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<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong><strong>World</strong><strong>News</strong>.com<br />

SPECIAL EDITION<br />

VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

The #1 Business Resource for the <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Industry<br />

MIMI<br />

HWANG<br />

MASTER<br />

OF THE YEAR 20<strong>24</strong>!<br />

Mimi Hwang Day<br />

October 19, 20<strong>24</strong> @ 12:00 pm<br />

Celebrate at<br />

Kentucky International Convention Center<br />

The 18th Annual Dragonfest<br />

Expo Delights Participants<br />

What a Harris or Trump<br />

Presidency Means for You


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CONTENTS<br />

FEATURES<br />

28 Florida Teen Kristina Teachout<br />

Wins Olympic Bronze in<br />

Taekwondo: A Bright Future for<br />

American Taekwondo<br />

32 What a Harris or Trump<br />

Presidency Means for You<br />

36 The 18th Annual Dragonfest<br />

Expo Delights crowds<br />

40 The Power of Family: How<br />

Mimi Hwang is Expanding Her<br />

Father’s <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Dream<br />

103 FREE Tool of the Month<br />

DEPARTMENTS<br />

14 Industry Insights<br />

15 Birthdays<br />

18 Industry Innovations<br />

<strong>24</strong> Social 411<br />

58 School Profiles<br />

71 Classified Ads<br />

114 Advertiser Index<br />

YOUR INPUT<br />

69 Tell Us Your Story<br />

84 Feature Your School, Organization,<br />

Accomplishment, or Event<br />

4 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

COLUMNS<br />

6 Editorial<br />

The Election Looms, Now What?<br />

Master Toby Milroy<br />

8 <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong> Faculty<br />

12 The Millionaire Smarts Coach<br />

6 Mindset Hacks for Summer Stress Relief (Part2)<br />

Ms. Lee Milteer<br />

62 Innovation<br />

Embracing Technology in the Modern <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong><br />

School (Part 1)<br />

Master Dan Segarra<br />

64 Teamwork<br />

Are You Ready for Back to School?<br />

Hanshi Dave Kovar<br />

66 After School Excellence<br />

How a <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> School Can Earn over $1.5 Million<br />

a Year<br />

Grandmaster Mike Bugg<br />

68 Growth Hacks<br />

Is Traditional Marketing Still Working for <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong><br />

Schools These Days? (Part 2)<br />

Mr. Sean Lee<br />

70 Ninja Business Tactics<br />

Ninja Mind and Determination<br />

An-Shu Stephen Hayes<br />

72 Extraordinary Marketing<br />

Bigger Isn’t Always Better<br />

Grandmaster Stephen Oliver<br />

74 Pillars of Success<br />

3 Steps to Build Corporate Leadership (Part 3a)<br />

Grandmaster Y. K. Kim<br />

78 Staff Development<br />

Tactical Combative Engagement Principles (Part 2)<br />

Master Zulfi Ahmed<br />

80 The Way of the Samurai<br />

Zanshin – Eight Directions of Awareness (Part 2)<br />

Shihan Dana Abbott<br />

82 Mastering Modern BJJ<br />

How Much Much BJJ Should I Train A Week<br />

To Get Good?<br />

Master Carlos Machado


STAFF<br />

86 Next Level Strategy<br />

What is your Program Worth<br />

Shihan Allie Alberigo<br />

88 Mind Mastery<br />

Understanding and Conquering Your Inner Saboteur<br />

Grandmaster Jessie Bowen<br />

90 Instructional Excellence<br />

Teaching Preteens<br />

Grandmaster Tim McCarthy<br />

94 Budo Philosophy<br />

Aggressiveness, Biology and Culture (Part 3)<br />

Shidoshi Alfredo Tucci<br />

96 Complete <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Concepts<br />

Is Wushu Effective for The Streets? (Part 2)<br />

Professor Willie “the Bam” Johnson<br />

98 Master the Basics<br />

How to Get the Most out of Your Next Belt Test<br />

Master Tina Bane<br />

100 Business Buzz<br />

Unlocking Leadership Potential<br />

Grandmaster Lawrence Arthur<br />

102 <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Philosophy<br />

The Day I Thought I Was Getting Arrested for Being<br />

Funny! Part 1<br />

Sensei Gary Lee<br />

104 Management Excellence<br />

One Easy Step to Solve All Your <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong><br />

Business Problems<br />

Grandmaster Kirk Pelt<br />

106 The Warrior Way<br />

Confidence Factors<br />

Grandmaster Bill Clark<br />

108 Tactical Self-Defense<br />

Line of Fire<br />

Grandmaster Tom Patire<br />

110 Tools & Tactics<br />

Experience Spooktacular Success with Halloween<br />

Campaigns to Grow Your <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> School<br />

Ms. Chris Lee<br />

VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

PUBLISHER<br />

Master Toby Milroy<br />

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF<br />

Mr. Sean Lee<br />

MANAGING EDITOR<br />

Mr. Jeff Reulbach<br />

ART DIRECTOR<br />

Mr. Frank Meyer<br />

GRAPHIC DESIGNER<br />

Mr. Amen Blue<br />

WEB DEVELOPER<br />

Ms. Erin Pham<br />

COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTORS<br />

Shihan Dana Abbott<br />

Grandmaster Zulfi Ahmed<br />

Shihan Allie Alberigo<br />

Grandmaster Lawrence Arthur<br />

Master Tina Bane<br />

Grandmaster Jessie Bowen<br />

Grandmaster Mike Bugg<br />

Grandmaster Bill Clark<br />

An-Shu Stephen Hayes<br />

Professor Willie “The Bam” Johnson<br />

Grandmaster Y. K. Kim<br />

Hanshi Dave Kovar<br />

Ms. Chris Lee<br />

Sensei Gary Lee<br />

Mr. Sean Lee<br />

Master Carlos Machado<br />

Grandmaster Tim McCarthy<br />

Ms. Lee Milteer<br />

Master Dan Segarra<br />

Grandmaster Stephen Oliver<br />

Grandmaster Tom Patire<br />

Grandmaster Kirk Pelt<br />

Shidoshi Alfredo Tucci<br />

The mission of <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong><br />

<strong>News</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is to be the definitive<br />

source for information, news, education,<br />

ethical business practices,<br />

product reviews and innovative<br />

developments in the world of martial<br />

arts business.<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong><br />

<strong>News</strong> does not accept<br />

any responsibility for<br />

unsolicited submissions.<br />

Our preferred method of<br />

submission is by emailing<br />

the editor at editor@<br />

martialartsworldnews.<br />

com. Paper manuscripts<br />

and photos will<br />

only be returned if<br />

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is provided. All rights<br />

for letters submitted<br />

to the magazine<br />

will be accepted as<br />

unconditionally assigned<br />

for publication and<br />

copyright purposes,<br />

with the stipulation<br />

that editorial staff has<br />

the right to edit and<br />

comment.<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong><br />

<strong>News</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, its<br />

owners, directors,<br />

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are not responsible in<br />

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the recommendations<br />

herein. As publisher,<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong><br />

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This magazine is a<br />

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of <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong><br />

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publisher.<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 5


EDITORIAL<br />

The Election Looms, Now What?<br />

by Master Toby Milroy<br />

Here we are once again my friends, on the precipice of another ‘election cycle’<br />

kicking into full gear.<br />

We’re about to be bombarded with hundreds of millions of<br />

dollars (when adding “dark” money, more like Tens of BILLIONS of<br />

dollars) worth of marketing and advertising from political parties,<br />

PAC’s, support groups, and the media itself.<br />

As a school owner (ie Small Business Owner), regardless of<br />

which side of the aisle you sit, there are some specific policy initiatives<br />

each candidate is proposing that you should keep your eyes<br />

on. We have included a brief, unbiased analysis of some of the most<br />

impactful policy proposals we’ve heard about so far in this issue,<br />

that may directly impact your school, and our industry in general.<br />

Now, as a side note, there are a LOT of AMAZING marketing,<br />

advertising, and persuasion lessons you can learn during this season!<br />

Donating a little money to each (or any) political party<br />

will fill your inbox, mailbox, voicemail, text messages,<br />

and MORE with LOTS of useful and valuable copy<br />

ideas, headlines, format concepts and many,<br />

many more lessons. These pieces are produced<br />

my some of the highest paid ‘marketers’ in the<br />

world, and they can be a WEALTH of strategic<br />

and practical information to the smart, observant<br />

school operator.<br />

Aside from these lessons, we’re also enjoying<br />

a bit of an economic ‘blip’.<br />

Although inflation has been<br />

almost staggeringly sticky, as<br />

I write this, we’re seeing stock<br />

market indexes (the S&P 500<br />

at $5,620, and DOW $41,170)<br />

teetering at record highs fueled<br />

(in part) by the AI ‘goldrush’,<br />

where the tech sector has<br />

dumped BILLIONS of dollars<br />

into hardware (ie. NVIDIA),<br />

infrastructure and energy<br />

to either ‘catch up’ or establish an advantageous position in the<br />

emerging technology.<br />

According to fed chairman Powell, interest rates are heading<br />

down soon. Wall Street currently expects 1 to 2 cuts, of about<br />

.25% each. So, perhaps we’ll be seeing more economic ‘activity’<br />

over the next few quarters, which would be welcome news for our<br />

schools and the industry at large.<br />

The good news is, post election, whichever candidate wins, our<br />

‘job’ as business owners doesn’t change. We need to serve our<br />

clients well, and find ways to ‘fill the bucket’ with new clients/students.<br />

Whether the economy improves or declines, the job doesn’t<br />

change. Whether we see a bull market, or a bear market, our job<br />

doesn’t change. Whether you ‘agree’ or ‘disagree’ with a particular<br />

policy, administration, or platform, guess what…..our job doesn’t<br />

change!<br />

Focus on the 4 fundamental basics: 1 - get more new students,<br />

2 - keep your current students more engaged (ie. Longer), 3 - serve<br />

them at higher and higher levels (ie. Renewals/upgrades, more<br />

beneficial programs, etc), 4 - and make them ‘better’. (Enrollments,<br />

Renewals/Upgrades, Retention, Quality.)<br />

If you need any help with specific strategies, tactics or tools to<br />

help you in these areas, give my team a call at 1-800-275-1600,<br />

and we can help!<br />

MASTER TOBY MILROY is a 6th degree black belt. Known as “The Master Systemizer,” Master Toby Milroy<br />

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

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

martial arts school operators in the world.<br />

6 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph (top) by gguy44


OUR EXPERT FACULTY<br />

6<br />

Master Toby Milroy<br />

is a 6th degree Black Belt, the CEO and<br />

Publisher of <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong><br />

<strong>Magazine</strong>, and the Executive Vice<br />

President for AMS. In addition to building<br />

a successful multi-school organization,<br />

Master Milroy has positively influenced<br />

more martial arts schools than virtually<br />

anyone in our industry.<br />

12<br />

Ms. Lee Milteer<br />

is an Intuitive Business Coach, awardwinning<br />

professional speaker, and TV<br />

personality who has counseled and<br />

trained over a million people throughout<br />

her career. Lee is Stephen Oliver’s <strong>Martial</strong><br />

<strong>Arts</strong> Wealth Mastery’s Millionaire Smarts<br />

Coach and is also a best-selling author of<br />

educational resources.<br />

62<br />

Master Dan Segarra<br />

is a 9th Degree Black Belt who is a world<br />

renown and respected authority and<br />

one of the highest rank Americans in the<br />

Korean <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong>. He has a very innovative<br />

mind when it comes to curriculum<br />

and school presentation.He has authored<br />

several books and has been featured in<br />

various <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>s.<br />

64<br />

Hanshi Dave Kovar<br />

is an 8th degree black belt and recognized<br />

as the “Trainer of Trainers.” Hanshi<br />

Kovar is an internationally acclaimed<br />

instructor with black belt degrees in ten<br />

different martial arts styles. His systems<br />

have been implemented in hundreds of<br />

schools around the US.<br />

66<br />

Grandmaster Mike Bugg<br />

is a 9th degree black belt and the owner<br />

of a 1.5 million-per-year location, with one<br />

of the largest after school and summer<br />

camp programs in the country.<br />

68<br />

Mr. Sean Lee<br />

is the Executive Director of Sales and<br />

Marketing for hundreds of martial arts<br />

schools and specializes in online and social<br />

media marketing using his extensive<br />

professional experience in sports and<br />

martial arts marketing, contract negotiation,<br />

and investment.<br />

70<br />

An-Shu Stephen Hayes<br />

has authored more than 20 books,<br />

worked as a bodyguard for the Dalai<br />

Lama, supervised over 30 school locations<br />

worldwide, and was named, "One of<br />

the 10 Most Influential Living <strong>Martial</strong> Artists<br />

in the <strong>World</strong>" by Black Belt <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

72<br />

Grandmaster Stephen Oliver<br />

is a 9th degree black belt and is the<br />

founder and CEO of Mile High Karate<br />

schools, and founder of the <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong><br />

Wealth Mastery Program.<br />

8 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


OUR EXPERT FACULTY<br />

74<br />

Grandmaster Y. K. Kim<br />

is the most successful martial arts business<br />

leader in the US, having written<br />

over 30 books on martial arts, business,<br />

leadership, and success. He has won<br />

numerous public service awards and is<br />

the founder of the leading martial arts<br />

marketing and management company in<br />

the US.<br />

78<br />

Grandmaster Zulfi Ahmed<br />

has amassed acclaim as a world-class<br />

competitor, martial arts educator, and is<br />

most notably founder and designer of<br />

the internationally renowned style, Bushi<br />

Ban. With over 45 years of martial arts<br />

experience and over 300 martial arts<br />

awards, his schools include ten locations<br />

across Texas.<br />

80<br />

Shihan Dana Abbott<br />

is a 7th degree black belt in Kenjutsu,<br />

starting his 14-year education in Tokyo.<br />

He has published five books and designed<br />

a US Patent. Abbott has also<br />

conducted seminars in over 30 countries<br />

and obtained his black belt at the Hombu<br />

dojo in Yokohama. He currently offers<br />

online classes on LearntheSword.com<br />

82<br />

Master Carlos Machado<br />

is one of the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu<br />

Jitsu in the US. Currently a Coral Belt, and<br />

promoted to Black Belt by Carlos Gracie<br />

Junior, Carlos Machado came to the US in<br />

the early 1990’s with his brothers where<br />

they formed the RCJ Machado Jiu Jitsu<br />

Association, one of the strongest & growing<br />

BJJ organizations in the world today.<br />

86<br />

Shihan Allie Alberigo<br />

is a 7th degree black belt, the founder<br />

of the L.I. Ninjutsu Centers, one of the<br />

largest Ninjutsu schools on the planet,<br />

the author of 4 books, and an entrepreneur<br />

with one of the first online coaching<br />

companies (TakingItToTheNextLevel.com).<br />

88<br />

Grandmaster Jessie Bowen<br />

is President of Karate International of<br />

Durham, Inc., a member of the American<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Association Sport Karate<br />

League and Hall of Fame, and has been<br />

a member of the Duke University PE Staff<br />

for over 25 years. He is the author of Zen<br />

Mind-Body Mindfulness Meditation and<br />

Zen Mind-Body Mindfulness Meditation for<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong>.<br />

90<br />

Grandmaster Tim McCarthy<br />

is a 9th degree black belt and is a martial<br />

arts educator with a master’s degree in<br />

education. He has been instrumental<br />

in developing two industry-changing<br />

programs, and has directed and been<br />

featured in hundreds of martial arts videos<br />

and webinars.<br />

94<br />

Shidoshi Alfredo Tucci<br />

is the CEO and General Manager of the<br />

Budo International Publishing Company,<br />

a leading publisher in the martial arts<br />

with over 35 years in the industry. He<br />

is also author of several books: The<br />

Immaterial Dimension, The Way of the<br />

Warrior, and The Spirit. He currently lives<br />

in Valencia, Spain.<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 9


OUR EXPERT FACULTY<br />

96<br />

Professor Willie “The BAM” Johnson<br />

is a 7th degree black belt and seven-time<br />

sport karate and Kung-Fu world champion.<br />

He has appeared in four movies,<br />

16 plays, and 11 television shows. He is<br />

also the national spokesperson for the<br />

Stronger than Drugs Foundation and the<br />

Champions Against Drugs.<br />

104<br />

Grandmaster Kirk Pelt<br />

is a 9th degree black belt and is the<br />

President of a multimillion-dollar, multischool<br />

organization, has a 30-year track<br />

record of success, and is currently on the<br />

leading edge of martial arts curriculum<br />

and business innovation.<br />

98<br />

Master Tina Bane<br />

is a 6th degree master instructor and<br />

owner of a Top Ten martial arts school<br />

with successful after school and summer<br />

camp programs.<br />

100<br />

Grandmaster Lawrence Arthur<br />

is a martial artist specializing in Karate,<br />

Kung Fu, Kenpo, Shoto-kan, and Gojurue,<br />

with 40 Super Kick Karate locations,<br />

and founder of AFKA. <strong>World</strong> champion<br />

Lawrence also runs the Black Belt Success<br />

Systems consulting firm, training<br />

martial arts instructors on proper business<br />

practices in schools all over the country.<br />

102<br />

Sensei Gary Lee<br />

the American Samurai, is a 9th Dan black<br />

belt, a USA Karate Federation gold medalist,<br />

winner of five Super Grand National<br />

Titles, a featured actor in the movie Sidekicks,<br />

and is the founder of the National<br />

Sport Karate Museum.<br />

106<br />

Grandmaster Bill Clark<br />

is a 9th degree black belt and a former<br />

PKA Fighter of the year. He is widely<br />

considered one of the top experts in martial<br />

arts business with over 40 years of<br />

leadership and innovation, having been<br />

inducted into almost every Hall of Fame<br />

in the industry. He is one of the largest<br />

multi-school owners in the world.<br />

108<br />

Grandmaster Tom Patire<br />

is known as “America’s Leading Personal<br />

Safety Expert” and has appeared on<br />

Good Morning America, The CBS Morning<br />

Show, The Colbert Report, Montel,<br />

plus in mainstream publications such as<br />

Family Circle, Redbook, Fortune <strong>Magazine</strong>,<br />

and The Wall Street Journal.<br />

110<br />

Ms. Chris Lee<br />

is a martial arts business development<br />

consultant with a background in online<br />

and social media marketing.<br />

10 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


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THE MILLIONAIRE SMARTS COACH<br />

