Black Belt Business

Hosted by Matthew Brenner

Business Entrepreneurship

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Episodes

110

Latest episode

Apr 2026

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About the show

Behind the scenes insights from the Top 1% of martial arts business owners, instructors, and athletes. If you want to learn how to grow your martial arts school, keep more of your student for longer, and create a team of instructors you can depend on, this podcast is for you.

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60 recent

April 22, 2026Episode 10716 min

How To Get New Adult Students In May + June Without Ads

Want new adult students for your martial arts school? This episode is for you. DM me "Adult students" and i'll send you the notes from this episode that you can use as a guideline to use these strategies for you and your team. TakeawaysAttracting adult studentsUsing positive peer pressureChapters00:00 Attracting Adult Students for Martial Arts School06:11 Promoting and Incentivizing Moms' Brunch and Punch Event11:46 Converting Parents to Enrolled Students

April 10, 2026Episode 11019 min

2 Must Have Summer Strategies To Get New Students + Limit Summer "Freezes"

The episode covers the preparation for summer enrollment, challenges of retaining current students, organic marketing strategies, short-term programs for new student acquisition, preheating leads, creating fun and engaging classes, and the S3 program for organic marketing. It emphasizes the importance of early preparation, proactive retention strategies, and the value of organic marketing for sustainable growth. The S3 program is highlighted as a comprehensive approach to driving student enrollment.TakeawaysEarly preparation is crucial for successful summer enrollmentProactive retention strategies are essential for maintaining student engagementOrganic marketing is essential for sustainable growthShort-term programs can be effective for acquiring new studentsPreheating leads is a valuable strategy for enrollmentCreating fun and engaging classes is crucial for student retentionThe S3 program offers a comprehensive approach to organic marketingChapters00:00 Preparing for Summer Enrollment08:39 Short-Term Programs for New Student Acquisition14:14 Creating Fun and Engaging Classes19:22 The S3 Program for Organic Marketing

April 3, 2026Episode 1067 min

The "Orphan" Strategy For Retention|Lightning Series| [Adam Kifer Ep. 106]

Adam Kifer, founder and CEO of Impakt Mastermind and Impakt Agency, shares insights on what's working in his martial arts school, focusing on retention strategies and customer service.

March 27, 2026Episode 1059 min

Stop Saying This In Your Ads |Lightning Series| [Cris Rodriguez Ep. 105]

The conversation covers the importance of modernizing messaging in martial arts school advertising, emphasizing the need to understand and address the fears of modern parents. Cris Rodriguez discusses the shift in messaging strategy and the relevance of capturing the sentiment of parents in the lobby.

March 24, 2026Episode 1049 min

The Trust Triangle You NEED In Your Ads |Lightning Series| [Jennifer Waters Ep. 104]

In this lightning series podcast episode, Jennifer Waters shares practical advice on getting new students for martial arts schools. The conversation covers the importance of lead generation, the trust triangle in ad campaigns, the role of the school owner in ads, the importance of organic and paid advertising, and the long-term ROI of paid advertising.TakeawaysPaid social media ads are effective for lead generationBuilding trust with a trust triangle is crucial in ad campaigns

March 20, 2026Episode 1027 min

How He Scaled To 44 Locations- And How You Can Too! |Lightning Series| [Von Schmeling Ep. 102]

The conversation covers the importance of staff training and culture in scaling martial arts schools. It delves into the need to grow revenue to attract good staff, defining and maintaining a strong culture, structuring training for high-quality instructors, and guiding meetings based on weaknesses.TakeawaysStaff training is crucial for scaling martial arts schoolsDefining and maintaining a strong culture is essential for attracting and retaining the right staffChapters00:00 Scaling Staff for Multiple Locations05:15 Structuring Training for High-Quality Instructors

March 13, 2026Episode 1017 min

My Retention Strategy For 1,000 Students |Lightning Series| [Andrew Cunnane Ep. 101]

In this special Lightning Episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, host Matthew Brenner speaks with Andrew Cunnane, who operates three martial arts schools in Toronto, Canada, serving 1000+ students. The focus of their discussion is on effective student retention strategies, particularly the importance of tracking attendance. Andrew emphasizes that consistent attendance is crucial for student progress and retention, as it allows instructors to identify students who may be falling behind. He shares insights on how attendance data informs their retention policies and helps maintain student engagement.Andrew also discusses the significance of personalized communication with students and their families. By reaching out to students who have been absent, instructors can foster a sense of care and concern, which often leads to more honest conversations about any issues affecting a student's motivation or interest. This proactive approach not only helps in retaining students but also strengthens the community within the martial arts school. The episode concludes with Andrew sharing his ideal attrition rate and the strategies that have contributed to his schools' success in keeping students engaged and progressing toward their black belts.

March 6, 2026Episode 1006 min

The Ultimate Formula For Training + Scaling Your Team |Lightning Series| [Dave Kovar Ep. 100]

The conversation with Dave Kovar covers the essential aspects of training staff for martial arts schools. It delves into the effective staff training formula, hiring the right staff, training the staff, treating the staff right, and involving adult instructors in the training process. Key takeaways include the importance of hiring, training, and treating staff right, as well as the significance of mentoring and involving students in the training process.TakeawaysHire right, train right, treat rightMentoring and involving students in the training process

February 27, 2026Episode 996 min

2 Can't Miss Strategies For Training Your Instructors | Lightning Series| [Chris Berlow Ep. 99]

Chris Berlow, a multi-school owner, shares insights on staff training and development for martial arts schools. He emphasizes the importance of personal training, treating staff as teachers, and sharing success with them.TakeawaysPersonal training is essential for martial arts school owners and staff.Treating staff as teachers and sharing success with them is crucial for staff development.

February 20, 2026Episode 9817 min

Use This Strategy To Get New Students Right Now |Lightning Series| [Chris Casamassa Ep 98]

In this episode, Chris shares insights on using birthday parties as a powerful tool for acquiring new students. He discusses the structure of a successful birthday party, the importance of collecting information and offering value, the process of converting guests into students, and the role of birthday parties in retention and staff training. Additionally, the value of providing high-quality t-shirts as part of the offer is emphasized.