Martial Arts World News Magazine - Volume 23 | Issue 4

MartialArtsWorldNews.com VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 4 

The #1 Business Resource for the Martial Arts Industry 

The Inspiring Story of 

Willie 

‘The Bam’ 

Johnson 

& Wife Kimber 

ISKA US Open 

A Different Kind 

of Karate Event! 

Zuckerberg 

Wins Gold! 

Accepts Elon’s 

Challenge! 

Rothrock 

Martial Arts 

Cinema Queen 

Honored! 

Ask 

Master 

Mom 

Raising 

Productive 

Kids!

Smart 

^ 

WORK HARD 

with Cutting-Edge ATLAS Martial Arts Software® 

M Powerful M 

M Lead Gene 

M Engaging 

M Proven-Su 

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M Industry Le

anagement and Marketing Software 

rating Website 

Social Media Posts 

ccessful Marketing Tools 

You After School Program 

ading Business Strategies 

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CONTENTS 

FEATURES 

14 Tech Mogul Mark Zuckerberg 

Surprises Martial Arts 

Community with Gold and Silver 

Wins 

30 US Open Ushers in the New Era 

of Karate Events 

36 The Inspiring Journey of Willie 

‘The Bam’ Johnson. 

103 FREE Tool of the Month 

DEPARTMENTS 

14 Industry Insights 

15 Birthdays 

18 Industry Innovations 

22 Social 411 

54 School Profiles 

65 Classified Ads 

99 Advertiser Index 

YOUR INPUT 

59 Tell Us Your Story 

78 Feature Your School, 

Organization, Accomplishment, 

or Event 

COLUMNS 

6 Editorial 

Es quassunt qui simaxim fugitae velluptatia sam, 

Master Toby Milroy 

8 Martial Arts World News Faculty 

12 The Way of the Samurai 

Combative Weapons Q & A (Part 6) 

Shihan Dana Abbott 

58 Teamwork 

Creating Your School Owners To-Do List 

Hanshi Dave Kovar 

60 Mind Mastery 

Public Speaking for Martial Artists (Part 1) 

Grandmaster Jessie Bowen 

62 Growth Hacks 

Optimizing Advertising Strategies: Google Vs. 

Facebook and Instagram 

Mr. Sean Lee 

64 Ninja Business Tactics 

Finding The Gift of Living Masterfully 

An-Shu Stephen Hayes 

66 After School Excellence 

The Difference Between Babysitting and Martial Arts 

Education 

Grandmaster Mike Bugg 

68 Pillars of Success 

Speak Like Successful People! 

Grandmaster Y. K. Kim 

72 Staff Development 

15 Gym Myth That School Owners Should Know (Part 1) 

Master Zulfi Ahmed 

74 Extraordinary Marketing 

Everything is Negotiable (Part 1) 

Grandmaster Stephen Oliver 

76 Mastering Modern BJJ 

Whoever Starts Strong Will Not Always Be the One 

Who Finishes Strong 

Master Carlos Machado 

4 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 4

STAFF 

80 Next Level Strategy 

Teaching Commitment (Part 2) 

Shihan Allie Alberigo 

84 The Millionaire Smarts Coach 

Free Yourself From Too Much Stuff (Part 4) 

Ms. Lee Milteer 

88 Budo Philosophy 

Reason and Magic (Part 2) 

Shidoshi Alfredo Tucci 

90 Master the Basics 

3 Secrets to a Great Beginner’s Class 

Master Tina Bane 

92 Instructional Excellence 

The Value of Philosophy 

Grandmaster Tim McCarthy 

94 Business Buzz 

The Purpose Driven Academy 

Grandmaster Lawrence Arthur 

96 Martial Arts Philosophy 

The Day Mr. Jim “Mattress Mack” Mcingvale Taught 

Me a Valuable Lesson 

Sensei Gary Lee 

98 Management Excellence 

Preparing Staff for Success (Part 1) 

Grandmaster Kirk Pelt 

100 The Warrior Way 

Motivation: Towards or Away From? (Part 1) 

Grandmaster Bill Clark 

102 Tactical Self-Defense 

Each Situation Dictates Its Own Response (Part 3) 

Grandmaster Tom Patire 

104 Tools & Tactics 

Protect Your Reputation 

Ms. Chris Lee 

VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 4 

PUBLISHER 


EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

Mr. Sean Lee 

MANAGING EDITOR 

Mr. Jeff Reulbach 

ART DIRECTOR 

Mr. Frank Meyer 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

Mr. Amen Blue 

WEB DEVELOPER 

Ms. Erin Pham 

COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTORS 


Grandmaster Zulfi Ahmed 








Professor Willie “The Bam” Johnson 



Ms. Chris Lee 


Mr. Sean Lee 








The mission of Martial Arts World 

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arts business. 

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MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 4 5

EDITORIAL 

A Record-Breaking Summer or 

the “Summer Slowdown” 

– It’s Your CHOICE! 

by Master Toby Milroy 

We’re only a couple weeks into the summer season, but already, we’re seeing some recordbreaking 

participation in our ‘external’ summer programs, our ‘internal’ summer camps, and 

some inspiring results from our community marketing and lead generation activities. 

If you’ve been following our series on maximizing the summer 

months, you’ll know what I’m describing, if not, visit 

TryAtlasSoftware.com/summer where you can get the FREE 

Video series and downloads to help you crush it in June, July 

and August. 

Our communities seem to be excited to get ‘out’ 

and do things this season! 

With upcoming 4th of July events, business to 

business promotions, internal marketing and other 

external marketing systems, we expect to generate 

2000+ leads, and 100+ enrollments (per location) 

by the end of August, and we’re off to an exciting 

start already. 

For some school owners, this level 

of ‘effort’ and systemization seem 

impossible. 

I’ve met some in our industry 

who have such deep self-limiting 

beliefs, they’ve all but ensured 

their own failure in their schools. 

They struggle to ‘imagine’ that 

it’s even ‘possible’ to enroll 20 

or 30 or 40 new students in a 

month, so, they don’t. 

They have limited beliefs, so 

they take limited action(s), therefore 

get limited results. 

We all learn how to overcome these self-limiting beliefs as 

we become more ‘Masterful’ of our art, and ourselves, but all too 

often, we fail to apply these same lessons to our business. In my 

view, it’s really the largest single ‘problem’ we face, and I believe it 

to be the largest limiting factor to our industry. 

Why do the top 15% of schools in our industry earn 80% of 

the revenue? 

It’s an ‘easy’ excuse to make, (and sadly, too common) to say that 

these top performing schools have simply “sold out”, or are McDojos/ 

Belt Factories. But, in LARGE part, this is simply that…an excuse. 

The overwhelming majority of the top operators that I know, 

work with, and consider to be colleagues, are HIGHLY ethical 

people, have VERY, VERY high quality standards, and in truth, 

are teaching FAR, FAR more ‘valuable’ lessons than most of the 

naysayers. 

They also have FAR better ‘systems’ and far better leadership 

skills than I see at the lower end of the spectrum. 

Part of my mission is to help school owners who ‘want’ to be 

top performers, get there. Help them implement these high level 

‘systems’ that save them so much time, help them attract more students, 

and make a far larger impact in their communities. All while 

RAISING their quality standards, and creating better students at 

the same time. 

I couldn’t be more proud! 

If you need help “Systemizing” your school, or implementing 

these high impact marketing systems, my team will be happy to 

help you - give us a call here at HQ – 1-800-275-1600! 

MASTER TOBY MILROY is a 5th degree black belt. Known as “The Master Systemizer,” Master Toby Milroy 

has positively influenced more martial arts schools than anyone in our industry. He has built a successful multi-school 

organization, lead the national trade association for the martial arts industry, and coached some of the most successful 

martial arts school operators in the world. 

6 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 4 

Photo by Pheelings Media

CHECK OUT OUR 

MARTIAL ARTS 

BUSINESS 

DISCUSSION GROUP 

No Egos – No Politics – No Trolls 

Just News, Tips, Strategies, and Tools to Help You Grow Your School! 

facebook.com/groups/MartialArtsWorldNews

OUR EXPERT FACULTY 

6 


is a 5th degree Black Belt, the CEO and 

Publisher of Martial Arts World News 

Magazine, and the Executive Vice 

President for AMS. In addition to building 

a successful multi-school organization, 

Master Milroy has positively influenced 

more martial arts schools than virtually 

anyone in our industry. 

12 


has amassed acclaim as a world-class 

competitor, martial arts educator, and is 

most notably founder and designer of 

the internationally renowned style, Bushi 

Ban. With over 45 years of martial arts 

experience and over 300 martial arts 

awards, his schools include ten locations 

across Texas. 

58 


is an 8th degree black belt and recognized 

as the “Trainer of Trainers.” Hanshi 

Kovar is an internationally acclaimed 

instructor with black belt degrees in ten 

different martial arts styles. His systems 

have been implemented in hundreds of 

schools around the US. 

62 

Mr. Sean Lee 

is the Executive Director of Sales and 

Marketing for hundreds of martial arts 

schools and specializes in online and social 

media marketing using his extensive 

professional experience in sports and 

martial arts marketing, contract negotiation, 

and investment. 

64 


has authored more than 20 books, 

worked as a bodyguard for the Dalai 

Lama, supervised over 30 school locations 

worldwide, and was named, "One of 

the 10 Most Influential Living Martial Artists 

in the World" by Black Belt Magazine. 

66 


is a 9th degree black belt and the owner 

of a 1.5 million-per-year location, with one 

of the largest after school and summer 

camp programs in the country. 

60 


is President of Karate International of Durham, 

Inc., a member of the American Martial 

Arts Association Sport Karate League 

and Hall of Fame, and has been a member 

of the Duke University PE Staff for over 25 

years. He is the author of Zen Mind-Body 

Mindfulness Meditation and Zen Mind-Body 

Mindfulness Meditation for Martial Arts. 

68 


is the most successful martial arts business 

leader in the US, having written 

over 30 books on martial arts, business, 

leadership, and success. He has won 

numerous public service awards and is 

the founder of the leading martial arts 

marketing and management company in 

the US. 



72 


is a 7th degree black belt in Kenjutsu, 

starting his 14-year education in Tokyo. 

He has published five books and designed 

a US Patent. Abbott has also 

conducted seminars in over 30 countries 

and obtained his black belt at the Hombu 

dojo in Yokohama. He currently offers 

online classes on LearntheSword.com. 

74 


is a 9th degree black belt and is the 

founder and CEO of Mile High Karate 

schools, and founder of the Martial Arts 

Wealth Mastery Program. 

76 


is one of the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu 

Jitsu in the United States of America. 

Currently a Coral Belt, and promoted 

to Black Belt by Carlos Gracie Junior, 

Carlos Machado came to the USA in the 

early 1990’s with his brothers where they 

formed the RCJ Machado Jiu Jitsu Association, 

one of the strongest & growing 

BJJ organizations in the world today. 

80 


is a 7th degree black belt, the founder of 

the L.I. Ninjutsu Centers, one of the largest 

Ninjutsu schools on the planet, the 

author of 4 books, and an entrepreneur 

with one of the first online coaching companies 

(TakingItToTheNextLevel.com). 

84 


is an Intuitive Business Coach, awardwinning 

professional speaker, and TV 

personality who has counseled and 

trained over a million people throughout 

her career. Lee is Stephen Oliver’s 

Martial Arts Wealth Mastery’s Millionaire 

Smarts Coach and is also a best-selling 

author of educational resources. 

88 


is the CEO and General Manager of the 

Budo International Publishing Company, 

a leading publisher in the martial arts 

with over 35 years in the industry. He 

is also author of several books: The 

Immaterial Dimension, The Way of the 

Warrior, and The Spirit. He currently lives 

in Valencia, Spain. 

90 


is a 6th degree master instructor and 

owner of a Top Ten martial arts school 

with successful after school and summer 

camp programs. 

92 


is a 9th degree black belt and is a martial 

arts educator with a master’s degree in 

education. He has been instrumental in 

developing two industry-changing programs, 

and has directed and been featured 

in hundreds of martial arts videos 

and webinars. 



94 


is a martial artist specializing in Karate, 

Kung Fu, Kenpo, Shoto-kan, and Gojurue, 

with 40 Super Kick Karate locations, 

and founder of AFKA. World champion 

Lawrence also runs the Black Belt Success 

Systems consulting firm, training 

martial arts instructors on proper business 

practices in schools all over the country. 

96 


the American Samurai, is a 9th Dan black 

belt, a USA Karate Federation gold medalist, 

winner of five Super Grand National 

Titles, a featured actor in the movie Sidekicks, 

and is the founder of the National 

Sport Karate Museum. 

100 


is a 9th degree black belt and a former 

PKA Fighter of the year. He is widely 

considered one of the top experts in martial 

arts business with over 40 years of 

leadership and innovation, having been 

inducted into almost every Hall of Fame 

in the industry. He is one of the largest 

multi-school owners in the world. 

102 


is known as “America’s Leading Personal 

Safety Expert” and has appeared on 

Good Morning America, The CBS Morning 

Show, The Colbert Report, Montel, 

plus in mainstream publications such as 

Family Circle, Redbook, Fortune Magazine, 

and The Wall Street Journal. 

98 


is a 9th degree black belt and is the 

President of a multimillion-dollar, multischool 

organization, has a 30-year track 

record of success, and is currently on the 

leading edge of martial arts curriculum 

and business innovation. 

104 

Ms. Chris Lee 

is a martial arts business development 

consultant with a background in online 

and social media marketing. 

We’re Seeking Contributors! 

Do you have something to share? 

We’d love to hear about it! 

CONTACT US: 

407-895-1996 Editor@MartialArtsWorldNews.com 

MartialArtsWorldNews.com/Ureport 


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THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI 

Combative Weapons Q & A (Part 6) 

by Shihan Dana Abbott 

The Japanese Art of Chanbara Promises 

Safe Sparring for All Martial Artists 

From Foam to Steel 

Q: How well do the lessons learned in chanbara translate to 

real self-defense with real weapons? 

These weapons allow one to see, understand and correct their 

weaknesses while polishing their strong points in a safe injury 

free environment. Moreover, chanbara allows the martial artist 

and combatant to fight at a true speed and power exactly like one 

would use in a real life situation. A real weapon used for training at 

a true speed and power is not forgiving and all beginning students 

will be injured in a very short period of time. That is why most 

martial art schools let the student wait until they are higher ranked 

colored belts before they go on to weapons. Now, 

even white bets can polish their martial art 

weaponry aspirations. Even if the student 

does not use weaponry one can practice 

with a chanbara sword 

for 8 to ten hours and 

their reaction time, 

balance, speed, timing, 

etc. will improve 

dramatically. One will 

almost be able to spar 

with an opponent and 

be able to eat a sandwich 

and drink a coke before the 

punch comes in. Chanbara 

weaponry allows one 

to counter and watch 

every strike at a true 

speed. When one goes 

back to his traditional 

weapon they will have a 

much stronger feeling of 

confidence and martial agility. Nothing will take the place of the 

traditional weapon, but using the chanbara weapons will polish the 

traditionalist at a much faster and safer pace. 

Armed Equivalent of Reality Fighting 

Q: Does performing sword techniques at full speed and full 

power against an opponent who is striking back cause a person 

to eliminate some of the fancier moves taught in the traditional 

sword arts? 

Yes, anything that is fancy and used at a true speed will put 

you into difficulty. All those techniques used in movies and TV 

especially would have gotten you cut into ribbons within the first 5 

seconds. The sword is like a gun. You go in, take the shot…get out 

and go home. Anything else is a waste of time, effort and opens up 

huge avenues to injury and the loosing score. Simple is best and 

the sword has been kept simple for thousands of years. Moreover, 

the combatant does not have the time to think fancy when a sword 

is whizzing towards their head. Get it...Get out...Don’t get hit. 

Q: Are all the traditional moves exactly the same as 

chanbara moves? 

Chanbara is nothing new. It uses all the techniques that the 

Japanese used for centuries in war and battle. The only thing different, 

is that with science and technology one is able to practice 

the art of the sword and weaponry safely without getting injured. 

If you practiced traditional kendo, you would move this way. If you 

practiced from a movie you saw, you would practice your way. It is 

all viable in a fight although, through traditional sword technique 

one is apt to have a higher percentage of wins vs. loses. 

SHIHAN DANA ABBOTT Is a 7th degree black belt in Kenjutsu, starting his 14-year education 

in Tokyo. He has published five books and designed a US Patent. Abbott has also conducted seminars in 

over 30 countries and obtained his black belt at the Hombu dojo in Yokohama. He currently offers online 

classes on LearntheSword.com, his unique swordsmanship academy. 


Photograph by Pierre-Yves Beaudouin

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS 

Tech Mogul Mark Zuckerberg 

Surprises Martial Arts Community 

with Gold and Silver Wins 

In a stunning turn of events, Mark Zuckerberg, the renowned 

Facebook and Meta founder, has triumphed in his debut Brazilian 

jiu-jitsu tournament held in Redwood City, California. The 38-yearold 

tech billionaire, widely known for his contributions to the digital 

world, has now proven his mettle on the 

martial arts stage. 

