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. 3D AGO

    #24 | Retention Through Repetition: Kicking Drills That Keep Students Excited

    Send a text Never Boring Kicking Drills: How to Keep Students Fired Up (with Alex Wong) In this episode of Black Belt Banter, host Master Jimmy Hong and resident expert Master Tony Chung welcome special guest Alex Wong — a third-degree TaeKwonDo black belt, instructor, content creator, and YouTuber with over 150,000 subscribers. Together, they dive into what really keeps students engaged on the mat: energy, creativity, and smart curriculum design. Alex shares her journey from competitive athlete (and even working with animals) to becoming a full-time martial arts instructor, and explains how consistent, varied kicking drills play a huge role in motivation, retention, and class culture. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to teach kicking drills without boring your studentsSimple ways to add energy and engagement to everyday classesWhy progressive, customizable drills matter for both beginners and advanced studentsHow to build systems that work across all belt levelsThe difference between genuine teaching and relying on sales tacticsWhat school owners can do to keep students excited long termThis conversation isn’t just about drills — it’s about building a better student experience, strengthening retention, and creating a class environment that keeps families coming back. If you’re a martial arts school owner looking to improve engagement while still running a strong business, this episode delivers practical ideas you can apply immediately. Listen now and discover how to turn ordinary kicking drills into powerful tools for student success. Grow Your Martial Arts School with ASA Live Join ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching with the team behind Black Belt Banter. This isn’t theory. It’s real-world strategies, live Q&A, and actionable playbooks designed to help school owners increase enrollments, improve retention, and build scalable systems. For just $97 per month, you get: Monthly live coaching sessions Direct access to experienced school owners Practical, step-by-step business strategies Real answers to your real challenges Lowest price in the industry. Highest value delivered. For a limited time, new members receive their first 2 months FREE. Cancel anytime. Take action today and start building a stronger, more profitable school. Join now: https://asamartialarts.com/live/

    55 min

  2. FEB 3

    #23 | Growing Pains: The Truth About Scaling Martial Arts Schools — Insights From a 36-Location Owner

    Send us a text In this episode of Black Belt Banter, hosts Jimmy Hong and Master Lee sit down with Sensei Solomon Brenner, founder of Action Karate, to discuss what it really takes to scale a martial arts school. With over 30 years of experience and 36 locations, Brenner shares practical insights on leadership, systems, partnerships, and maintaining core values while growing. A must-listen for school owners who want to expand without losing quality or community. Sensei Solomon Brenner IG: @solomonbrenner Action Karate Franchise: https://www.actionkaratefranchise.com with Master Tony Chung Grow Your Martial Arts School with ASA Live Join ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching with the team behind Black Belt Banter. This isn’t theory. It’s real-world strategies, live Q&A, and actionable playbooks designed to help school owners increase enrollments, improve retention, and build scalable systems. For just $97 per month, you get: Monthly live coaching sessions Direct access to experienced school owners Practical, step-by-step business strategies Real answers to your real challenges Lowest price in the industry. Highest value delivered. For a limited time, new members receive their first 2 months FREE. Cancel anytime. Take action today and start building a stronger, more profitable school. Join now: https://asamartialarts.com/live/

    57 min

  3. JAN 20

    #22 | Monthly Tuition vs. Paid in Full: Which One Actually Grows Your Martial Arts School

    Send us a text In this episode of Black Belt Banter, Master Jimmy Hong joins Master Lee and Master Jeung to break down the debate of monthly tuition versus paid-in-full programs. They discuss cash flow, stability, lessons from COVID, and how to balance both models for sustainable growth. A must-listen for school owners looking to align their billing strategy with long-term success.  with Master Tony Chung Grow Your Martial Arts School with ASA Live Join ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching with the team behind Black Belt Banter. This isn’t theory. It’s real-world strategies, live Q&A, and actionable playbooks designed to help school owners increase enrollments, improve retention, and build scalable systems. For just $97 per month, you get: Monthly live coaching sessions Direct access to experienced school owners Practical, step-by-step business strategies Real answers to your real challenges Lowest price in the industry. Highest value delivered. For a limited time, new members receive their first 2 months FREE. Cancel anytime. Take action today and start building a stronger, more profitable school. Join now: https://asamartialarts.com/live/

