The Dojo Exchange

James Moore

The Dojo Exchange is a martial arts podcast bringing practitioners, instructors, competitors, historians, coaches, authors, legends, and celebrity guests from every style and background together to share their stories, experiences, and knowledge. From Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, Wrestling, Kung Fu, HEMA, Filipino Martial Arts, Krav Maga, and beyond, every discipline has a story worth hearing and lessons worth preserving. Featuring conversations with martial artists from across the community—including renowned instructors, champions, industry leaders, and special guests—the show explores the people behind the martial arts and the experiences that shaped them. The Dojo Exchange is proudly supported by RevGear, connecting the podcast with a brand that has been part of the martial arts community for decades. Our mission isn't to decide which style is best. It's to learn from one another. We explore journeys, challenges, philosophies, successes, failures, training, self-defense, leadership, personal growth, history, and the future of martial arts. Some conversations focus on tradition and history. Others explore competition, coaching, self-defense, business, leadership, or the evolution of martial arts. Difficult topics aren't avoided, but they're approached through respectful conversation and different perspectives. Whether you're a white belt taking your first class or a lifelong martial artist with decades of experience, there's always something to learn from someone else's journey. Different styles. Shared wisdom. Stronger together. One conversation. One lesson. One exchange at a time.

  1. 3d ago

    Kim Hoang: A Lifetime in Taekwondo, Martial Arts & Acting

    On this episode of The Dojo Exchange, we're joined by Kim Hoang for a conversation covering a lifetime in Taekwondo, martial arts, and the world of acting. From years of martial arts experience and the lessons learned along the way to exploring the intersection of martial arts and entertainment, we get to know more about Kim's journey, experiences, and perspective. We discuss: - A lifetime dedicated to Taekwondo - The journey through martial arts - Acting and the entertainment industry - The relationship between martial arts and film - Experiences, lessons, and stories from a life around martial arts The Dojo Exchange is about bringing the martial arts community together, sharing experiences, preserving stories, and learning from the people who make this community what it is. 🥋 The Dojo Exchange — Where Martial Arts Meet Conversation. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with martial artists, instructors, competitors, and industry personalities. 🥊♦️ SUPPORT THE DOJO EXCHANGE & OUR PARTNERS 🔥 RevGear — Official Gear Partner Looking for quality martial arts and combat sports gear? Check out RevGear! 🛒 Shop here: https://tidd.ly/4iH9D5U 🏷️ Use code THEDOJOEXCHANGE for 10% off!. 💪 Bucked Up — Supplement Partner Take your training to the next level with Bucked Up! 🛒 Shop here: https://bckd.co/MLKNSwr 🏷️ Use code TDX10 for 20% off! ACADEMY SAFE! https://academysafe.org/partner/the-dojo-exchange/register-my-academy The 8 Pillars of Protection. How many does your academy have? 1. Background Screening 2. U.S. Center for SafeSport Certification 3. Concussion Training 4. CPR/First Aid and AED Certification 5. Belt and Lineage Verification 6. Security Cameras 7. Professional Insurance and Business License 8. On-Premises AED Parents, these are good questions to ask any academy. Owners and coaches, the link in my bio shows how to get verified. Ad: I earn a commission when members join Academy Safe through my link. #AcademySafe #MartialArts #BJJ #MuayThai #Kickboxing Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, The Dojo Exchange may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Using our discount codes helps support the podcast while saving you money! Thank you for supporting our partners and helping The Dojo Exchange continue to grow! 🥋 Icba - https://icba-worldwide.com/professional-member-access-page/ Nkjf- https://nkjf-usa.com/home International martial arts magazine - https://www.imamag.org/ Martial arts maniacs magazine - https://martialartsmaniacs.com/ #KimHoang #Taekwondo #MartialArts #Acting #TheDojoExchange #MartialArtsPodcast

  2. Oct 26

    Why Most Martial Arts Schools Fail (And How to Build One That Lasts)