During the pandemic, Zuckerberg developed 

a keen interest in martial arts, dedicating 

himself to mastering the craft. His hard 

work and determination paid off as he proudly 

claimed both gold and silver medals for the 

Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu team. The victory came as a 

delightful surprise to many, particularly within 

the martial arts community. 

Zuckerberg took to Instagram to share his 

excitement, stating, “Competed in my first 

jiu-jitsu tournament and won some medals for 

the Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu team.” His achievement 

sparked widespread praise and admiration, 

with one of his coaches, Khai “the Shadow” Wu, offering heartfelt 

congratulations. 

Witnessing Zuckerberg’s remarkable performance, Coach 

Wu expressed his awe, saying, “Yesterday, getting to see Zuck 

compete was pretty epic. No match was easy, 

and everything was earned. It was an honor 

to be able to help coach and offer any advice I 

could.” 

Zuckerberg’s triumph in the martial arts 

realm not only demonstrates his versatility but 

also inspires others to pursue their passions 

outside their comfort zones. As he continues 

to make groundbreaking strides in the digital 

world, his success in the martial arts arena adds 

yet another feather to his already illustrious cap. 

Breaking News: Recently, Elon Musk has 

issued a Challenge to face Mark Zuckerberg in 

a cage match potentially in the Vegas Octagon. 

Stay tuned as this story develops. 



Martial Arts Celebrity Birthdays 

May 

May 5 ..............................Jim Kelly* 

May 12 ..........................Jerry Trimble 

May12 ............................Mike Bugg 

June 

June 17 .........................Scott Adkins 

June 17 .......................... Sho-Kosugi 

June 20 ......................Benny Urquidez 

May 21 ...........................Dave Kovar 

May 25 ..............................Cung Le 

*Deceased 



The Legacy Continues: 

Honoring Grandmaster Cynthia Rothrock 

Join the American Martial Arts Alliance as they embark on an 

unforgettable journey to celebrate our legacy! The American 

Martial Arts Legacy Weekend is a remarkable event where martial 

arts school owners can train with the world’s top martial artists and 

experience the true essence of our community. 

Mark your calendars for July 28-29, 

2023, as we gather at the prestigious 

Orleans Hotel & Casino in vibrant Las 

Vegas, NV. Prepare yourself for a weekend 

filled with inspiration, education, and camaraderie 

as we honor our martial arts heritage 

and recognize over 1,000 incredible martial artists 

featured in the renowned “Who’s Who in the Martial 

Arts” books. 

This extraordinary event will bring together hundreds 

of martial artists from around the globe, creating 

a melting pot of talent, knowledge, and passion. 

Joining us as a special guest speaker is the legendary 

Grand Master Cynthia Rothrock, a true icon in 

the martial arts world. Imagine the opportunity 

to train alongside and learn from one of the 

greatest martial artists of our time! 

The American Martial Arts Legacy 

Weekend is more than just an occasion; it is 

a celebration of our community and its outstanding 

achievements. The VIP reception 

offers a unique chance to mingle with martial 

arts giants, including Grand Master Cynthia 

Rothrock and other distinguished practitioners. 

You can even have your copy of 

the acclaimed “Who’s Who in the Martial 

Arts” biography book signed by some of the 

featured martial artists. 

Prepare to enrich your martial arts 

journey through a series of captivating lectures 

delivered by industry experts. From 

business strategies to personal development, 

these sessions are designed to help 

you advance your martial arts career. 

Imagine the invaluable knowledge you’ll 

gain by connecting with professionals, 

expanding your network, and learning 

from the best in the field. Together, we 

can grow and improve, raising the bar for 

martial arts excellence. 

Take your skills to the next level with 

expert-led workshops that will unlock your 

full potential. Our workshops, guided by top 

professionals, provide a rare opportunity to 

refine your techniques, broaden your knowledge, 

and develop essential skills for success. 

Whether you aspire to become a better leader 

or gain a competitive edge in your profession, 

our seminars will equip you with the tools and 

expertise you need to excel. 

The American Martial Arts Legacy Weekend 

is not just an event; it’s an experience that will 

shape your martial arts journey forever. Join us as 

we unite our strengths, celebrate our shared heritage, and 

pave the way for a brighter future. Become a part of our 

legacy and embrace the martial arts community like never 

before. 

Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity 

to train with the best, learn from the masters, and 

celebrate martial arts with like-minded individuals. 

Mark your calendars, secure your spot, and get ready 

to make history at the American Martial Arts Legacy 

Weekend in Las Vegas, NV. Let us join forces, embrace 

the legacy, and together, we will soar to new 

heights of martial arts excellence! 

Legends Weekend –July 28-29, 2023 

Orleans Hotel – LasVegas, NV 

Visit: whoswhointhemartialarts.com 


www.ElitePublications.org

INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS 

Boost Your Martial Arts School’s Visibility 

with Apple Business Connect 

As a martial arts school owner, you understand the importance 

of promoting your business to attract new students and 

provide a seamless experience for existing ones. In today’s digital 

age, online visibility plays a crucial role in connecting with potential 

customers. Apple Business Connect offers a powerful tool for martial 

arts school owners to put their businesses on the map, quite 

literally, by utilizing Apple Maps. This article will explore how Apple 

Business Connect can benefit your martial arts school and help 

you reach a wider audience. 

Create an Impressive Place Card: Apple Business Connect 

allows you to create and manage your martial arts school’s place 

card on Apple Maps. A place card is a concise summary of your 

business that potential customers can access easily. With Apple 

Business Connect, you have complete control over how your 

business is presented. You can add photos, header images, logos, 

hours of operation, contact information, and more. By customizing 

your place card, you ensure that potential students have all the 

necessary information at a glance. 

Promote Special Offers and Announcements: Timely offers, 

promotions, and seasonal products can be effectively showcased 

through Apple Business Connect. You can create engaging 

showcases on your place card to inform customers about limitedtime 

offers and exciting announcements. Showcase features 

can include quick actions such as ordering delivery or booking a 

reservation. This functionality enables potential students to take 

immediate action with just a tap, increasing their likelihood of 

engaging with your martial arts school. 

Streamline Customer Engagement: Apple Business Connect 

offers convenient quick actions that empower customers to interact 

effortlessly with your martial arts school. With these features, 

customers can order food, book a reservation, schedule an appointment, 

purchase tickets, and more. By providing seamless and 

user-friendly ways for customers to engage, you enhance their 

overall experience and increase the likelihood of them becoming 

loyal students. 

Insights for Optimal Impact: Understanding how customers 

find and interact with your place cards, showcases, and quick actions 

is crucial for optimizing your reach. Apple Business Connect 

provides valuable insights that allow you to track and analyze the 

performance of your business on Apple Maps. With these insights, 

you can make data-driven adjustments to your marketing strategies, 

resulting in a more significant impact and improved business 

growth. 

Unlock the Full Potential of Apple Maps: Apple Maps is not 

just a navigation tool; it’s a comprehensive guide for exploring the 

world around you. By leveraging Apple Business Connect, your 

martial arts school can become an integral part of this global platform. 

Interacting with landmarks across the globe or in your local 

community, potential students can discover your school more easily. 

By aligning your business with Apple Maps, you tap into a vast 

user base that trusts Apple’s built-in apps for their everyday needs. 

Apple Business Connect offers an excellent opportunity for 

martial arts school owners to enhance their online presence and 

reach a wider audience. By creating a compelling place card, 

showcasing special offers, providing quick actions, and leveraging 

insights, you can optimize your marketing strategies and foster 

meaningful connections with potential students. By utilizing Apple 

Maps, your martial arts school can become a prominent landmark 

in the digital landscape, attracting more students and ensuring 

your business thrives in today’s competitive market. 


We teach Character through Karate 

Kickstart Kids is an award winning in-school 

character development program that uses 

karate to teach life-changing values to middle 

school and high school students. The non-profit 

organization was founded in 1990 by martial 

artist, actor, and philanthropist Chuck Norris. 

For employment opportunities or to find out 

how you can help support this great cause, visit 

kickstartkids.org 

KickStartKids.org

INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS 

Ask Master Mom: Raising Productive 

Kids with Confidence and Discipline 

Congratulations! You have kids! It’s an incredible journey 

filled with joy, love, and endless possibilities. But let’s face it, 

parenting can be a little overwhelming at times. 

The pressure to never make a mistake, to raise 

exceptional children who excel in every aspect 

of life, can feel daunting. But fear not, because 

Master Mom is here to guide you on this 

incredible adventure and help you become a 

true master of parenting! 

I’m Amanda Olson, and for over 30 years, 

I’ve been dedicated to helping children and 

families thrive together. As Master Mom, 

I specialize in providing simple and effective 

strategies to address behavior 

issues, discipline challenges, 

and confidence building. My 

ultimate goal is to create a 

supportive and happy home 

environment where children 

can grow and flourish. 

One common struggle 

parents face is getting their 

kids to listen. I understand the frustration 

that comes with constant 

battles and power struggles. That’s 

why I offer personalized guidance 

to help you find the right methods 

that work for your unique family 

dynamic. Together, we can bring 

harmony and peace back into 

your home. 

Confidence is the key to unlocking your child’s potential. We 

all need a little boost to set us on the right path, and I am here to 

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SOCIAL 411 

What Is a Meta Description and What 

Does It Do For Your Website 101? (Part 1) 

meta description is an HTML tag used to express to searchers 

the content of any of your Martial Arts School website 

A 

pages. This description will show up under the title and URL of 

your page as it appears in search engine results. To optimize this 

for Google, your meta description should be kept somewhere 

between 140-160 characters. 

Here’s an example for martialartsworldnews.com: 

“The #1 business resource for the martial arts industry includes 

news, feature stories, and columns for martial arts professionals.” 

Why are Meta Descriptions Important? 

Since meta descriptions appear with your title and URL on the 

results pages, they can help or hurt your results’ click, meaning 

more or less visits to your trial offer pages. 

In terms of your school’s search result, your meta description 

has the most real estate (two lines of text compared to one line for 

the title and one line for URL), so take advantage of the opportunity 

to sell your Martial Arts School website with a meaningful 

message that benefits searchers. 

 

Martial Arts Business News and 

Tools for School Owners! 

 

 

T 

Social Media Tips to 

Grow Your Martial Arts School 

Tip #3 – Post Multiple Times Each Day 

The more your market sees your school 

name, programs, benefits, offers, and calls to 

action, the more quickly they remember and are 

prepared to respond. Social media marketing 

experts recommend repeating the same post 

at least 3 times a day because it takes at least 7 

times before it sinks in. Even so you have to find 

a balance in frequency because just as water 

is a necessity and good for a plant, too much 

of it can also destroy it. Using multiple social 

platforms to get your special offers out to your 

audience can help because it won’t feel as if 

you’re bombarding them. 

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through social media marketing, you must post a 

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SOCIAL 411 

12 SEO Tactics to Increase Martial Arts 

School Website Traffic: #3 

3. Format Your Content for Search Engines & Target 

Featured Snippets 

If you want the content you write to perform well, make sure 

you’re answering the questions your audience is asking. One way 

to do this is to target featured snippets. 

Featured snippets appear at the top of the Martial Arts School 

search results page on Google. They’re designed to answer a 

user’s question without requiring them to leave the page. They’re 

highly visible, helpful, and likely to attract organic traffic since they 

appear before numbered results. You might also see them referred 

to as SERP features. 

These positions are highly sought after by digital marketers. To 

win one, you need to optimize your program’s featured content to 

target them. The strategies you use to target featured snippets can 

make your content more helpful to readers and improve your SEO, 

even if you don’t win the snippet in question. 

Here’s what to do: 

First, choose which content you want to optimize to target a 

featured snippet. Use a keyword tool to identify relevant keywords 

(Karate and Kung Fu) with the search intent and SERP feature you 

want to target. 

Next, search for that keyword yourself to see what type of 

content is currently featured. Make a note of what question the 

content answers and how it’s written. 

For example, is the snippet a bulleted list or a table? Is the information 

correct? What else ranks well? These observations will give 

you an idea of how to edit your content. 

Now edit your content. 

Make sure your content both asks and answers the target question 

in the snippet as clearly and concisely as possible. After all, 

studies show that a piece of content that asks a question is more 

likely to have a featured snippet. 

Organize your page using heading and subheaders. If it makes 

sense for your page, try to use one of your subheaders to target 

your desired SERP feature. Headings and subheadings make it 

easy to understand or search your page, which can help improve 

your search ranking. 

Finally, tighten up your page’s copy. Try to use short, direct 

sentences (no more than 20 words) with language that isn’t too 

complicated. And while you should try to avoid single-sentence 

paragraphs, you don’t want them to be too long, either. 


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SPECIAL FEATURE 


Receives Doctorate Degree 

MAW News Magazine columnist Grandmaster Tim McCarthy was awarded a 

Doctorate Degree from the Martial Arts World Organization on April 29, 2023. 

MAWN: Grandmaster McCarthy – or should I say Doctor 

McCarthy – congratulations on receiving your Doctorate Degree. 

TM: Thank you. It was an honor to receive it in front of all my 

martial arts brothers and sisters at such a prestigious event. 

MAWN: What does this certificate represent to you? 

TM: It is the result of a lifetime of dedication to the martial arts 

in general and to the Martial Arts World Organization in particular. 

I have always considered myself more of a martial arts educator 

than a fighter, so after over 45 years of contributions, I humbly accept 

this esteemed recognition. 

MAWN: You mentioned the prestigious event. Where did you 

receive it? 

TM: I was invited as a special guest to the Martial Arts World 

Super Show in Orlando. It was a full day of competition and 

achievement. Hundreds of students from across the country 

came together to express their love and dedication to the martial 

arts. It had team competitions and individual competitions, all 

without violence. The system designed by Supreme Grandmaster 

Y. K. Kim creates a competition where students are motivated 

to improve themselves and their technique, yet no one walks 

away a loser. 

MAWN: In most tournaments students not only fight to win, but 

someone has to lose. How is this tournament different? 

TM: First of all, the main event is the team exhibition competitions, 

where each school puts on their best martial arts demonstration 

using costumes, music, forms, breaking, weapons, and 

choreographed sparring. The competition creates the motivation 

for students to do their best, to gain confidence by performing 

in front of a crowd, and to promote their school by showing the 

community the benefits of martial arts training. Of course, there is 

a prize for the winning team, but every competitor walks away with 

a medal for their efforts. No violence, no losers. 

During the day there is also individual and small team competitions 

in forms, breaking, and action movie style sparring. Each ring 

is assigned by age and rank, and then sub-divided into groups 

of 4. The 4 competitors or teams compete, and everyone gets a 

medal. Again, no losers. 

It used to break Supreme Grandmaster Kim’s heart to see one 

of his students get a tooth knocked out in traditional sparring. He 

came up with the action movie style sparring where two students 

form a team and choreograph a short sparring routine as if they 

were acting in a action movie. They learn sparring skills without 

actually hitting and hurting each other. Again, no violence. 

MAWN: Wow! That does sound like a fun day for everyone 

involved. Congratulations once again on your achievement, and 

we look forward to reading more of your column in future issues. 


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SPECIAL EVENTS 

US Open Ushers in 

the New Era of Karate Events 

U.S. Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships 

Orlando, FL | June 29 – July 1, 2023 

The Most Prestigious Event of its Kind 

Creative weapons form competitors in final preparations. 

The US Open is different. 

There are far too many martial arts tournaments out there that 

leave students, families and school operators with a bad taste in 

their mouth. Too many egos, unsportsmanlike conduct, poor judging, 

profanity, and general ‘chaos’ everywhere you look. 

For more than 20 years, the US Open has been leading the 

charge to change all that, and now, in 2023, the difference is 

obvious! 

Whether you are a world-rated competitor, a novice trying your 

hand at competition for the first time, a fan in love with the sport, 

or a school owner who wants to see their students bond over an 

amazing experience, the US Open is for EVERYONE. 

Every year, martial arts enthusiasts from across the globe 

gather at the iconic Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, 

to witness the spectacle of the US Open Martial Arts Tournament. 

Combining the thrill of competition with the enchantment of Disney, 

this annual event has become a cherished tradition for martial 

artists and fans alike. In this article, we will explore the magic and 

excitement that make the US Open a unique experience in the 

world of martial arts. 

Imagine stepping into the vibrant world of Disney, where dreams 

come true and magic fills the air. Now add the intensity and discipline 

of martial arts, and you have the extraordinary setting of the 

US Open Tournament. The event takes place within the sprawling 

confines of the Walt Disney World Resort, providing a breathtaking 

backdrop for athletes to showcase their skills. From the adrenalinepumping 

action to the iconic Disney landmarks, participants and 

spectators are immersed in an unforgettable experience. 

