Gym Unlocks: Striking and Strength Gym Growth with Clinton Tudor

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Oct 2026

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Clinton Tudor is on a mission to collect 100 Unlocks, honest conversations with Muay Thai, boxing, MMA and strength gym owners who've built something real and have the scars to prove it. Each episode: what happened, what they'd do differently, what's working now. If you're trying to grow your gym membership, this is built for you. Follow so you don't miss the next Unlock.

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October 27, 2026Episode 1651 min

#016 Start Messy. Build a Legacy. | Damien Trainor | Gym Unlocks

Damien Trainor has built one of Muay Thai’s most recognisable personal brands, grown K-Star Legacy through word of mouth and organic content, and taken his coaching knowledge far beyond the walls of his Birmingham gym. In episode #016, Clinton Tudor sits down with the two-time world champion to unpack how Damien built his audience without paid advertising, why coaches should stop overthinking content, and how sharing what you already teach on the mats can create opportunities around the world. They get into: Why Damien has never relied on paid social advertising How he turns everyday coaching moments into content Starting with a phone instead of expensive equipment What he learned from The Warrior Collective and CSA Gym Why consistency matters more than trying to crack the algorithm Turning expertise into digital products, seminars and international opportunities Why relying on one social platform is dangerous Old-school ways gym owners can still grow locally The importance of separating beginner, intermediate and advanced classes Damien’s advice for coaches thinking about content is simple: start where you’re already comfortable. Teach, film it, post it, learn what works and keep going. The 100 Unlocks Quest is our mission to interview 100+ gym owners, coaches and operators and turn their experience into practical lessons other gym owners can use. Useful links: Get your AI Gym RevPlan here Follow Clinton on Instagram here Follow Damien on Instagram here

October 11, 2026Episode 1558 min

#015 Culture Built This: How BOXR Grew Without Paid Ads | Mateo Attalla

Mateo Attalla went from training people in car parks during COVID to building BOXR into one of Miami’s most recognisable combat sports and fitness community. The interesting part is how he did it. Mateo says BOXR still doesn’t put money behind ads. Instead, he’s spent years building the culture, community and story around the gym so people feel like they belong there. In this episode, we get into how that actually works. Mateo breaks down the customer experience from the moment someone walks through the door, why the story of your gym can do more selling than a sales pitch, how he hires for character, why the wrong person at the front desk can damage the culture, and what gym owners should look at before spending more money trying to grow. We also get into: • Going from fighter to trainer to gym operator • Why Mateo had to change himself before the business could grow • His EDC framework: Energy, Delivery and Closure • Building community outside the four walls of the gym • Why BOXR has focused on organic growth • What “One of One” actually means • The first thing Mateo looks at when auditing another gym • Where gym owners waste money • Why he would invest more into the right people • Protecting the culture you’ve built • Business Fight Camp and what Mateo is learning inside other gyms People can train almost anywhere. Building somewhere they genuinely feel they belong takes a different level of work. That’s what Mateo has built at BOXR. THE 100 UNLOCKS QUEST This is episode #015 of The 100 Unlocks Quest. Clinton Tudor is interviewing 100+ of the world’s best gym owners, coaches and operators to uncover the lessons that can save other gym owners years of trial and error. The conversations get into profit, sales, retention, systems, culture, teams and building a gym that can grow without consuming the owner. Explore The 100 Unlocks Quest: https://www.gymunlocks.com/100-unlocks CONNECT WITH MATEO BOXR Gym: https://www.boxrgym.com/ Business Fight Camp: https://businessfightcamp.com/ Mateo Attalla: https://link.me/mateoboxr FOR GYM OWNERS Working hard but still not sure what you should fix first? The Gym Unlocks AI Gym RevPlan looks across your gym, finds the biggest revenue opportunities, ranks them, then gives you a practical 30, 60 and 90-day plan to act on them. Get your AI Gym RevPlan here . GYM UNLOCKS https://www.gymunlocks.com/ Hosted by Clinton Tudor Co-Founder, Gym Unlocks