6 Mindset Hacks for Summer<br />

Stress Relief (Part 2)<br />

By Lee Milteer<br />

Mind Hack #4:<br />

It’s super-important to love yourself enough to learn<br />

the SKILL OF AWARENESS about what stresses you<br />

out and what you can do about it. One thing you can do<br />

is have self-imposed “pattern interrupts.” When you’re<br />

stressed out is not the time to make decisions. Take<br />

a few minutes to take a walk, listen to some relaxing<br />

music, play with your pet and kids for a few minutes.<br />

Mind Hack #5:<br />

To help you with becoming aware of what stresses<br />

you out try these:<br />

• What can I do to have a good day today in spite of<br />

reality?<br />

• What resources can I use today to get back to my<br />

normal positive-thinking self?<br />

• What friends can I share my problems with that will<br />

be a support system?<br />

• What areas of my life have I allowed<br />

myself to be a victim? What do I want to<br />

do differently in the future?<br />

• In what areas of my life do I demand<br />

that I be perfect?<br />

• In what areas of my life am I out of balance?<br />

• Am I trying to be all things to all people?<br />

• What parts of my life am I stuffing my<br />

feelings and not venting frustrations?<br />

• How can I not take myself so<br />

seriously?<br />

• One year from today, what<br />

will be funny about this situation<br />

or my behavior?<br />

• WHAT AM I GOING TO DO<br />

TO SUPPORT MYSELF?<br />

Mind Hack #6:<br />

Give yourself permission to have some positive personal rewards,<br />

to appreciate yourself such as:<br />

• a massage;<br />

• pampering yourself with a good meal (with dessert);<br />

• a night out on the town;<br />

• a hot bubble bath and a glass of champagne;<br />

• playing Golf or tennis;<br />

• phoning someone you love to give you a lift;<br />

• a cleaning service to clean your home.<br />

• Anything that empowers you to feel like you are special!<br />

Always keep in mind that bad days don’t last. This too shall pass.<br />

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

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

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

Visit www.milteer.com<br />

12 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph (right) by AntonioGuillem


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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS<br />

NFL Stars and MMA: Shawne Merriman’s<br />

Vision for the Future<br />

Shawne Merriman, the former NFL All-Pro linebacker, has<br />

carved a unique path from football stardom to becoming a<br />

prominent figure in MMA. His journey began in 2005 when<br />

he attended a UFC event headlined by Randy Couture and Chuck<br />

Liddell. The experience sparked his interest in MMA, leading him<br />

to incorporate the sport into his offseason training.<br />

Merriman’s foray into MMA was a transformative experience.<br />

Despite his physical advantages over Couture, Merriman found<br />

himself outmatched and exhausted. “It was probably the most<br />

humbling experience of my life,” he admitted. This intense training<br />

not only improved his athletic performance on the football<br />

field but also solidified his passion for MMA.<br />

Following his NFL career, Merriman channeled his passion<br />

into business. In 2019, he launched Lights Out Xtreme Fighting,<br />

named after his football nickname. The promotion has since<br />

hosted 18 events, and Merriman’s influence extends to his<br />

streaming app, Lights Out Sports, which features his promotion<br />

and other sports content.<br />

Merriman’s deep understanding of both football and MMA has<br />

led him to predict a significant shift in the MMA landscape. He foresees<br />

that the next heavyweight champion could emerge from football<br />

rather than traditional combat sports. “I think the next heavyweight<br />

champion, like the great next champion after Jon Jones,<br />

there’s going to be a strong safety, a linebacker, a defensive end<br />

that says, ‘You know what? This is what I want to do,’” he predicted.<br />

Merriman believes that a frustrated NFL player, facing career<br />

setbacks such as being cut or benched, might turn to MMA.<br />

“That mentality along with that athleticism with the guy being<br />

on the field, that is what’s going to drive the next heavyweight<br />

champion,” he explained. Although there have been football<br />

players in MMA, like Greg Hardy, Merriman expects more highlevel<br />

NFL players to make the transition in the near future.<br />

A key factor in this anticipated shift is the improved financial<br />

incentives in MMA. Merriman points out that the financial aspect<br />

was a barrier during his time, but it has since changed. “The<br />

money’s there now,” he noted. NFL players with established<br />

names have an advantage in MMA, as they can draw large audiences<br />

and generate significant revenue. Merriman emphasizes<br />

that a well-known football player will have a head start in the<br />

fight game due to their existing fanbase.<br />

He predicts that a notable NFL player will make a successful<br />

transition to MMA within the next few years. Merriman frequently<br />

visits gyms and observes NFL players training, indicating that<br />

the interest is already present among high-profile athletes.<br />

Shawne Merriman’s transition from NFL star to MMA<br />

promoter highlights the sport’s evolving nature. His insights<br />

into the potential for NFL players to succeed in MMA offer a<br />

glimpse into the future of the sport, suggesting that a new<br />

generation of athletes could redefine the boundaries of mixed<br />

martial arts.<br />

14 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


INDUSTRY INSIGHTS<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Celebrity Birthdays<br />

September<br />

September 1. ......................Billy Blanks<br />

September 6. ...................... James Lew<br />

September 7. ..................... Phillip Rhee<br />

September 9. .................. Stephen Hayes<br />

September 10. .........Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson<br />

October<br />

October 8. ................... Michael Dudikoff<br />

October 11. .......................Kane Kosugi<br />

October 17. .......................Keith Hafner<br />

October 18 ........... Jean Claude Van Damme<br />

October 28. ...................... Simon Rhee<br />

September 12. ....................... Bill Clark<br />

September 15. ................. Fumio Demura*<br />

September 27. ........... Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa<br />

*Deceased<br />

centurymartialarts.com<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 15


INDUSTRY INSIGHTS<br />

Grandmaster Tim McCarthy<br />

Delivers 4 Dimensional<br />

Parenting Ted Talk<br />

Check out this important video by one of <strong>Martial</strong><br />

<strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong> magazine’s long-time, well<br />

respected, and highly informed contributors,<br />

Grandmaster Tim McCarthy.<br />

In this presentation he reveals the secrets of 4 Dimensional Parenting from his<br />

perspective with his Master’s Degree in Education, Grandmaster rank in the martial arts,<br />

and decades of experience in the education field.<br />

He has combined his years of experience as a classroom teacher and administrator<br />

(in both public and private schools) with even more years of experience teaching and<br />

developing martial arts programs to create a simple plan for the education of children.<br />

He has spent decades researching developmental child psychology and applied those<br />

findings to his vast knowledge of activities that help children become stronger physically,<br />

mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. His unique perspective combining Eastern<br />

and Western educational philosophy creates a powerful road map to re-imagine<br />

parenting in order to raise better balanced children in an increasingly unbalanced<br />

world. This talk was given at a TEDx event at Barry University in Miami Florida.<br />

Get the Book at 4d-2d.com<br />

16 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


Discover the <strong>World</strong> of Budo the Karate Mouse at<br />

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Buy Paperback Book Dive into Budo’s first adventure and discover how he started his<br />

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INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS<br />

Point MMA Can Bring Out<br />

the Ultimate Competitor<br />

Since its inception in September 1994, Point MMA has revolutionized<br />

the martial arts competition landscape. Spearheaded<br />

by Willie “THE BAM” Johnson and Kimber Johnson,<br />

the “Challenge of Champions – Go Head To Head” event introduced<br />

Maryland’s first POINT MMA Match, featuring a variety of<br />

competitive styles such as San Do, Chi Sao, Wrestling, Kickboxing,<br />

and Jujitsu. Esteemed martial arts masters and judges like Master<br />

Manny Augrella, Lloyd Irvin, and Master Dennis Brown graced the<br />

event, emphasizing sportsmanship, safety, and self-control.<br />

Point MMA is designed to reignite the recognition of martial<br />

arts competitions as a premier sport, blending traditional martial<br />

arts techniques with a new style of Mixed <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong>. It provides<br />

divisions for both adults and kids, focusing on safety through mandated<br />

protective gear, light to medium contact, and the elimination<br />

of brutal techniques. This ensures participants can compete<br />

confidently without the risk of severe injury.<br />

For martial arts school owners, incorporating Point MMA<br />

and Point MMA Kidz Play into your programs offers numerous<br />

benefits:<br />

1. Enhanced Safety and Sportsmanship: Promote a safe and<br />

controlled environment for students, encouraging sportsmanship<br />

and respect among competitors.<br />

2. Attract New Students: Offer a unique and exciting competition<br />

style that appeals to a wide audience, from beginners to those<br />

aspiring to professional MMA careers.<br />

3. Holistic Development: Through programs like Point MMA<br />

Krazy Athletics and Diva Grit Concepts, foster physical, mental,<br />

and spiritual growth among students, enhancing their overall wellbeing.<br />

4. Family-Friendly Training: Provide reality-based training that<br />

is suitable for all family members, ensuring a comprehensive approach<br />

to self-defense and fitness.<br />

5. Future Opportunities: Position your school at the forefront<br />

of a growing sport with national and potentially Olympic recognition,<br />

offering students pathways to higher levels of competition.<br />

Stay ahead of the curve by integrating Point MMA into your<br />

curriculum and be a part of the movement to elevate martial arts<br />

competitions to new heights. Visit PointMMA.com to learn more.<br />

18 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


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INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS<br />

Enhance Your Curriculum<br />

with Budo International<br />

Budo International Publishing Co. stands as a global leader<br />

in martial arts publishing, boasting over 35 years of industry<br />

experience. Their extensive catalog includes a wide range<br />

of instructional materials and resources designed to enhance the<br />

skills and knowledge of martial artists worldwide.<br />

Product Catalog:<br />

• Instructional <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> DVDs: With over 1000 titles available<br />

in PAL and NTSC formats, our DVDs cover various martial<br />

arts, combat sports, and self-defense techniques. These are<br />

offered in five languages: German, English, French, Spanish,<br />

and Italian.<br />

• Digital Videos: Accessible for download in multiple languages,<br />

our digital videos provide convenient, on-the-go learning options.<br />

• Books and e-Books: Comprehensive and detailed, our<br />

books and e-books cater to both beginners and advanced<br />

practitioners.<br />

• Free Online Monthly <strong>Magazine</strong>: Available in 10 languages<br />

(English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese,<br />

Japanese, and Chinese), Budo International offers a wealth of<br />

knowledge and insights into the martial arts world.<br />

Benefits for <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> School Owners:<br />

1. Diverse Learning Resources: Enhance your curriculum<br />

with a vast selection of instructional DVDs, digital videos,<br />

books, and e-books, catering to different learning styles<br />

and skill levels.<br />

2. Multilingual Content: Access materials in multiple languages,<br />

allowing you to reach and educate a broader audience.<br />

3. Stay Informed: The free online magazine provides the latest<br />

news, techniques, and trends in the martial arts industry,<br />

keeping you and your students updated.<br />

4. Professional Development: Utilize high-quality instructional<br />

content to further your own skills and knowledge, enabling<br />

you to offer superior training to your students.<br />

5. Global Perspective: Gain insights from martial artists around<br />

the world, enriching your teaching approach with diverse<br />

techniques and philosophies.<br />

By integrating Budo International Publishing Co.’s resources<br />

into your martial arts school, you can provide a comprehensive,<br />

multilingual, and up-to-date learning experience for your students,<br />

ensuring they receive the best possible training. Visit<br />

BudoInternational.com to learn more<br />

20 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


We teach Character through Karate<br />

Kickstart Kids is an award winning in-school<br />

character development program that uses<br />

karate to teach life-changing values to middle<br />

school and high school students. The non-profit<br />

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For employment opportunities or to find out<br />

how you can help support this great cause, visit<br />

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KickStartKids.org


INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS<br />

Serve Your Community Even More Deeply<br />

with AMSKids After School <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong><br />

AMSKids is a unique and innovative children’s program for<br />

martial arts school owners who want to offer exceptional<br />

after-school martial arts instruction to elementary age children.<br />

It is not a daycare or babysitting, but rather a highly valuable,<br />

in demand program that combines structured martial arts training<br />

with leadership and character development, providing a comprehensive<br />

alternative for parents seeking more for their children.<br />

With 75% of North American families consisting of singleparent<br />

homes or households where both parents work, there is<br />

a substantial demand for safe, enriching after-school programs.<br />

The AMSKids Program addresses this need, offering a secure<br />

and supportive environment that promotes physical health, mental<br />

empowerment, and character development.<br />

Benefits to Your School:<br />

1. Increased Enrollment and Revenue: By offering a specialized<br />

after-school martial arts program, you school can attract<br />

more students and generate additional income. The program<br />

is very appealing to working parents so it also creates a steady<br />

flow of new enrollments.<br />

2. Faster Student Development: Students enrolled in the<br />

AMSKids Program receive more frequent and consistent training<br />

than typical evening classes, resulting in significant improvements<br />

in their martial arts skills and personal development. This<br />

leads to higher student retention rates and better performance<br />

in participants.<br />

3. Differentiation from Competitors: The AMSKids Program<br />

sets your martial arts school apart from others by providing<br />

greater value that goes beyond traditional martial arts training.<br />

The inclusion of leadership and character-building activities<br />

makes your school a preferred choice for parents.<br />

4. Community Engagement: By providing transportation for<br />

children from their schools and operating during school vacations,<br />

you’ll strengthen your ties with your community. This level<br />

of service demonstrates your commitment to the well-being and<br />

development of local children and thereby will enhance your<br />

school’s reputation.<br />

5. Structured Curriculum: The program features a well-designed<br />

curriculum created by experienced martial arts instructors,<br />

ensuring high-quality instruction and a consistent learning<br />

experience for all students.<br />

By implementing the AMSKids Program, martial arts school<br />

owners can play a pivotal role in shaping the future leaders of<br />

tomorrow while simultaneously enhancing their business and<br />

community standing.<br />

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AMSKIDS<br />

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22 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


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SOCIAL 411<br />

14 Faces of Malware Unmasked For<br />

School Owners Part 2<br />

Continuing our exploration of malware, this article delves<br />

into seven additional forms of malicious software that can<br />

pose significant threats to martial arts schools. Understanding<br />

these threats and knowing how to protect against them is vital<br />

for maintaining a secure and efficient operation.<br />

1. Mobile Malware<br />

What it is: Mobile malware targets mobile devices through<br />

malicious downloads, OS vulnerabilities, phishing, smishing, and<br />

unsecured WiFi.<br />

Protection Example: Advise staff and students to download<br />

apps only from official app stores and use mobile security solutions<br />

to scan for threats.<br />

2. Exploits<br />

What it is: Exploits take advantage of vulnerabilities in software<br />

or operating systems to gain unauthorized access and often deploy<br />

additional malware.<br />

Protection Example: Regularly update all software and operating<br />

systems to patch vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of exploits.<br />

3. Scareware<br />

What it is: Scareware tricks users into believing their device is<br />

infected, prompting them to install fake antivirus software, which<br />

then installs malware.<br />

Protection Example: Educate your team to recognize scareware<br />

tactics and use trusted antivirus programs to avoid falling for<br />

such scams.<br />

4. Keyloggers<br />

What it is: Keyloggers record every keystroke on a device, often<br />

capturing sensitive information like passwords and personal data.<br />

Protection Example: Use anti-keylogger software and<br />

ensure all sensitive information is encrypted to protect against<br />

keylogging attacks.<br />

5. Botnets<br />

What it is: Botnets are networks of compromised computers<br />

controlled by an attacker, used to launch large-scale attacks or<br />

perform malicious tasks.<br />

Protection Example: Implement strong firewall rules and intrusion<br />

detection systems to identify and block botnet traffic.<br />

6. MALSPAM (Malicious Spam)<br />

What it is: MALSPAM involves emails that deliver malware<br />

through malicious attachments or links, often appearing as legitimate<br />

communications.<br />

Protection Example: Train staff to recognize and report suspicious<br />

emails and use email filtering solutions to block MALSPAM.<br />

7. Wiper Attacks<br />

What it is: Wiper attacks aim to permanently delete or corrupt<br />

data, often in contexts of geopolitical conflicts or hacktivism.<br />

Protection Example: Regularly backup critical data to offline<br />

storage and use advanced threat detection to identify and mitigate<br />

potential wiper attacks early.<br />

Conclusion<br />

Advanced malware threats require diligent cybersecurity practices<br />

and ongoing education for martial arts school owners and<br />

staff. By understanding these sophisticated forms of malware and<br />

implementing the recommended protection strategies, you can<br />

secure your school’s digital environment, protect sensitive data,<br />

and ensure the continued success of your business. Stay informed,<br />

proactive, and prepared to defend against the evolving landscape<br />

of cyber threats.<br />

<strong>24</strong> MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph by Tippapatt


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SOCIAL 411<br />

OpenAI’s SearchGPT: Potential Impact for<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> School Owners<br />