Master Milroy and 

NASKA Promoter, Larry Carnahan 

Hanshi Dave Kovar with Master Milroy 

School owners and team leaders are vip guests 

Take advantage of a once-per-year opportunity to earn recognition 

in your community by being personally invited to the US Open 

ISKA World Martial Arts Championships. Whether your school 

normally attends tournaments or not, the US Open provides the 

chance for your students to bond outside the training hall with you 



and their training mates while being inspired by the performances 

they will witness and making new friends from around the world – 

And it all happens where dreams come true, in the home of magic 

itself – Walt Disney World 

ISKA world championships 

World-Class Competitors and Martial Arts Legends: One of the 

highlights of the US Open Tournament is the presence of worldclass 

competitors and martial arts legends. Renowned athletes 

from around the globe gather to showcase their skills, creating an 

atmosphere of intense competition and mutual respect. It is not uncommon 

to witness awe-inspiring performances from champions 

who have achieved legendary status in the martial arts community. 

The tournament provides a rare opportunity for aspiring martial 

artists to learn from the best and for fans to witness exceptional 

displays of skill and athleticism. 

Whether you practice Traditional or Contemporary Martial Arts, 

Competition Divisions Are Offered for Every Age Group and Skill 

Level ranging from Novice First-Timers to the most Experienced 

Professional Black Belt Competitors. The US Open Martial Arts 

Tournament offers a wide range of competition categories and 

divisions, catering to various martial arts styles and skill levels. 

Participants can engage in forms, weapons, and sparring competitions, 

showcasing their expertise and artistry. Divisions are available 

for different age groups, allowing both seasoned competitors 

and young talents to shine. With divisions such as traditional forms, 

creative forms, and team demonstrations, the tournament offers 

a platform for participants to express their unique styles and push 

the boundaries of their martial arts prowess. 

Spectator Experience and Disney Magic: The US Open 

Tournament offers a unique experience for spectators, combining 

the excitement of martial arts with the enchantment of 

Disney. Attendees can explore the tournament’s various venues, 

each filled with electrifying action and the vibrant energy of 

competitors. Between matches, visitors can explore the magical 

attractions of the Disney parks, providing a memorable balance 

between intense martial arts competition and immersive family 

entertainment. The tournament’s synergy with the Disney experience 

creates an unforgettable adventure for participants and 

spectators alike. 

Promoting Camaraderie and Unity: Beyond the competition, 

the US Open Tournament fosters camaraderie and unity 

among participants. Martial artists from diverse backgrounds 

come together to share their passion for the art form, forging 

lifelong connections and friendships. The tournament serves as 

a platform for cultural exchange, where participants can learn 

from different styles and approaches. This sense of unity and camaraderie 

extends beyond the tournament, enriching the global 

martial arts community. 

The US Open Martial Arts Tournament at Disney is a remarkable 

fusion of martial arts excellence and the magic of Disney. The 

event’s unique setting, world-class competitors, and enchanting 

atmosphere create an unrivaled experience for martial artists and 

fans. Whether you are a practitioner seeking to test your skills 

or a spectator looking for a captivating blend of athleticism and 

entertainment, the US Open at Disney is an event that should not 

be missed. It embodies the essence of martial arts and reminds us 

that dreams can truly become a reality. 



ISKA Events 

Forms (Empty-Hand) 

• Traditional Forms 

• Creative Forms 

• Musical Forms 

• Extreme Forms 

Team Events 

• Team Point Sparring 

• Team Continuous Sparring 

• Team Synchronized Forms 

• Team Demonstration 

Weapons 

• Traditional Weapons Forms 

• Creative Weapons Forms 

• Musical Weapons Forms 

• Extreme Weapons Forms 

Open Breaking DIvisions 

• OPEN Creative Multi-Direction Wood Breaking 

• OPEN Creative Breaking 

• OPEN Power Board Breaking 

• OPEN Speed Board Breaking 

• OPEN High Jump Board Breaking 

• OPEN Power Concrete Breaking 

Sparring Divisions 

• Continuous Light Contact Sparring 

• Light Contact Point Sparring 

• Light Contact Clash Sparring 

• Submission Grappling 

• Light Contact Sport MM 

Feature Divisions 

• Handicapable / Adaptive Divisions 

• Fight Choreography Demonstration 


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From Inner City Struggles to Martial Arts Mentor: 

The Inspiring Journey of 

Willie 

‘The Bam’ 

Johnson

COVER STORY 

MAWN: You’ve been around for quite 

some time and have a truly fascinating 

story. Can you please begin by giving 

us a little background on how you got 

involved in martial arts and the journey 

that led you there? 

WJ: Thank you. I first became interested 

in martial arts when I was just 

six years old. It all started when I went 

to see the Bruce Lee movie “Chinese 

Connection”. This film had a profound 

impact on me, especially considering 

the challenges I faced as a child growing 

up in the inner city. Watching that 

movie was an internal awakening for me, 

that gave me hope and inspiration. 

I believe it’s crucial to recognize that 

martial arts allow us to convey our messages 

through various mediums. Whether 

it’s in a classroom, a book, a movie, 

or even music, the power of vibrations 

cannot be underestimated. What Bruce 

Lee expressed through that movie not 

only inspired me but countless others 

as well. As I grew older, I began to 

understand the significance of what 

he represented. He stood up against 

the struggles and hardships that afflicted 

both him and his community. 

Martial arts became his 

vehicle for fighting against 

those challenges. During 

that time, I found myself 

fighting through similar 

circumstances as a child. 

I’ve shared this story 

before, but I experienced 

a wide range of hardships 

that can happen to 

a young person like me, 

including bullying and molestation. 

These negative 

experiences really plagued 

me, but I put myself on a 

quest to find mentors who 

could guide me and help me 

learn during that period. 

At that time, not a lot of 

people truly understood the 

power of martial arts. So we 

would come out of a movie 

theater, attempting to imitate 

the kicks, punches, and even 

make the weapons we saw 

in the movies. However, 

martial arts schools were scarce during 

that time. Nevertheless, the desire to 

learn the art and uncover its mystical 

elements drove me to seek out teachers 

and attend community centers to 

explore disciplines like gymnastics. Of 

course, the same things we see happening 

to children today were happening 

back then, but we didn’t have the 

support like they do today. People didn’t 

grasp the benefits of the martial arts, 

but we could feel them. Unfortunately, 

our parents often dismissed it as something 

mystical and would say, “This ain’t 

going to bring no money” or expressed 

other negatives that go along with it. 

MAWN: For a lot of people the Bruce 

Lee movies were a catalyst in beginning 

martial arts training. Who helped you to 

get started training in the martial arts in 

the environment you were in at that time? 

WJ: At the time, I was 

visiting different clubs, 

but the one that had a 

profound impact on me was the McKim 

Community Center in the neighborhood 

of Baltimore City. I met an instructor 

named Kenna Parker, who directed me 

in a system of martial arts called Kang 

Duk Won. It included Wing Chung, 

Aikido, and gymnastics. It was like the 

Shaolin temple of the inner city. It was a 

place that instilled character in children, 

and it helped to build mine. Also, with 

the help of Black Belt Magazine and 

other martial arts books, I was following 

what martial arts greats like Cynthia 

Rothrock and others were doing. Those 

magazines were a wealth of knowledge, 

providing information about all the martial 

arts tournaments and seminars. 

Due to my passion and love for the 

arts at such a young age, I began to 

follow the path of these remarkable individuals. 

As a child, I even wrote letters 

to potential sponsors like McDonald’s 

and 7-Eleven, unaware of the full extent 

of what I was doing. Amazingly, my 

determination was evident, and these 

companies responded by sponsoring 

me to participate in karate tournaments 

and similar events. That’s how it all 

started for me. I seized every opportunity 

to connect with martial arts because 

I believe the higher levels of martial arts 

is a universal connection to all for enhancing 

human development. We just 

use the tools of kicks and punches 

to get there and that’s what I was 

attracted to. It allowed me to form 

connections with others in the 

martial arts community, ultimately 

bringing me to where I 

am today. 

MAWN: You know people 

tend to forget that in the ‘70s 

and early ‘80s, martial arts 

wasn’t widely known. However, 

it had a dedicated following, 

even though it didn’t have the 

same mainstream recognition it 

enjoys today. Organizations like 

the Professional Karate Association 

(PKA) were able to sell out venues 

like Madison Square Garden, creating 

these huge events. It was similar 

to the UFC in a way, with these big 

shows that inspired many individuals to 

seek out martial arts. 


COVER STORY 

You had a challenging childhood that 

was far from easy, to put it mildly. Martial 

arts became a means for you to cope 

with those difficulties and eventually 

build a successful life. You’ve shared 

stories about your time in jail, struggles 

with drugs, and various other obstacles 

that you overcame. Can you provide 

us with some context regarding those 

experiences? What impact did they have 

on you? 

WJ: Certainly, the challenges we 

see our children facing today are not 

entirely new. These issues have always 

existed, but they were not as exposed 

or widely acknowledged in the past. 

Often, people failed to pay attention to 

such matters when they occurred within 

specific segments of society. 

We need to remember that the ‘70s 

were a very significant period of cultural 

expression, following the civil rights 

struggle. It was a time when communities 

were connected, where people 

could leave their doors unlocked, and 

respect was valued, especially for 

elders. We didn’t have cell phones or 

all the technological advancements we 

have today. However, if you dared to 

disrespect an elder or act out of line, 

you could be sure that word would 

travel quickly. By the time you reached a 

few blocks down the street, your mother 

would be waiting with a belt, ready to 

discipline you. There was a strong sense 

of community and interconnectedness. 

Now, I must emphasize that I’m 

not implying everyone made perfect 

choices or behaved appropriately. Bad 

things happened, and people made 

poor choices regardless of authority. 

Even the police got along with us in the 

community. I’m not saying everything 

was ideal, but we managed to get along, 

and trust was there. We could leave our 

doors unlocked, and while drugs and 

crime existed, it wasn’t as the media 

might suggest. 

What we often label today as bullying, 

I view as a struggle to communicate 

with individuals who are trying to take 

advantage of you or exploit you in some 

way. You had to fight back and learn 

how to communicate effectively. Back 

then, your parents would say, “You’ve 

got a disagreement? Let’s walk down 

the street.” You would go to the other 

child’s house, and the parents would 

say, “Let them fight it out. Work it out.” 

Meanwhile, they would sit on the porch, 

enjoying hot dogs while we settled our 

differences. It may sound peculiar, but 

that’s the power of martial arts. By the 

time we were exhausted and leaning on 

each other, unable to fight anymore, we 

had become the best of friends. It was a 

defining moment, fostering growth and 

earning respect. However, something 

shifted in the ‘80s when communities 

became flooded with drugs during the 

crack epidemic. 

MAWN: We might say, the “good old 

days,” with reference to how communities 

were back then. So can you tell us 

about the change you saw in the ‘80s? 

WJ: It was a transformative time in 

history. If you look back and do the 

research, you’ll see how everything 

changed economically. Programs that 

once existed in the community were 

taken away, and people had to focus 

on survival. As a child, witnessing my 

mother on welfare, I had to grow up 

early, as did many other kids. We had 

to step up and help out. We couldn’t sit 

around and talk back to our parents. We 

didn’t do anything that would make their 

problems worse. We may not have fully 

understood the details, but we could 

sense the fear in our mothers when 

continued on page 42 


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COVER STORY 

continued from page 39 

the man knocked on the door at the 

beginning of the month, worried that he 

might take away her sofa and charge 

her triple the amount of money that he 

paid for it. I may not have understood it 

entirely, but what I did know was that my 

mother was handicapped and treated 

like a piece of trash. But I refused to let 

anyone degrade my mother. So, as a 

young man, I had to find ways to hustle 

on the streets and do whatever it took to 

ensure my mother could have 

a better life because martial 

arts wasn’t paying the bills. 

Martial arts may provide a 

front, making it seem like we 

were big successful masters 

in our own right. But the truth 

was, we weren’t getting paid 

for all the time and effort we 

put into running the schools 

and training. We showed up at 

the Dojo early in the morning 

or late at night, but we 

were not getting paid. It was 

an external façade, maintaining 

that image, but so many 

of us from my generation 

were being destroyed. I was 

faced with a choice. Should I 

continue showing up, participating 

in tournaments, and 

doing all these things to make 

it appear as if I was successful? 

But then go back home 

and be unable to provide 

help to my mom. Also, I was 

a young man that had a child 

at a young age, and I couldn’t 

even afford to buy diapers. So 

as man I had to figure out how 

to hustle. 

MAWN: You were like 

the proverbial rock in a hard 

place. What were the lessons 

you learned and how did the martial arts 

come into play in your circumstances? 

WJ: I want to make it clear that I don’t 

blame anyone else for the choices I 

made. I take full responsibility for my 

actions. No one in my family chose 

to sell drugs and hustle, but I made 

the decision to do whatever it took to 

ensure that my mom would never be 

treated like a piece of trash again. It just 

so happened that martial arts was a part 

of my life at the same time in my journey. 

Although martial arts is my gift, I was 

also successful in the streets. But there 

are two levels of self-defense and the 

stuff we teach in the dojo is completely 

different from what goes on in the 

streets. The self-defense techniques we 

learn in the dojo don’t always apply to 

the real dangers we face on the streets. 

The people out there committing acts of 

violence and murder aren’t walking into 

dojos. That’s a whole different level of 

energy and danger. 

The people who are trying to hurt 

you from the street don’t care about 

the consequences. They don’t care 

about going to jail or even losing their 

own lives, but I have a family to think 

about. I can talk tough, but if I have to 

go to court and potentially face jail time 

for defending myself, can I handle that 

world on the other side? It’s a harsh 

reality we must face. So martial arts 

empowers us to make better choices, to 

find strength in difficult situations. 

Before I got into trouble, something 

amazing happened. Can you imagine a 

kid from the ghetto getting the opportunity 

to travel to mainland China? Because 

I was one of the best competitors 

in the world, my instructor found a way 

for me to travel to mainland 

China when the Great Wall had 

just opened. I got the chance 

to see a completely different 

world that I had never seen 

before. It was an eye-opening 

experience, and it further 

solidified the significance of 

martial arts in my life. 

MAWN: Wow, what a 

fantastic opportunity! What 

happened next in your journey 

because you clearly were 

heading straight for the top? 

WJ: I got certified and was 

training. Everything that I 

learned needed to provide an 

opportunity for me to succeed 

when I came back home, and it 

did. When I came back home, 

I began to win even more. The 

other beautiful thing about this 

was that I had been running 

a martial arts school since I 

was 17 years old. And I was 

taught by Nick Cokinos in the 

classroom at the beginning of 

EFC. I was in a room with Dave 

Kovar, Stephen Oliver, Dennis 

Brown. I was the youngest kid 

amongst these great business 

entrepreneurs. 

But I didn’t get it back then. 

I was taking it for granted. I 

was lying on my statistics. I was acting 

like I was making more than what I was 

making. I was showing up late to staff 

meetings, after I told them don’t show 

up late. And all this stuff. I was doing 

everything that kids do today, because I 

was playing on both sides of the fence. 

As a side note, if you are running 

a business and you have a young kid, 


COVER STORY 

don’t abuse them and use them because 

you don’t know what the hell they 

are going through back home. Pay them 

for what they are worth and treat them 

with some respect. 

At the beginning, because we had 

this mystical idea about the martial 

arts, we thought that everybody would 

always have our best interests at heart. 

But when I was at the high point of my 

martial arts career, my mom died from 

cancer. When she died, I wanted to die. 

Everything that I did was on the brink of 

me wanting to die. Going through the 

warfare in Baltimore. Gang wars, shoot 

outs, pistol whipping, you name it, I saw 

it all. I was either the predator or the prey 

because I’ve been on both sides of that 

kind of stuff. But one day, I begged and 

pleaded because I wanted it to stop. 

Guess what? The greatest thing happened 

to me, I was incarcerated. 

MAWN: Whoa, that’s an amazing way 

to see your circumstances. How did you 

come to see a situation like this as a 

great thing for your life? 

WJ: My father had always warned 

me that jail was not a place for a man, 

especially a young black man. But despite 

his advice, I didn’t listen and found 

myself locked up. I was incarcerated, 

and it was a difficult experience for me 

because I was claustrophobic. Confinement 

triggered my claustrophobia, and I 

felt overwhelmed and wanted to take a 

sheet and hand myself. I was panicking, 

struggling with my emotions, 

and the stuff in my system 

only made it worse. 

But in April of 1989, 

I dropped down on 

my hands and knees 

and prayed to God for another 

chance to use martial arts to empower 

kids like me who had nobody 

to understand their struggles. When I 

left tournaments, nobody knew the hell 

I was going back to. No one in the 

dojo could speak to the things I 

was facing in those projects. 

My prayers were 

answered during my 

one-year sentence 

in a maximum security 

prison. I was 

locked in a small cell which I was let out 

for one hour each day. I held onto the 

belief that when the student is ready, 

the teacher will appear. I knew what I 

had to do and now it was time to do it. 

In that confined space, I wrote on every 

available surface, from toilet paper to 

newsletters. During my time in jail I 

formulated the ideas and principles that 

guide me to this day. Martial arts gave 

me the strength and direction I needed, 

and I began to go down the path. 