    Most martial arts schools don’t fail because the art is bad. They fail because the people running them don’t understand what it takes to build a school that lasts. On this episode of The Dojo Exchange, I sit down with martial arts veteran Dave Kovar to discuss the hard truths about the martial arts industry, what separates successful schools from struggling ones, and why being a great martial artist doesn’t automatically make you a great instructor or business owner. With nearly 50 years in martial arts, Dave shares lessons from a lifetime on and off the mat, including the realities of running a dojo, developing instructors, and building a school that serves its students for decades. 🥋 In this episode, we discuss: - Why martial arts schools fail—and what owners get wrong - The difference between being a great martial artist and a great instructor - The five core beliefs behind a successful martial arts school - Why new school owners should start small, find a mentor, and be willing to work - How The Karate Kid era changed the martial arts industry - Why the best martial art is the one you continue practicing - Cross-training and balancing tradition with modern martial arts - How martial arts develops confidence, discipline, respect, and self-control - The responsibility instructors have to their students and communities Whether you’re an instructor, a school owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a lifelong martial artist, this conversation offers practical insight into the business, leadership, and philosophy behind a lasting martial arts school. Are you building a dojo that will last—or making mistakes that could cause it to fail? Join the conversation and let us know your thoughts in the comments! ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🥋 THE DOJO EXCHANGE Discuss. Learn. Grow. Inspire. Our mission is to bring the martial arts community together, preserve its stories, and create meaningful conversations across styles, systems, and generations. 👍 Like the video, subscribe, and share it with a martial artist who needs to hear this conversation. #DaveKovar #MartialArts #TheDojoExchange #MartialArtsBusiness #Karate #MartialArtsTraining #MartialArtsInstructor RevGear — Official Gear Partner Looking for quality martial arts and combat sports gear? Check out RevGear! 🛒 Shop here: https://tidd.ly/4iH9D5U 🏷️ Use code THEDOJOEXCHANGE for 10% off!. 💪 Bucked Up — Supplement Partner Take your training to the next level with Bucked Up! 🛒 Shop here: https://bckd.co/MLKNSwr 🏷️ Use code TDX10 for 20% off! Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, The Dojo Exchange may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Using our discount codes helps support the podcast while saving you money! Thank you for supporting our partners and helping The Dojo Exchange continue to grow! 🥋

  3. Oct 19

    The Therapist Who Lets Her Fists Do the Talking | Beth Revell

    THE THERAPIST WHO LETS HER FISTS DO THE TALKING! What happens when a therapist steps into the fight game? On this episode of The Dojo Exchange, we sit down with Beth Revell to explore the story behind the fighter. A military veteran, therapist, mother, and professional fighter, Beth brings a unique perspective on discipline, resilience, and life inside and outside the cage. 🇺🇸 From military service to professional fighting, from helping others through her work as a therapist to balancing the responsibilities of motherhood, we discuss the experiences that have shaped Beth's journey and what it takes to pursue multiple passions. 🥊 IN THIS EPISODE: 🇺🇸 Military service and life as a veteran 👊 Her journey into professional fighting 🧠 The therapist's perspective on the mental side of combat sports 💪 Discipline, resilience, and overcoming challenges ❤️ Balancing motherhood, career, and fighting 🥋 Lessons from combat sports that extend beyond the cage 🔥 What's next for Beth Revell This conversation goes beyond fight records and competition. It's about the person behind the gloves and the experiences that shape who we become. Welcome to The Dojo Exchange — bringing the martial arts community together, sharing the stories behind the fighters, and preserving the lessons that make us better on and off the mats. 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Can someone be both a healer and a fighter? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! 👍 Like the video, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more conversations with martial artists, fighters, instructors, veterans, and influential voices from across the combat sports community. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🥋 FOLLOW THE DOJO EXCHANGE Subscribe for more interviews, martial arts discussions, combat sports stories, and conversations with the people shaping the martial arts community. #BethRevell #TheDojoExchange #MMA #MartialArts #Veteran #WomenInMMA #CombatSports #ProfessionalFighter 🥊 SUPPORT THE DOJO EXCHANGE & OUR PARTNERS 🔥 RevGear — Official Gear Partner Looking for quality martial arts and combat sports gear? Check out RevGear! 🛒 Shop here: https://tidd.ly/4iH9D5U 🏷️ Use code THEDOJOEXCHANGE for 10% off!. 💪 Bucked Up — Supplement Partner Take your training to the next level with Bucked Up! 🛒 Shop here: https://bckd.co/MLKNSwr 🏷️ Use code TDX10 for 20% off! Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, The Dojo Exchange may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Using our discount codes helps support the podcast and saves you money