OpenAI has recently launched its BETA version of Search-<br />

GPT, an AI-powered search engine that aims to compete<br />

with Google. This new approach to ‘search’ is sure to<br />

disrupt the traditional “list of links” we’ve all become accustom to<br />

with Google. This represents a new challenge, and opportunity<br />

for our industry.<br />

Key Takeaways:<br />

• Innovative Search Experience: SearchGPT provides concise<br />

summaries of information from various websites, followed<br />

by links for further details. This streamlined search experience<br />

can enhance visibility for businesses, including martial arts<br />

schools, by making it easier for potential clients to find relevant<br />

information quickly.<br />

• Enhanced Interaction: Users can ask follow-up questions<br />

and access additional relevant links through a sidebar.<br />

For martial arts schools, this means potential clients can<br />

easily navigate to class schedules, enrollment details, and<br />

other pertinent information, improving user engagement and<br />

conversion rates.<br />

• Control for Publishers: OpenAI allows publishers to manage<br />

their appearance in search results and opt out of using<br />

their content for AI training. <strong>Martial</strong> arts school owners can<br />

leverage this feature to ensure their information is accurately<br />

represented while maintaining control over their content.<br />

Business Implications:<br />

1. Increased Visibility: As SearchGPT gains popularity, it<br />

could become a vital tool for attracting new clients. Ensuring<br />

your martial arts school’s information is optimized for this platform<br />

can enhance your online presence and drive more traffic<br />

to your website.<br />

2. Competitive Edge: Adopting early strategies to utilize<br />

SearchGPT can set your school apart from competitors who rely<br />

solely on traditional search engines. Embracing this technology<br />

can position your business as innovative and accessible.<br />

3. Client Engagement: The ability for users to engage with<br />

follow-up questions and related links can lead to higher client<br />

satisfaction and retention. Potential clients can quickly find<br />

the information they need, making them more likely to choose<br />

your school.<br />

What’s Next:<br />

While the exact timeline for the broader release of Search-<br />

GPT is unclear, staying informed and prepared to adapt your<br />

online marketing strategy is essential. Keeping an eye on<br />

developments and understanding how to optimize your content<br />

for this new search engine can provide a significant advantage<br />

in the evolving digital landscape. OpenAI’s SearchGPT represents<br />

a promising opportunity for martial arts school owners<br />

to enhance their digital presence, attract new clients, and stay<br />

ahead in a competitive market.<br />

26 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph by Barriography


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OLYMPICS<br />

Florida Teen Kristina Teachout<br />

Wins Olympic Bronze in<br />

Taekwondo: A Bright Future for<br />

American Taekwondo<br />

The 20<strong>24</strong> Paris Olympic Games brought a new wave of American hopefuls in martial<br />

arts, each entering the international stage with hopes and dreams as diverse as<br />

their backgrounds. For some athletes, the dream was the sheer honor of being an<br />

Olympian and testing their mettle against the world’s best. Others, driven by an<br />

unyielding pursuit of excellence, aimed for nothing less than a podium finish.<br />

In Judo, Maria Laborde, Angelica Delgado, Jack Yonezuka,<br />

and John Jayne represented the United States, stepping onto<br />

the mat with a blend of determination and pride. The Taekwondo<br />

team, comprising CJ Nickolas, Faith Dillon, Jonathan Healy, and<br />

Kristina Teachout, showcased their skill and resilience. Among this<br />

talented group, Kristina Teachout stood out, securing a coveted<br />

medal and bringing honor to her country and her sport. Her success<br />

symbolizes the dedication and potential of America’s martial<br />

artists on the world stage.<br />

A New American Star Rises<br />

The Florida teen left Paris with<br />

an Olympic medal after an inspiring<br />

journey in Taekwondo that captured<br />

the hearts of fans worldwide. Kristina<br />

Teachout, an 18-year-old from Palm<br />

Bay, made headlines by winning<br />

a bronze medal in the women’s<br />

67-kilogram division at the Paris 20<strong>24</strong><br />

Olympics, cementing her status as<br />

one of the brightest stars in American<br />

martial arts.<br />

Teachout’s Olympic journey was<br />

nothing short of extraordinary. After<br />

being defeated in the quarterfinals,<br />

she showcased remarkable resilience<br />

by fighting through the repechage<br />

phase to claim her place on the<br />

podium. “I’ll probably cry about it later,<br />

but I’m so grateful,” Teachout said, her<br />

voice filled with emotion. “This is the<br />

culmination of everything that’s important to me and all that I’ve<br />

put into my craft.”<br />

The young athlete’s celebration was a moment of pure joy<br />

and patriotism. Grabbing a U.S. flag, Teachout ran around the<br />

octagonal-shaped combat area, her face beaming as she warmly<br />

embraced her coach. It was a sight that stirred pride in every<br />

American watching, a symbol of what hard work, determination,<br />

and the love of one’s country can achieve.<br />

Teachout’s path to victory was paved with challenges. She<br />

began her day with a stunning victory over world champion Magda<br />

Wiet-Henin of France, only to face<br />

a heartbreaking loss to Hungary’s<br />

Viviana Marton in a closely contested<br />

match. But Teachout’s spirit remained<br />

unbroken. She rebounded with a decisive<br />

win over Ruth Gbagbi of Ivory<br />

Coast in the repechage and went on<br />

to defeat Song Jie of China for the<br />

bronze. Song played conservatively,<br />

but Teachout seized every opportunity,<br />

applying relentless pressure to<br />

secure her victory in two rounds.<br />

“I’ve always had the harder route<br />

in sports,” Teachout reflected, her<br />

words echoing the tough road she’s<br />

traveled. “Even getting this bronze<br />

wasn’t easy. It was the hardest route<br />

to get a medal. Having to go through<br />

the motions of losing and, you know,<br />

get it back together and fight. So<br />

yeah, it’s been an emotional journey.”<br />

28 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


OLYMPICS<br />

Teachout’s success is even more impressive considering she<br />

had to overcome a hamstring injury earlier in her career. Her<br />

triumph in Paris is a testament to her resilience and unwavering<br />

dedication to her craft.<br />

Teachout’s journey to the Olympics was marked by significant<br />

milestones, including her victory<br />

over Anastasija Zolotic, the first U.S.<br />

woman to win a gold medal in<br />

Taekwondo, during the U.S. Olympic<br />

trials. This victory was a clear indication<br />

of the rising star that Teachout<br />

has become, and her performance<br />

in Paris has only solidified her place<br />

among the elite in the sport.<br />

Hopes for 2028 Los Angeles<br />

Games<br />

Looking to the future, the excitement<br />

surrounding American Taekwondo<br />

is real. With the Los Angeles<br />

2028 Olympics on the horizon,<br />

Teachout’s bronze medal is just the<br />

beginning. Alongside her is fellow<br />

Taekwondo athlete CJ Nicholas, who,<br />

despite narrowly missing the podium<br />

in Paris, has shown immense potential.<br />

Together, they represent the future<br />

of American Taekwondo, a future<br />

that is bright and full of promise.<br />

Teachout’s story is one of perseverance, passion, and<br />

patriotism—a true embodiment of the American spirit. As we<br />

celebrate her incredible achievement, we also look forward to<br />

the next chapter in her journey, where she will undoubtedly aim<br />

for gold in Los Angeles. The countdown to 2028 has begun, and<br />

with it, the hopes and dreams of a<br />

nation are carried by athletes like<br />

Kristina Teachout, who continue to<br />

inspire us all.<br />

As we celebrate Teachout’s<br />

incredible achievement and look<br />

forward to the next chapter in her<br />

journey, there’s no doubt that she<br />

will be a key player in Team USA’s<br />

quest for gold in 2028. Her Olympic<br />

Bronze is not just a victory for her<br />

but a victory for all of us—a symbol<br />

of what can be achieved when talent,<br />

hard work, and patriotism come<br />

together.<br />

The countdown to Los Angeles<br />

2028 has begun, and with it, the<br />

hopes and dreams of millions of<br />

Americans are riding on the shoulders<br />

of athletes like Kristina Teachout<br />

and CJ Nicholas. Together, they are<br />

lighting the way to a future where<br />

American Taekwondo stands at the<br />

pinnacle of the sport.<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 29


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POLITICS<br />

Potential Impact of the 20<strong>24</strong><br />

Presidential Candidates on<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> School Owners<br />

As we approach the 20<strong>24</strong> Presidential election, the two nominees are former<br />

President Donald Trum and Vice President Kamala Harris.<br />

The outcome of this election could have significant implications<br />

for various industries, including, of course, the martial arts industry.<br />

Understanding each candidate’s record, stances, and policies is<br />

crucial for martial arts school owners as you plan the future of your<br />

business.<br />

So, let’s take an unbiased, objective look at the highlights of<br />

each candidates’ platform, and how their policy proposals might<br />

affect our industry.<br />

Kamala Harris:<br />

Background and Experience<br />

Kamala Harris, born in Oakland, California, declared her<br />

candidacy for the 20<strong>24</strong> Democratic nomination on July 21, 20<strong>24</strong>.<br />

Harris, 59, is the current Vice President of the United States and<br />

has held several significant positions, including U.S. Senator from<br />

California, Attorney General of California, and District Attorney of<br />

San Francisco.<br />

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard University and a law<br />

degree from the University<br />

of California, Hastings College<br />

of the Law.<br />

Key Policy <strong>Issue</strong>s<br />

Harris’s campaign<br />

focuses on several<br />

core issues:<br />

(At the time of this<br />

writing, 3 days into the<br />

Democratic National<br />

Convention, the Harris<br />

campaign has not yet<br />

published a comprehensive<br />

platform outline, so<br />

we’ll be examining her<br />

statements at the convention,<br />

and the brief<br />

outline provided to the<br />

media.)<br />

• Increasing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% (or 35%).<br />

Depending on your business structure, this may or may not<br />

have an immediate, direct impact for you. If you’re a “C” corporation,<br />

or other entity that is taxed at the corporate rate, you<br />

may want to consider the impact of this possibility.<br />

• Increasing the child tax credit from $2000 to $3600 per child<br />

and expanding to $6000 for the first year of the child’s life.<br />

About 70% of martial arts students in the US are under age 13,<br />

so expanding the child tax credit would presumably reduce the<br />

family’s tax burden, giving them more discretionary income.<br />

• Provide tax incentives for home builders who build ‘starter’<br />

homes, sold to first-time buyers, and provide $25,000<br />

down-payment assistance to support first-time buyers.<br />

If your school is in an area that serves either younger families,<br />

or newer homeowners, this may stimulate some economic<br />

movement in this area. Also, if you serve people in the home<br />

construction, maintenance or services industry, this may help<br />

stimulate their businesses as well.<br />

• Raising the Minimum<br />

Wage<br />

It’s unclear, as of today,<br />

what the target rate<br />

would be, but obviously,<br />

this may impact martial<br />

arts schools with paid<br />

staff members.<br />

• Reducing Healthcare<br />

Costs<br />

The Harris, Walz agenda<br />

proposes to cap the<br />

price on insulin to $35,<br />

and out of pocket drug<br />

expense to $2000 per<br />

person, for everyone.<br />

So families may also find<br />

some relief from some<br />

medical costs here.<br />

32 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


POLITICS<br />

Donald Trump:<br />

Background and Experience<br />

Donald Trump, born in Queens, New York, declared his candidacy<br />

for the 20<strong>24</strong> GOP nomination on November 15, 2022.<br />

Trump, 78, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a<br />

bachelor’s degree in economics.<br />

Before his presidency, he was a real estate developer, businessman,<br />

and reality television star. His first term as president<br />

included significant legal challenges and two impeachments, yet<br />

he maintains a strong support base with the slogan MAGA.<br />

Key Policy <strong>Issue</strong>s Trump’s campaign focuses on several<br />

key areas:<br />

(As of the time of this writing, the Trump/Vance agenda is published<br />

on their website, and links to the RNC Platform summary.)<br />

• Lower Corporate Tax Rate to 15% - Make Trump Tax Cuts<br />

Permanent and No Tax on Tips<br />

Again, depending on your business’ corporate structure, the<br />

corporate tax rate may or may not be directly relevant to you,<br />

but if it is, this is something to note. School operators who serve<br />

business owners, or areas where companies may expand under<br />

these conditions should consider the ramifications.<br />

• Increasing the child tax credit from $2000 to $5000 per child<br />

Again, as we stated on the previous page, this very well<br />

could save parents more on their tax bill, allowing them to<br />

keep more of their earned income. This is a higher proposal<br />

than the Harris/Waltz campaign, but either proposal<br />

would, obviously, have to make it through congress to<br />

become law.<br />

• Housing and Education Affordability<br />

The Trump/Walz campaign proposes to make housing more<br />

affordable by stimulating economic growth, reducing inflation,<br />

lowering interest rates, opening limited federal lands to housing<br />

development, providing tax incentives for first-time buyers,<br />

and reducing unnecessary regulations that raise the cost of<br />

housing. These proposals, as of yet, don’t have many specifics<br />

(like a specific first-time home buyer tax credit ‘amount’).<br />

• Simulate the American Economy Through<br />

“Pro-Growth” Policies<br />

The campaign intends to grow the economy by leveraging<br />

American energy production, reigning in wasteful<br />

Government spending, promoting economic growth, and<br />

cutting costly and burdensome regulations. For school<br />

owners in energy producing areas of the country, or<br />

where industries have become hamstrung by overregulation<br />

this may be an opportunity.<br />

• Stop Illegal Immigration<br />

We’ve heard reports from school operators in some areas<br />

around the nation who’ve been affected by the spike in illegal<br />

migration. This is an issue the campaign platform positions as<br />

a high priority, so if it’s an issue that concerns you and your<br />

business, you may want to make note.<br />

Regardless of ‘which side of the aisle’ you sit, the upcoming<br />

election will certainly have an effect on the macroeconomic situation,<br />

and in some cases a more direct micro-economic impact on<br />

our businesses and our students.<br />

Let us know what you think!<br />

Email us at: editor@<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong><strong>World</strong><strong>News</strong>.com<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 33


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EVENTS<br />

The 18th Annual Dragonfest<br />

Expo Delights Crowds<br />

The <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> History Museum’s Dragonfest Expo was a resounding success,<br />

attracting nearly 2,000 attendees to the Glendale Civic Auditorium earlier this month.<br />

The event was filled with 100 vendor<br />

booths, six workshops, and a full day of cultural<br />

performances on stage. From Japanese<br />

musical dances, a Chinese lion dance group,<br />

and Chinese Face Changing to a special Armenian<br />

dance ensemble featured this year. A<br />

new Armenian section will be installed in the<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> History Museum later this year.<br />

Dragonfest is more like a reunion than<br />

just a convention. It is the gathering of martial<br />

arts icons, stars, celebrities, and champions<br />

all in one place. It provides an opportunity for<br />

young fans to meet their favorite icons. Some<br />

of those included Benny “the Jet” Urquidez,<br />

Don “the Dragon” Wilson, Cynthia Rothrock,<br />

Eric Lee, James Lew, George Chung, Chong<br />

Lee, Michelle Manu, Simon Rhee, Doug Wong, Carrie Ogawa-<br />

Wong, Graciela Casillas and many more.<br />

Some of the celebrities guests included Spice Williams-Crosby<br />

(Star Trek), Matthew Moi (2 Broke Girls), Leilani Shiu (Star Wars),<br />

Herbert Jefferson (Battlestar Galactica), Roger Lowe (Star Trek),<br />

Gloria Hendry (James Bond 007), Ron Thomas (Karate Kid, Cobra<br />

Kai), Sean Kanan (Karate Kid, Cobra Kai), Americus Abesamis<br />

(iCarly), Jay Tavara (Mortal Kombat), Disney Icon James Ito, Darryl<br />

Vidal (Karate Kid), Peter Kwong (Big Trouble in Little China), just to<br />

name a few.<br />

The convention center was also filled with cosplayers such<br />

as Star Wars Storm Troopers, inspiring Jedi, Darth Vader, bloodthirsty<br />

pirates, and Anime-themed characters.<br />

“We have been honored to host this convention each year.<br />

People fly in from around the world to meet their favorite stars and<br />

touch base with their friends. It’s like a big reunion,” says museum<br />

president Michael Matsuda. “We have had booths for many pioneers<br />

who are now gone such as Fumio Demura, Bill Ryusaki, Tak<br />

Kubota, John Corcoran, and Buck Sam Kong. Each year, we take<br />

the time to honor those who have passed in the last year.<br />

36 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


EVENTS<br />

The most important thing about Dragonfest is that it is a fundraiser<br />

for the <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> History Museum. 100 percent of all the<br />

proceeds go to the museum. “We are so thrilled that these huge<br />

figures in the arts freely give of their time to support the museum.<br />

Each believes in what we are doing and they always make it a<br />

point to be there to support,” adds Matsuda.<br />

The <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> History Museum is the first and only museum<br />

of its kind in the world. It is the home of the martial arts worldwide<br />

and the only place keeping martial arts history alive. Notes Benny<br />

“the Jet” Urquidez, “without this museum, everything I did, everything<br />

I accomplished will be lost and worse, forgotten forever.”<br />

For more information about Dragonfest or the <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> History<br />

Museum, visit their site at MAmuseum.com. Tax-deductible<br />

donations are strongly encouraged.<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 37