Remarkably, I never engaged in 

a fight while in a maximum security 

prison, despite being surrounded by 

individuals serving life sentences and 

hardened criminals. Martial arts was 

part of my daily routine, and everyone 

knew I was a martial artist. Behind those 

prison walls, it didn’t matter how much 

money I had or what titles I held to the 

murderers. The world inside was controlled 

by the prison authorities. I made 

a conscious decision not to get involved 

in any conflicts. I dedicated myself to 

practicing martial arts from the moment 

I woke up until I went to bed. I also read 

many books on self-empowerment and 

sought out places of spiritual guidance. I 

peacefully coexisted with everyone. 

MAWN: It sounds like a transformation 

had taken place in your life. What 

realizations did you have and where did 

they lead you? 

WJ: 

Interestingly, 

one day when I was released 

from jail, I continued my daily workouts. 

I pushed myself to do thousands of 

push-ups, maintained my physical and 

mental discipline. Remembering my 

katas, I realized how much I had taken 

for granted what Mr. Cokinos, Master 

Kovar, Stephen Oliver, and others had 

done for me as a young kid. But it was 

at this time that I put that knowledge to 

use. I developed a business plan. Really, 

two plans. 

I knew what not to do this time 

around. I returned home from jail with 

only $20 and a dream. 

MAWN: Can you tell us more of what 

went into that and how it plays out in 

the community? 

WJ: First, in the prison, there was a 

remarkable man named Brother D, who 

still remains the greatest person I’ve 

ever met. He told me that I had one responsibility 

which was to go home, get 

my son, stand up, and be a man. He told 

me that I needed to take the martial arts 

and use it to empower other children 

who went through things like I did. It 

was my duty to give away what God had 

blessed me with inside that jail cell in 

order to keep it. 

I didn’t need trophies, money, or accolades, 

nor did I require people to pat 

me on the back because God had already 

changed me. Consider this—when 

you leave jail, finding a job becomes 

incredibly challenging. Yet, I managed 

to open my own business. I started at a 

community center, and within 90 days, I 

had 100 students. The number grew so 

rapidly that my parents and others in 

our community had to find a building 

for us. When we finally opened 

our school, I had 100 contracts 

on the very first day. I knew the 

system and had my tests and 

everything else meticulously 

organized. Everything I do 

today in terms of running the 

business, the blueprint for 

success, was already 

in place – the 

marketing 

and promotions. 

I had 

to promote 


COVER STORY 

my product, make sure people knew its 

name, and get people to shout it from 

the rooftops. It’s all the same—whether 

it’s the hustle game or the business 

game. It took some maturity to realize 

the similarities, but now I pursue them 

for the right reasons. 

Once I recognized that jail was the 

greatest thing that happened to me, I 

understood why. It gave me the opportunity 

to truly know myself, love myself, 

and be my own best friend. It allowed 

me to develop a genuine appreciation 

for martial arts. We must always remember 

the pioneering individuals who started 

this movement in martial arts history. 

The individuals responsible for initiating 

these circumstances possessed the revelation 

to uncover the truth, which we 

are yet to comprehend fully. The contemporary 

urban culture experienced 

by our children is an enigma that eludes 

the understanding of most individuals. 

Nevertheless, I possess the ability to 

engage with even the 

baddest child and 

facilitate their comprehension. 

Similarly, I 

can aid them 

in understanding 

the 

perspectives 

of the wealthiest children. 

Martial Arts has provided me 

with this capacity. 

MAWN: Wow! Seems 

clear that since you’ve been 

there, you can relate and 

your success and huge 

organization growth goes 

a long way to say others 

could follow your success. 

WJ: True, but 

the size of the 

institution holds no significance to me. 

Monetary wealth can be acquired effortlessly, 

but true wealth transcends financial 

means. True wealth manifests in the 

relationships we cultivate, the individuals 

who listen to us, and the impact we 

make in the world. When we depart from 

this realm, wealth and the assurance of 

true value. At one point, I despised my 

educators for what I perceived as their 

indifference towards me. Now, I cherish 

I might die on my dojo floor because of 

the love I have for teaching. 

my teachers, and I can contact Master 

Brown at any given time because he assumes 

the role of a father figure, extending 

beyond that of a martial arts instructor. 

I had to mature in order to recognize 

the blessings bestowed upon me. 

In addition, the most extraordinary 

aspect of martial arts emerges 

when it becomes monotonous, 

exasperating, and 

detestable, and we persist 

and arrive at the realization 

that it was 

not the art itself 

that was mundane. 

Instead, 

it was our own 

boredom that 

hindered us. 

Martial arts 

represents 

an ongoing journey of self-discovery. 

This is the essence of Black Belt—it’s a 

new beginning, a platform for learning. 

MAWN: Your story is utterly captivating, 

serving as a profound motivation to 

transform martial arts into more than just 

a career, but rather a vocation that influences 

not only your own life but also the 

community and everyone around you. 

There seems to be some common traits 

among many individuals that have been 

highly successful in the martial arts 

industry, can you address that some? 

WJ: Yes, it is fascinating to observe 

how many of us in the martial arts that 

have managed to establish successful 

businesses have reached levels of success 

that might be considered unattainable. 

One thing is that a number of us 

have had personal struggles and past 

hardships that we had to rise above to 

find our path. Secondly, there has to be 

willingness to take personal responsibility 

for our failures and not simply dismiss 

or attribute them to societal factors, 

communal influence, upbringing, or any 

number of reasonable excuses. Another 

thing I have noticed in gaining significant 

money, there is the realization that 

it is not the ultimate goal. Money may 

serve as an indicator of certain things, 

but it does not express the fullness of 

our purpose. Wealth is far more important 

as I have said and that comes from 

putting first the things that enhance us 

as human beings. 

MAWN: Well said. Now, despite the 

challenging and enriching 

background 

you 

described, 

you also enjoyed 

an extraordinary 

career as a competitive 

martial artist at the highest 

level. Could you briefly elaborate on 

that journey and how you believe it has 

shaped your current path? 

WJ: Well, I must admit, I was once 

an egotistical natural athlete, going 

through that phase where you believe 

you’re the best person in the room 

and no one can defeat you. But 

I think it was necessary to go 

through some of that in order to 


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reach the point where we currently find 

ourselves. Wisdom cannot be attained 

without experiencing setbacks and 

defeats, acknowledging that there is 

always more to learn. In my early days, 

they called me the “Bus Boy” because 

I would enter these karate tournaments 

where I would have to travel on a threeday 

bus trip just to reach the venue. 

Since I couldn’t afford a hotel, I would 

compete at the Diamond Nationals, get 

eighth place, and immediately get back 

on the bus to return home. The first 

tournament I won, took place at Madison 

Square Garden during the prestigious 

Cho’s All American Championships. 

I hold a deep affection for New York. 

I competed in kung fu tournaments 

where I faced some of the best individuals 

in the city. I emerged victorious, and 

the experience was truly remarkable. 

Competing in those old-school events 

was intense because I sparred against 

renowned figures and watched and 

listened to others like Cynthia Rothrock 

and Billy Blanks. As the youngest competitor, 

I followed one rule and it played 

a significant role in my growth—whenever 

those guys were talking, I would 

shut up and listen attentively. I soaked 

up their wisdom, and it paid off when it 

was my turn to compete. 

Prior to my incarceration, I had 

already achieved remarkable success, 

winning world championships and being 

recognized as one of the top kung 

fu competitors in the world. When I 

came back I achieved even greater accomplishments 

than before. I won the 

World Championships in Germany and 

was honored with the Black Belt Hall 

of Fame title for Kung Fu Instructor of 

the Year in Baltimore. The accolades, 

though significant, are merely byproducts 

of my journey. 

MAWN: You certainly were at the top 

and it was well deserved. How has your 

journey impacted your instruction? 

WJ: The truth is, the ultimate joy for 

me lies in teaching. Seeing my students 

surpass anything I have ever achieved 

brings me immense happiness. When 

you visit my dojo, you’ll find me actively 

participating in every class—backflipping, 

rolling around, and joking with the 

parents. Teaching is what I truly love. 

I desired to be a champion more than 

anything else, but jail made me realize 

that I am a better teacher than I am a 

champion. I might die on my dojo floor 

because of the love I have for teaching. 

I enjoy people from all walks of life and I 

don’t get caught in racism. 

So the tournaments provided me with 

the opportunity to have mentors like 

Billy Blanks, who I can reach out to even 

now, and he reminds me of my purpose 

and helps me understand it. Wesley 

Snipes, Brandon Beliso, John Kokinos, 

and the list goes on. Knowing these 

individuals is the embodiment of true 

wealth. In the martial arts community, 

you can connect with people from many 

levels of economic backgrounds, but 

we’re still unified. 

My ultimate goal is to become a true 

representation of the joy of martial arts 

and pass it on to the next generation. 

I want the martial arts to evolve into 

something bigger and better than what 

it is today. The only way to bring this 

about is by focusing on passion rather 

than chasing money. As Damon John 

wisely advises, when you chase your 

passion, incredible things happen. 

I appreciate the significance of titles 

and tournaments, but what I truly cherish 

are the connections and camaraderie 

among like-minded individuals. 

Now when we’re together, we can be 

our authentic selves, cracking jokes, 

and simply being normal people. The 

tournaments provided me with that 

experience. I strive to instill that same 

spirit in my students and carry forward 

the legacy of those legendary figures. 

Through our creation of Point MMA, we 

aim to honor their contributions and 

preserve their memory. 

MAWN: Yes, the martial arts can be 

a wonderful community! Next, you have 

built a successful martial arts school 

where you teach children and families. 

What does the system of programs 

consist of and how is it serving your 

community? 

WJ: It has been a wonderful and challenging 

journey, but I always felt that 

there was more I could do to make a 

positive impact in the community. That’s 

where Point MMA comes into play. Point 

MMA is not just a martial arts program, 

it’s a mission-driven initiative. 

Part of this is the Complete Martial 

Artist is my testimonial which I wrote to 

myself while I was in prison. What I’m 

doing with that is sharing with my students 

and parents is the self-discovery 

I hand and the things that I had learned 

from my experiences that would be able 

to help them through similar situations. 

It basically is not about a style, but 

more about the principles and values of 

martial arts for the whole mind, body, 

and spirit. 

Now with regard to Point MMA, its 

mission is to use martial arts as a catalyst 

for personal growth, empowerment, 

and social change. I would like to note 

that my wife Kimber Johnson is also the 

creator of that program, not just me. She 

just kind of remains behind the scenes, 

but I would not be able to do much of 

what we’re doing without her! 

At the time of its beginning, we were 

thinking about taking out sparring from 

our program because it seemed we 

were losing a lot of people over that, 

but that was mostly because of what 

was being seen in UFC. Sparring is 

essential to martial arts, but we didn’t 

think a child should be exposed to cage 

type fighting, so we made sure that the 

curriculum included an appropriate type 

of sparring. We believe that a complete 


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system of martial arts is a powerful tool 

in transforming lives and communities 

when it aims at instilling discipline, confidence, 

and respect in students while 

also addressing important social issues 

for the greater good. 

MAWN: That sounds great and 

beneficial. What are some of the key 

components to the program? 

WJ: The program goes beyond traditional 

martial arts training and incorporates 

fitness, self-defense, character 

development, and leadership skills. We 

want to develop well-rounded individuals 

who not only excel in martial arts but 

also become responsible and passionate 

members of society. The Point MMA 

program is not just about training individuals, 

it’s about making a difference 

on a larger scale. So we actively engage 

with the community and collaborate with 

other organizations to address social 

issues like bullying, violence prevention, 

and youth empowerment. We organize 

events, workshops, and seminars that 

promote positive values and provide 

tools for personal growth. 

In addition, we connect great martial 

artist names to our techniques, like 

Chuck Norris and Billy Blanks. So when 

the students do, “the Billy Blank’s 

technique,” or any other technique with 

a name attached to it, it gives them a 

sense of connection and inspiration. Because 

they don’t know who some of the 

people are, they google the name and 

find out about the person. Then they 

associate themselves with the greatness 

of martial arts legends and feel 

motivated to achieve those techniques. 

This became a way for us to honor the 

pioneers and legends of martial arts and 

keep their legacy alive. 

Our goal is to create a community of 

martial artists who are not only skilled 

fighters but also advocates for change. 

We want to inspire our students to use 

their martial arts training and the values 

they learn to make a positive impact in 

their own lives and the lives of others 

because Point MMA is not just a martial 

arts program. It’s a philosophy, a mission, 

and a movement. It encompasses 

the complete martial artist concept, 

community engagement, and a commitment 

to making a difference in 

the world through martial arts for 

all children, regardless of their 

background or financial situation. 

We wanted to create an inclusive 

platform where kids could learn 

and grow in a supportive environment. 

MAWN: The program actually 

reached a national level of awareness 

and success. What do you 

think about the success and its 

reach to the world? 

WJ: Yes it has been really successful. 

We managed to reach 

the second round of the reality 

television show Shark Tank and 

even made it to the cover of Black 

Belt Magazine. So the program was 

nationally recognized, but what I 

wanted to do was bring things back 

to the community. We wanted the program 

to be accessible to all kids so we came 

up the the new Kids Point MMA which 

focuses on teaching 37 essential skills for 

kids by kids. So we got a lot of help from 

other industry leaders to help us in the 

direction we should go in for the kids. 

We also had to recognize the importance 

of integrating martial arts with 

other sports and activities that kids are 

involved in. We don’t want to compete 

with football, soccer, or basketball. 

Instead, we want to complement and 

enhance their overall athleticism. Our 

martial arts can provide valuable physical 

and mental training that can benefit 

young athletes in any sport. 

This enables kids to practice the 37 

skills outside of the school, like a kid 

practicing with a basketball outside 

of the gym. Martial arts didn’t seem to 

have this outside of the school kind of 

training element for kids, where they 

could train and teach their friends 

through the phone, tablet or computer, 

so we created it with this intention as 

well. The idea of 37, was to connect it 

to the pop culture of the 37 chambers 

of the Shaolin temple found in classic 

movies, etc. 

Once again, we believe Point MMA 

is not just about competition or winning 

championships. It’s about building character, 

instilling confidence, and teaching 

life skills that will serve children well 

beyond the mat, but the appropriate 

kind of sparring develops more than 

just a champion in the ring. We want our 

students to become champions in their 

communities, schools, and personal 

lives. We believe that the principles of 

martial arts, such as discipline, respect, 

and perseverance, can positively impact 

every aspect of a child’s life. We believe 

in the power of mentorship and peerto-peer 

teaching, where older students 

can guide and inspire younger students. 

This creates a sense of responsibility, 

leadership, and a deeper connection 

within the martial arts community. That’s 

the true essence and purpose of Point 

MMA and our Kids Point MMA program. 

MAWN: You have done a great job 

with this program, but it became even 

bigger than Point MMA. Can you explain 

a little bit more about the certification 

program in the Complete Martial Arts 

system that also allows each student 

to learn how to teach martial arts in a 

structured environment with supervision? 

Also, please briefly explain about 

the 1 Million Scholarship Fund? 

WJ: That’s a great question. First, the 

Complete Martial Arts certification program 

equips individuals with the necessary 

skills and knowledge to effectively 

share our martial arts training curriculum 

with others. As mentioned, it’s not just 

about learning techniques, but also 


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COVER STORY 

about understanding the principles and 

values of martial arts and enables us to 

reach into the community by offering 

opportunities for individuals to become 

certified instructors. It’s about teens 

being able to mentor younger kids positively. 

This brings the benefits of martial 

arts to more people and empowers 

them to become leaders and instructors 

within their own communities. By training 

instructors passionate about martial 

arts, they make a positive impact and 

create a ripple effect to spread the values 

and teachings of martial arts further 

and wider. 

Additionally, we have established 

the 1 Million Scholarship Fund as part 

of our commitment to providing access 

to martial arts for children who may not 

have the financial means to participate. 

This scholarship fund aims to support 

deserving children who show potential 

and dedication to martial arts but may 

face financial barriers. By removing the 

financial obstacle, we can ensure that 

more children have the opportunity to 

experience the transformative power of 

martial arts and benefit from its positive 

influence. 

The combination of the certification 

program, outreach into the community, 

and the 1 Million Scholarship Fund work 

together to serve our mission of making 

martial arts accessible and impactful 

for everyone. Through these 

programs, we strive to create 

a positive and inclusive 

environment where individuals 

from all walks of life can 

participate and thrive in 

martial arts. 

Once again, our ultimate 

goal is to inspire and empower 

individuals to become 

champions in their own lives 

and make a difference in 

their communities. By providing 

the tools, resources, and 

opportunities for personal 

and professional growth, 

we aim to create a lasting 

impact that goes beyond the 

confines of the martial arts 

school. We want to contribute 

to the improvement of 

society by developing strong 

individuals who embody the values of 

martial arts and positively influence 

those around them. 

MAWN: This is a well thought out all 

inclusive program for your community. 

Can you expand a bit more of the impact 

on teenagers and younger students being 

mentored by them? 

