Black Belt Banter: Martial Arts Business Podcast
Welcome to Black Belt Banter, the best martial arts business podcast for instructors, school owners, and entrepreneurs who want to increase their profits and generate substantial revenue. Whether you're running a single studio or scaling a multi-location empire, we break down the strategies, stories, and systems behind profitable martial arts businesses. From student retention and marketing hacks to leadership, curriculum, and community building, we cover it all. Tune in for weekly insights from Master Chan and Master Jimmy Hong, who’s been in the trenches and come out kicking.
Email us at jimmyhong@blackbeltbanter.com
Black Belt Banter: Martial Arts Business Podcast
Latest Episodes
#37 | The Retention Event That Pays You to Run It
Most schools try to fix retention after a student is already halfway out the door. Sensei Solomon Brenner does it 90 days in advance — with an in-house tournament.Solomon runs 36 Action Karate locations and hosts two in-house tournaments...
#36 | The Fastest Growing Schools Have One Thing In Common
The schools growing the fastest aren't doing anything you couldn't do. They're just surrounded by people who already figured it out.In this episode, we get into why your network is the single biggest predictor of how fast your school gro...
#35 | Staff Development - The Key to Creating The Life and School You Want.
Staff Development: The Key to Creating the Life and Dojang You WantEpisode Summary:Master Pamela Sroka, co-owner of World Class Taekwondo in San Jose (two locations, 1,100+ students), breaks down how she built a leadership pi...
#34 | The Software Platforms Most School Owners Are Outgrowing — And What's Replacing Them
Master Jimmy Hong and Master Chan Lee sit down with Master Clinton Oh — founder of My Manager and the man behind a 75-school taekwondo empire — to break down why most school management software falls short and what a true all-in-one system actu...
#33 | You're Leaving Money on the Table Every Time You Swipe
Most martial arts school owners are leaving thousands of dollars on the table every single month — not because they're spending wrong, but because they're not getting anything back for what they're already spending.In this episode, Jimmy...
Fan Mail
Hello Master, I hope you’re doing well. I’ve been listening to your podcast for over a month now, and I truly appreciate the topics you cover—especially those related to leadership, teaching, and building a successful martial arts school. I’ve learned a great deal from your insights. Allow me to briefly introduce myself. I am a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, 37 years old, originally from Egypt, and I hold a teaching certification. My goal is to continue improving my ability to work effectively with both children and adults, helping them develop strong martial arts skills and character. Currently, I work with a Taekwondo school as well as a Karate school, gaining hands-on experience in teaching and school operations. My main source of income at the moment is driving for Uber, which allows me to support my family while I work toward my long-term goal of opening my own martial arts school. I’ve heard you mention your courses and coaching related to martial arts leadership and business development, and I would be very interested in learning more. I’m eager to become more efficient, professional, and prepared to build a sustainable martial arts business in the future. If there is any guidance, program, or direction you would recommend, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for all the value you share through the podcast. Kind regards,
Perth Amboy, New Jersey