Black Belt Banter: Martial Arts Business Podcast

Jimmy Hong
  • 5.0 (7)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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

  1. 1D AGO

    #20 | What Martial Arts School Owners Can Learn from High-Level Athletes

    Send us a text Introducing ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching designed to help you grow, lead, and scale your school like never before.   Our first live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST, with a powerful topic: 🔥 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now  What if the habits that create Olympians could also build a school that runs on rhythm instead of adrenaline? We sit down with Coach Tim Thackeray—seven-time U.S. national team member, Pan Am Games gold medalist, and USA Taekwondo’s Director of Education—to map elite performance onto everyday school ownership. Coach Tim shows how to turn competitive fire into a repeatable operating system. We explore culture as a competitive advantage, the role of respect in preventing staff split-offs, and how to scale without diluting what makes your dojang special. If you’ve ever tried to outwork burnout, his periodization approach for owners—planned rest, calendar peaks, and energy management—will feel like a breath of fresh air. ASA Live Ad Copy with Master Tony Chung Join ASA Live - monthly, interactive coaching. 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! First live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST $97 /month Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now

    47 min

  2. DEC 9

    #19 | The Big Debate: Do MMA Skills Belong in Traditional Martial Arts?

    Send us a text Introducing ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching designed to help you grow, lead, and scale your school like never before.   Our first live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST, with a powerful topic: 🔥 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now  The Big Debate: Do MMA Skills Belong in Traditional Martial Arts? In this episode of Black Belt Banter, we tackle one of the most controversial questions in today’s martial arts world: Should MMA techniques be part of traditional martial arts training? We break down the benefits, risks, and misconceptions behind integrating modern combat skills into classical systems. And we discuss a major reason many traditional school owners hesitate: they fear MMA training might dilute the life-skill development that traditional martial arts are built on—skills like respect, discipline, focus, attention span, and character-building that parents value deeply. Many owners worry that adding MMA could shift the culture, increase roughness, or distract from the structured environment they’ve spent years cultivating. If you’re a school owner, instructor, or passionate practitioner, this episode will push you to rethink how tradition and modern training can coexist. Tune in for a bold, insightful debate that may reshape how you view martial arts education. ASA Live Ad Copy with Master Tony Chung Join ASA Live - monthly, interactive coaching. 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! First live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST $97 /month Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now

    41 min

  3. NOV 25

    #18 | Rotating Curriculum vs. Traditional: Which One Actually Grows Your School?

    Send us a text Introducing ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching designed to help you grow, lead, and scale your school like never before.   Our first live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST, with a powerful topic: 🔥 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now  If your classes feel scattered the moment “curriculum time” starts, you’re not alone. We dig into the rotating curriculum—why it ignites class energy, simplifies coaching at scale, and can actually protect belt integrity when designed with care. With Master Philip Jeung, a second‑generation martial artist and Fordham MBA, we get tactical about growth. Rotation makes it possible for one instructor to guide 20–30 students, pause the room for a 30‑second correction, and lift everyone’s technique at once. Parents see crisp, unified movement instead of four micro-classes colliding, which boosts conversions and confidence. Master Philip shares the staircase schedule that lowers attendance friction—morning, afternoon, evening options—driving consistency and lowering attrition. Most importantly, we explore transition design: seeding the next belt’s mechanics into today’s drills so students don’t stall between ranks. If you’re aiming to scale from 150 to 300 students, protect quality during testing, and build a black belt core that anchors retention, this conversation offers a clear path forward and the pitfalls to avoid. Subscribe, share with a school owner who needs this, and leave a review with your take: would you switch to a rotating curriculum now? ASA Live Ad Copy with Master Tony Chung Join ASA Live - monthly, interactive coaching. 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! First live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST $97 /month Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now

    54 min

  4. NOV 11

    #17 | Fighting with AI: The Future of Martial Arts Studio Owners

    Send us a text World TKD Lab https://www.world-tkdlab.com/saas-platform Master Nickie Quan: Quanscience@gmail.com Introducing ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching designed to help you grow, lead, and scale your school like never before.   Our first live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST, with a powerful topic: 🔥 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now  Stop losing precious teaching time to front-desk chaos. We sit down with World Taekwondo Lab to unpack a practical way forward: a voice-driven AI assistant designed by lifelong martial artists to manage leads, message parents, schedule intros, and even update inventory while you stay on the mat. No jargon, no tech detours—just real operations made simpler. Beyond daily admin, we dig into the growth levers owners care about: automated marketing across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube; localized optimization for different regions; and clear reporting that tells you what happened and what to do next. We also explore modules for events and tournaments that remove the grunt work from registrations and logistics, so coaches can focus on performance and safety instead of spreadsheets. For multi-location leaders, the platform standardizes best practices while staying flexible for local needs. For solo owners, it’s the front desk you wish you had, at a price closer to one student’s monthly tuition than a full-time hire. ASA Live Ad Copy with Master Tony Chung Join ASA Live - monthly, interactive coaching. 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! First live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST $97 /month Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now

    51 min

  5. OCT 28

    #16 | The Hidden Power of Hosting: The Student Benefits of Hosting Your Own Martial Arts Tournament