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COVER STORY<br />

The Power of Family: How<br />

Mimi Hwang is Expanding Her<br />

Father’s <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Dream<br />

In the exciting and fast moving world of martial arts business,<br />

few figures shine as brightly as Master Mimi Hwang. As a<br />

second-generation martial arts school owner, Mimi is not<br />

just continuing a legacy—she’s forging a very bright future.<br />

With a deep-rooted passion for Taekwondo and a very<br />

sharp business acumen, Mimi has elevated Hwang’s <strong>Martial</strong><br />

<strong>Arts</strong> to new heights, leading three thriving locations in<br />

Louisville, KY, and serving over 800 active students. Beyond<br />

her work in the dojang, Master Mimi is also a successful<br />

licensed real estate agent and the driving force behind<br />

the family’s property ventures. Her leadership has brought<br />

great innovation to the schools, with the introduction of<br />

impactful after-school programs and the establishment<br />

of the Jung Hwang Legacy Foundation, a charity that has<br />

raised significant funds for local causes. Master Mimi Hwang<br />

embodies the bright future of Hwang’s <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> as she<br />

skillfully balances tradition with progressive technology as<br />

she leads the way toward an impactful future in the martial<br />

arts industry and her community.<br />

40 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


COVER STORY<br />

Master Of The Year for 20<strong>24</strong><br />

Master Mimi Hwang<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 41


COVER STORY<br />

MAWnews: Mimi Hwang is a second generation school owner,<br />

meaning the family founded the school and now there is a second<br />

generation of ownership taking more and more responsibility<br />

and roles in the school. Which is an interesting trend that’s been<br />

happening in the industry for a number of years. From this we’re<br />

seeing all sorts of interesting innovations and new insights and<br />

things really interesting to talk about. Can you start us off from the<br />

beginning? Please tell us about the schools’ background, your family,<br />

how things got started here in the United States, and what it all<br />

looks like now?<br />

Olympic Legacy: “My father, Grandmaster<br />

Jung Oh Hwang, won the silver medal in<br />

the Los Angeles Olympics…”<br />

MH: So my father, grandmaster Jung Oh Hwang, won the silver<br />

medal in the Los Angeles Olympics representing South Korea in<br />

judo in 1984. From there he had the opportunity to study in the<br />

United States and he was able to get his masters in physical education<br />

at the University of Tennessee Martin.<br />

After that, he started his own school, grew that location, then<br />

moved to Paducah, KY, and ultimately in 1997 put down permanent<br />

Master Hwang poses for snapshot with her after school martial arts class.<br />

roots here in Louisville, KY. It started with one school, then grew<br />

into two, and now we operate 3 locations here in Louisville.<br />

MAWnews: When did you think that martial arts was going to<br />

be the career that you would go into? Then how did that transition<br />

into both instructorship, ownership, and locations?<br />

MH: Well, I literally lived, breathed, and ate Taekwondo growing<br />

up. I did not do anything else. Probably the typical second generation<br />

story. I did not go to prom because prom was on Friday nights<br />

and that was during our demo practice.<br />

I grew up doing it. My parents would take me to the AMS<br />

seminars when I was in middle school<br />

all the way through high school. Then<br />

I went to college at San Jose State<br />

University in the Bay Area, graduated,<br />

but I think I’ve always wanted to run<br />

a school. It’s just something that I’m<br />

really passionate about. I love all of<br />

the different aspects of what happens<br />

in a Taekwondo school. I moved back<br />

fully in 2009 and that’s when I really<br />

stepped into a full time role at the schools. I’ve been doing that<br />

ever since.<br />

MAWnews: So almost 16 years in the business, and now you<br />

have four children as well. How is your family involved in operations<br />

now?<br />

MH: They are fully immersed in it. They take classes in the location<br />

where my father teaches often, they attend the all day camps,<br />

and pretty much every activity.<br />

They’re definitely getting the<br />

Grandmaster Hwang training experience,<br />

but it’s a more refined, softer<br />

approach nowadays. I guess things<br />

change when you’re a grandpa,<br />

because I had to do like a 1000<br />

push-ups. Then I see him teaching<br />

my kids and it’s a bit different.<br />

I’m hoping that I also can really<br />

cultivate my children’s passion for<br />

the art. Both of the children love it<br />

and then my youngest daughter is 2<br />

and she’s fascinated by what’s going<br />

on every day. Seeing her older<br />

brother and sister do it. So my hope<br />

is that they love it and that this is<br />

something that is going to be a part<br />

of their lives too.<br />

MAWnews: So, as a multi-school<br />

operator, you (and your family) have<br />

also added a pillar of wealth to your<br />

operation by acquiring commercial<br />

real estate, with in some cases, the<br />

school(s) being a tenant along with<br />

others. Walk us through that process<br />

and when did you start acquiring<br />

these buildings?<br />

42 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


COVER STORY<br />

MH: So my parents leased for many, many years and then<br />

through all the people they met, they came to realize that one of the<br />

best ways to grow wealth is through real estate. So they acquired<br />

some land and actually built it from the ground up for our first location.<br />

That was a location in Jay Town, our first location in this area.<br />

Then the second location was the same. My dad literally<br />

knocked on the person’s door, and asked them if they would sell<br />

the home. Now that location is our biggest flagship school, which<br />

we also built from the ground up in 2005.<br />

Then the third location was an established furniture store that<br />

had gone out of business.<br />

MAWnews: From the ground up is really jumping in with both<br />

feet, isn’t it?<br />

MH: It really was. I was not involved in the negotiations or<br />

acquisitions at that time, but seeing all the things that happen<br />

‘behind the scenes’ was a marvelous experience, and taught me a<br />

lot about how the real estate business works, and probably ignited<br />

some of the passion I have for real estate.<br />

Now that I also have become a real estate agent, I have a much<br />

deeper understanding of all the nuances<br />

and technical elements, and can be<br />

more valuable to my clients. It’s a long<br />

process from the zoning to the drawings<br />

and the development plan. You have to<br />

get so many things approved from the<br />

city and then actually build it.<br />

After all of this, then you try to open<br />

a business. There are certainly many<br />

psychological bottlenecks and learning<br />

curves. For my parents being the first<br />

generation, immigrants to the United<br />

States it’s amazing and inspiring to me<br />

Master Hwang and her mother at a special event.<br />

that they just ‘figured it out’ and made it all happen. I try to emulate<br />

those qualities now, for my family to see!<br />

Then there was the business learning curve that every school<br />

owner has to go through since we’re not born business owners.<br />

You learn how it all works. You have to learn about permitting,<br />

Multi-Generational Dedication:<br />

“I literally lived, breathed, and ate<br />

Taekwondo growing up. I did not go to<br />

prom because prom was on Friday nights<br />

and that was during our demo practice.”<br />

First and Second generation Hwang’s <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Leadership.<br />

licensing, accounting, taxes, and so much<br />

more. We don’t want to do any of them,<br />

but you have to learn a little bit about it.<br />

Of course, in our case you layer on top of<br />

that we not only acquired the property but<br />

actually started from the ground up.<br />

It really took and takes a lot to succeed.<br />

Additionally, now our two-story building<br />

also involves tenants. This is a whole different<br />

kind of beast when you’re dealing with<br />

leasing to tenants and everything else that<br />

goes with having tenants. So now, a new<br />

learning curve to face is learning how to be<br />

a landlord.<br />

There’s definitely been expensive<br />

mistakes along the way. Whenever somebody<br />

can provide some shortcuts, then<br />

I’m always ready to take as many notes as<br />

possible. Learning through other people’s<br />

mistakes can really save you a ton of<br />

money and a lot of headaches.<br />

continued on page 46<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 43


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COVER STORY<br />

continued from page 43<br />

I tell people all of the time don’t believe what TikTok says about<br />

how easy it can be. There’s no easy way to make money and within<br />

real estate it’s hard. But it’s definitely one of those areas, if it is<br />

done well, that can lead to real wealth.<br />

MAWnews: Well, you guys are a great example of that. In your<br />

three locations you’re also implementing transported after school<br />

programs. In fact, one location is a fully licensed child care center.<br />

How did that start and what is your current experience in running<br />

these after school programs?<br />

MH: We’ve been doing after school care through AMS. I think<br />

we were one of the first to do it when it was launched way back in<br />

2002. The program was and has been very successful, we could<br />

have like 120 kids at one center for summer camps, for example.<br />

One of our locations is situated in an area where a high<br />

proportion of parents really wanted to take ‘more’ advantage of<br />

Master Hwang promotes the benefits of the martial arts and charity events.<br />

Real Estate Ventures: “We acquired some<br />

land and actually built it from the ground up<br />

for our first location... Now that location is<br />

our biggest flagship school, which we also<br />

built from the ground up in 2005.”<br />

the program, so, it really made sense for us to become a certified<br />

childcare center. I think we started that back in 2018-19 and it’s<br />

been great. There’s a lot of paperwork and regulations that come<br />

with it also, but we do it very leanly and as efficiently as possible so<br />

that the program can grow to be where it is today.<br />

The hurdles are probably all of the smallest detail regulations<br />

per the state that you have to meet, and it’s great that there is a<br />

template of the things that you’re supposed to do as a licensed<br />

childcare center.<br />

You can get an inspection at any given time. They don’t give<br />

you any warning and they go through everything. All your employee<br />

files, your transportation logs, fire drills, earthquake drills,<br />

I mean everything and anything under the sun. Even making sure<br />

you have hand soap in the emergency bag in the school bus.<br />

MAWnews: So with three locations operating with more than<br />

800 students, what do you think, if you look back over the years,<br />

were some of the biggest successes you’ve had?<br />

MH: Looking back over the years, I say, surviving the pandemic.<br />

That was a crazy time. Luckily, we were able to really pivot, adapt,<br />

and still hold classes over zoom. I feel like that was probably the<br />

most challenging situation.<br />

The first four weeks, then eight weeks, then 12 weeks, and then<br />

more than a year. So I feel like overcoming that was a big success<br />

over the years. So I’m really proud of that.<br />

Also, probably bringing out the nonprofit was another big<br />

success that came out over the last<br />

few years.<br />

MAWnews: Yes, you do a lot of<br />

work on your 501c3 non profit organization,<br />

describe that for us.<br />

MH: Well, one component is that<br />

we hold a larger championship tournament<br />

that started a very long time<br />

ago. My dad, Grandmaster Hwang,<br />

has a team called the Horseman<br />

team. It consists of different aspects<br />

of planning an event. It’s not an easy<br />

thing to do with all the details and<br />

things that go along with it. So you really need to have a good team<br />

which we call our horseman team. They’re hand-picked and typically<br />

meet every Saturday for almost a year to plan this one event.<br />

The other event that we have is a big charity event in the spring.<br />

We have competitors that come from all over the world: Bolivia,<br />

Cuba, China, South Korea, Alaska, Ohio and then, of course, our<br />

HMA students. We’ll have over 800 competitors and well over<br />

Master Hwang on television with the local news anchor women.<br />

46 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


COVER STORY<br />

Master Hwang prepares for an interview in front of the mic.<br />

2000 spectators for our championship. We rent out a big hall in the<br />

Convention Center.<br />

We were all talking and we suggested that maybe we should<br />

just rent out a gym. But all the horsemen were like, “Absolutely<br />

not! We can do it, Sir! We’re gonna go big! There’s nothing small<br />

that we do at Hwang’s martial arts!” So rather than being in a 1200<br />

square foot gym we’re renting a 60,000 square foot ballroom.<br />

MAWnews: So how does this help facilitate the 501C3 charity?<br />

MH: For years since we’ve opened the schools, we’ve always<br />

made it a priority to give back. It’s been a big part of what we do<br />

like a lot of school owners. We were finding that year after year we<br />

were raising $50,000, $60,000 or more, for these nonprofit organizations.<br />

We thought that was great. It gives us instant credibility.<br />

Being able to partner with a well known name, but wanted to know<br />

where the money really went. But<br />

we really wanted a little bit more<br />

transparency. So we created our<br />

own 501c3.<br />

It’s interesting because we<br />

just had our charity event last<br />

year for the first time since CO-<br />

VID. We were really worried because<br />

our foundation is new. It’s<br />

called the Jung Hwang Legacy<br />

foundation. We were unsure if<br />

people were going to stand behind<br />

it because it’s not the local<br />

Children’s Hospital. It’s not the Kentucky Humane Society for pets.<br />

We wondered if we could raise the money. Our goal was $30,000<br />

and we surpassed it by raising over $43,000. It was amazing.<br />

It was very similar this past year. $40,000 was our goal and we<br />

surpassed $50,000. So people really like to stand behind things<br />

they believe in and they really believe in the Hwang’s <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong><br />

program. It’s really been eye opening to see that.<br />

You know, for school operators considering doing this, maybe<br />

you’re just starting, but if people really believe in your vision and<br />

have an established relationship like we have at Hwang’s <strong>Martial</strong><br />

<strong>Arts</strong> that you can really have a lot more impact.<br />

This enables us to award scholarships through the foundation.<br />

We are able to make donations to our local Children’s Hospital<br />

too, but it’s through the foundation now instead of through the for<br />

profit business.<br />

MAWnews: There are other school operators who have altruistic<br />

desires to contribute, but when you look at a charity that’s on<br />

television you just don’t know where the money goes. So what are<br />

the strategies you use to raise funds in these charitable efforts?<br />

MH: In addition to the championship, we hold large annual<br />

charity events. One is in the spring and the other is in the fall.<br />

We host a large exhibition where students and families generate<br />

donations through ticket sales. We’ve been able to really leverage<br />

this and dramatically expand our reach by deploying technology<br />

through online fundraising platforms.<br />

There’s definitely still some fees that come with that, but the<br />

online donations have been astronomical. It’s been amazing. I mean<br />

you can ask Grandma that lives in Kansas to donate to your page<br />

and you don’t have to worry and you know she can do it super quick.<br />

So through online donations, we’ve been able to raise funds. We<br />

create fun, exciting incentives for our students. This past year, we did<br />

a wave master signed by Grandmaster! So its a one-of-a-kind. You<br />

should have seen, there were three students up until the 11:59 deadline<br />

still finding donations. They raised $1500, it was truly amazing.<br />

We also brought in a silent auction which brought about<br />

$3000 to $5000. We did some fundraiser sales, items like<br />

double good popcorn. It’s already packaged with pre-popped<br />

popcorn. You’d think that $13 for a bag of popcorn wouldn’t do<br />

well, but we brought in like $4000 to $5000 just off that. It’s really<br />

a cumulative effort.<br />

Then the day of the event we’re out there motivating. I’m one of<br />

the MC’s and we have a big screen and start announcing dona-<br />

Pioneering After School Programs:<br />

“We were one of the first to implement after<br />

school care through AMS back in 2002. The<br />

program has been very successful, with up<br />

to 120 kids at one center for summer camps.”<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 47


COVER STORY<br />

Master Hwang teaching a young student in their after school program.<br />

tions like “$500.00 from Grandma saying, ‘We love you, Johnny.’”<br />

So we’ll announce that and people will just donate to see their<br />

name on the screen. Corporate sponsorships were also a big<br />

boost. We’ve got some really loyal sponsorships that believe in our<br />

mission and they graciously donate year after year.<br />

MAWnews: Serving your community is critical, and creating<br />

relationships with local businesses and organizations can be a<br />

Surviving the Pandemic: “Looking back,<br />

surviving the pandemic was probably the<br />

most challenging situation. We pivoted,<br />

adapted, and still held classes over Zoom—<br />

I’m really proud of that.”<br />

tremendous advantage. You said you had some corporate sponsorships.<br />

What type of companies and businesses should a school<br />

owner consider if they’re looking at doing<br />

something like this, who should they talk to?<br />

MH: So as far as corporate sponsorships,<br />

we’ve been around Louisville a really long<br />

time, since 1997. There are relationships<br />

that we have formed because we own a lot<br />

of real estate and other real estate investments.<br />

So there are certain banks that we<br />

use and many times they’ll donate.<br />

There’s a local HVAC and plumbing company<br />

that donate, I also use them personally<br />

for my investments. I’ll talk with them saying<br />

something like, “I am a loyal customer and<br />

I’d really love it if your company sponsored<br />

us for this charity event that benefits<br />

disadvantaged kids in our area.” We also<br />

have some students that own businesses as<br />

well and they are our top sponsors. They’re<br />

Master Hwang in preparation for a huge event<br />

for charity.<br />

very gracious with their donations. We also have some dentists,<br />

restaurants, and other service type industries that we frequent and<br />

patronize. Every year, I’ll ask my CPA if they would sponsor. They’ll<br />

say, “No.” So I’ll respond, “OK, well, would you consider donating<br />

$200.00.” And they’ll do it.<br />

So utilizing the network around you and the people that<br />

you see all the time like your hair stylist or barber. Those are<br />

the people that will say, “Yes, I see I see value in some of these<br />

sponsorships.” Plus, if they need a tax write off it’s 100 percent tax<br />

deductible. They’ll do a few hundred or even $100, $50.00, or $20.<br />

Whatever it is, we go out and ask.<br />

The lesson is that the answer to every question you don’t ask<br />

is “No!” In fact, I tell my kids “closed mouths don’t get fed”. So you<br />

just have to ask because the worst they can say is “No.” We’ve also<br />

got a formal letter too, but honestly a lot of the time for the people<br />

we know, we just send a text. I would recommend just having<br />

some sort of open communication. Face to face relationships or<br />

even a phone call relationship.<br />

MAWnews: I 100% agree, sending an email blast and expecting<br />

a flood of responses is unreasonable. But speaking with people<br />

you already have a relationship with is FAR more effective.<br />

Changing subjects, it’s useful for<br />

school owners to hear how other<br />

successful operators have handled<br />

difficulties. What are some of the<br />

biggest challenges that you’ve had<br />

to overcome that you think some<br />

lessons might be gained?<br />

MH: There are many challenges.<br />

We still struggle with just finding<br />

staff. I know that that’s an industry<br />

related issue across the country.<br />

The process is extremely slow. I<br />

don’t feel like it is as easy to find<br />

staff as it was back just a few years<br />

ago. A lot of times you would find a parent that could do some<br />

work or needed part time work, but these days it just really seems<br />

like nobody wants to work at all.<br />

We’ve been pretty fortunate again in<br />

using the networks of our parents. Now the<br />

parents that we have sometimes have students<br />

or kids that are older. It’s so important<br />

to hire the right people. When you’re working<br />

with children there’s high liability and we<br />

want to make sure we’re finding the right<br />

staff. So that’s been a challenge that we are<br />

facing and somewhat overcoming.<br />

Since we own the buildings, we don’t<br />

have to worry about rent these days, but for<br />

somebody new just beginning in today’s<br />

market rent could be a huge challenge.<br />

There’s just been an exponential high rent<br />

increase in all of the retail that I have seen.<br />

Another personal challenge has been<br />

working with difficult parents. Obviously<br />

48 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


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COVER STORY<br />

there is no 1 ‘answer’, but we’ve gotten a lot better over the last few<br />

years, because we’ve captured most common issues, and now<br />

train our team on how to best handle them<br />

It was (and is) a big challenge shifting from working with first<br />

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also an ‘ongoing’ process, but we already reap many benefits, and<br />

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Giving Back to the Community: “We created<br />

our own 501c3, the Jung Hwang Legacy<br />

Foundation. We’ve provided $30,000,<br />

$40,000, $50,000 and more a year in<br />

scholarships and other support. It’s been<br />

amazing to see the community support.”<br />

MAWnews: What would you say over the years have been the<br />

most successful marketing strategies that you’ve deployed in the<br />

schools?<br />

MH: Working with local public and private schools has been<br />

probably the most valuable. We’ve created such good relationships,<br />

that we are able to distribute Flyers, and do all sorts of other<br />

activities with them. We used the same ads for many years and<br />

now, we revamped it and it did wonders.<br />

We get a lot of calls and responses back from being in PE<br />

classes and building rapport. When the principals and the teachers<br />

really see what it’s doing for the kids they definitely become your<br />

biggest advocates.<br />

We also generate a lot of referrals from therapists and counselors.<br />

We have a great reputation for helping children, that we’ve<br />

become a solution for them to recommend.<br />

Internet marketing and our websites have aided us a lot because<br />

we’re usually pretty active on our social media. Now I have<br />

staff that have suggested ramping up a TikTok account and I’ve<br />

encouraged them to create content when appropriate.<br />

Birthday parties are still huge for us as well. We also partner<br />

with the local library, especially during the summer reading promotions.<br />

Students that read a given number of books get gifts, and<br />

we’ve supplied passes and other<br />

valuable prizes for them to utilize.<br />

Going out to community events,<br />

shaking people’s hands, and being<br />

personable face to face speaks<br />

volumes as well. If you provide a<br />

great experience to these people<br />

that are interested in the program<br />

and you can really connect with the<br />

kid, whether they’re you’re teaching<br />

them a high block, a punch, or give<br />

them a tattoo. The results may not<br />

be instant, but when they’re looking<br />

for something, or if somebody asks<br />

on Facebook in the mommy groups<br />

with kids looking to try martial arts,<br />

in the comments they’ll say, “Have you checked out Hwang’s <strong>Martial</strong><br />