    1h 1m

  4. JAN 6

    #21 | Maximizing Martial Arts Impact: The Face-to-Face Marketing Advantage

    Send us a text In this episode of Black Belt Banter, hosts Master Jimmy Hong and Master Lee discuss effective face-to-face marketing strategies for increasing enrollment in martial arts schools. Master Chan shares insights from his experience running multiple successful locations with over 2,100 active students. He emphasizes the importance of direct interactions at community events, birthday parties, and other engagements to drive trial enrollments. Additionally, the episode covers scripting for conversations with potential students and parents, the importance of having motivated and well-trained staff, and the broader impact of martial arts on children's development. The discussion also touches on the value of practicing what you preach and being an active, confident representative of the martial arts program. with Master Tony Chung Grow Your Martial Arts School with ASA Live Join ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching with the team behind Black Belt Banter. This isn’t theory. It’s real-world strategies, live Q&A, and actionable playbooks designed to help school owners increase enrollments, improve retention, and build scalable systems. For just $97 per month, you get: Monthly live coaching sessions Direct access to experienced school owners Practical, step-by-step business strategies Real answers to your real challenges Lowest price in the industry. Highest value delivered. For a limited time, new members receive their first 2 months FREE. Cancel anytime. Take action today and start building a stronger, more profitable school. Join now: https://asamartialarts.com/live/

    47 min

  5. 12/22/2025

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

    Send us a text 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. with Master Tony Chung Grow Your Martial Arts School with ASA Live Join ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching with the team behind Black Belt Banter. This isn’t theory. It’s real-world strategies, live Q&A, and actionable playbooks designed to help school owners increase enrollments, improve retention, and build scalable systems. For just $97 per month, you get: Monthly live coaching sessions Direct access to experienced school owners Practical, step-by-step business strategies Real answers to your real challenges Lowest price in the industry. Highest value delivered. For a limited time, new members receive their first 2 months FREE. Cancel anytime. Take action today and start building a stronger, more profitable school. Join now: https://asamartialarts.com/live/

    49 min

  6. 12/09/2025

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

    Send us a text 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. with Master Tony Chung Grow Your Martial Arts School with ASA Live Join ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching with the team behind Black Belt Banter. This isn’t theory. It’s real-world strategies, live Q&A, and actionable playbooks designed to help school owners increase enrollments, improve retention, and build scalable systems. For just $97 per month, you get: Monthly live coaching sessions Direct access to experienced school owners Practical, step-by-step business strategies Real answers to your real challenges Lowest price in the industry. Highest value delivered. For a limited time, new members receive their first 2 months FREE. Cancel anytime. Take action today and start building a stronger, more profitable school. Join now: https://asamartialarts.com/live/

    43 min

  7. 11/25/2025

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

    Send us a text 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? with Master Tony Chung Grow Your Martial Arts School with ASA Live Join ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching with the team behind Black Belt Banter. This isn’t theory. It’s real-world strategies, live Q&A, and actionable playbooks designed to help school owners increase enrollments, improve retention, and build scalable systems. For just $97 per month, you get: Monthly live coaching sessions Direct access to experienced school owners Practical, step-by-step business strategies Real answers to your real challenges Lowest price in the industry. Highest value delivered. For a limited time, new members receive their first 2 months FREE. Cancel anytime. Take action today and start building a stronger, more profitable school. Join now: https://asamartialarts.com/live/

    56 min

  8. 11/11/2025

    #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 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. with Master Tony Chung Grow Your Martial Arts School with ASA Live Join ASA Live — monthly, interactive coaching with the team behind Black Belt Banter. This isn’t theory. It’s real-world strategies, live Q&A, and actionable playbooks designed to help school owners increase enrollments, improve retention, and build scalable systems. For just $97 per month, you get: Monthly live coaching sessions Direct access to experienced school owners Practical, step-by-step business strategies Real answers to your real challenges Lowest price in the industry. Highest value delivered. For a limited time, new members receive their first 2 months FREE. Cancel anytime. Take action today and start building a stronger, more profitable school. Join now: https://asamartialarts.com/live/

    53 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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