WJ: Another excellent question. So, 

as the teenagers progress and become 

squad team members, we want to harness 

their potential and the skills they 

have developed to make a positive 

impact in their communities. One of our 

objectives is to provide opportunities for 

teenagers to become mentors and instructors 

themselves. By doing so, they 

not only enhance their own martial arts 

skills and leadership abilities but also 

become role models for younger children. 

They can pass on their knowledge, 

teach the 37 skills, and instill the values 

and principles of martial arts in the next 

generation. 

This mentorship program helps 

bridge the gap between teenagers and 

younger kids, allowing them to connect, 

learn from each other, and grow 

together. It fosters a sense of unity and 

camaraderie within our martial arts community. 

Through this process, the teenagers 

who have experienced personal 

challenges and growth can now use 

their own journey as a source of inspiration 

and guidance for others. 

Ultimately, our aim is to provide a 

platform for teenagers to transform their 

own lives and the lives of others through 

martial arts. By recognizing their potential 

and providing them with the tools 

and opportunities to lead, we contribute 

to their personal development, build 

character, and instill a sense of purpose. 

Together, we can create a community 

where everyone can thrive and make a 

positive difference. 

We understand the importance of 

creating an environment that caters 

to their evolving needs and interests. 

We want to provide them with a space 

where they can express themselves, 

find their own unique path within martial 

arts, and even explore entrepreneurial 

opportunities. We want to show them 

that martial arts can be a lifelong pursuit 

that goes beyond just training and competition. 

By empowering teenagers to have 

ownership over their martial arts journey, 

we can retain their interest and 

engagement during this crucial phase of 

their lives. We encourage their creativity, 

support their goals, and guide them 

towards realizing their full potential. 

Whether it’s through developing their 

own training programs, organizing 

events, or exploring business opportunities 

within the martial arts industry, we 

want to nurture their entrepreneurial 

spirit and help them succeed. 

In essence, our mission is to provide 

teenagers with the tools, resources, and 

mentorship they need to navigate this 

transformative stage of life while staying 

connected to the values and principles 

of martial arts. By doing so, we can help 

them build a strong foundation for success, 

both on and off the mat. Together, 

we can create a martial arts community 

that supports teenagers in realizing their 

potential, embracing their individuality, 

and making a positive impact in the 

world around them. 

MAWN: This is a wonderful and 

impactful program for the community 

and spread of the martial arts culture. 

Thank you for sharing your experience 

and knowledge with our readers. 


Jan 26, 27, 28, 2024 

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SCHOOL PROFILE 

Reach For The Stars with Master Alirezael: 

Star Brazilian Jiujitsu 

is the owner and head coach of Star Brazilian Jiujitsu 

(BJJ). He is a Pan American Brazilian Jiujitsu Champion 

(Gi and No GI), World Sambo Champion, and a National 

Champion in wrestling. Starr BJJ hosts classes in 

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai kickboxing, American 

Boxing, Wrestling, MMA, and Children’s BJJ where 

students are taught to strive to reach for the stars. 

MAWN: How long has your school been in business and what 

are the enrollment numbers? 

YA: Star Jiujitsu has been in business for 17 years. The average 

enrollment at our school is 150–170 students, with a current enrollment 

of 170. 

MAWN: What is the major contribution that your school is bringing 

to your community? 

YA: I used to be on the National Level Wrestling Team back 

home when I resided in Iran. Back then, people would find out 

about me because I had a very strong wrestling background: 

working with wrestlers, and helping with high school wrestling. So I 

started martial arts and Jiu-Jitsu because I was teaching wrestling, 

and then because of wrestling I kind of moved to Jiu-jitsu. 

MAWN: What are the most significant programs you provide 

and their benefits to participants? 

YA: The highlight of my day is the kids program. I especially 

enjoy working with kids who are acting out. I love to work with 

them because, obviously, martial arts is such a positive way to 

bring them peace. I have a bunch of examples of students who 

were literally getting up from the middle of the school class and 

just running away into the hallway. Now after some time with us, 

they’ve got smiley faces. I work with them to see a change in 

their attitude. 

MAWN: What has been your experience with trying to promote 

your school? 

YA: In the beginning, I would say I did not have much success. 

Although my numbers are not that bad, I did not have much 

success with advertising. Over the years, I have done a bunch 

of Facebook and Instagram ads. I promoted at the gym and with 

some at-home flyers. 

Once I hired a company for 4 months to help out and they 

promised me 30 students in one month after the initial $500 start 

up fee. Now, I’ve been in business long enough to know that they 

all will say everything and anything to you to get your business. 

They put a bunch of ads on Facebook and Instagram resulting in 

few leads, but unfortunately nobody signed up, so I spent 4k or 5k 

with no results. 

MAWN: So now, what is your process for student acquisition? 

YA: I have found that word of mouth promotion works the best. 

I get most of my students from the internet. Basically, they just 

search for Jiu-Jitsu or martial arts and then they find me. They 

visit the school and I let them try a few lessons so they can see 

the value. 

MAWN: Do you have a lead generating website and what 

about it has been most productive regarding leads? 

YA: Yes, I have an Amazing Martial Arts Website as part of the 

ATLAS management system. It has been generating 7 to 10 new 

enrollments from around 30 leads each month. 

MAWN: So you use ATLAS and what features are providing the 

best benefits for running your school more efficiently? 

YA: Yes, I use ATLAS which coordinates with the website for 

follow up leads. 

I do it myself by simply sending an email and giving a call, 

then I use the automation in the ATLAS system. I get leads every 

time. The email gets sent to me, and I reply to that. I call them 

and also I reply with an email, and then I follow up with them in a 

week or so. Whatever offer we’re doing at the time, I just follow 

up on every lead. 

MAWN: What advice do you have for other martial arts school 

owners for having business for having success in business? 

YA: My advice for other schools is just to create a very friendly 

atmosphere, because, especially in a sport like Jiu-Jitsu, which 

we teach, which is kind of rough. People have to feel extremely 

comfortable, and not be afraid to come in, and that’s where I 

come in. I just make sure they have a great time and make sure 

they know everybody is their friend. That’s what works for me. I 

also let them know this is not a gym where people are trying to 

beat you up. 


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SCHOOL PROFILE 

Which Easy Promotion Could 

Help You Open 12 Locations? 

25-year industry vet Master Do Hyun Chang reveals the one simple promotion that 

has skyrocketed his schools’ profits. 

MAWN: What market do you teach? 

DC: I’m located in Cary, North Carolina, and I teach primarily 

families. 

MAWN: What year did you open your school? 

DC: 1995. 

MAWN: Which martial arts styles do you teach? 

DC: Taekwondo only. 

MAWN: How many active students do you teach? 

DC: I have 12 locations, 2,500 students total, and 200 per 

school on average. 

MAWN: What do you consider your schools’ strengths? 

DC: We have eight kinds of rotations. We have a warming-up 

system where we rotate every two weeks for 15 minutes (a fourmonth 

circuit). We also rotate action (targets, etc., with music). 

Instructors and kids love it because they never get bored. 

MAWN: Do you have a Black Belt Club/Master Club/Leadership 

Program? If so, could you describe how that works? 

DC: We have a tuition-based Leadership Team for teenagers for 

$270 per month. We teach them how to understand and motivate 

others and students. We take our future staff through this program 

to invest time in our own staff. I teach most of the classes myself 

among the 12 locations so I also teach them how to run a school, 

focusing on finding good leaders and developing them more 

widely and deeply. My program is detail oriented to try to prevent 

students from burning out due to their lack of time management. 

It also develops and identifies their strengths like personality and 

intelligence. We spend a couple months on finding strengths. 

MAWN: Can you mention a few benefits that having a management 

system brings to your business? 

DC: It’s improved our relationship with our students, and our 

financial management, by not having to take a one-time payment. 

Our number one school uses nearly all of the tools. 

MAWN: What have been your most successful marketing systems, 

promotions, or strategies over the last year? 

DC: Birthday parties gain us two new enrollments on average. 

We had nine parties last week. If a student brings five or ten 

friends, four or five will sign up for a trial. We also sign kids up for a 

birthday party when they sign up for their trial. They book on their 

first time coming through our door. We’re fully booked with parties 

every single weekend. We have a disco ball, DJ booth, and a great 

sound system. The kids love it. It’s our biggest marketing strategy. 

MAWN: Why are you running multiple schools and expanding? 

DC: I want to be a good influence and help others develop life 

skills. I wanted to give back. Many of my staff and instructors were 

my students and they needed a secure job and money, but I had 

more staff than locations. It also makes good revenue; some of my 

staff is making more than $100,000 per year. We have no contract 

except for a non-compete. We also have a bonus program where 

they earn extra money for having over 200 students or $1 million in 

income a year in addition to a cut of our profits. 


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TEAMWORK 

Creating Your School Owners 

To-Do List 

by Hanshi Dave Kovar 

In the martial arts industry, it can be easy to feel like there is way too much on the todo 

list. Sometimes things can stack up and even the most organized people can get 

a little overwhelmed. Whenever this happens to me, I do an exercise I call “Plan, Act, 

Review, Renew.” 

This is a great exercise for martial arts school owners 

and instructors for identifying top priorities and getting them 

accomplished. 

Here’s how it works: 

1. Plan. Write down 10 things or tasks you 

would like to get done in your martial arts 

school. Don’t take any more than five minutes 

to do this. Write down even the most outrageous 

ideas that might pop in your head. 

Next, prioritize, in order of importance, 

everything you wrote down, using a number 

one for the highest priority items through 10 

for the least important. You need to have 

two or three priority one items. Go 

ahead and rewrite all of the priority 

one items on a separate piece 

of paper. 

2. Action. Your assignments 

for the next week are 

to make a plan of action 

for all of your number one 

priorities and take the first 

steps toward accomplishing 

these goals. 

3. Review. At the end of the 

week, take some time out of 

your day to look over your plan 

and acknowledge everything you accomplished. It helps to do this 

with your team so you can all hold each other accountable to your 

to-do lists. Set up a time to review your progress on a regular basis 

(maybe during your staff meeting) so you can stay on track. 

4. Renew. The final step is to renew your goals. Look over your 

original list every so often and re-prioritize. Are all 10 items still 

important? Have any been fully accomplished. If you decide one 

of your goals isn’t as important as it used to be, put it lower on the 

list. If it has been achieved, cross it off the list and start back at the 

planning step. 

HANSHI DAVE KOVAR is an 8th degree black belt and recognized as the “Trainer of Trainers.” Hanshi 

Dave Kovar is an internationally acclaimed instructor with black belt degrees in ten different martial arts styles. His 

systems have been implemented in hundreds of schools around the US. 


Photograph by Andres Victorero

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Share Your Message in Martial Arts World News Magazine 

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Options & Packages: 

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SEEKING STORIES! 

Martial Arts World News Magazine is the definitive source 

for information, news, education, ethical business 

practices, product reviews and innovative developments in 

the world of martial arts business. 

We are always on the look out for notable, engaging and 

valuable stories for our readers! 

If you, your school, organization, event, product, or service 

has a story that might be of value to our readers, we’d love to 

hear about it! 


Contact us at: 407-895-1996 

or Email Editor@MartialArtsWorldNews.com

MIND MASTERY 

Public Speaking for 

Martial Artists (Part 1) 

by Grandmaster Jessie Bowen 

This article supports martial artists in the growth and development 

of their martial arts programs to become better speakers 

and presenters. 

When was the last time you had to speak in front of a crowd? 

Perhaps you’re a martial arts instructor or school manager, and 

talking to a crowd or enrolling students is second nature. But, on 

the other hand, maybe you’re already a part of that group, aspiring 

to be a leader. 

Regardless of whether you’re used to speaking, it’s no 

secret that becoming a confident and skilled speaker isn’t 

only a necessary part of strong leadership. In many situations, 

it’s also an opportunity for you to earn money by 

spreading a message you care about. So let’s 

look at the path to public speaking and how to 

become a public speaker. 

My success at running a martial arts school 

for over 38 years and expanding that success 

into other opportunities has afforded 

me the opportunities to grow and develop a 

public speaking platform. I attribute this to my 

martial arts instructor, Jan Wellendorf, author 

and founder of Karate International of 

North Carolina. 

I began my teaching 

career as a martial arts 

instructor at the rank 

of greenbelt. I was 

21 years old, and I 

did not have a lot 

of life experience. 

The first night I 

was given the opportunity 

to lead 

the class, I stood 

there as everybody 

was looking and waiting for me to give the first command, 

but nothing would come out of my mouth. So I went to my instructor’s 

office as he was sitting there waiting for me, and I told him, 

“ Sir, I can’t do this. “ He said yes, you can. He gave me a manual 

that he had developed for his instructor program. It was called the 

Methodology of Teaching. 

I took the material, studied it, and came back the next day, 

and it wasn’t that much better. If I mispronounced a word or my 

grammar wasn’t correct after class, he would call me to the office 

and correct it. I know that many of you would say you would have 

walked out of his school and never returned. But those lessons 

and the discipline of returning to receive the corrections changed 

my life. In 2 1/2 years, I had my own karate franchise. I became 

the martial arts instructor at Duke University, a former sports 

coordinator for the US Olympic Committee, developed hundreds 

of students to the rank of black belt, a seminar facilitator for the 

world-renowned Silver Method training program, and a corporate 

educator for Duke Corporate Education traveling the world speaking 

the companies such as Nike, Raytheon, Swiss Re, Coca Cola, 

American Express, and others. I said all of that to say that when 

you become consciously aware of your speech and learn how to 

be an effective communicator, the doors of opportunity will open 

for you. 

Don’t leave it to chance. Instead, create a system of 

consistency. 

One of the biggest mistakes most martial arts school owners 

make is not understanding the telephone’s perceived value. 

The first words out of your mouth will “make it” or “break it” as to 

whether the person makes an appointment to attend your class. 

When a potential client calls to gain information about your martial 

arts program, it provides you with the opportunity to impress them 

through your voice and the words you speak to make an appointment 

and pursue you as a teacher. 

Contact Jessie Bowen or subscribe to his online training class if 

you need support. www.coachjessiebowen.com 

GRANDMASTER JESSIE BOWEN is president of Karate International of Durham, Inc., a member of the 

American Martial Arts Association Sport Karate League and Hall of Fame, and has been a member of the Duke University 

PE Staff for over 25 years. He is the author of Zen Mind-Body Mindfulness Meditation and Zen Mind-Body Mindfulness 

Meditation for Martial Arts, as well as several other books, programs, and audio CDs on meditation and success training. 


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GROWTH HACKS 

Optimizing Advertising 

Strategies: Google Vs. Facebook 

and Instagram 

by Mr. Sean Lee 

Let’s discuss the differences between Facebook, Instagram, and Google 

advertisements. Each platform targets different audiences. 

With Facebook and Instagram ads you can pinpoint a market 

based on user demographics through the platforms’ marketing 

tools. An example might be to send your promotions to parents 

with children between the ages of four and seventeen with a 

certain income range and location. In this case, not all of these 

individuals may currently be interested in martial arts training, but 

some of them could potentially be your target audience. 

On the other hand, Google search advertisements allow you 

to target people with similar interests, like parents with young 

children or individuals interested in martial arts and self-defense. 

However, the main difference lies in the nature of 

searches. Unlike Facebook and Instagram, where 

ads are displayed to users, Google cannot make 

people search for specific terms. Although 

Google provides options like promotional 

emails and affiliated websites, they have 

limitations. People tend to search on Google 

when they have some specific query or need, 

rather than casually browsing. In contrast, social 

media channels like Facebook and Instagram 

are commonly used for entertainment and 

socializing, resulting in users spending more 

time on these platforms. Consequently, 

ads on social media channels 

can be exposed to users more 

frequently than on Google. 

However, there is an important 

caveat. If someone 

searches for martial arts and 

your school appears on the 

first page or within the top results, either organically or through 

paid SEO efforts, there is a higher likelihood that they will click 

on your link and potentially sign up for a trial lesson. Therefore, 

Google search or Google advertisements tend to attract more 

qualified leads compared to Facebook and Instagram. While the 

latter platforms may indicate some level of interest in martial arts 

training, they might not be actively interested or fully aware of 

what’s involved. As a result, the opt-in rate for Facebook and Instagram 

ads can be lower, sometimes significantly lower, than that of 

Google advertisements. With this being the case, you have a better 

ratio of browsers showing up and converting into students at your 

school through google ads because they are already interested. 

Many of our customers who use our advertising services often 

ask which channel they should utilize. My recommendation is to 

use both channels, but emphasize Google. While Facebook and 

Instagram can generate higher lead numbers, it doesn’t necessarily 

mean that these leads are qualified or will enroll in your school. 

It’s common to see a situation where, out of 60 or 70 opt-ins in a 

couple of weeks, only half of them respond to follow-up calls. This 

is the nature of social media advertising. Therefore, it’s important 

to understand these dynamics. Additionally, it’s crucial to utilize 

other channels like flyers, door hangers, or even phone messages 

to maximize your reach. Every channel should be utilized because, 

ultimately, our goal is to increase the number of students 

in your school rather than focusing on conversion percentages. 