<strong>Arts</strong>?” So those are some of the marketing activities that we<br />

have that worked for us.<br />

Of course any type of advertising ‘might’ be good for your<br />

school, but the impact is so much greater when you’re spending<br />

the money on a pizza party or something for your students. When<br />

you spend only $50 to $100 on pizza and having face to face<br />

Master Hwang in front of the camera promoting a charity event.<br />

Master Hwang with a local news broadcaster for an interview.<br />

50 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


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COVER STORY<br />

Expanding Community Impact: “Through<br />

online donations, we’ve dramatically<br />

expanded our reach, raising funds for our<br />

charity events. Last year, we even raised<br />

$50,000, surpassing our goal.”<br />

interactions, the results are greater than spending all this money<br />

on digital ads.<br />

Of course, you have to look at everything. You must consider<br />

your bottom line, how much it’s costing you, and what the return<br />

on that investment is.<br />

MAWnews: What advice do you have for school owners who<br />

may be considering locations. Is the common expression “Location,<br />

location, location”, still as valid as in years past?<br />

MH: That’s an interesting question because there’s so many<br />

levels and layers to consider before giving somebody advice on<br />

this topic. I’ll answer from my experience being a real estate agent<br />

for commercial tenants that look for space. There is a reason why<br />

the hottest and most visible location costs more money a month.<br />

It’s advertising for your business if you’re on the main road at the<br />

busiest intersection.<br />

When we purchase real estate or want to buy a strip center, it’s<br />

always location based. So if it’s behind three buildings, obviously the<br />

price is going to be a lot less than what you would get in the front.<br />

But when you’re looking for a tenant, you have to ask, “How much<br />

are you going to get per square foot by being behind three buildings<br />

versus being on the main road?” Those are things to consider.<br />

If you’re just starting out, done the math, and you can afford it, I<br />

recommend that you should be in a top location.<br />

It’s going to cost a lot of money, but you can also<br />

charge more.<br />

Of course, I know a lot of places and a few<br />

martial art schools here in town that do a great<br />

job and they’re in an industrial park who don’t<br />

even have a sign. It seems like there’s no way<br />

that you could even find it if you were driving<br />

around, but they do a great job.<br />

Again, we are on the main intersections and<br />

in highly visible locations. That alone provides<br />

marketing results, and we count a certain portion<br />

of our payment as advertising dollars. So I<br />

think location still plays a big factor in success<br />

for the school. So I would say 100%, location is<br />

still extremely important.<br />

MAWnews: How do you think what you’ve<br />

experienced in the <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> has helped you<br />

to forge a successful business, and life?<br />

MH: My experience is different because<br />

my parents are also martial artists, but<br />

my dad was also an Olympic medalist.<br />

I have learned a lot through them.<br />

My dad is 67 and he still goes to the<br />

school(s) every day. “No” is not an<br />

answer for him until he gets, “Yes.” He<br />

goes out on the roof and is like a handyman<br />

on the properties to save $500<br />

rather than use a roofing company. So<br />

the work ethic I picked up is strictly<br />

through what I see as my role models,<br />

which were my parents. My dad’s life<br />

changed 1,000,000% because he<br />

learned martial arts at a young age which led him to the Olympics<br />

and not just anybody can get to the Olympics. I watch the<br />

Olympics with my kids and you only see the success of what is<br />

like 30 seconds. But there was long hard work and thousands of<br />

Master Hwang in demo mode during an exhibition for charity.<br />

52 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


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COVER STORY<br />

times of failing, but you don’t see that in<br />

that moment.<br />

Through martial arts, having martial arts<br />

parents, and the work ethic is the foundation<br />

of why and how I work. My experience<br />

and their influence lead me to have a<br />

strong work ethic. The foundation is there<br />

from a strong work ethic but then you add<br />

in the life skills of Taekwondo and all the<br />

things I’ve learned in my life. Besides kicking<br />

and punching, which are secondary,<br />

the most important things through learning<br />

martial arts have been work ethic and the<br />

fortitude of never giving up. I am not scared<br />

to go up and talk to anybody and that’s<br />

really hard to do.<br />

Even things like doing public speaking<br />

have this foundation. My dad made me do it all the time. So<br />

now it’s second nature to me, but that is something that a lot<br />

of people don’t have the opportunity to do. Giving back to the<br />

community and giving in charitable efforts have all been a part<br />

Master Hwang shows her flexibility with a high front kick.<br />

Master Hwang leading a sword weapon demonstration.<br />

Importance of Work Ethic and Resilience:<br />

“The foundation of my success is a strong<br />

work ethic and the fortitude of never giving up.<br />

These qualities, instilled by my martial artist<br />

parents, have been crucial in my journey.”<br />

of my experience. It’s a great feeling doing something good for<br />

the community, but especially with our foundation. Like being<br />

able to read the students their scholarship applications and<br />

what they had to do. Realizing that our family and the students<br />

at Hwang’s are helping<br />

somebody in our community<br />

makes me feel so fortunate<br />

to be in this position with<br />

our family and where I’m at<br />

in my career.<br />

Also here in Louisville,<br />

we’ve got a big behavioral<br />

issue with school buses and<br />

no bus drivers want to drive<br />

kids around because of the<br />

lack of discipline. I really<br />

believe that a lot of this can<br />

be fixed if these kids are in a<br />

disciplined, positive environment. We could impact some of these<br />

kids that are in underprivileged areas in a positive way through<br />

community and accountability with martial arts as the foundation<br />

for their life skills.<br />

MAWnews: Without a strong structure like that, you can’t be<br />

successful. What we all do and what you guys do for students is a<br />

great example of that and I think it does solve the problem for the<br />

overwhelming majority of human beings.<br />

MH: I think therapy can be important for children or for anybody<br />

sometimes, but if you have martial arts, I really think that<br />

a lot of the problems that you see with depression and anxiety<br />

would really decrease. I’m not a doctor, but I can only base it off of<br />

what I’ve seen in our students and what it does in their lives. We<br />

see too much evidence everyday to ignore it from our students.<br />

When you put the physical with the mental in a solid framework<br />

with a lot of discipline and build self esteem, this solves a lot of<br />

behavioral issues.<br />

MAWnews: Master Hwang, thanks so much for taking your<br />

time. What you are doing is a great example for other schools to<br />

model and emulate and there’s a lot of lessons in what you shared!<br />

54 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


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20<strong>24</strong> Hall of Fame:<br />

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2. Salute to Flag<br />

3. The U.S. and Korean National Anthems<br />

4. Award presentation: Hall of Fame and<br />

Master Mimi Hwang Day presented by<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

5. Introduction of <strong>Special</strong> Guests<br />

6. <strong>Special</strong> Exhibition by<br />

Master Mimi Hwang<br />

7. <strong>Special</strong> gift for the audience<br />

from Master Mimi Hwang<br />

8. Closing


<strong>Special</strong> Guest <strong>World</strong> Famous<br />

Supreme Grandmaster<br />

Y. K. Kim<br />

MODERN PHILOSOPHER<br />

DYNAMIC SPEAKER<br />

Y. K. KIM<br />

Author of a bestseller and<br />

14 other books<br />

Producer, writer, director,<br />

and star of the action film<br />

Miami Connection<br />

Publisher of <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong><br />

<strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />

Winner of Hall of Fame<br />

in 2009<br />

Recipient of Y. K. KIM Day<br />

in Central Florida<br />

Founder of <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong><br />

<strong>World</strong><br />

Chairman of consulting<br />

company on marketing<br />

and software<br />

Y. K. Kim will present<br />

20<strong>24</strong> Hall of Fame<br />

Master of the Year<br />

Mimi Hwang


SCHOOL PROFILE<br />

Empower <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Academy:<br />

Building Confidence and<br />

Strength through Combat Kuntao<br />

Empower <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Academy of Stafford, Virginia, has been making waves in the<br />

martial arts world since its establishment in 2016. Guided by the visionary leadership<br />

of John Butler, the academy is a beacon of empowerment for both children and adults<br />

seeking to master the art of Combat Kuntao.<br />

Encompassing 1800 square feet, the<br />

academy’s space is a testament to its<br />

commitment to providing a welcoming<br />

and conducive environment for learning<br />

and growth. However, the path to this<br />

point wasn’t without its challenges. John’s<br />

aspiration to move into a larger facility<br />

within five years was met with an unforeseen<br />

obstacle—the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />

Forced to close for three months, he<br />

emerged from the crisis with renewed determination,<br />

even as he faced the daunting<br />

task of rebuilding his student base, which<br />

had been impacted by up to 50%.<br />

At the heart of Empower <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong><br />

Academy is John Butler, affectionately<br />

known as Master John, a true authority<br />

in health, wellness, and martial arts. With<br />

over 40 years of combined experience<br />

in fitness and martial arts, he stands as a paragon of discipline and<br />

expertise. As a fitness coach, martial artist, and personal protection<br />

agent, John’s approach goes beyond physical prowess; it<br />

encompasses a holistic journey of transformation.<br />

John’s brainchild, TriJohn <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> and Fitness Incorporated,<br />

is the foundation of Empower <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Academy’s ethos. His<br />

mission revolves around enriching the mind, body, and spirit of his<br />

clients. By fusing wellness, personal defense, and healthy living, he<br />

imparts a unique philosophy that encourages the integration of fitness,<br />

self-defense, and self-empowerment. His expertise extends<br />

to conducting specialized workshops, including Women’s Personal<br />

Safety and Hand to Hand Tactical Defense System, catering to<br />

diverse segments such as law enforcement, security forces, and<br />

even the senior and disabled vets community.<br />

With numerous accomplishments, John is a multi-faceted<br />

leader in his field. As CEO of TriJohn Company and the Founder<br />

of Empower <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Academy, he has taken the helm of his<br />

Master John Butler - Founder Elite <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Academy<br />

vision with unwavering determination. He’s<br />

a published author, with his book “Body<br />

Alert, Is Your Temple In Order” available on<br />

Amazon. His mastery as a Black Belt <strong>Martial</strong><br />

Artist and Certified Personal Trainer speaks<br />

to his commitment to constant growth.<br />

John’s affiliations with prestigious martial<br />

arts organizations further underscore his expertise.<br />

From being an Elite Personal Safety<br />

System Certified Instructor to Combat<br />

Kuntao Certified Instructor and affiliations<br />

with Pambuan Arnis Filipino <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong><br />

International, <strong>World</strong> Chin Na International,<br />

and Kyusho Jitsu International, his skill set is<br />

as diverse as it is profound.<br />

Empower <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Academy’s success<br />

story is a testament to John’s indomitable<br />

spirit. He went from being a “<strong>Martial</strong><br />

<strong>Arts</strong> Instructor On-Wheels,” personally<br />

catering to his students, to realizing his dream of establishing a<br />

studio in 2016. His ingenuity in marketing shines through as well,<br />

with effective strategies including Facebook Ads and the timeless<br />

power of Word of Mouth.<br />

Looking to the future, John’s aspirations are as admirable as his<br />

journey. Over the next five years, he envisions moving into a larger<br />

facility, a testament to the growth he’s fostering. But his vision<br />

extends beyond physical spaces. He’s dedicated to giving back to<br />

the community, offering scholarships and free martial arts training<br />

to the underserved, conducting workshops for battered women<br />

shelters, and creating an inclusive avenue for disabled vets and<br />

special needs individuals to engage with and thrive in the world of<br />

martial arts.<br />

Empower <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Academy isn’t just about learning<br />

self-defense; it’s a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and<br />

transformation led by a man who’s not just an instructor, but a true<br />

agent of positive change.<br />

58 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


See<br />

What You’re<br />

Missing<br />

Every Month<br />

Everything You’ll Ever Need to<br />

Market Your <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> School!<br />

MaBizAcademy.com<br />

MA BIZ ACADEMY


SCHOOL PROFILE<br />

Tulsa Kung Fu: A Legacy of<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Mastery<br />

Tulsa Kung Fu of Tulsa, Oklahoma has stood as a bright light of martial arts excellence<br />

since its inception in 1994. Under the dedicated guidance of Ray Hildreth, this<br />

academy imparts the intricate art of Kung Fu to both children and adults, enriching<br />

lives and building a legacy.<br />

Master Ray Hildreth,<br />

a certified 8th Degree by<br />

the esteemed <strong>World</strong> Organization<br />

of Wushu Kung<br />

Fu Masters of Hong Kong,<br />

boasts an unparalleled<br />

51 years of martial arts<br />

experience. His expertise<br />

encompasses a diverse<br />

spectrum, ranging from<br />

Hung Gar Kung Fu and<br />

Choy Li Fut Kung Fu to<br />

Kenpo Karate and select<br />

forms of Tai Chi Chuan,<br />

including the Chen, Yang,<br />

and Wu Hao methods.<br />

Such a comprehensive<br />

background underlines<br />

the depth of knowledge<br />

that he imparts to his<br />

students.<br />

Tulsa Kung Fu’s<br />

2000-square-foot space,<br />

situated within a strip<br />

mall, serves as a nurturing<br />

environment for growth<br />

and transformation. The<br />

academy, now back on<br />

its feet post-COVID, is<br />

a shining example of<br />

resilliance in the face of<br />

staggering challenges.<br />

Sifu Hildreth’s accolades<br />

are a testament to<br />

his dedication and contribution to the martial arts community. His<br />

recognition includes the 1992 AAU Outstanding Service Award,<br />

inductions into the <strong>World</strong> Karate Union Hall of Fame in 1998, the<br />

Whirlwind Classic Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, and<br />

recognition from the American Black Belt System Hall of Fame<br />

in 2004. A pinnacle of<br />

his journey was being inducted<br />

into the prestigious<br />

International Chinese<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Championship<br />

(ICMAC) Hall of Fame in<br />

2018.<br />

Master Hildreth has<br />

discovered that growing<br />

his school takes more than<br />

just being a great teacher,<br />

and delivering engaging<br />

classes. He has implemented<br />

online and offline<br />

marketing strategies that<br />

have helped him fill his<br />

school with new, enthusiastic<br />

students.<br />

Creating an online<br />

presence that aligns with<br />

his culture, mission, and to<br />

what prospective students<br />

really want is a key principle.<br />

Integrating thoughtful,<br />

authentic videos that<br />

speak to the valuable benefits<br />

of the program make<br />

a huge impact on visitors,<br />

and help them see the true<br />

value the school offers.<br />

Master Hildreth looks<br />

to continue his growth<br />

curve into the future, and<br />

within the next 2 years,<br />

is projecting to nearly double his student count, and help more<br />

families, kids, and even seniors in his community. Tulsa Kung<br />

Fu stands not only as a martial arts academy but as a testament<br />

Raffi Derderian Brings JKD and<br />

to Master Ray Hildreth’s unwavering commitment, a place for<br />

Kali Success to Students in RI<br />

personal growth, and a symbol of the rich heritage of Kung Fu.<br />

Master Ray Hildreth - Blending Tradition with Modern Marketing to Build an Inspiring School Business<br />

60 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


Action <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Mega 2025<br />

Jan. <strong>24</strong>,25,26 2025<br />

ActionMA4@gmail.com<br />

<strong>World</strong>s Largest M.A. Event


INNOVATION<br />

Embracing Technology in the<br />

Modern <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> School (Part 1)<br />

By Dan Segarra<br />

As a martial arts instructor with decades of experience, I have witnessed the evolution<br />

of teaching methods and the integration of technology into our daily lives.<br />

Embracing these advancements can significantly<br />

enhance the operations of a martial arts school, making<br />

it more efficient, engaging for students, and less stressful<br />

for instructors/owners. Here are some ways technology,<br />

particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and digital<br />

tools, can revolutionize your martial arts<br />

school.<br />

The Power of AI: Your New Assistant<br />

Artificial intelligence has become an<br />

indispensable tool in various industries,<br />

and martial arts is no exception. Using<br />

AI like ChatGPT can transform how we<br />

communicate and manage our schools.<br />

Here are a few applications:<br />

1. Better Communication: Crafting<br />

well-written emails, photo captions,<br />

student manuals, and ad copy<br />

can be time-consuming. AI<br />

can help you generate professional<br />

and engaging content<br />

quickly, allowing<br />

you to focus on<br />

teaching and<br />

interacting with<br />

your students.<br />

Whether it’s a<br />

newsletter, a<br />

social media<br />

post, or an advertisement,<br />

AI can help<br />

ensure your message is<br />

clear and compelling.<br />

2. Social Media Management: Platforms like Facebook<br />

and Instagram are essential for promoting your school and<br />

engaging with the community. AI can generate content ideas,<br />

create posts, and even analyze the best times to publish.<br />

If you’re not using AI, you’re missing out on a tool that can<br />

turn you from a one-person show into a one-person (or onewoman)<br />

army.<br />

For example I had a picture of one of my students that lost her<br />

tooth at home and she came in with this big toothless smile and<br />

could not wait to show me. So, I took a picture and wrote a cute<br />

caption. A month later I asked ChatGpt to caption the same photo<br />

and it wrote an amazingly funny caption with emojis and hashtags.<br />

It was so much better than what I wrote. I use ChatGpt to write all<br />

my photo captions now.<br />

MASTER DAN SEGARRA is a 9th Degree Black Belt who is a world renown and respected authority and one of<br />

the highest rank Americans in the Korean <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong>. He has a very innovative mind when it comes to curriculum and school<br />

presentation. He has authored several books and has been featured in various <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>s.<br />

62 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph (right) by Supatman


September 13t h -15t h , 20<strong>24</strong><br />

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Join Us! September 13th - 15th, 20<strong>24</strong><br />