October 6, 2026Episode 1456 min

#014 Profit vs Impact: Can a Martial Arts Gym Have Both? | Lonnie Beck

Can a martial arts gym make good money and still have a genuine impact on its community? Lonnie Beck says gym owners can have both. Lonnie is President/CEO of USA Muaythai, co-owner of Dragon Gym Martial Arts & Fitness, and co-founder of the Muay Thai Advisory Group. He joins Clinton Tudor for a practical conversation about what it takes to build a martial arts business that can grow without consuming the owner. They get into why coaches undervalue their services, the numbers behind expansion, when an owner becomes the bottleneck, building staff systems, creating a strong beginner experience, paid trials, referrals, retention and what needs to be true before opening another location. A major theme throughout the episode is the tension between profit and impact. Lonnie’s view is clear: building a profitable business allows you to support your family, invest back into the gym, develop your staff and reach more people. His final unlock is the idea he wishes he had adopted earlier: define your purpose, values and mission, review them regularly, and use them as the filter for every major decision. If you own or operate a martial arts gym, this episode is built for you. Gym Unlocks Dragon Gym USA Muaythai Follow Clinton / Gym Unlocks on Instagram @clintontudor

September 29, 2026Episode 1436 min

#013 Four Gyms Later: Leo Perrucci on Building Forza 4.0

Leo Perrucci has built Forza Combat Sports through four different versions. His biggest lesson? Build it slower. In this episode, Leo breaks down what he would do differently if he started again, why gym owners can grow too fast, where he wasted money, and how he learned to let demand earn the next version of the gym. We also get into the economics of amateur competition, what Leo learned from international IFMA events, why he believes a beginner onboarding system matters, and the business decisions he would make differently if he started again. IN THIS EPISODE • Why Forza started small and grew by reinvesting • What went wrong during the move into Forza 4.0 • How Leo stopped being a guest in his own home • Building trusted coaches who can run the gym when he travels • What IFMA changed in his coaching system • Why Forza keeps fighters and general members training together • The beginner onboarding pathway at Forza • Amateur competition costs in the USA • The MMA cage Leo wishes he never bought • Why marketing and early admin support should have happened sooner • Starting small, removing bad-fit members early, and protecting culture • Leo’s daughter Ava, her transformation through Muay Thai, and why he believes martial arts can build confidence in kids and girls ABOUT THE SHOW Clinton Tudor and Gym Unlocks is on a quest to interview 100 of the world’s best gym owners, coaches and operators and uncover 100 practical unlocks that can save other gym owners years of mistakes. Want to see where the money is actually moving inside your gym? Visit Gym Unlocks and use the free My Gym Money Calculator: https://mygymmoney.overskill.app

September 21, 2026Episode 1258 min

#012 Selina Flores & Jeremy Shepard: Can You Fight… And Run a Muay Thai Gym Together? | Gym Unlocks