In summary, these are the differences between Google 

advertisements and Facebook/Instagram social media advertisements. 

It’s essential to have a comprehensive marketing strategy 

that incorporates various channels to achieve the desired student 

body numbers. 

SEAN LEE is the Executive Director of Sales and Marketing for hundreds of martial arts schools 

and specializes in online and social media marketing using his extensive professional experience in 

sports and martial arts marketing, contract negotiation, and investment. 


BE RECOGNIZED in future editions of 

Martial Arts World News Magazine. 

Our goal at Martial Arts World News Magazine is to 

support our industry and help you grow your martial 

arts school. It’s incredibly useful for our readers to hear 

about YOUR specific experiences and results. 

You are part of a wonderful industry and community 

with Martial Arts World News Magazine, and now, you’ll 

be able to share and contribute to that community in a 

richer and more meaningful way than ever before! 

Share Stories About: 

• Achieving a New Rank 

• Opening a New Location 

• Winning an Award 

• Discovering a Successful Marketing Strategy 

• Building a Retention System that Works Well 

• Tournament Results 

• Anything else that our readers might find valuable! 


Or send your story ideas to Editor@MartialArtsWorldNews.com

NINJA BUSINESS TACTICS 

Finding The Gift 

of Living Masterfully 

by An-Shu Stephen Hayes 

Developing real martial arts skill is not a quick-stick tack-on, but rather a 

deep-seeded accumulation. 

You have to learn good lessons and then repeat 

those over and over to make a part of you the new 

insights and ways of being. 

Make a point of sharing with everyone who enrolls 

alongside you in your martial arts training hall your stories 

of how practice has shaped and sharpened your life. 

Encourage all newcomers to look beyond the minutes 

of each class to the months and years needed 

to cultivate the deepest benefits of your 

shared martial art practice. 

As a seeker in a good and worthwhile 

martial arts dojo, you get to 

learn that: 

1. Most things are achievable, 

if you clearly state your goal, hold 

to the belief that you are worthy 

of succeeding at that goal, and just refuse 

to give up. Sure, one person in millions might 

win a lottery, but success rarely floats down 

as a surprise gift. Progress in the personal development 

needed to blossom into the person 

you were meant to be takes work 

and time because you are 

changing who you are and 

how the world is. 

2. What you 

enrolled for is not 

achieved in a 

class — or even a 

month of classes. 

The real power 

of martial arts 

training emerges when approached as a life-practice. Vibrant wellbeing 

is not derived from a single careful meal each week. Health 

restorative benefits of sleep are not achieved with one good night 

of deep, restful sleep on a weekend. Yes, you can certainly attend 

a few classes in the dojo to check out how it feels to train, but once 

committed training seriously begins, you must understand that 

nothing happens without long-term consistent focused effort. 

3. The most valuable lessons learned from years of martial 

arts practice are not immediately obvious. A powerful deep 

knowing, way under the surface and so hard to name and define 

before you get there and experience it, builds with sincere life-long 

practice of the martial arts. In a worthwhile martial arts school, you 

not only become a master of your martial technique, you become a 

master of living fully and authentically. 

4. And… This study’s benefits are way broader and deeper than 

you ever imagined when first enrolling. 

AN-SHU STEPHEN HAYES has authored more than 20 books, worked as a body guard for the Dali 

Lama, supervised over 30 school locations worldwide, and was named “A legend; one of the 10 most influential 

living martial artists in the world” by Black Belt Magazine 


Photograph by BrianAJackson

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COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE 

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AFTER SCHOOL EXCELLENCE 

The Difference Between 

Babysitting and 

Martial Arts Education 

by Grandmaster Mike Bugg 

What is the difference between 

babysitting and a real school? 

Two things: attitude and content. 

Like everything else, your attitude controls your altitude. If you 

have the right attitude, you can soar with the eagles. If you have 

the wrong attitude, you may end up sleeping with the fishes. 

In a martial art school, the attitude must be CARE. If you care 

about your students, you will find or create a quality educational 

program. If you don’t care, you might as well be babysitting. 

What is a quality educational program? One that teaches 

real martial arts values, like honesty, integrity, perseverance, and 

leadership. 

Some school owners have started an after-school 

program because they’ve heard they can make a lot of 

money. If they take the easy way out by throwing out 

a ball and saying, “Everyone, play dodgeball!” I can 

understand that the screaming and chaos might 

make this instructor feel like a babysitter. After all, 

what is he teaching? 

Other school owners have an organized, 

quality educational program where students, the 

parents, and the instructors all know exactly what 

is being taught. 

Personally, I love to teach adults, but I also 

love to teach children because they will be the 

future leaders. In our modern society, there 

are too many children in desperate need 

of the martial arts because they come 

from broken homes. My instructors and 

I can spend more time with these students 

if they come to our after school 

program than if they come to our night time program. The only 

challenge is where to get enough high-quality activities to utilize all 

of this time. 

The AMS Kids monthly support pack makes all the difference in 

the world. It is written by martial arts educators, and the activities 

are designed hour-by-hour and day-by-day to develop a balanced 

child. During the school day they learn reading, math, history, and 

science. In the AMS Kids After School Program they learn physical 

fitness, mental fitness, and moral fitness. 

In addition, the AMS Kids program gives my school financial 

security for my adult programs. Most important of all, it helps me 

develop future leaders for my community. 

You see, I am fortunate to have been teaching martial arts long 

enough to have some of my former children and teen students as 

CEOs of our branch schools today. I fully expect these leaders of 

today to surpass me because the teaching tools I had are much 

better than the teaching tools available when I was coming up 

through the ranks. 

If you want to be a real martial arts educator, you already have 

the attitude, so all you need are the tools. With the AMS Kids program, 

you can soar with the eagles. 

GRANDMASTER MIKE BUGG is an 8th degree black belt and the owner of a $1.52 million-peryear 

location, with one of the largest after school and summer camp programs in the country. 


Photograph by JackF

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PILLARS OF SUCCESS 

Speak Like Successful People! 

by Grandmaster Y. K. Kim 

The way you speak about yourself and others is so crucial, that it can ruin all your 

dreams, or make your lifetime special. Do not speak indulgently, without regard for 

feeling: Embarrassing or hurtful words will never be appealing. When your words 

are rational they might attract the mind, but self-interest will cause doubt, no 

matter how refined. When you speak from principle, others will reflect; 

you will build relationships and earn yourself respect 

Successful People have a 

Successful Communication 

Mindset 

Speak with C.C.U.L, and your third 

mouth (your heart). You can even save 

people’s lives. On top of that, you can turn 

obstacles into stepping-stones. (Meaning of 

C.C.U.L - Choose the right word carefully, 

Control your tone of voice, Use the 

proper body language, and make 

this one more choice: Listen 

with sincerity with all three 

ears,and you can become 

popular with all your 

peers!) 

Speak positively: 

Speak about possibilities 

and big hopes; 

motivate, recognize, 

and admire others 

with respect and 

care, and talk about 

future dreams and 

goals. You can open 

the door to opportunities. 

Speak wisely: Speak 

about why (problems) and how (solutions) while understanding 

others’ situations. You can even turn negative into positive. 

Speak sincerely: Speak truthfully based on principles, and you 

will earn trust and respect. You can build reliable networks. 

Speak positively, wisely, and sincerely with C.C.U.L. You can 

create an unlimited future. 

Failures Have a Poor Communication Mindset 

Speak negatively, carelessly, stupidly, unfairly, or arrogantly 

with your first mouth, and you will offer excuses, rude comments, 

and bad mouth others. On top of that, you will speak indulgently 

in any situation. You will confuse and irritate other people. You will 

break many relationships and close the door to opportunity both 

personally and professionally. You will limit yourself and block your 

own successful future. 

Can you speak like successful people? 

1. Intentionally speak positively, wisely, and sincerely with 

C.C.U.L until you speak like successful people. 

2. Intentionally put yourself in other people’s shoes, until it becomes 

second nature. 

3. Practice The 5 Pillars of True Success until it becomes a habit, 

which will empower you to speak like successful people. 

*This is an excerpt from the book The Five Pillars of True Success 

in the section on The Top 10 Successful Habits. 

GRANDMASTER Y. K. KIM is the most successful martial arts business leader in the US, having written 

over 30 books on martial arts, business, leadership, and success. He has won numerous public service 

awards and is the founder of the leading martial arts marketing and management company in the US. 


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STAFF DEVELOPMENT 

15 Gym Myth That School 

Owners Should Know (Part 1) 

by Grandmaster Zufi Ahmed 

Every year, around September or October we lose some teenagers from our martial 

art programmes to the lure of the gym. 

The usual explanation is that they want to go to the gym with 

their mates and weight train, despite the fact that the majority of 

them have earned their current peak physical conditioning through 

our training, they have been exposed to some myth or fad that 

promises them an instant fix. Massive arms, chest or abs etc. 

Now as I also train in the gym, I know the truth. Instead of 50 

minutes of intense physical exercise where they are pushed to 

their maximum, 10 or so teens bundle into the gym and tie up the 

bench press, lift with poor technique, take selfies of their 

abs in the mirrors, get injured and worst of all spend 

most of the time chatting. And they think they are 

going to be like Arnold?! 

Invariably they are convinced that there is 

some quick fix or trick which is going to make 

them huge, so whilst not attempting to rain 

on your parade here are some of these myths 

busted by www.bodybuilding.com with some 

News Flashes from yours truly. 

Myth #1: Light Weights & High Reps Increase 

Muscular Definition Performing high repetitions with 

light weights increases muscular endurance, 

but does not increase muscular definition. 

Following a healthy nutrition plan and 

performing cardiovascular exercise 

increases muscular definition. This is 

what you get in a Martial Arts Class 

Myth #2: Spot Reducing Fat 

Training a specific muscle group to 

spot reduce the fat surrounding it 

is just not possible. Fat is burned 

through cardiovascular exercise 

and proper dieting. Doing a set of crunches doesn’t burn the fat 

around the stomach. However, martial art training burns the fat 

throughout the entire body, including the stomach. Also, following 

a proper nutrition plan helps reduce the fat around the stomach 

and throughout the entire body. Here you will have easy access 

to the best cardio methods for fat loss, general health, endurance 

and how to make this seemingly boring activity fun and exciting! 

Myth #3: Training Abs Reduces Stomach Size Training the 

abdominals does not reduce stomach size. In fact, too much abdominal 

training could actually make the stomach bigger. The abs 

are muscles and grow as they are trained. Training the abs two to 

three times a week is more than enough. Keep in mind that the abs 

are also trained when performing many compound exercises such 

as squats and deadlifts, so you don’t want to train them too much. 

Myth #4: More Training Always Equals More Muscle Working 

out each muscle group too many times a week can lead to overtraining 

and a loss in muscle. If you are in an overtraining state, you 

must allow your body to recover for quite some time before getting 

back to regular training, in order for the body to fully recuperate 

and get back to normal. Being in an overtraining state and not 

allowing your body to recover for prolonged periods can lead to 

many severe symptoms, including: It is during the recovery period 

that your muscles grow, so not allowing them enough time to recover 

prevents muscular growth and could actually result in a loss 

of muscle, along with many of the symptoms mentioned above. 

Myth #5: Cardio Should Only Be Performed When Trying To 

Lose Fat Cardiovascular exercise should always be integrated in a 

workout regimen, whether or not you’re trying to lose fat. The only 

difference is the amount of cardio performed. If you are trying to 

lose fat, then there should be an increase in cardio. If fat loss is not 

your goal, then you should perform cardio a few times per week. 

GRANDMASTER ZULFI AHMED has amassed acclaim as a world-class competitor, martial 

arts educator, and is most notably founder and designer of the internationally renowned style, Bushi Ban. 

With over 45 years of martial arts experience and over 300 martial arts awards, his schools include ten 

locations across Texas. 


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EXTRAORDINARY MARKETING 

Everything is Negotiable (Part 1) 

by Grandmaster Stephen Oliver 

Just assume that anything that you need to buy, paying a monthly payment on or 

owe is negotiable. Clearly, some things are more difficult to negotiate than others, but 

ultimately, just about anything can be negotiated. 

Example: Did you sign a five- or ten-year lease when you 

opened — perhaps with stars in your eyes? It looked like the 

greatest thing ever. Suddenly a couple of years later, the payment 

begins to look like the national debt. 

Well, start by taking a look at your situation from the other side 

of the table. 

Does your owner have a full center and a waiting list to get in at 

20% more than you are paying? In that case, it might be real easy 

to sublet, or just be excused from your lease, so 

that the owner can shift to a “more substantial” 

client with an even higher lease payment. 

If you were in that owner’s place, 

wouldn’t you be in a huge hurry to 

release a tenant at a lower rate and then 

re-lease to a higher paying tenant, and 

possibly even to a national credit tenant? 

Discuss the situation with the owner 

or a realtor. Look for alternative space that 

is either smaller or leases at a lower amount 

per foot, or both. Sometimes 

it’s also possible to move 

within the same center to a 

smaller space, or to a less 

desirable space. Either 

way, this lowers your 

monthly outlay. 

Or, are you really 

about the only substantial 

tenant in a shopping 

center that looks like it’s 

about to be condemned? 

That’s a perfect opportunity 

to renegotiate your lease. 

Why? Well, what happens 

if you go out 

of business or 

just walk on the 

lease? First, the 

owner has to 

go looking for 

another tenant. 

If he already has 

vacancies, he’s 

been doing that 

without a lot of 

luck already hasn’t he? Once he finds a new tenant then he has to 

pay the realtor a commission, possibly pay for tenant finish, maybe 

provide some free rent, and definitely wait another two to six 

months to start collecting rents until the new tenant opens. 

You may have to be pretty tough in the negotiations in this 

case. Your owner may already be operating on a negative cash 

basis. You really have to make sure he believes that you are either: 

A. On the brink of insolvency, or that without a break, you won’t 

stay in business much longer, or; 

B. That you are ready to “walk away” from the lease and that 

you are really unconcerned about his possible legal remedies. 

Both of these examples are obviously extreme, but they give 

you the idea. If you want to pay your landlord $500 less per month 

for three years, that adds up to $18,000. What’s it going to cost him 

to re-lease the space. Figure out the downtime, realtor fees, tenant 

finish and free rent the owner will have to incur. Also, figure out 

what your real market rental should be — if you are paying over the 

market that’s a negotiating point in your favor. But, it would be one 

reason the owner may fight to keep you in your lease rather than 

putting the space on the market. 

As an aside: You are much better off in dealing with your lease if 

you are NOT personally signed on the lease, and don’t have a lot of 

assets in the corporation that runs your school. More on this later. 

GRANDMASTER STEPHEN OLIVER, is a 9th degree black belt and is the founder and CEO of 

Mile High Karate schools, and founder of the Martial Arts Wealth Mastery Program. 


Illustration by Rudzhan Nagiev

www.ExtraOrdinaryMarketing.com

MASTERING MODERN BJJ 

Whoever Starts Strong 

Will Not Always Be the One 

Who Finishes Strong 

by Master Carlos Machado 

Anyone who has done jiu jitsu for a while will always remember 

the starting days, when lack of knowledge and experience 

were plenty, and oxygen wasn’t! 

The very fact that a novice lacks knowledge makes it likely 

that he will be in a struggle when facing a more experienced 

team mate. It won’t be just the inability to anticipate or calculate 

which moves to go for, but the absence of strategy due to the 

lack of vision in regards to the jiu jitsu chess game. 

Like it was said in Sun Tzu’s “Art of War”, not knowing yourself 

or your opponent guarantees defeat every time. Then it 

comes to knowing your opponent but not yourself, which brings 

defeat every other time. Unless a student manages to know 

enough of what to do and also what to expect from another, 

until then no amount of knowledge will make them prevail in a 

convincing way. 

That is why I recommend the mirror strategy (emulate 

good mechanics), the vision (see what the outcome will 

likely be), and the seizing strategy (incorporate a move 

from an opponent into your game, then address the 

counter from more than one perspective). 

In Jiu Jitsu, perspective is everything, and strategy 

is how it is translated from a mindset to the mat. 

A student does not train to win or lose, but to 

become proficient in anticipating moves and 

capitalizing on opportunities. If one cannot 

overcome, at least he tries to delay an 

inevitable outcome. Make your training 

partner pay with sweat and fatigue 

whenever possible. An empty gas 

tank is an assurance of diminished 

speed and power, and more chances 

of imposing a game or reversing 

the tide. 

Therefore, patience is the first trait a novice should focus 

on. Be diligent in repeating the drills, maintaining the pace, and 

maximizing the time in which one stays on the mat. If fatigue 

overwhelms, slow down and breathe even when in a bad spot. 

Being chilled under pressure is a major step towards attaining 

another level of both patience and proficiency. In the jiu jitsu 

game, seasoned opponents will prevail over one another not so 

much when one side possesses a superior skill set, but mostly 

when someone has the ability to stay more focused and make 

less mistakes, what is not common when someone is rushed. 