Energize yourself and your staff by training<br />

in this amazing Gathering of Masters from all<br />

over the world.<br />

Grand Master Clark is hosting this<br />

revolutionary training on the physical, mental<br />

and business side of martial arts.<br />

EARN Certifications for<br />

• Warrior Krav<br />

• Warrior Fight Club<br />

• Warrior Kali<br />

register NoW! warriorkravmaga.com/EVENTS<br />

or CALL MS. HARRISON 904-7<strong>24</strong>-2100 1400 Millcoe Road,Jacksonville, FL


TEAMWORK<br />

Are You Ready for<br />

Back to School?<br />

by Hanshi Dave Kovar<br />

Back-to-School is an important time to bring more students into your martial arts<br />

school and reactivate students who quit over the summer. Families will be planning<br />

their schedules for the school year, including after-school activities, so it’s important to<br />

raise awareness during this decision-making time of year.<br />

Although there are still a few more weeks of summer,<br />

there are a few things you can do right now to begin planning<br />

your strategy for the Back-to-School<br />

season. Here are a few to-do list items to<br />

keep in mind:<br />

• Develop a back-to-school offer for<br />

your marketing campaign. Use this offer<br />

in all of your marketing efforts to be<br />

consistent and make sure your team is<br />

aware of the offer.<br />

• Order all of the items you will need<br />

to promote your school now while there’s<br />

plenty of time. This could include pencils,<br />

book marks, stickers, book<br />

covers, backpacks, coffee<br />

mugs and more!<br />

• Be sure that all vacationing<br />

students have<br />

an appointment date set for<br />

when they’ll be back in class.<br />

In a few weeks, all stragglers<br />

should be contacted and<br />

offered extra help to get<br />

restarted.<br />

• Plan a back-to-school<br />

party for your students. This<br />

would be a good time to<br />

reserve a location if you’d like<br />

to make it a pool party. The goal is to get everyone back from their<br />

summer vacation and involved ASAP… before they pick another<br />

activity!<br />

• Pick a date for an open house event at the end of September/<br />

early October. Get all students involved in the demonstration to<br />

ensure you get a lot of spectators and guests. Friday nights work<br />

great. Plan a 30 minute demo, refreshments, a free trial class and a<br />

raffle to ensure you collect names, addresses and phone numbers.<br />

If you get started on this to-do list now, you’ll be off to a great<br />

start for a successful back-to-school season.<br />

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

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

systems have been implemented in hundreds of schools around the US.<br />

64 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph (right) by jacoblund


Do You Serve <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Professionals?<br />

Share Your Message in <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />

For Sponsorship<br />

Options & Packages:<br />

Visit: <strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong><strong>World</strong><strong>News</strong>.com<br />

or Call Jeff @ 407-895-1996<br />

SEEKING STORIES!<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is the definitive source<br />

for information, news, education, ethical business<br />

practices, product reviews and innovative developments in<br />

the world of martial arts business.<br />

We are always on the look out for notable, engaging and<br />

valuable stories for our readers!<br />

If you, your school, organization, event, product, or service<br />

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

hear about it!<br />

<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong><strong>World</strong><strong>News</strong>.com/Ureport<br />

Contact us at: 407-895-1996<br />

or Email Editor@<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong><strong>World</strong><strong>News</strong>.com


AFTER SCHOOL EXCELLENCE<br />

How a <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> School Can<br />

Earn over $1.5 Million a Year<br />

‐by Grandmaster Mike Bugg<br />

Take one giant step into the future.<br />

In the year 2000, an aspiring young instructor opened his<br />

martial arts school after several years of training in instruction and<br />

business under his master. We’ll call him Instructor B. He grew up<br />

in a very poor family of 16 children, and he had been working as a<br />

prison guard, so owning a martial arts school offered him quite a<br />

different opportunity to change his life.<br />

He had a respectable start, earning about $6,500 a month by<br />

the end of his first year. Then his master recommended he start an<br />

after school program with summer camp. He was not enthusiastic,<br />

because they had tried an after school program at his master’s<br />

school several years prior and it did not go well. It<br />

cost too much time, too much energy, and<br />

too much money for very little return. They<br />

closed down the program in a couple of<br />

months.<br />

This time, they hoped it would be different<br />

because they had guidance from<br />

the AMSkids program. They had a Starter<br />

Kit with advice on what to do and what<br />

NOT to do, and they had expert business<br />

development consultants to advise them.<br />

By the end of his second year, he was<br />

averaging $22,000.00 a month, effectively<br />

tripling his income, thanks to AMSkids. He<br />

was able to buy himself a Corvette and a<br />

new house for his mother. Most people<br />

would be happy with this increase,<br />

but Instructor B was just getting<br />

started.<br />

He continued to expand his<br />

program, and had to build his<br />

own larger building to accommodate<br />

all the new students.<br />

Now, his summer camp alone<br />

earns over a quarter of a<br />

million a year, and his school’s annual income is well over a million<br />

and a half. And that instructor was me.<br />

How about you? Can your school earn a $1.5 million a year?<br />

The AMSkids Program of after school martial arts with summer<br />

camp can change your future, just like it did for me. The Starter Kit<br />

will show you what to do and when to do it. The AMS marketing<br />

consultants will coach you to avoid common, costly mistakes. The<br />

monthly support will give you day-by-day, hour-by-hour activities<br />

for the kids. You get everything you need.<br />

Call 1-800-275-1600 to take the one giant step that can change<br />

your school’s financial future.<br />

Just for calling, we’ll send you our popular in-depth report, “The<br />

Top 10 Ways to Create Win/Win Relationships with your School<br />

System,” valued at $197.00.<br />

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

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

66 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


CHECK OUT OUR<br />

MARTIAL ARTS<br />

BUSINESS<br />

DISCUSSION GROUP<br />

No Egos – No Politics – No Trolls<br />

Just <strong>News</strong>, Tips, Strategies, and Tools to Help You Grow Your School!<br />

facebook.com/groups/<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong><strong>World</strong><strong>News</strong>


GROWTH HACKS<br />

Is Traditional Marketing Still<br />

Working for <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Schools<br />

These Days? (Part 2)<br />

by Mr. Sean Lee<br />

4. <strong>Special</strong> Offers:<br />

• Discounts: Offer exclusive discounts or promotions for attendees<br />

who sign up during the open house.<br />

• Free Trial Classes: Provide free trial classes or workshops. Let<br />

visitors experience what your school offers firsthand.<br />

5. Refreshments and Atmosphere:<br />

• Snacks and Drinks: Offer light refreshments. It encourages<br />

attendees to stay longer and chat.<br />

• Positive Vibes: Create a friendly,<br />

positive atmosphere. Smile, greet<br />

everyone, and make them feel<br />

welcome.<br />

6. Follow-Up:<br />

• Collect Contact<br />

Information: Have<br />

a sign-up sheet or<br />

digital form to collect<br />

attendee details.<br />

• Thank-You Emails:<br />

Send personalized<br />

thank-you emails<br />

after<br />

the event. Include any special<br />

offers or next steps.<br />

Remember, an open<br />

house is not just about<br />

showcasing your school—<br />

it’s about building relationships<br />

and making a<br />

lasting impression.<br />

Building relationships with the community is essential<br />

for several reasons:<br />

1. Trust and Credibility: When you actively engage with the<br />

community, you build trust and credibility. People are more likely to<br />

support and recommend your martial arts school if they know you<br />

personally.<br />

2. Word of Mouth: Positive interactions lead to word-of-mouth<br />

marketing. Satisfied community members will share their experiences<br />

with others, attracting potential students.<br />

Find this resource on mabizacademy.com<br />

3. Local Support: Community relationships provide local support.<br />

Businesses, schools, and neighbors can collaborate, refer<br />

students, and participate in events.<br />

4. Long-Term Growth: A strong community network ensures<br />

long-term growth. It helps sustain your school even during challenging<br />

times.<br />

Remember, community relationships are an investment that pays<br />

off in the form of loyal students and a thriving martial arts school!<br />

SEAN LEE is the Executive Director of Sales and Marketing for hundreds of martial arts schools<br />

and specializes in online and social media marketing using his extensive professional experience in<br />

sports and martial arts marketing, contract negotiation, and investment.<br />

68 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


BE RECOGNIZED in future editions of<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

Our goal at <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is to<br />

support our industry and help you grow your martial<br />

arts school. It’s incredibly useful for our readers to hear<br />

about YOUR specific experiences and results.<br />

You are part of a wonderful industry and community<br />

with <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, and now, you’ll<br />

be able to share and contribute to that community in a<br />

richer and more meaningful way than ever before!<br />

Share Stories About:<br />

• Achieving a New Rank<br />

• Opening a New Location<br />

• Winning an Award<br />

• Discovering a Successful Marketing Strategy<br />

• Building a Retention System that Works Well<br />

• Tournament Results<br />

• Anything else that our readers might find valuable!<br />

<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong><strong>World</strong><strong>News</strong>.com/Ureport<br />

Or send your story ideas to Editor@<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong><strong>World</strong><strong>News</strong>.com


NINJA BUSINESS TACTICS<br />

Ninja Mind and Determination<br />

by An-Shu Stephen Hayes<br />

Let’s explore dreams and determination and the ninja will to win.<br />

My daughter Marissa just graduated from a 5 year university<br />

program with a degree in Fashion Product Development. She<br />

has been heading towards this since she was a pre-schooler, so<br />

determined on a career using fashion as a means of increasing the<br />

impact of beauty, craftsmanship, self expression, and dignity in<br />

daily life. Marissa has always been focused on fashion, especially<br />

writing about it, even as she worked for years in the family dojo<br />

as a teen. As a university student, she interned for New York City<br />

firms like Seventeen <strong>Magazine</strong>, Victoria’s Secret, Coach, Liz Claiborne<br />

and Stylesight. These internships were not the norm for her<br />

university program. She talked busy New York fashion professionals<br />

into listening to her and then allowing her to create<br />

internships with them where no such internships<br />

existed. She wanted that. It did not exist. So<br />

she made it happen.<br />

She reminds me of me.<br />

After university, I landed in Japan with<br />

enormous optimism and absolutely no<br />

plan. I just knew that if the ninja tradition<br />

still existed in Japan, I had to be a part of<br />

that. All through my college days 40 years<br />

before my daughter Marissa got to her<br />

campus, I was doing my best to prepare. I<br />

studied the Japanese language. I studied the<br />

martial arts. I traveled internationally.<br />

I learned to ask for way too<br />

much as though it were requesting<br />

a small favor.<br />

I got used to people<br />

fearing for me in<br />

my one-pointed<br />

maniacal fixation<br />

on finding and<br />

restoring the<br />

authentic Japanese<br />

ninja<br />

warrior tradition in the Western world. I had no plan, but I went<br />

to Japan. I was counting on raw magic happening, and in many<br />

situations in Japan I really needed every bit of magic that I could<br />

recognize and grasp.<br />

Our To-Shin Do training provides the power to move through<br />

life with determination and skill, accomplishing what we need<br />

while making the world a better place as a result of our success.<br />

I learned this truth by way of taking a big gamble and moving to<br />

Japan without knowing anyone there and having not the slightest<br />

clue as to whether the ninja arts I sought were even real. On the<br />

other hand, my daughters Marissa and Reina and all those growing<br />

up in the ninja martial arts since the early 1980s learned this<br />

truth by way of reading the books, attending classes in the dojo,<br />

and watching their seniors’ demonstrate warrior authenticity in<br />

daily life.<br />

I had to hope. Everyone else gets to know.<br />

My best advice to young friends and students as they set<br />

out on any great life adventure is to plan thoroughly… and leave<br />

room for magic. Have a clearly defined vision of your goal… and<br />

allow for the possibility that you may end up with something even<br />

better than your original goal. Talk to everyone you know who<br />

could help you… and be ready for some unimagined fortuitous<br />

connection with just the right person. Never never stop talking<br />

to potential allies about your dream and how you plan on putting<br />

your gift to work in the world. That’s what I did, and my reward<br />

now is a collection of countless stories of how people around<br />

the world improved their lives – sometimes in small ways and<br />

sometimes revolutionarily – as a result of what I was determined<br />

to seek and then share.<br />

What’s your dream? Have you tried asking for advice and guidance<br />

from others in the world-wide To-Shin community? It has<br />

worked for many before you in furthering noble dreams.<br />

So… Anybody out there know the editor of Vogue magazine<br />

well enough to tell her about this absolute stormer named<br />

Marissa who would be the best thing ever to hit the hallways of<br />

that office?<br />

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

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

living martial artists in the world” by Black Belt <strong>Magazine</strong><br />

70 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


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MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 71


EXTRAORDINARY MARKETING<br />

Bigger Isn’t Always Better<br />

by Grandmaster Stephen Oliver<br />

When I was younger, I was often envious of friends and acquaintances, and even<br />

instructors that I had heard about who:<br />

• Boasted larger student active counts than<br />

my own.<br />

• Had huge, beautiful facilities;<br />

• Who’s gross was touted to be larger than<br />

mine.<br />

Over the years, having been there and done<br />

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Happiness on a daily<br />

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existing active count, taking into account maximizing your space<br />

utilization through proper scheduling, etc. Everything else is EGO.<br />

Lifestyle counts! Work 100 hours a week for $200,000, or 40<br />

hours per week and make $100,000 — which really enhances your<br />

life more?<br />

Wait a minute! If I had hobbies, what would they be?<br />

• Did I miss the kids growing up?<br />

• Do I take time to learn and grow?<br />

• How about relaxation and recharge time?<br />

Wealth — live below your means. Make intelligent decisions so<br />

as to accumulate assets. Longterm security is based upon REAL<br />

assets, like real estate, bonds, publicly traded stocks (including<br />

mutual and index funds) and your bank balance. Balance your current<br />

lifestyle expenses with building for the future.<br />

Impress your clients — your students and parents — not your<br />

competitors and peers. Let’s face it: Why do you care what the<br />

other martial arts guys think?<br />

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

Mile High Karate schools, and founder of the <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Wealth Mastery Program.<br />

72 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph (right) by Mohamad Faizal Bin Ramli


www.ElitePublications.org


PILLARS OF SUCCESS<br />

3 Steps to Build Corporate<br />

Leadership (Part 3a)<br />

by Grandmaster Y. K. Kim<br />

Corporate leadership requires self, attractive, necessary, network, and corporate leadership.<br />

In the last four sections, we discussed self, attractive, necessary,<br />

and network leadership. In this section we will discuss the<br />

details of corporate leadership so you can become a corporate<br />

leader.<br />

In order to build a competitive organization, the CEO has to<br />

have powerful vision, financial ability, and the ability to create a<br />

winning team, which is corporate leadership.<br />

Being a corporate leader means you can lead any company to<br />

build a strong and competitive organization.<br />

c) Create a Winning Team<br />

People are the key to a winning team in any<br />

organization because people create good or<br />

bad, weak or strong policies, rules, or even laws.<br />

People not only create the system, they operate<br />

the system.<br />

In essence, to build a winning team you must<br />

seek out team members who have ability and<br />

believe in the same goal as you. In order to lead<br />

an organization, a leader must know how to recruit<br />

quality people to build a winning team.<br />

A-class players can build a quality team<br />

and boost performance.<br />

A-class players like to play with<br />

A-class players, not C-class players<br />

because C-class people destroy<br />

teamwork.<br />

A corporate leader must know<br />

how to create A-class players and<br />

build a winning team.<br />

Competitive organizations<br />

desperately need winning teams<br />

and excellent performance. With<br />

a winning team, you can achieve<br />

much more than you think.<br />

To build a winning team requires that you recruit quality people<br />

and build a quality team.<br />

3 Steps to Develop a Winning Team<br />

i. Recruit Quality People<br />

ii. Build a Quality Team<br />

iii. Create Loyalty<br />

These 3 steps will empower you to build a winning team for<br />

your competitive organization.<br />

i. Recruit Quality People<br />

You have to recruit the right people into the right place:<br />

The right place means that an individual has been given a job<br />

that requires the specific skills he or she has.<br />

The right people are those with positive attitudes.<br />

Extra bonus: A person who has leadership ability.<br />

Three traits to look for, when recruiting quality people:<br />

The right skills: you need professionals on your side. Skill is<br />

indispensable.<br />

A positive attitude: negative people will drag your team down.<br />

They will destroy teamwork. Positive people do positive things, are<br />

passionate about their jobs, and build winning teams.<br />

Leadership: Self-starters will maximize your team’s potential.<br />

Your organization’s future will be competitive.<br />

Even more important than these three traits is desire. No one<br />

can help you achieve excellent performance unless you want it.<br />

You can’t even help yourself because performance begins with<br />

desire. Therefore, you must recruit the right person into the right<br />

place to build a winning team.<br />

If you have skills, you can have a job. If you have a positive<br />

attitude, you can build positive teamwork. If you have skills, a<br />

positive attitude, and leadership ability, you can be the CEO of<br />

your organization.<br />

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

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

awards and is the founder of the leading martial arts marketing and management company in the US.<br />

74 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Illustration (right) by PixelPop


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STAFF DEVELOPMENT<br />

Tactical Combative Engagement<br />

Principles (Part 2)<br />

by Grandmaster Zufi Ahmed<br />

Each principle is effective individually and can also be combined with other principles.<br />

CQB. Close quarters combat is not a single action event. It is<br />

a live ever changing chaotic violent tactical phenomenon. The<br />

T.E.C.P system of principles can also be utilized in everyday<br />

life! Many of these principles can be directly applied to work. Leadership.<br />