  4. Oct 5

    How REVGEAR Became a Combat Sports Icon | Paul Reavlin, Founder, CEO & President of REVGEAR

    . In this episode of The Dojo Exchange, I sit down with Paul, CEO, Founder & President of RevGear, to talk about the story behind one of the most recognizable names in combat sports. We dive into RevGear’s origins, the early days of MMA, the fighters and events that helped shape the brand, and what it takes to build a company that becomes part of martial arts history. From the early fight scene to working alongside some of the biggest names in combat sports, Paul gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of RevGear and the culture that made it what it is today. 🥊 MMA. Martial arts. Business. Legacy. And this one is packed with stories you don't want to miss. Subscribe to The Dojo Exchange and join the conversation as we bring martial artists, fighters, instructors, and industry leaders together. 🥋 The Dojo Exchange — Martial Arts Podcast 🎙️ Preserving the stories. Bridging the styles. Continuing the journey. Get your Revgear Equipment here (links below) and support the Dojo Exchange! Get quality martial arts gear and apparel while supporting a company that supports the community. Use code THEDOJOEXCHANGE at checkout for 10% OFF your order! Support the people who support martial arts. 🥋👊 Buy some great equipment and Support the dojo exchange! Use code THEDOJOEXCHANGE for 10% off https://tidd.ly/3SJITqQ https://tidd.ly/4ha2CZX https://tidd.ly/4x9KaW0 Support the dojo exchange here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thedojoexchange #TheDojoExchange​ #RevGear​ #MMA​ #MartialArts​ #UFC​ #CombatSports​ #MMAHistory​ #MartialArtsPodcast​ #RevGearMMA

  5. Oct 2

    What’s Behind Your Black Belt? The Importance of Martial Arts Lineage.

    What’s Behind Your Black Belt? The Importance of Martial Arts Lineage | Ray Ballett What’s behind your black belt? On this episode of The Dojo Exchange, I sit down with Ray Ballett, who brings 45 years of martial arts experience to a conversation about something every martial artist should understand: lineage. Ray and I discuss why knowing where your martial art comes from—and who taught the people who taught you—can provide important context for understanding your training. We also dive into: 🥋 45 years in martial arts 🥋 Martial arts lineage and tradition 🥋 What makes a good instructor 🥋 The values a martial arts school passes to its students 🥋 Practical self-defense and situational awareness 🥋 De-escalation and real-world preparation 🥋 Ray's military experience and firearms instruction 🥋 Why self-defense requires more than one tool 🥋 The evolution of martial arts 🥋 Preserving knowledge and passing it to the next generation Ray also discusses his work as a Regional Director with the National Karate Jiu Jitsu Federation and his perspective on helping martial artists continue learning and developing throughout their journey. Whether you're a longtime black belt, a new student, or an instructor, this conversation is about where our martial arts come from, why that history matters, and what we leave behind for the next generation. Welcome to The Dojo Exchange — where martial artists come together to share the stories, experiences, knowledge, and traditions that make up our community. Subscribe, share this episode, and join the exchange. Get your Revgear Equipment here and support the Dojo Exchange! Get quality martial arts gear and apparel while supporting a company that supports the community. Use code THEDOJOEXCHANGE at checkout for 10% OFF your order! Support the people who support martial arts. 🥋👊 Buy some great equipment and Support the dojo exchange! Use code THEDOJOEXCHANGE for 10% off https://tidd.ly/3SJITqQ https://tidd.ly/4ha2CZX https://tidd.ly/4x9KaW0 Support the dojo exchange here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thedojoexchange Martial Arts #RayBault #TheDojoExchange #MartialArtsLineage #MartialArts #SelfDefense #Karate #JiuJitsu #MartialArtsPodcast #MartialArtsHistory #BlackBelt #MartialArtsTraining #SituationalAwareness #NationalKarateJiuJitsuFederation