It is also critical to become more effective on transitions, not 

just on positions. The ability to connect between a situation 

and another leads to a much higher rate of success. 

In order to go and keep on going, a student must learn 

how to flow from position to position. Nothing will cause more 

frustration than getting or being stuck in a position without 

knowing how to get out of it. It makes one feel more helpless 

than even getting tapped out. At least getting tapped means 

you can restart the rolling and have another chance at it. Being 

stuck basically means you watch the clock run without anything 

happening until the buzzer is up. Your destiny won’t be in your 

own hands. 

That is why I like to emphasize working from an early stage 

on getting out of bad positions, so that as training evolves and 

more time gets spent on rolling, it will be less likely that someone 

will remain for too long in the same spot against his will. 

Yet, with the correct mindset, a student will develop the 

understanding that in many situations, initially unfavorable, 

much can be done to mitigate or reverse it. In so doing, the 

practitioner will realize that the main objective in jiu jitsu, if nothing 

else, is to increase the odds of finishing in a better position, 

even from a bad start. And that goes the saying, “whoever 

starts strong will not always be the same who finishes strong! 

MASTER CARLOS MACHADO is one of the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the United States of America. 

Currently a Coral Belt, and promoted to Black Belt by Carlos Gracie Junior, Carlos Machado came to the USA in the early 

1990’s with his brothers where they formed the RCJ Machado Jiu Jitsu Association, one of the strongest & growing BJJ 

organizations in the world today. 


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As professional martial arts school 

owners and instructors, it’s important 

that we stay up to date with the 

latest tools, tactics, and strategies 

for operating a successful martial 

arts school or organization. 

We here at Martial Arts World News 

Magazine are on an unstoppable 

mission to help our industry grow, 

and one of the best ways to do that 

is by sharing “what’s working” and 

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So, we want to feature schools, 

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• One of your students 

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NEXT LEVEL STRATEGY 

Teaching Commitment (Part 2) 

by Shihan Allie Alberigo 

Every day you make decisions based on what you feel would be in their best interest 

or yours. Don’t you? 

Well the truth is as school owners we need to make the student 

and the parents understand that the martial arts will change 

their lives for the better. How do I do that? Most of all I talk about 

it, then I teach it and thirdly I live it. If the student is not present 

the lesson is not heard. That is why it is important to exercise 

your focus, self-control and self-discipline and 

make it to class. To teach the student when 

they least expect it. To train them in techniques 

of success without them really even 

knowing it, to help them achieve Black Belt 

Excellence as an everyday occurrence. 

Today is only what you have. There is not 

past. The future is only a dream. Make the 

most out of the moment. 

Helpful hints on how to keep 

training. 

Helpful hints for parents. 

1) Don’t let your child relax 

before class. Don’t 

let them settle into 

their favorite video 

game or TV show. 

Set up some time 

before their class 

to do some chores 

such as cleaning 

up their room, doing 

homework, or doing 

yard work even helping to prepare 

dinner. The martial arts school 

would be an invited break from this 

activity. 

2) Don’t give in to, I don’t 

want to go today. If you do, you 

will show them that they have a choice. This will make it difficult for 

you, the next time. 

3) Always encourage your child. Promote home practice and 

encourage participation in extracurricular events. Watch movies 

that are related to the martial arts with your children. 

4) Be consistent and organized. The child does not like to be 

rushed from here to there and not have the proper uniform or fighting 

gear is embarrassing to them. 

Adults 

Don’t let things get in the way of your routine. 

Try to always make your classes each week. In a 168 hour 

week, 3-5 hours is not that much. 

Don’t relax before training. Stay busy and motivated. Don’t fall 

into the pitfall of, I will do it tomorrow. That is one of the killers of 

good martial artists. 

Don’t let burnout disguise itself as realistic reasoning. If you are 

tired, rest properly but don’t quit. 

Always trust your teacher and ask them for advice or a fellow student 

that may give you insight on the situation you are going through. 

SHIHAN ALLIE ALBERIGO is a 7th degree black belt, the founder of the L.I. Ninjutsu 

Centers, one of the largest Ninjutsu schools on the planet, the author of 4 books, and an entrepreneur 

with one of the first online coaching companies. 


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THE MILLIONAIRE SMARTS COACH 

Free Yourself From 

Too Much Stuff (Part 4) 

By Lee Milteer 

Time to Play the Unmanifesting Game 

This is the fourth part in our Free Yourself from Too Much 

Stuff Series. 

Every spring at my home and office, we like to play the Unmanifesting 

Game. Unmanifesting is one of my favorite spring-time 

activities because it means that we are releasing things that no 

longer have value or importance to us. This is critical because 

these material items are draining us of time, money, and life energy. 

To motivate you, consider thinking of the following strategies 

as ways to help charity and yourself. 

Think of your time and efforts to clear out your spaces as actually 

doing something that could benefit others because of what 

you donate into the world. 

De-cluttering a whole house can seem overwhelming. BUT if 

it’s broken down into bite size chunks, it can be handled with ease. 

Start by de-cluttering for 10 to 15 minutes a day. That’s long 

enough to achieve something and it’s short enough that we can all 

fit it into our busy schedules. If you continue to do this one 

thing, it becomes a good habit. It will also ensure you 

keep your home or office clutter free in the future. 

De-clutter storage space first. Once you get 

control of drawers, cabinets, and closets it will be 

so much easier to find a home for everything. 

Pick one room for your 15-minute daily 

sessions and stick to it until everything is 

de-cluttered. It doesn’t really matter which 

room you start with. 

Be ruthless in deciding what to 

keep and what to let go. You can’t 

succeed at de-cluttering and simplifying 

your life or office unless 

you are willing to let stuff go. To 

make it easy, take the attitude that 

you are prosperous enough that if 

you happen to get rid of something you need in the future, you will 

simply give yourself permission to buy a new one, rent it, or even 

buy one from a secondhand store at a bargain. 

The bottom line is to go into this STUFF DIET with the mindset 

that most stuff can be replaced!! (Because it CAN!) 

Deal with paper. Little and often works best. Paper causes a lot 

of clutter. Bills, invoices, and receipts without a system get out of 

control fast. For example, you can stop paper clutter by creating a 

simple system for incoming mail. You’ll need a bin and a 2-tier tray. 

Designate one tray for items that require action, and the other for 

documents that need to be filed. Set up a filing system that suits 

your own personality and needs. Create reminders for scheduling 

actions like paying bills, appointments, and events. Microsoft 

Outlook on your computer is a good system. 

As soon as you bring something new into the house or office, 

set aside storage space for it. Always keep it in its place when not 

in use. 

There is nothing in this world that feels quite the same as looking 

around your home or office and seeing it in order. And there’s 

nothing more energy-draining than living with clutter, but it goes 

far beyond your own environment. De-cluttering will open new opportunities 

for you in your personal and career life because it frees 

up your life energy for new things. 

De-cluttering releases the blocks that have been holding you 

back. It ignites the fires of energy within you – energy you didn’t 

even know you had! The stress in your face and body will ease and 

your confidence will return when you feel more in control. Things 

start to fall into place in every area of your life when you de-clutter 

your surroundings. 

Your new motto: 

If It Doesn’t Serve a Purpose, Have Meaning, or Monetary 

Value—OUT IT MUST GO! 

Up Next: Part 5 of Free Yourself from Too Much Stuff 

MS. LEE MILTEER is an Intuitive Business Coach, award-winning professional speaker, and TV 

personality who has counseled and trained over a million people throughout her career. Lee is Stephen Oliver’s 

Martial Arts Wealth Mastery’s Millionaire Smarts Coach and is also a best-selling author of educational resources. 

Vist www.milteer.com 


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BUDO PHILOSOPHY 

Reason and Magic (Part 2) 

by Shidoshi Alfredo Tucci 

We are living in a curious time, where 

the pendulum that swings back and 

forth, takes us from the Renaissance to 

the interest in the times when magical 

thinking had full validity over the rational. 

The resurgence of shamanism and interest in ancient peoples 

and cultures, whether Celtic, Amazonian, African, Castanedian 

or similar, is explained in the context of an emerging paradigm. 

In countries like Brazil, psychiatry and spirituality often go hand 

in hand; many leaders secretly seek the help of 

shamans, and more than a few people among 

celebrities seek help and direction in true 

astrology. 

There is a background rumor, an undeniable 

interest, an insatiable search for answers, 

at a time in which physics itself has taken us, 

by the micro and the macro, to the illusory limits 

of our perception and beyond, to the limits 

of the rational, establishing concepts such as 

parallel universes, black holes, or dark matter. 

A few days ago, and in the context of this 

resurgence of magical thinking, I heard 

Pope Francis abhor Magic, arguing 

that Christians should rely on 

divine providence, rather than use 

its tools. The fact of resorting to 

fortune tellers aiming to “guess the 

future or change life situations” is 

something that goes against faith, 

he claimed. Caramba! This is an 

explicit recognition of its values! 

If even the Pope pays attention 

to the subject, it means that 

it has become an enemy to 

consider. The “power of God that broke into Ephesus,” remarked 

Francisco, unmasked those who “used the name of Jesus to 

perform exorcism, without having the spiritual authority to do so.” 

Well folks! It seems that instead of denying it, what the man seeks 

is having the exclusivity! 

With so much information we would like to harbor the hope 

that modern man is in better conditions than ever to issue control 

commandos over his life and his environment ... and yet it’s not so. 

It seems as if by increasing the information, we are witnessing a 

parallel movement of formation degradation. The accent is placed 

on the continent of things, in their packaging, rather than in the 

contents. People choose to live in virtual worlds, instead of confronting 

the immediate; escapism has been established as normal 

and the systematic emptiness of character has become the canon. 

We must not lose hope. We humans have always wandered into 

our contradictions with talent, and they have driven us to grow and 

impose ourselves on other species. Ancient knowledge is growing 

once again, because there is an urgent need to reorder our tools to 

deal with the phenomenon of existence, beyond even the empire 

of reason. 

Knowing how to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s will be the task 

of a whole generation of leaders enlightened for such a task (not 

easy on the other hand), in order to accommodate the two phases 

of the human being within the framework of a coherence, not 

imposed as before, in which magicians took hold of everything they 

had nearby, to keep their trade afloat. Reason and magical thinking, 

left and right hemisphere ... as it always has been, the only way to 

tame the opposites is with a strong center, and large portions of the 

subtlest glue, composed in fair doses of need, purpose and love. 

SHIDOSHI ALFREDO TUCCI is the CEO and General Manager of the Budo International Publishing 

Company, a leading publisher in the martial arts with over 35 years in the industry. He is also author of several 

books: The Immaterial Dimension, The Way of the Warrior, and The Spirit. He currently lives in Valencia, Spain. 


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MASTER THE BASICS 

3 Secrets to a Great 

Beginner’s Class 

by Master Tina Bane 

Beginner’s class is the most important class in martial arts training. If you don’t have 

a great beginner’s class, it won’t matter how good your other classes are, because 

students will quit before they ever get to move up in rank. 

For this reason I strongly recommend that you teach a separate 

beginner’s class. When you just throw your beginners into your 

regular class, it can be very frustrating to all the students. Beginners 

have very different needs than more advanced students. When you 

put them both in the same class, one or the other will get frustrated, 

and your retention will suffer. 

All your classes must be educational, motivational, and practical. 

Here are three secrets I have discovered over the years for my 

beginners classes: 

First, take the time to teach your basics properly. 

Beginner’s class lays the foundation of the martial 

arts for these students. The basics we teach provide 

the foundation of every technique the students will 

learn, even the most advanced skills. Just as you 

cannot build a skyscraper on a foundation of sand, 

you cannot build powerful martial arts technique 

on sloppy basics. The quality of your 

black belts begins here. 

Take the extra time to explain the basics, 

allow the students to practice, 

and then help them improve. I 

like the P-I-R method of correction, 

which stands for: 

Praise, Improvement, Result. 

You praise the student 

for what he is doing well, 

suggest an area of improvement, 

and then tell him the result 

of following your advice. For example, 

“Good! I like the way you snap your kick 

out and back. If you point your knee a 

little higher, you will be 

able to kick higher.” 

Second, help 

students set shortterm, 

mid-term, and 

long-term goals. Students 

with goals have 

a reason to overcome 

the inevitable frustrations 

that come when 

they are pushing their limits. Help them learn to turn obstacles into 

stepping stones, to achieve higher levels of mastery. A short-term 

goal for a beginner is to pass his or her yellow belt test. A mid-term 

goal would be to receive their black belt. A long-term goal would be 

to become an instructor, to be able to share what they have learned 

with others. 

Third, make sure they get a good physical sweat and a good 

mental sweat in each class. The more immediate benefits they 

receive, the more necessary your classes will become in their lives. 

Physical sweat is a sign that they are getting into better shape. 

They are improving their strength, flexibility, and health, while 

reducing stress. At the end of every class you can measure your 

success in gallons of sweat. 

Mental sweat comes from understanding the principles behind 

the basics, which give us direction in our lives. Be sure to point out 

the practical applications of martial arts principles in everyday living. 

For example, we teach verbal self-defense alongside physical 

self-defense. Chances are your students will use verbal selfdefense 

in the next day or so, whereas they will probably not use 

physical self-defense for weeks, months, or even years. When they 

see immediate benefit, they have to come back for more. 

MASTER TINA BANE is a 6th degree master instructor and owner of a Top Ten martial arts school 

with successful after school and summer camp programs. 


Photograph by JackF

Lee Milteer is an Internationally known and celebrated 

Entrepreneur, Visionary, Best Selling Author, Award winning 

Professional Speaker, TV Personality, and Intuitive Business Mentor. 

Lee provides business and success advice and resources to nearly 

250,000 people around the world. 

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INSTRUCTIONAL EXCELLENCE 

The Value of Philosophy 

by Grandmaster Tim McCarthy 

Why are your classes better than any other fitness activities? 

Parents of children can choose from gymnastics, ballet, or 

various sports teams like baseball, basketball, or soccer. Adults 

can choose from zumba, pilates, spinning, kettlebell, yoga, or just 

go for a run, a bike ride, or join a gym. Fitness possibilities are everywhere, 

and usually cheaper than martial arts classes. 

What do you offer that makes your classes better? 

On a physical level, depending on your art, 

you probably offer a more complete exercise 

program. Where weight lifting develops 

strength, and running develops endurance, 

martial arts classes usually develop both, 

along with flexibility, balance, and coordination. 

Not many other activities develop the body 

in such a balanced way. However, pilates, yoga, 

and even P90 might. 

You could focus on self-defense. 

Certainly your martial arts classes teach 

life-saving self-defense techniques 

that the other fitness activities 

don’t. That’s a definite difference. 

However, how often do your 

students actually need physical 

self-defense? Certainly, when they 

do need it, it’s important . . . but if your school is in a 

typical suburban community, the chances are 

pretty low. If they train at your school for 

six months or even a year, and never 

need to defend themselves, why 

should they keep coming back? 

In my opinion, the key is the philosophy 

behind what we do. Teaching 

someone how to escape from 

a wrist grab is interesting: You feel 

the hand grabbing you, realize 

that the attacker has four fingers 

on one side of his hand and only 

one thumb on the other side 

of his hand, and you use the power of your entire arm to escape 

against his thumb. That’s practical, valuable self-defense information 

that might actually be used sometime in the future. 

However, there are several principles at work behind selfdefense. 

For example, evaluating someone else’s strong points 

and weak points, and then using your own strong point against a 

weak point, can be used on a daily basis in almost any 

relationship. The principle of choosing the path of 

least resistance (of acting against the thumb rather 

than the four fingers) has dozens of applications in 

different situations in our daily lives. The feeling of confidence 

that goes along with the realization that although 

someone may be stronger or in a position of power 

over us but has weak points, can be life-changing. The 

exercise of having students pull back, then move toward 

the fingers, then twist toward the thumb at the 

proper angle shows them that sometimes situations 

that seem impossible are indeed possible – and 

even easy – with the right knowledge. 

Now, I don’t recommend you overwhelm 

your students with all these possibilities and 

more in a single class. That’s a lot to swallow. 

However, any one of those principles could be the theme of a 

class. If you don’t already do so, simply choose one theme and 

build your class around it – like using your own strong points 

against an attacker’s weak points – and then choose several selfdefense 

applications that illustrate the same principle. At the end 

of class, when the student feels like they have gotten a good, balanced 

physical workout, and have learned an important principle 

that they can use tomorrow at school, at work, or in any relationship, 

then they have a good reason to keep coming back. 

I believe THAT is the value of philosophy in the martial arts. It 

is the difference between your classes and other (merely) physical 

activities, and it gives your students value in their daily lives that 

they cannot get anywhere else. It gives them a reason to keep 

coming back for more, even after they have earned their black 

belts and championship trophies. 

GRANDMASTER TIM MCCARTHY is a 9th degree black belt and is a martial arts educator 

with a master’s degree in education. He has been instrumental in developing two industry-changing 

programs, plus has directed and been featured in hundreds of martial arts videos and webinars. 