Business and overall life strategies.<br />

F F F. Flinch. Fear. Freeze. That moment of hesitation.<br />

Out of nowhere. All of a sudden. And even if you saw it coming.<br />

Yes. That sucker punch. That push. That tackle. Any aggressive<br />

move that you might have encountered. And If you’ve ever been<br />

punched in the face and had that flash of pain and tasted your own<br />

blood, along with the adrenaline rush and fear, the tunnel vision.<br />

The butterflies in the stomach. Skeletal freeze. Cold sweats. Even<br />

light headedness. you know exactly what I’m talking about.<br />

It’s in this moment your fate is decided will<br />

you succumb and be defeated INJURED.<br />

MAIMED or EVEN KILLED, or will you<br />

press forward and overcome?<br />

The flinch moment is the moment of<br />

truth, because all plans and daydreams<br />

go out the window when you get hit in<br />

the face. Like Mike Tyson said. “Everyone<br />

has a game plan until they get hit in<br />

the face”. Or the legendary Carlson Gracie<br />

famous statement. “When a Jiu Jitsu Black<br />

Belt gets punched in the face he becomes<br />

a brown belt. When a brown belt<br />

gets punched he becomes a<br />

purple belt. And when a purple<br />

belt gets punched he becomes<br />

a blue belt”. The reality sets in.<br />

This is for real. No one<br />

came to my aid. No one to help me. I am all alone. And it hurts.<br />

Even worse. The guy or these guys are enjoying the violence. They<br />

are not my friends. They have no respect for my life. It is in this<br />

scenario that You will either succumb to fear and pain and be torn<br />

apart, or you will use your pain as a weapon and press forward and<br />

prevail! Turn your victimhood into victory. Turn fear into force.<br />

The same happens when we are faced with punches that life<br />

offers us! Sparring in training is a great way to prepare you for<br />

this, and makes you a stronger person inside and out. Start your<br />

training today. Or make sure that you spar and continue to do sparring.<br />

In our Bushi Ban system we have multidimensional sparring<br />

opportunities. Do not avoid sparring. Practice both stand-up and<br />

ground. Grappling. Spar. Practice situational Self Defense. Simulated<br />

combative tactics.<br />

Keep yourself sharp and ready. One usually never sees the<br />

knockout punch coming! Stay Ready. Stay Fit!<br />

Go to Class.<br />

GRANDMASTER ZULFI AHMED has amassed acclaim as a world-class competitor, martial<br />

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

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

locations across Texas.<br />

78 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph (right) by ZoneCreative


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THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI<br />

Zanshin – Eight Directions<br />

of Awareness (Part 2)<br />

by Shihan Dana Abbott<br />

The term Zanshin has been contemplated for generations and<br />

continues to be vague in expressing its true depth unless one had<br />

personally experienced it. Here are a couple of mental images to<br />

help the beginning student or martial arts fan to understand the<br />

concept of Zanshin better. Visualize a gymnast who has just completed<br />

a routine on the bars and dismounts back to the floor. The<br />

gymnast lands perfectly in a standing position with no wavering and<br />

scores a perfect 10. This is a form of Zanshin. Next, picture an entertainer<br />

up on stage singing a heartfelt song. As the last note echoes<br />

through the halls a tranquil silence envelops the audience. During<br />

that last moment in the limelight, this is also a form of Zanshin.<br />

Today’s Japanese swordsman understands that Zanshin is<br />

made up of several essential segments, such as<br />

posturing, perception, engagement, distance,<br />

focus and energy. At times these segments<br />

all mesh to create the “Perfect<br />

Storm”. When everything comes together<br />

perfectly, and the<br />

techniques fall exactly<br />

into place this<br />

offers advantage<br />

and provides a continued<br />

state of mental<br />

and physical readiness.<br />

The question is…where<br />

and how can one go to learn<br />

Zanshin?<br />

Nihon Taiiku Daigaku<br />

(Ni Tai Dai) is a private<br />

martial arts/sports<br />

college founded in<br />

Tokyo, Japan in 1891.<br />

This college has produced<br />

generations of<br />

renowned kendoists and<br />

swordsmen throughout Japan. Geographically, Japan is about the<br />

size of California with a population of almost 130 million. Unsurprisingly,<br />

there are about sixty thousand high schools located within<br />

the 47 prefectures of Japan’s 6,852 islands. Most of these schools<br />

naturally have kendo clubs/teams, which compete at local and national<br />

levels. As in any national sport, kendo competition becomes<br />

fiercer at the high school level. Those young disciplined combatants<br />

who represent the spirit of the Samurai come to compete from<br />

every village, town, and city throughout Japan.<br />

Naturally many of these high school kendo champions aspire<br />

to take their kendo skills to the next level but unfortunately do not<br />

make it. For those qualified, Ni Tai Dai offers that next level of education<br />

and competition for students who want to pursue careers<br />

in kendo and swordsmanship. Ni Tai Dai’s kendo program accepts<br />

about one hundred and twenty-five freshmen students each year<br />

which join the five hundred plus students already enrolled in the<br />

program. Most every kendo student attending Ni Tai Dai has had<br />

a bamboo sword placed in their hand by the time they were three<br />

years old and have competed in every weekend kendo tournament<br />

since then. These kendo students will eventually graduate<br />

with a bachelor’s degree to become tomorrows’ best and brightest<br />

kendo teachers and first responders such as police and fire.<br />

Ni Tai Dai’s kendo curriculum follows the Zen Nihon Kendo<br />

Renmei (ZNKR) standardized kendo guidelines, rules and regulations.<br />

There are absolutely no deviations or substitutes allowed<br />

for these strict rules concerning kendo. The ZNKR is the largest<br />

kendo organization supported by millions of Japanese members.<br />

Consequently, every kendo student, who attends, Ni Tai Dai,<br />

practices all the ZNKR pre-arranged forms and sparring to the<br />

point of perfection six days a week in which they are graded and<br />

ranked. Often there were sparring sessions towards the end of the<br />

training day. Many students would then improvise using their own<br />

styles known to their particular area in Japan. These learned local<br />

techniques were passed down from fathers, and grandfathers who<br />

were past masters.<br />

SHIHAN DANA ABBOTT Is a 7th degree black belt in Kenjutsu, starting his 14-year education in Tokyo. He has<br />

published five books and designed a US Patent. Abbott has also conducted seminars in over 30 countries and obtained<br />

his black belt at the Hombu dojo in Yokohama. He currently offers online classes on LearntheSword.com, his unique<br />

swordsmanship academy.<br />

80 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


Improve your curriculum for<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> School Success!<br />

Grandmaster Tom Patire is known as<br />

“America’s Leading Personal Safety Expert”<br />

and has appeared on Good Morning<br />

America, The CBS Morning Show, The<br />

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publications such as Family Circle,<br />

Redbook, Fortune <strong>Magazine</strong>, and The Wall<br />

Street Journal.<br />

In this episode of <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Industry<br />

Innovations Grandmaster Patire discusses,<br />

from an experienced protection expert’s<br />

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MASTERING MODERN BJJ<br />

How Much Much BJJ Should I<br />

Train A Week To Get Good?<br />

by Master Carlos Machado<br />

Are you just starting out in Jiu-Jitsu and feeling the urge to train every day, twice<br />

a day? It’s important to temper your hunger and avoid burnout. In this article, we’ll<br />

discuss when enough is enough and how to train smart to avoid burnout in Jiu-Jitsu.<br />

Training Frequency for Beginners<br />

• As a beginner, it’s important to start slow and gradually increase<br />

your training frequency.<br />

• The recommended maximum for beginners is 3 times a week,<br />

with twice a week being the most recommended.<br />

• Starting with a lower frequency allows you to ease into the<br />

training and gives your body time to adapt.<br />

Building Up Your Training Frequency<br />

• Once you have established a routine and built a solid<br />

foundation, you can gradually increase your training<br />

frequency.<br />

• Experienced practitioners may train 5-7 times a week,<br />

but it’s important to still take rest days in between to<br />

avoid burnout.<br />

The Importance of Rest<br />

• More training is not necessarily better.<br />

• Giving your body and mind a break in<br />

between training sessions is crucial for<br />

recovery and avoiding burnout.<br />

• Rest allows your body to refresh<br />

and reset, ultimately leading to<br />

better performance on the mats.<br />

Smart Training Tips for<br />

Longevity in Jiu-Jitsu<br />

It’s important to train smart and<br />

avoid burnout in Jiu-Jitsu. Starting slow as a beginner and gradually<br />

building up your training frequency is key. Remember that rest<br />

is just as important as training, so make sure to give your body the<br />

time it needs to recover. By following these tips, you can enjoy a<br />

long and successful journey in Jiu-Jitsu.<br />

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

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

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

organizations in the world today.<br />

82 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 Photograph (right) by Miljan Živković


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Have Your School, Organization,<br />

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As professional martial arts school<br />

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that we stay up to date with the<br />

latest tools, tactics, and strategies<br />

for operating a successful martial<br />

arts school or organization.<br />

We here at <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>News</strong><br />

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mission to help our industry grow,<br />

and one of the best ways to do that<br />

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organizations, students, and industry<br />

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consideration so long as there is<br />

value to our readers.<br />

<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong><strong>World</strong><strong>News</strong>.com/Ureport<br />

Send your Story Idea to us.<br />

Email Editor@<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong><strong>World</strong><strong>News</strong>.com<br />

Or Contact us at: 407-895-1996<br />

• One of your students<br />

overcame great obstacles<br />

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NEXT LEVEL STRATEGY<br />

What is your Program Worth?<br />

by Shihan Allie Alberigo<br />

To the average person, what are you actually worth?<br />

VALUE STACKING your program for sale & Value! (Member Dojo Tour)<br />

We all think we are unique and special, our style, our system,<br />

the way we teach, the benefits are all unique to who we are. But<br />

to the average person we have to ask ourselves the question<br />

“Are we, really special to them?” We have to be aware that the<br />

average person is not educated on martial art styles or systems<br />

and is not aware of what we do. In fact, many of them don’t really<br />

even understand, traditional, non-traditional, sport, full contact or<br />

tournament martial arts etc.<br />

If a client is walking into our school, they are probably assuming,<br />

all martial arts schools are created equal. No matter how<br />

many hoops you jump through or benefits you explain to them<br />

that are specific to your school and they have no point of reference,<br />

they are going to assume you do it the same way<br />

as the school down the road.<br />

Here is where you can take a huge leap ahead<br />

of the competition, and I am not talking about only<br />

other martial art schools only, but every activity<br />

out there. Learn what you give and why it is of<br />

value to the prospective clients. Learn who you<br />

are and take inventory of the things you take<br />

for granted that come with your program.<br />

When you go take a prospective client<br />

through what we call our Dojo tour, you<br />

will discover many things about<br />

yourself and your school. There<br />

are things you probably don’t<br />

even realize that is of huge<br />

value in explaining who you<br />

are and what you do. Some of<br />

these things I am positive you<br />

are taking for granted. Or they<br />

may be things you don’t even mention<br />

or explain to your potential clients that<br />

could be of huge value.<br />

In our martial art school we walk the<br />

prospective client through what we call our dojo tour. As we do<br />

that we are explaining our school and procedures with them. But<br />

we do NOT just talk about the do’s and don’ts or the facility. We<br />

talk about the benefits of the rules and regulations and the why’s<br />

as well. For example here are some steps in our school walk<br />

through and school tour.<br />

1. Bowing upon entering the building, also entering on to the<br />

training floor and leaving the dojo. This teaches Respect for the<br />

school, respect for others and respect for themselves. You have<br />

to find and explain why this is not just a simple bend of the body,<br />

but tie it into the lessons and why’s. Explaining it now, is essential<br />

because it starts the tour with the lessons of respect.<br />

2. Bow when we meet our senior students and sensei’s<br />

– Again this is a lesson in teaching respect for others, but also<br />

teaching manors, which is not as prevalent as it was years ago.<br />

The Student Teacher Relationship is so important in the martial<br />

arts, as well as Hierarchy within the belt ranks. A simple explanation<br />

of this teaches the why’s and reasoning behind it all. This is a<br />

great foundation for martial arts and could be looked at the very<br />

first lesson. By explaining this, you are able to help the student<br />

understand the first lesson – Respect and courtesy.<br />

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

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

with one of the first online coaching companies.<br />

86 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 Photograph (right) by PeopleImages


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MIND MASTERY<br />

Understanding and Conquering<br />

Your Inner Saboteur<br />

by Grandmaster Jessie Bowen<br />

Today is a good time to evaluate your life and determine if you’re where you want to<br />

be. Understanding why you may feel lost in your goals and lack hope for a solution<br />

is important.<br />

The main obstacle to achieving goals is procrastination. This is<br />

the act of delaying and putting off urgent tasks related to business,<br />

health, relationships, and other important aspects of life.<br />

Procrastination is a common dilemma that affects most people<br />

at some point in their lives. It’s the act of delaying or postponing<br />

tasks, particularly those that require immediate attention. While<br />

procrastination may seem harmless, it can significantly impact our<br />

mental, emotional, and physical well-being.<br />

In this article, we’ll delve deeper into the science behind procrastination,<br />

including the psychological and neurological<br />

factors that contribute to our procrastination habits.<br />

We’ll also explore practical tips and techniques<br />

to help you conquer your inner saboteur and<br />

increase productivity.<br />

What is Procrastination, and Why Do We<br />

Do It?<br />

Procrastination is the act of delaying<br />

or postponing tasks, particularly<br />

those that require immediate<br />

attention. It’s a common<br />

phenomenon that affects<br />

most people at some<br />

point in their lives. While<br />

procrastination may<br />

seem harmless, it can<br />

significantly impact our<br />

mental, emotional, and<br />

physical well-being.<br />

There are several reasons why we procrastinate. One of<br />

the most common reasons is fear. We may fear failure or the<br />

consequences of our actions, leading us to delay or avoid<br />

action altogether. Another reason is anxiety. We may feel overwhelmed<br />

or anxious about the task at hand, making it difficult<br />

to get started.<br />

Perfectionism is another common reason for procrastination.<br />

We may have high standards for ourselves and fear that we won’t<br />

be able to meet them, which leads us to delay taking action. Lastly,<br />

we may simply lack motivation or interest in the task at hand, making<br />

it difficult to get started.<br />

Here are a few tips to help you get started:<br />

• Recognize that you are a procrastinator<br />

• Evaluate your losses from procrastination<br />

• Make a commitment to your task or projects<br />

• Clarify your priorities by using mind-mapping<br />

• Set goals with timelines<br />

• Invest in time management software<br />

• Set Time Schedules: Discipline yourself to set specific time<br />

schedules for your tasks.<br />

• Eliminate Time Wasters: Identify and eliminate activities that<br />

consume your time unnecessarily, such as excessive use of<br />

social media, unnecessary emails, and unproductive interactions<br />

with people.<br />

• Meditation and mindfulness training at the beginning and end<br />

of your day to gain vision and clarity.<br />

Implementing these tips can improve your productivity and<br />

maximize your time.<br />

GRANDMASTER JESSIE BOWEN is president of Karate International of Durham, Inc., a member of the<br />

American <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Association Sport Karate League and Hall of Fame, and has been a member of the Duke University<br />

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

Meditation for <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong>, as well as several other books, programs, and audio CDs on meditation and success training.<br />

88 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 Photo (right) by photoschmidt


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INSTRUCTIONAL EXCELLENCE<br />

Teaching Preteens<br />

by Grandmaster Tim McCarthy<br />

It should be no secret to any instructor of the martial arts that students have different<br />

needs at different ages.<br />

If you teach children the same way you teach adults, you will<br />

not have a very well-attended children’s class. With that understanding<br />

in mind, here are some things you may not have realized<br />

about teaching Preteens (ages 10 to 13.)<br />

In the preteen years children start to get more involved in<br />

school activities and sports, so loyal students who have been<br />

with you for years may need to take some time off for soccer or<br />

basketball season. If you take an “all or nothing” attitude, you<br />

may get nothing. If you understand their needs, you can probably<br />

show how your classes can help them be more successful in their<br />

favorite activities.<br />

Physical activity in class will be much the same as your<br />

classes for middle children, following many of the<br />

same principles and activities identified in last issue’s<br />

article.<br />

One of the biggest differences between these<br />

kids and the middle children is the onset of puberty.<br />

Suddenly their bodies will begin to change, and<br />

each student will change according to his/her own<br />

timing, not the timing of the rest of the class. For<br />

this reason, some of the kids will start to get taller,<br />

stronger, and develop not only the beginning of the<br />

sexual attributes of adults, but also the budding<br />

interest in the opposite sex. Other<br />

children will have to wait. Be aware of<br />

each student’s comfort level when<br />

partnering them up, especially for<br />

grappling or close quarter contact.<br />

They don’t know how to deal with<br />

these feelings yet, so they need<br />

your guidance but more importantly<br />

your wisdom in not putting them<br />

into uncomfortable situations.<br />

Because of these changes<br />

that will probably happen at a<br />

different rate than their friends, it is common for children this age<br />

to have confidence issues. One area of confidence comes from<br />

physical appearance. Help your students feel strong and confident<br />

by helping them be is good shape physically and be proud of the<br />

skills they have developed.<br />

Another area of confidence is how they feel socially. Create<br />

opportunities for them to develop some friends within the school.<br />

Establish a Tournament Team, and Demo Team, or organize volunteer<br />

groups for projects in your school, like fundraisers or other<br />

public services. Something as simple as an after class stretching<br />

group can be just the thing a shy preteen needs to gain a few<br />

close friends.<br />

Non-traditional activities like Enthusiasm Sparring and Motivational<br />

Sparring are great social/emotional additions (ask your AMS<br />

Marketing Consultant for details.) Alternately, at the end of class,<br />

pair up preteens and ask them to practice confidence-building discussions<br />

like telling each other their strengths, their weaknesses,<br />

and their plans to improve their weaknesses.<br />

Because of the onset of the raging hormones in puberty, these<br />

children will also face some self-control challenges. Self-discipline<br />

is an important lesson for all martial artists but especially for preteens.<br />

One of my favorite activities to teach self-discipline and selfcontrol<br />

is stretching – not just loosening up, but holding a stretch<br />

at the point where it is uncomfortable and not backing down.<br />

Learning to face discomfort without giving in to your first reaction<br />

is the beginning of self-control.<br />

Help them understand that if they do “lose it” and say or do<br />

something inappropriate, the best way to handle it is to apologize<br />

and try to do better next time. We all make mistakes, but learning<br />

from the mistake is the best way to handle it. During mat chats you<br />

can describe or have students act out a sudden burst of disrespect,<br />

and then practice apologizing for it.<br />

This is also the age where bullying is common, so mat chats<br />

or even entire classes on how to handle the bully without fighting<br />

are important.<br />

GRANDMASTER TIM MCCARTHY is a 9th degree black belt and is a martial arts educator with<br />

a master’s degree in education. He has been instrumental in developing two industry-changing programs, plus<br />

has directed and been featured in hundreds of martial arts videos and webinars.<br />

