stories from their journey scaling Action Karate to over 30 locations and $12M/year, plus what mistakes to avoid and what to focus on at each level of growth.
Perfect for school owners looking to:
Increase student enrollment without relying on Facebook ads
Improve retention with better systems and staff development
Build a leadership team that runs your school when you're not there
Stop feeling stuck at 100–150 students and finally break through
Turn a small martial arts school into a million-dollar lifestyle business
If you're serious about growing your school and want to know how top-performing school owners are doing it without gimmicks, listen to this episode.
👉 Subscribe for more episodes on martial arts business coaching, student retention, marketing, team building, and leadership development.
This episode is part 1, part 2 will be released later for $30K+ schools and $50K+ schools.
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 students. The conversation emphasizes empowering teams to actively recruit and engage with the community to ensure the success of martial arts schools. In this conversation, Matthew and Solomon Brenner discuss strategies for growing martial arts schools, emphasizing the importance of compounding enrollments, embracing rejection, and understanding fixed expenses. They explore the impact of economic changes on business and the necessity of controlling one's own financial situation. The discussion also highlights the value of investing in oneself and the importance of human connections in a technology-driven world.
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 education. The conversation also touches on the transition from competitor to stunt actor and the impact of social media on the martial arts community. In this conversation, Jewelianna Ramos-Ortiz shares her journey from a unique martial arts enthusiast to a successful stunt performer and actress. She emphasizes the importance of individuality, the connection between martial arts and stunt work, and the storytelling aspect of stunts. Jewelianna discusses her experiences with high-risk stunts, the challenges of navigating the acting world, and the significance of personal branding versus business branding. She also highlights the necessity of taking action in social media growth and the mindset required to succeed in the entertainment industry.
Follow Jewelianna @karate.jewels
Follow Matthew @blackbeltbrenner1
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 delves into the innovative approach of integrating cryptocurrency into fight promotions, the challenges faced in the industry, and the future of karate in the digital age. In this conversation, Adam S. Kovacs shares his journey through the world of martial arts and event production, discussing the challenges and lessons learned from his experiences with Karate Combat and his new venture, Dirty Boxing Championship. He reflects on the emotional toll of leaving a legacy, the importance of understanding the unique needs of fighters and fight promotions, and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives him to create scalable solutions for the fight industry. The discussion also touches on the significance of branding, identity, and the role of ego in personal and professional growth.
Follow Adam @adam_skovacs
Follow Matthew @blackbeltbrenner1