Photograph by michaklootwijk

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BUSINESS BUZZ 

The Purpose Driven Academy 

by Grandmaster Lawrence Arthur 

From the book “The Purpose Driven Church” on how to grow a church. There are 

many similarities to growing your academy and in growing a church. 

Purpose Driven Academy 5 part strategy for growth: 

1. Grow WARMER (closer) through fellowship. (activities such 

as bowling, picnics, putt-putt, tournaments, etc.) Provide an opportunity 

for your students to socialize together with their friends 

and fellow students in a non-martial way. Plan at least one activity 

(non-martial arts related event) and one martial arts related event 

every month. Put up a yearly calendar in your school with all the 

different events you have planned on it. 

2. Grow DEEPER through discipleship. (Leadership 

Training) Develop your students with Leadership 

classes and focus your efforts to train 95% 

of your students in your leadership program. 

Teach them more than just martial arts, teach 

them the “how” to teach your classes. Give 

them the opportunity to lead small groups to 

practice teaching what you are teaching them. 

3. Grow STRONGER through worship. (Make 

sure you are teaching good martial arts) The real 

reason students come to us in the first place is 

martial arts training. Train your students 

to become great martial artists, 

not just good tournament 

competitors or good at self 

defense, but leaders that 

know how to help other 

people achieve their 

best. Never stop learning 

and growing your 

martial arts skills. 

4. Grow 

BROADER 

through ministry. 

(VIP, Ask everyone to join) There are so many ways of recruiting 

new members and you should be evangelistic about inviting 

people to your school. Don’t be timid about asking others to join 

you on your quest for black belt excellence. If you truly believe in 

what you teach, share it with everyone. 

5. Grow LARGER through evangelism. (Train your replacement 

so you can grow) Constantly be training your replacement and 

your future academy location chief instructor. Provide the type of 

training that enables students to gain the confidence to go into the 

world and share their martial art training with others. 

The Power of Friendly Connection exercise: Make an effort today 

to be proactively friendly. Compliment people at random. See 

if you can create 10 smiles. It’s easy to do. I do it all the time. It’s like 

a friendly exercise. Flex your FRIENDLY MUSCLE EVERYDAY. NICE 

PAYS BIG! 

GRANDMASTER LAWRENCE ARTHUR has been a martial artist, specializing 

in Karate, Kung Fu, Kenpo, Shotokan, and Goju Ryu, since 1968. He owns 40 Super Kick Karate 

locations and is founder of the American Freestyle Karate Association (AFKA). A world champion 

and hall of famer, Lawrence also runs the Black Belt Success Systems consulting firm, which trains 

martial arts instructors on proper business practices and is used by schools all over the country. 


Photograph by marchmeena29

MARTIAL ARTS PHILOSOPHY 

The Day Mr. Jim “Mattress 

Mack” Mcingvale Taught Me a 

Valuable Lesson 

By Sensei Gary Lee 

I was going to roast and give tribute to J. Pat Burleson on behalf of the Sport 

Karate Museum. 

I received a phone call from Ed Daniel in which he said he 

used to work out with “Mattress Mack” before he became the 

Furniture Guru. He had become super enthusiastic and said 

“Mattress Mack” is an amazing man. What I didn’t know is that 

Mr. Burleson and Mr. Daniel used to beat him up regularly and 

according to Mr. Daniel he was pretty good in the ring too. 

Anyway, they were buddies and then Ed suggested 

that I go and meet “Mattress Mack” 

and that maybe he could help in some 

way at the ROAST in Houston, Texas for 

Mr. J. Pat Burleson. 

I called Mattress Mack, Mr . Mcingvale, 

and set up an appointment 

at his main store for lunch and set 

the lunch date. The day of the lunch 

appointment, I was an airhead, and got 

involved with something else and forgot 

completely about the lunch engagement 

till a couple of hours 

later and then I called 

“Mattress Mack”. 

He answered, 

very politely as 

I shared with 

him that I 

had forgotten 

about 

the 

lunch date and asked if I could try again when it was convenient 

to him. He quickly said, “Yes. Gary, can you come in tomorrow 

morning at the main store?” I said, “Yes, Sir, I will be there when 

you open. 

Following morning, I arrived at the store at 8:00 AM. He was 

larger than life. I walked in and he greeted me, then asked me 

to go sit on the couch next to Elvis Presley’s Pink Cadillac which 

he had parked in the store. “It was so cool”, I thought to myself. 

I am sitting there watching the store open and it starts to get 

busy. 9:00 AM goes by, 10:00 AM goes by, and 11:00 AM goes 

by. At 12:00 PM, I see salesmen going to lunch. Then finally at 

1:00 PM, a lady comes to me and says, “Mr. Mcingvale will see 

you now in his office.” 

I realized he was teaching me a great lesson on keeping my 

word and showing up for appointments. For five hours, I waited 

next to Elvis’ Pink Cadillac on that couch. It was a great lesson. 

So there I was sitting in his office and he looked at me and said, 

“What Can I do for you? You’re a friend of Pat and Ed. What May 

I do for you, Gary?” 

I asked if he could come speak or could I give away some of 

his books. He reached and got 10 of his books, signed them and 

looked at me and asked, “Did you enjoy my couch?” I laughed 

and said, “Yes, sir.” He said “Please keep your appointments. 

Then people will learn to trust you.” I said, “Yes, Sir.” 

As I was walking out with the books, he stopped me and 

said, “Gary I want to help you with the Roast for Pat. Here is a 

check for $1500.” That was an amazing moment and a great 

lesson he had taught me . I have never been late to an appointment 

ever again. What an incredible lesson he taught me! 

SENSEI GARY LEE, the American Samurai, is a 9th Dan black belt, a USA Karate 

Federation gold medalist, winner of five Super Grand National Titles, a featured actor in 

the movie Sidekicks, and is the founder of the National Sport Karate Museum. 


Photo (right) by Burak Ceyhan

MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE 

Preparing Staff for Success (Part 1) 

by Grandmaster Kirk Pelt 

Probably the most common question that I get whenever anyone asks me about 

summer camp is related to staffing. They ask, “How do you staff your camp?” This 

question goes back to the planning and original preparation for summer camp. So what 

is some of the thinking that must go into the planning and preparation for a great staff. 

First you have to have enough staff. If you plan on having a 

hundred summer campers and you have your schedule for the 

camp, you next have to figure out how many people you need 

to operate it for the maximum outcome. Maximum outcome 

means it’s the best summer camp ever. It need to be a camp 

that the kids love, the parents love, and that the staff 

loves. 

So you have to make sure you have enough 

staff, which may mean that you have to hire 

staff. Since you’re making more income, you 

can afford to hire more staff. As an alternative 

you also may have young black belts or 

young teenagers that need volunteer work. 

Many of them need volunteer hours for their 

high school. Your most loyal black belts can be 

reached out for this volunteer work to meet a 

requirement for high school. 

Currently, I have seven teenagers that 

are a part of the volunteer junior leaders. 

This volunteer role is going 

to help build up their leadership 

and help them become better 

instructors. It’s a win-win because 

it helps us organize and 

run summer camp so much 

better. We have more eyes, 

more engagements, and 

improve leadership in the 

school. Plus, they are gaining 

the volunteer hours 

they need for school. 

It’s just phenomenal and the parents love it. Now I don’t give 

them summer camp for free, but some people do and it’s worth 

it if you decide to. Instead I give them a discount for their children 

coming to summer camp as a teenager and building their 

leadership. Plus, they get their volunteer hours on top of that 

and the parents love it. 

I preface it to the student and the parent by telling them that 

this is training for them to have their own job one day. This is 

real world training and real life leadership for them. I expect you 

here at whatever time is said, and if you can’t make it, you call 

in. The parents love it because they want their kids to have that 

type of responsibility. The volunteer aspect is a critical part to 

make the stress less during summer camp because your fulltime 

staff will have more people to help them watch it. Maybe 

you’re the one that’s on the floor with them, but you have more 

people to help watch, organize, and engage the students to 

make it less stressful. 

GRANDMASTER KIRK PELT is an 8th degree black belt and is the President of a multi-million 

dollar, multi-school organization, has a 30-year track record of success, and is currently on the leading 

edge of martial arts curriculum and business innovation. 


ADVERTISER INDEX 

A Touch of Zen 

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Atlas Martial Arts Software 

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Action Hero Photos 

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Adventures of Harry & Friends 

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Amazing Martial Arts Websites 

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AMS Billing 

OurAMS.com ............................. 25, 70, 108 

AMSkids 

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Break Like a Champ 

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Budo International Magazine 

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Extraordinary Marketing 

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Master Karen Eden 

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ElitePublications.org ...........................17, 107 

Kick Start Kids 

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Kids Point MMA 

PointMMA.com ....................................87 

Kovar Systems 

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Learn the Sword 

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Lee Milteer 

Milteer.com ........................................91 

MA Biz Academy 

MABizAcademy.com .......................... 55, 101 


MaBusinessInstitute.com ......................29, 105 

Martial Arts History Museum 

MAMuseum.com ..................................95 

Ninja Fighting Techniques 

tuttlepublishing.com ...............................31 

Otomix 

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Sport Karate Museum 

SportKarateMuseumArchives.com ..................97 

An-Shu Stephen K. Hayes 

NinjaSelfDefense.com .............................47 


4d-2d.com ........................................86 


TomPatire.com ....................................34 

Warrior Defence Lab 

TheEvolutionOfKrav.com ...........................77 


YkKim.com ....................................45, 68 


Lulu.com ..........................................26 


THE WARRIOR WAY 

Motivation: 

Towards or Away From? (Part 1) 

by Grandmaster Bill Clark 

Not everyone is motivated the same way. 

Some people are “Towards” while others are “Away From”. Let 

me explain – Towards people are motivated by achievement and 

reward, good results – like being thin, while Away From people are 

motivated more to avoid pain, failure, or negative consequences 

like punishment. 

Towards 

Some examples of Towards motivators: 

• Get thinner 

• Be richer 

• Be a teacher 

• Win the competition 

• Get a raise or promotion • Fame and fortune 

Away From 

Some examples of Away From motivators: 

• Being fat and unhealthy • Being poor 

• Getting injured 

• Losing or looking stupid 

• Being fired 

• Broke and homeless 

These are all powerful, but different. Interestingly, more people 

are Away From types than they are Towards which is hard for the 

other to appreciate. For example, if you are a Towards person and 

motivated by success and achievement, you will use those same 

strategies to motivate the people around you. But guess who it 

won’t work on… the Away From folks! The reverse is also true. 

What’s also interesting, is that you may at first have an Away From 

motivation that finally makes you get off your butt and change your 

life, but pretty soon that turns into a Towards attitude because you 

set highly motivating goals. Sustaining the motivation will be key. 

GRANDMASTER BILL CLARK is a 9th degree black belt and a former PKA Fighter of 

the Year. He is widely considered one of the top experts in martial arts business with over 50 years 

of leadership and innovation, having been inducted into almost every Hall of Fame in the industry. He 

is one of the largest multi-school owners in the world. 


Photograph (right) by Nattakorn Maneerat

TACTICAL SELF-DEFENSE 

Each Situation Dictates Its Own 

Response (Part 3) 

By Tom Patire 

Looking at today’s volatile, unpredictable world one can see 

that real-world self-defense, situational awareness, and personal 

preservation are needed more than ever. People are being 

victimized not only on the streets but in their homes, schools, 

places of worship and businesses as well. Most attacks happen at 

random with the underlying majority are hate crimes, robberies, 

car-jackings or wrong-place wrong-time scenarios with the only 

common elements of being targeted is extensive physical harm to 

the victim(s), making headlines and/or stealing of their 

personal possessions. 

I personally don’t believe that any material 

possession is worth risking your life on and yet 

there are some people that disagree. That’s 

why in defense you have a choice, and that 

choice should be considered if you are alone 

(not protecting a loved one), and you want to risk 

your own personal harm. Never forget that training 

in classrooms (no matter how hard you go at it) 

still has control variables like rules or guidelines. 

It must be that way otherwise people 

would be severely hurt. maybe 

even killed, while training in a 

martial arts classroom. 

In today’s world rules, 

guidelines and laws go 

out the window when 

it comes to malicious 

based attacks. Criminals 

or physical abusers 

don’t respect your 

personal welfare or 

the laws that govern it, 

and the lack of care allows 

them to be more 

ruthless and vicious 

because they fear nothing. 

With that in play it all comes down to each situation dictates 

its own response. Proficient self-defense skills are a tool in your 

toolbox of personalized protection. That along with situational 

awareness, readability, de-escalation techniques along with a variety 

of physical defensive or offensive martial arts-based skills that 

can aid or save you or a loved ones from possible injury or death. 

Many variables can dictate the survival outcome of an altercation 

in one’s life as long as the mind and body are a cohesive and an 

undeniable team. Momentary judgment or lack thereof of what to 

do and when to do it along with proficiency and accuracy help or 

hinder surviving the situation that presents itself. 

To buy yourself some time and create a greater element of surprise 

(if you’re looking to execute your defense skills) one must be 

able to adapt to the events taking place if the time window of defense 

is there. In certain cases, a street-minded attacker expects 

you to be in full disarray, scared and emotionally unsettled. Listen 

to what he says and how he says it. Give him what he wants and 

as you play up your emotions try to get him to constantly speak. 

Speaking is a thought process that can help delay his reaction time 

and temporarily sidestep his thought process, opening the survival 

window a bit more. Remember movement hides movement so use 

it to your advantage to get to your best angle of defense or to put 

you closer to disabling him by targeting a vulnerable part of his 

anatomy. 

In executing your strike remember to stick to “Parallel Body 

Striking”. Defined as the proper use of equating your legs to strike 

his lower limb joints and your upper body hands/elbows to strike 

his most vulnerable targets in your direct path. As we all know from 

training, the human body is a great machine but has many flaws 

that a skilled defensive artist can take advantage of like disabling 

the base or disrupting air or blood flow. Any one of them will offset 

stability and can open the door to escape or take-out. Remember 

life is made up of choices and how we avoid or defend is a personal 

choice. If avoidance is not an option, then do what you have 

been trained to do without hesitation, regret, or remorse! 

Until next time Be Safe Always! 

GRANDMASTER TOM PATIRE, is known as “America’s Leading Personal Safety Expert” and has appeared 

on Good Morning America, The CBS Morning Show, The Colbert Report, Montel, plus in mainstream publications such as 

Family Circle, Redbook, Fortune Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. He has written several books and has personal 

safety programs that can be incorporated into your martial arts school, available at TomPatire.com. 


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Tools & Tactics 

Protect Your Reputation 

by Ms. Chris Lee 

Fortunately, martial arts instructors and masters enjoy a good reputation. You are 

highly respected in your school, and generally, when you meet someone out in public 

and tell them what you do, they treat you with the respect you deserve. 

The fastest way to diminish that respect and loyalty among your 

students is to try to collect your own tuition. Everything starts out 

fine when you make your sales presentation and outline the payment 

options. Your respect level increases as they attend class. 

Things keep rolling smoothly as long as they make their payments 

on time, but the minute you have to ask someone about a late 

payment, everything changes. You have moved out of the highly 

respected instructor/student relationship and into 

the adversarial client/bill collector relationship. 

They have probably been in that situation 

before and have developed an attitude and 

some bad behaviors, so it is natural for 

them to just revert to that behavior with 

you. Many martial arts instructors are 

shocked at this sudden shift in behavior. 

I know that some school owners 

try to avoid directly dealing with this 

situation by delegating the collection 

of tuition to a member of the staff, but 

that still sets up that adversarial 

relationship between the school 

and the student. 

A much better solution is to 

hire a professional tuition billing 

service to take all those headaches 

away. You can then take 

all the time you and your staff 

currently spend on sending 

late notices, calling students on 

the phone, and dealing with 

frustrated parents in person, 

and use that time to recruit 

new students. Every hour 

you spend collecting current 

tuition could be invested in recruiting new students who are worth 

thousands in additional income. When you try to handle your billing 

in-house, you save a nickel and miss out on making dollars. It’s 

just not worth it. 

In addition, if your billing company is run by martial artists like 

AMS, then the account representatives are trained to direct your 

students back to class. Many students think that just because they 

have an injury or other problem today, they will stop attending class 

and therefore stop paying. Well-trained professionals know how to 

remind them of their commitment, and get them to return to class as 

soon as they are able, all the while meeting their financial obligations. 

Professional companies also provide additional professional services, 

like accounting. Whenever you want to know who has paid 

and who is late, you can get up-to-date reports online anytime. 

If you or any member of your staff is spending time chasing 

after students for money, I recommend that you stop acting like an 

adversary. Trade in your headaches for extra time to enroll extra 

students, and earn extra income. Call the professionals at AMS at 

1-800-275-1600 to preserve your dignity and the good reputation 

of your school. 

MS. CHRIS LEE is a martial arts business development consultant with a background in online and 

social media marketing. 


Photograph by Sergii Zyskо

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Martial Arts World News Magazine - Volume 23 | Issue 4

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