What happens when your fight career, relationship and Muay Thai gym all become the same life? Selina “Teep Queen” Flores and Jeremy Shepard join Clinton Tudor on the Gym Unlocks Podcast for a conversation about fighting, coaching, content, business and what it really takes to build Premier Fight & Fitness together. Own a martial arts or strength gym? Every gym has things the owner can see and things they can’t. That’s why we built the Gym Unlocks AI Gym Revenue Plan . We use AI + real gym business experience to uncover revenue opportunities, identify what matters most and give you a clear plan for what to fix first. 👉 Get your Gym Revenue Plan: https://gymunlocks.com Fresh from her recent ONE Championship fight against Stamp Fairtex at Lumpinee Stadium , Selina opens up about the loss, what she saw when she watched the fight back, and why she refuses to hide behind excuses. Even after a close fight and people telling her they thought she won, Selina’s message is powerful: take responsibility. Win or lose, look at your own performance. Find what you could have done better. Fix it. Go again. Jeremy takes us inside the other side of the fight game: developing fighters and building a Muay Thai gym. He shares the coaching philosophy and structure he’s developed through more than a decade of coaching and working with athletes from complete beginners through to international competition. We get into what keeps them awake at night as gym operators, creating a culture where everyday members and serious fighters both belong, developing young athletes, building the pathway from amateur to pro, and somehow managing being fighter, coach, couple and business partners at the same time. Selina also tells us how she earned the name “Teep Queen,” what she’s currently “teeping away” in life, and how the brilliant Can You Fight? series came about. We talk about being labelled an influencer, building an audience without losing respect for Muay Thai, turning social media attention into opportunities, running Premier without relying on paid advertising, AI and automation, relationships with members, and what the next generation of fighters, coaches and gym owners can learn from their journey. In this episode: Selina Flores • Jeremy Shepard • ONE Championship • Stamp Fairtex • Muay Thai • Premier Fight & Fitness • Muay Thai coaching • gym ownership • amateur-to-pro fighter development • Can You Fight? • social media for fighters • accountability • AI for gym owners • building a combat sports business 🎙️ Hosted by Clinton Tudor | Gym Unlocks 👉 Gym owners: Find the revenue opportunities hiding inside your business: https://gymunlocks.com

July 18, 2026Episode 1146 min

#011 How to Build a Muay Thai Gym That Lasts with Michael Chase Corley

Michael "Chase" Corley joins Clinton Tudor on the Gym Unlocks Podcast for a conversation on building a martial arts gym and martial arts school with standards, culture and long-term respect. Michael is the founder and head coach of Heritage Muay Thai in Houston, Texas, former President of USA Muaythai, and author of Muay Thai Grit . In this episode, Michael shares what he has learned from building Heritage Muay Thai, developing coaches, running kids programs, creating better first experiences for new students, using AI inside the business, and preparing the gym for its next stage of growth. We talk about making Muay Thai accessible without watering it down, why fighters alone cannot carry a gym business, how to build culture through small standards, and why every person who walks through the door needs to feel the quality of the gym from day one. For Muay Thai gym owners, martial arts school owners, martial arts coaches, boxing and kickboxing gyms, MMA operators, strength gym owners, and anyone building a gym that wants to last. Gym Unlocks: https://www.gymunlocks.com Clinton Tudor: @clintontudor Michael Chase Corley: @corleyhmt

July 11, 2026Episode 1023 min

#010 Aziz Nabih: Don’t Cut Corners — Trust, Coaching & Building Sitan Gym

What does it really take to become a great Muay Thai coach—and build a gym, team and culture that stand the test of time?In this episode of the Gym Unlocks Podcast, Clinton Tudor sits down with Aziz Nabih, Head Coach of the USA Muay Thai Youth and Senior National Teams, Coach of the Year, and founder of Sitan Gym in New York.Recorded in the UAE, the conversation explores the lessons Aziz has learned through decades of coaching fighters, developing young athletes and building one of New York’s most respected Muay Thai gyms.Aziz explains why trust is the foundation of the coach–fighter relationship, how coaches can help athletes manage pressure and learn from losses, and why mental preparation is just as important as physical conditioning—especially when fighters step onto the international stage.The conversation also explores the responsibility coaches carry when preparing athletes to compete, the importance of fighter safety, and the difference between being a Muay Thai trainer and becoming a true coach.For gym owners and operators, Aziz shares how Sitan Gym grew through authentic Muay Thai, strong results, reputation and word of mouth. He also discusses leadership, accountability, humility, building a positive gym culture and creating an impact that extends beyond competitive fighters.One message runs throughout the episode: great coaches earn trust through experience, consistency and hard work. There are no shortcuts to leadership, and titles or certificates cannot replace time spent learning, coaching and taking responsibility for the people in your care.This episode is for Muay Thai coaches, aspiring coaches, gym owners, martial arts instructors and anyone interested in athlete development, coaching leadership, fighter mindset and building a successful martial arts gym.In this episode:• Building trust between coaches and fighters• Coaching youth and senior Muay Thai athletes• Developing a strong fighter mindset• Helping athletes learn from losses• Mental preparation for international competition• The difference between a Muay Thai trainer and a coach• Why great coaches must earn their position• Building a successful Muay Thai gym through reputation• Creating a strong and positive gym culture• Leadership, humility and accountability in coaching• Preserving authentic Muay Thai outside Thailand• Why young coaches should work hard, pay their dues and never cut corners