    Send us a text Introducing ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching designed to help you grow, lead, and scale your school like never before.   Our first live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST, with a powerful topic: 🔥 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now  Want a tournament that builds leaders, delights parents, and actually runs on time? We sit down with Master Jay Lee—tournament director for the U.S. Open Taekwondo Hamadang and CEO of U.S. Taekwondo Center—to show how school owners can turn competition into a retention engine and a reliable revenue stream without sacrificing safety or sanity. We break down why starting in-house protects your culture and quality, then map a clear path to scaling. You’ll hear how Hamadang-style events shift the focus from head-to-head fights to festival energy: creative board breaking, power breaking, high kick, spin hook, family forms, pairs Poomsae, and crowd‑pleasing demo team competitions. Master Lee explains how to weave prep into everyday classes—using belt‑test forms as entries, dedicating short segments to specialty skills, and offering optional Poomsae and sparring sessions—so training stays fresh while students gain confidence and purpose. We also get tactical about operations, budgets, and branding. Learn when to host based on school calendars and travel patterns, how to choose venues that let you control concessions, and why punctual, professional touches change the narrative for families. We outline sponsorship tiers that cover hard costs, trade‑in‑kind deals that stretch budgets, and pricing structures that reward early registration while keeping things simple with a flat board fee. Plus, you’ll get a blueprint for building an organizing committee—roles, workflows, and pathways for black belts to referee and lead—so you’re not carrying the entire event on your shoulders. If you’re a martial arts school owner who wants safer first steps than all‑day sparring brackets, this is your playbook for a tournament that teaches leadership, builds community, and grows profits. Subscribe, share with a school owner who needs this, and leave a review to help more dojangs run with excellence. ASA Live Ad Copy with Master Tony Chung Join ASA Live - monthly, interactive coaching. 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! First live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST $97 /month Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now

    55 min

  6. OCT 14

    #15 | From Zero to 120 Martial Arts Students in Less Than A Year!

    Send us a text Introducing ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching designed to help you grow, lead, and scale your school like never before.   Our first live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST, with a powerful topic: 🔥 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now  From Zero to 120: How a Young Martial Artist Built a Thriving Taekwondo School In this episode of Black Belt Banter, hosts Jimmy Hong and Master Tony Chung converse with Master Liam Guttmacher, a 24-year-old martial artist who rapidly grew his Taekwondo school to 120 students in under a year. Liam discusses his journey, starting from his early karate days to his focus on acrobatic Taekwondo and high-level gymnastics, and the creation of a strong online presence with over 1 million followers. The conversation covers Liam's innovative teaching methods, unique business strategies, and how he successfully converted existing karate students to his new program. Master Tony provides insight into the discipline and entrepreneurial spirit that drive Liam's exceptional growth. The episode offers inspiration and practical advice for young martial artists and school owners aspiring to build a successful martial arts community. Stay connected with Master Liam Gutmacher! Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok at @LiamGutmacherTKD. For more information about ASA Impact Consulting, please contact us at jimmyhong@blackbeltbanter.com or visit https://asamartialarts.com/ Join our private Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ASAmartialarts ASA Live Ad Copy with Master Tony Chung Join ASA Live - monthly, interactive coaching. 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! First live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST $97 /month Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now

    58 min

  7. SEP 30

    #14 | What's the BEST Way to Protect Students and Schools from Worst Case Scenarios?

    Send us a text Introducing ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching designed to help you grow, lead, and scale your school like never before.   Our first live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST, with a powerful topic: 🔥 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now  Our most important podcast yet... In this week's episode of Black Belt Banter, hosts Master Jimmy Hong and Master Chan dive into the critical risks facing martial arts school owners and the importance of specialized insurance coverage. They're joined by Mrs. Beth Block from Block Insurance, who brings over 30 years of expertise in protecting martial arts schools, childcare centers, and private and charter schools. The episode covers the essential policies to keep children safe, the rule of three, social media guidelines, and the importance of defensive insurance coverage. Tune in to learn how to safeguard your martial arts school and protect your students, staff, and reputation. ASA Live Ad Copy with Master Tony Chung Join ASA Live - monthly, interactive coaching. 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! First live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST $97 /month Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now

    36 min

  8. SEP 16

    #13 | Would You Pay $100K for Martial Arts?

    Send us a text Introducing ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching designed to help you grow, lead, and scale your school like never before.   Our first live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST, with a powerful topic: 🔥 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now  What would a parent pay for their child to become more confident, disciplined, and positioned for lifetime success? According to Master Chan, a hundred thousand dollars might actually be a bargain when considering the transformative power of martial arts training. Master Chan opens with a powerful thought experiment: Imagine promising parents that their child will develop unshakable confidence, iron discipline, and leadership skills that guarantee acceptance to elite universities and lucrative careers. Would $100,000 be too much to pay? Not when many parents already spend more on conventional sports for far less comprehensive development. The hosts compare conventional sports costs ($14,000+ annually for soccer, more for lacrosse or swimming) to martial arts programs that typically run about $2,400 per year. The return on investment becomes clear through student success stories—like the black belt who scored a remarkable 35 on his ACT by applying martial arts discipline, or former students who became medical professionals and researchers at prestigious institutions. Ready to learn how to communicate this extraordinary value to potential students? Join Masters Jimmy Hong and Chan Lee at the American Sabanim Association meeting in Las Vegas on October 3-4. Register at theblackbeltbanter.com and be part of a community dedicated to changing lives through martial arts excellence. ASA Live Ad Copy with Master Tony Chung Join ASA Live - monthly, interactive coaching. 10 Must-Do Marketing Events to Explode Your School in 2026! First live session kicks off Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 10 AM PST $97 /month Visit https://asamartialarts.com/live/ to join now

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

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

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