  6. Sep 28

    Mike Andrus: Reality-Based Self-Defense, Martial Arts & NKJF | The Dojo Exchange

    Mike Andrus joins The Dojo Exchange to discuss reality-based self-defense, martial arts, personal protection, and his decades of experience in the martial arts community. As President of International Affairs for the National Karate Jiu-Jitsu Federation (NKJF) and a 9th-degree black belt in Hon Hab Do Reality-Based Combatives and Wado Shinzen-Kai Kokusai, Mike Andrus has spent decades developing and teaching practical self-defense and combative arts programs. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of martial arts, reality-based self-defense, situational awareness, de-escalation, women's self-defense, martial arts training, leadership, and the difference between traditional martial arts and preparing for real-world situations. Mike also shares his experience developing Safe Day Studio programs and his approach to making martial arts and personal safety practical outside the dojo. 🥋 Mike Andrus 🥋 NKJF — National Karate Jiu-Jitsu Federation 🥋 Reality-Based Combatives 🥋 Hon Hab Do 🥋 Self-Defense 🥋 Martial Arts 🥋 Personal Safety 🥋 Situational Awareness 🥋 Martial Arts Leadership Welcome to The Dojo Exchange — where martial artists come together, stories are preserved, and the conversations continue. Mike's Book! https://a.co/d/0d7uc0LD Get your Revgear Equipment here and support the Dojo Exchange! Get quality martial arts gear and apparel while supporting a company that supports the community. Use code THEDOJOEXCHANGE at checkout for 10% OFF your order! Support the people who support martial arts. 🥋👊 Buy some great equipment and Support the dojo exchange! Use code THEDOJOEXCHANGE for 10% off https://tidd.ly/3SJITqQ https://tidd.ly/4ha2CZX https://tidd.ly/4x9KaW0 Support the dojo exchange here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thedojoexchange Martial Arts Maniacs Magazine www.martialartsmaniacs.com 📰 International Martial Arts Magazine https://www.imamag.org And check out these great organizations that continue to support and contribute to the martial arts community: 🥋 National Karate Jujutsu Federation (NKJF) www.nkjf-usa.com 🥊 International Chinese Boxing Association (ICBA) https://icba-worldwide.com #MikeAndrus #SelfDefense #MartialArts #RealityBasedSelfDefense #NKJF #Karate #Jujitsu #TheDojoExchange #revgear

About

The Dojo Exchange is a martial arts podcast bringing practitioners, instructors, competitors, historians, coaches, authors, legends, and celebrity guests from every style and background together to share their stories, experiences, and knowledge. From Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, Wrestling, Kung Fu, HEMA, Filipino Martial Arts, Krav Maga, and beyond, every discipline has a story worth hearing and lessons worth preserving. Featuring conversations with martial artists from across the community—including renowned instructors, champions, industry leaders, and special guests—the show explores the people behind the martial arts and the experiences that shaped them. The Dojo Exchange is proudly supported by RevGear, connecting the podcast with a brand that has been part of the martial arts community for decades. Our mission isn't to decide which style is best. It's to learn from one another. We explore journeys, challenges, philosophies, successes, failures, training, self-defense, leadership, personal growth, history, and the future of martial arts. Some conversations focus on tradition and history. Others explore competition, coaching, self-defense, business, leadership, or the evolution of martial arts. Difficult topics aren't avoided, but they're approached through respectful conversation and different perspectives. Whether you're a white belt taking your first class or a lifelong martial artist with decades of experience, there's always something to learn from someone else's journey. Different styles. Shared wisdom. Stronger together. One conversation. One lesson. One exchange at a time.