July 4, 2026Episode 926 min

#009 You're Not Ready for Gym 2 Until Your First One Can Run Without You — Jacob Drendel, Rama 1 Muay Thai

Jacob Drendel opened Rama 1 Muay Thai in Melbourne five years ago. Today it's home to 250+ members and 20 professional fighters — and he's just opened R1 Muay Thai in Phuket. Clinton Tudor sits down with Jacob to find out what it actually took to build a gym that can operate without him on the mats every day, why getting the right coaching team in place changed everything, and the one mistake gym owners make when they try to expand too early. Jacob also gets into Instagram as his first marketing dollar, the Primo partnership, and what the R1 Phuket fitness village is offering fighters and families. This is episode 9 of Clinton's quest to collect 100 Unlocks — raw, honest conversations with gym owners who've built something real and have the scars to prove it. If you're running a Muay Thai, boxing or MMA gym and wondering whether you're ready to scale — this one's for you. Follow Gym Unlocks Podcast so you don't miss the next Unlock. Leave a review if this episode hits — it helps other gym owners find it. On Instagram Follow Clinton @clintontudor and Jacob: @r1muaythaiphuket

April 10, 2024Episode 848 min

#8 Warrior Wisdom with Stuart Tomlinson: From the Mats to the Screen

Join us in this episode of Gym Unlocks as we sit down with Stuart Tomlinson, the owner of the highly successful Evade Martial Arts gym in Manchester and the mastermind behind the Warrior Collective. Stuart takes us on a journey from the mats of Manchester to the screens of the world, sharing his insights, triumphs, and even some hard-earned lessons from his journey to success. Hear Stuart's no-holds-barred account of the mistakes he made while building his gym, and the invaluable advice he has for gym owners looking to carve their path in the industry. From the evolution of Warrior Collective to the impact it's had on the global martial arts community, Stuart's story is riveting and inspiring. So, whether you're a seasoned martial artist, a gym owner, or just a curious mind, this episode is guaranteed to leave you fired up and ready to tackle whatever challenges come your way. Don't miss it! Need help with your gym's Instagram? Hire the experts .

October 31, 2023Episode 733 min

#7 Muay Thai Pioneer to Gym Business Pro: Darren Reece Unlocks Success

Get ready for an eye-opening episode of Gym Unlocks, where we go behind the scenes of gym ownership, Muay Thai, and martial arts. Today, we're joined by a special guest, the remarkable Darren Reece, a true Muay Thai legend. Darren's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From his days as a professional fighter in prestigious stadiums like Rajadammern and Lumpinee to becoming a highly successful coach, mentoring fighters such as Caylee Reece and Eugene 'BOOM BOOM' Ekkelboom, his story is a true inspiration. He's also the co-promoter of Epic Fight Promotions alongside his wife, Caylee, and a key figure in the evolution of Muay Thai in Western Australia. In this episode, we delve into Darren's lifelong commitment to learning and his unique experiences as a pioneer in Thailand's training scene. Discover how he's managed to keep his gym deeply connected to Thai culture, even during challenging times like lockdowns. Gain invaluable business insights applicable to gym owners and striking coaches, and listen as Darren offers his perspective on the role of social media for fighters and shares his candid views on One Championship. This is a conversation that offers a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration for anyone in the world of Muay Thai and gym business. Join us for an enriching and informative episode that's set to unlock new horizons on Gym Unlocks!