90 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


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BUDO PHILOSOPHY<br />

Aggressiveness, Biology<br />

and Culture Part 3<br />

by Shidoshi Alfredo Tucci<br />

Edward was a European businessman of impeccable reputation who had bought the<br />

beautiful farm of his dreams, after years of incessant and hard saving.<br />

There he stablished his house, to which he devoted the greatest<br />

care, attention and time, with such bad luck, that the government<br />

decided that his garden was in the middle of the ideal connection<br />

for the road they were considering building, so he received<br />

an expropriation order.<br />

Such a circumstance ruined our hero’s day, who ipso facto<br />

called his lawyer in an attempt to stop the evil state’s intentions.<br />

However, Edward’s heart, which was regarded as a very polite<br />

gentleman, was ordered directly from his brain to pump blood<br />

to his coronaries, because that was the way it had always been<br />

and worked for hundreds of thousands of years,<br />

from UNGA and his multiple wives, children and<br />

grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc., etc., until<br />

today.<br />

For Edward’s brain, the invasion of his territory<br />

was an incontestable fact and, just like his<br />

ancestor, his biology took the necessary measures<br />

to survive the danger and face the situation.<br />

Unlike UNGA, things were slow for Edward.<br />

The trial took several months to be held, and<br />

appeals to higher levels extended the process<br />

for several years, until finally, the cunning<br />

lawyers who defended him, managed to<br />

impose his point of view and make prevail<br />

his reason, so that the road ended<br />

up diverting its course and saving<br />

those hedges of camellias that he had<br />

so carefully cultivated for years.<br />

Once the process was over, <strong>24</strong><br />

or 48 hours at most, Edward’s brain<br />

sent the order to finish the dilation<br />

of his coronaries, with such bad<br />

luck that they, lethargic by his sedentary life and little turgid for the<br />

bad cholesterol accumulations, they didn’t have the capacity to<br />

take on that change of state without losing their structural integrity,<br />

and when the veins suddenly contracted, a small part of them fell<br />

off, blocking the passage of the blood and causing a sharp pain in<br />

the chest, which derived towards the arm.<br />

Because the new road passed very far from his home, the<br />

ambulance for Edward took too long and couldn’t make it on time<br />

to the hospital, so that our modern hero, the great-great-great<br />

grandson of the illustrious UNGA, kicked the bucket leaving his beloved<br />

camellias orphaned and just one heir, because unlike UNGA,<br />

raising children was very expensive and he couldn’t afford it.<br />

Being human is something much more complex than being,<br />

say, a professor for instance. It includes the integration of many<br />

dark sides, which do not resist their denial and possess immense<br />

power. Eating three times a day, or surfing the web, will not change<br />

charging with a reptilian brain, and with the most elementary survival<br />

impulses inscribed in our internal code for millions of years.<br />

To give way and awareness to these realities without judging them<br />

morally, dignifies man in his essential task, wisdom.<br />

You cannot treat a tiger like a baby, one drinks milk and the<br />

other eats meat, but both coexist with many other facets of our<br />

whole being within ourselves and they cannot be denied, postponed<br />

or caged. Today we call them inner demons, but in due time<br />

they allowed us to survive and prevail, we will not get rid of them<br />

so easily, simply by having an iPhone.<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> may eventually be a way of reunion, integration and<br />

harmonization between some of our most unspeakable demons<br />

and our rational self, but this task requires reflection and questioning<br />

of our work, something that the most impetuous warriors do<br />

not usually like. So you better wake up, folks, unfortunately these<br />

things are not taught in schools!<br />

SHIDOSHI ALFREDO TUCCI is the CEO and General Manager of the Budo International Publishing<br />

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

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

94 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph (right) by gorodenkoff


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COMPLETE MARTIAL ARTS CONCEPTS<br />

Is Wushu Effective<br />

for the Streets? Part 2<br />

by Professor Willie “The Bam” Johnson<br />

In Part 1 of our exploration into the effectiveness of Wushu for street combat, we<br />

introduced you to Willie “The BAM” Johnson, a martial artist who has harnessed the<br />

power of Wushu to navigate the gritty and unpredictable world of street confrontations.<br />

As we continue our journey, we’ll delve deeper into Johnson’s<br />

unique combat Wushu system and its practical applications in realworld<br />

scenarios.<br />

At the core of Johnson’s approach to Wushu is the fusion of<br />

multiple martial disciplines into a cohesive and adaptable system.<br />

Drawing from his extensive training in Kong Duk Kwon, Wing<br />

Chun, Judo, Northern Shaolin street fighting, Guju Ru, Wushu,<br />

Chin Na, boxing, and even jailhouse combat, Johnson<br />

has distilled these techniques into a streamlined and<br />

effective combat style. These techniques are not<br />

based solely on brute force but on the principle of<br />

flowing in harmony with the universe, an approach<br />

that emphasizes using an opponent’s energy<br />

against them.<br />

For instance, Johnson employs a strategy<br />

where, if an adversary attempts a hip<br />

throw, he redirects the force in a<br />

way that makes the attacker feel<br />

in control. Yet, at their weakest<br />

moment, Johnson strikes<br />

decisively. This philosophy<br />

encapsulates the essence of<br />

his martial art: pushing when<br />

pulled and pulling when<br />

pushed. It’s about adaptability,<br />

fluidity, and, most importantly,<br />

survival.<br />

Johnson’s real-world experience<br />

has been instrumental<br />

in shaping his combat Wushu<br />

system. He understands that in street confrontations, attackers are<br />

driven by a singular goal - to incapacitate or eliminate their target.<br />

Therefore, situational awareness is paramount. “On the streets,” he<br />

warns, “the attacker’s only goal is to search and destroy, and we<br />

must be aware of this.”<br />

However, Johnson emphasizes that effective techniques are<br />

only part of the equation. The inner spirit plays an equally vital<br />

role in bringing these techniques to life. “It is important to practice<br />

because the way you practice is the way you respond,” he asserts.<br />

Johnson’s unique perspective stems from his youth, where he<br />

once assumed the role of the aggressor. Now, as a defender, he<br />

shares the wisdom gained from those experiences with his students.<br />

This duality has provided him with not only a deep understanding<br />

of combat but also the mindset, attitude, and techniques<br />

of an attacker.<br />

Central to Johnson’s martial journey are the 12 principles of his<br />

combat Wushu system. These principles encompass qualities such<br />

as honesty, open-mindedness, willingness, patience, constancy,<br />

righteousness, unity, charity, sobriety, courage, self-denial, and<br />

love. They serve as the moral and ethical foundation upon which<br />

his martial art is built, reinforcing the idea that combat skills should<br />

be wielded responsibly and ethically.<br />

Willie “The BAM” Johnson’s journey through the world of<br />

Wushu and its applications in real-world scenarios is a testament<br />

to the adaptability and practicality of this ancient martial art. As we<br />

conclude our exploration, one thing becomes clear - Wushu, under<br />

the guidance of individuals like Johnson, continues to evolve as<br />

one of the most effective combat systems available today. Stay<br />

vigilant, stay aware, and stay tuned for more insights from Johnson<br />

and his combat Wushu system.<br />

PROFESSOR WILLIE “THE BAM” JOHNSON is a 7th degree black belt and seven-time sport<br />

karate and Kung-Fu world champion. He has appeared in four movies, 16 plays, and 11 television shows. He is also<br />

the national spokesperson for the Stronger than Drugs Foundation and the Champions Against Drugs.<br />

96 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 Photograph (right) by RuslanShevchenko


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MASTER THE BASICS<br />

How to Get the Most out of Your<br />

Next Belt Test<br />

by Master Tina Bane<br />

Belt testing is one of the hallmarks of the martial arts that set them apart from other<br />

exercise and activity programs.<br />

It is an important key to student retention and a fundamental<br />

means of teaching some of our most effective life lessons. However,<br />

it is also one of the most effective tools we have to promote our<br />

schools and help them grow.<br />

Do you know how to get at least five new students per month<br />

from belt tests? It’s fairly easy, if you know how.<br />

Test every seven weeks.<br />

Each student will only be qualified to test every other cycle,<br />

making it about three months between tests for each student; but<br />

by holding a test more often, you decrease the number of students<br />

testing, making it easier to manage for the staff and more personal<br />

for the students. Plus, you average your income much<br />

better if you charge a test fee (we don’t).<br />

Gather a crowd.<br />

Each student must bring at least five friends<br />

or family members to witness their test. These<br />

witnesses help the student learn to perform well<br />

under (emotional) pressure and provide a market<br />

of potential new students.<br />

Keep a dual focus.<br />

Whatever you say during the test, and<br />

whatever you ask the students to do,<br />

have the audience in mind. Take<br />

a few extra moments to explain<br />

to the audience what<br />

they are seeing – what the<br />

students are doing, and<br />

why they are doing it.<br />

Emphasize the benefits<br />

of martial arts training.<br />

Having students stand up and<br />

recite some of the improvements they<br />

have made because of the martial arts<br />

not only serves to increase retention by reminding them of the value<br />

of your classes, it also serves to encourage the audience members<br />

to enroll when they hear the great results their own friends and family<br />

members have achieved.<br />

Give a Trial Lesson.<br />

Every belt test should contain an exhibition, and part of that exhibition<br />

should be an audience participation segment of competitions<br />

and a quick mini-class.<br />

Make a special offer.<br />

Everyone who attends the test should receive at least a FREE<br />

week of classes.<br />

When you have a large crowd, impress upon them the value of<br />

training at your school as evidenced by student testimonials. Give<br />

them a chance to feel the fun of training, and then make them an<br />

offer they can’t refuse. You will easily get at least five new students<br />

per test.<br />

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

with successful after school and summer camp programs.<br />

98 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph (right) by Liubomyr Vorona


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BUSINESS BUZZ<br />

Unlocking Leadership Potential<br />

by Grandmaster Lawrence Arthur<br />

A Proven Blueprint for Converting Trial Students into <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Leaders<br />

In the dynamic world of martial arts business, the key to<br />

sustained success lies in nurturing and developing your students,<br />

turning them from eager novices into dedicated leaders.<br />

As Warren Buffett wisely states, “Price is what you pay, Value is<br />

what you get.” In this guide, we unveil a comprehensive strategy to<br />

upgrade 80% of trial students into leadership programs, enhancing<br />

their experience and adding substantial value to your martial arts<br />

academy.<br />

1. Strategic Scheduling for Success<br />

The journey begins with the “Basic Trial” program, where<br />

meticulous planning sets the tone for a student’s long-term commitment.<br />

Schedule and confirm all classes during this trial period,<br />

limiting attendance to no more than twice per week. The mantra<br />

here is to Confirm, Confirm, Confirm—establishing a solid foundation<br />

to avoid the dreaded “White Belt Flight.”<br />

2. Personalized Progress Check Appointments<br />

During the basic trial program presentation, plant<br />

the seed of progression by mentioning a progress<br />

check appointment a couple of weeks post-enrollment.<br />

This not only shows commitment but also sets<br />

the stage for them to envision themselves as future<br />

black belts.<br />

3. Earning the Black Belt Invitation<br />

Present trial students with simple<br />

tasks before each lesson, laying the<br />

groundwork for their invitation into<br />

the black belt program. Tasks<br />

could range from memorizing the<br />

student oath to demonstrating<br />

respect through various actions,<br />

creating a sense of achievement<br />

and belonging.<br />

4. Nurturing Citizenship and Goal Setting<br />

Engage trial students by reviewing the citizenship form,<br />

understanding their specific improvement goals. Reinforce their<br />

commitment through small gestures like sending thank-you cards<br />

to parents and congratulatory cards to the students.<br />

5. Weekly Celebrations and Orientations<br />

Host a Parent and Student Celebration/Orientation Class every<br />

week for new students, dedicating 45 minutes to instill values, culture,<br />

philosophy, and the mission of your academy. Share insights<br />

on etiquette, protocol, and the Dos and Don’ts, creating a sense of<br />

community.<br />

6. Leadership Workshops and Involvement<br />

Introduce a 45-minute Leadership Workshop every week,<br />

ensuring parents actively participate. Preview the curriculum, delve<br />

into the characteristics and responsibilities of a Black Belt Leader,<br />

and emphasize the importance of leadership in all aspects of life.<br />

7. <strong>Special</strong> Invitations and Recognition<br />

Extend invitations to trial students for various events, outings,<br />

and seminars, showcasing your academy’s diverse offerings. Celebrate<br />

their progress by presenting Leadership Program nominations,<br />

creating a memorable experience that involves family and friends.<br />

8. Personalized Outreach and Enrollment<br />

Engage trial students personally by visiting their schools, inviting<br />

them for lunch, and maintaining regular communication. Call to congratulate<br />

them on their Leadership Program nomination and set up<br />

appointments during the day, leading to a smooth enrollment process.<br />

By implementing this comprehensive strategy, martial arts<br />

academies can elevate the trial student experience, unlock<br />

leadership potential, and cultivate a loyal community of skilled and<br />

dedicated martial artists. Remember, in martial arts, as in life, the<br />

journey is as important as the destination.<br />

GRANDMASTER LAWRENCE ARTHUR has been a martial artist, specializing in Karate, Kung<br />

Fu, Kenpo, Shotokan, and Goju Ryu, since 1968. He owns 40 Super Kick Karate locations and is founder of the<br />

American Freestyle Karate Association (AFKA). A world champion and hall of famer, Lawrence also runs the<br />

Black Belt Success Systems consulting firm, which trains martial arts instructors on proper business practices<br />

and is used by schools all over the country.<br />

100 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


MARTIAL ARTS PHILOSOPHY<br />

The Day I Thought I Was Getting<br />

Arrested for Being Funny! (Part 1)<br />

By Sensei Gary Lee<br />

It was a typical day at the Astroworld Amusement<br />

Park where I was working. It was 1981 and I<br />

had signed my first big contract doing live shows<br />

in front of thousands of people at one of the<br />

largest amusement parks in the country.<br />

I was the comedian Karate Guy that the park<br />

hired to draw some different ideas into the park<br />

plus I was hired to be creative for the park’s<br />

future.<br />

“Gary is an historian, an educator, an actor,<br />

an entertainer, a Samurai and a Big Kid rolled<br />

up into one heck of a role model for kids, young<br />

adults and parents. I have really enjoyed watching<br />

his talent grow into the force of a sport karate<br />

museum for the world. There is no one I know<br />

who has the elite history he does in sport karate,<br />

after all he sold me back in 1981<br />

to be the first martial arts show<br />

at Astroworld. He has helped<br />

create many shows after<br />

that year with fight scenes,<br />

high falls, tricks, weapons, and comedy. The<br />

Hollywood Stunt Show was a big hit and Gary<br />

played the lead. Gary is like a Tsunami, this<br />

huge wave that hits you without any warning,<br />

but you love the ride, and you cannot wait to<br />

get hit again and again!<br />

If Gary puts his passion into<br />

The Sport Karate Museum<br />

like he has his acting and<br />

showmanship, it will be<br />

another winner!”<br />

– Bob Logan<br />

Entertainment<br />

Director, Astroworld,<br />

U.S.A<br />

I had just finished my set of back-to-back shows and I am in my<br />

trailer taking my break before my second show set and there’s a<br />

knock on the trailer door. It was park security, and they wanted me<br />

to follow them to the park’s office. They told me there was a security<br />

problem and Mr. Logan, the entertainment director, wanted to<br />

see me up in the front office.<br />

I arrived in his office and there was a lady, Mr. Logan and about<br />

six police officers, and I was wondering what was going on here.<br />

Then I was told at one of my shows it was witnessed I had done<br />

child abuse and that the lady in the office was the complainant.<br />

She was an executive of child abuse services in the Houston area,<br />

and she had brought her kids to Astroworld and had watched the<br />

karate show. She had witnessed me picking up a kid and then<br />

slamming him down in the show. She had felt it was inappropriate.<br />

To Be Continued Next <strong>Issue</strong>…<br />

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

Federation gold medalist, winner of five Super Grand National Titles, a featured actor in<br />

the movie Sidekicks, and is the founder of the National Sport Karate Museum.<br />

102 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph (right) by fotokostic


MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE<br />

One Easy Step to Solve All Your<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Business Problems<br />

by Grandmaster Kirk Pelt<br />

What’s the ONE step that will solve all your martial arts business problems? Easy:<br />

Close your school!<br />

Face it, if you have a business, you are going to have problems.<br />

The only way to get rid of ALL your problems is to get rid of your<br />

business.<br />

Since that’s probably not an option, what can you do to get rid<br />

of some of your biggest problems quickly and easily?<br />

Most martial arts schools have two kinds of problems:<br />

Money and people who complain about<br />

money.<br />

AMS can help you solve both problems at the<br />

same time.<br />

How much time do you and your staff spend<br />

on chasing students who aren’t paying? The<br />

simple answer is too much. You and your staff<br />

should be focusing on enrolling new students<br />

and providing outstanding instruction, not on bill<br />

collecting. AMS can save you time, headaches,<br />

and money by handling your tuition billing for you.<br />

Our team of professionals are trained in the<br />

latest techniques and technology to<br />

get you more of your money.<br />

In addition, AMS has proven<br />

low-cost, high-impact promotions<br />

that will help your school<br />

grow. Each new student can<br />

add between $1,000.00 and<br />

$5,000.00 to your income.<br />

Wouldn’t it be smarter to<br />

focus on gaining new students<br />

rather than arguing<br />

with current students?<br />

Over time, adding<br />

$5,000.00 to your<br />

monthly income can go a long way toward solving your money<br />

problems. Many schools double and even triple their monthly<br />

income after joining AMS. What difference would that make to your<br />

peace of mind?<br />

Could your school use an additional $5,000.00 to $10,000.00<br />

a month?<br />

Would you like to have fewer headaches and more time to<br />

devote to better instruction?<br />

AMS can go a long way toward relieving your most stressful<br />

business problems. We can’t take them all away, but we can<br />

reduce them dramatically. AMSbilling can handle those student<br />

payment problems, while our unique marketing programs help you<br />

earn additional income quickly.<br />

Call 1-800-275-1600 to take the one easy step that can solve<br />

most of your school’s biggest problems.<br />

Just for calling, we’ll send you our popular in-depth report, “The<br />

Top 10 Ways to Create Win-Win Relationships with your School<br />

System,” valued at $197.00.<br />

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

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

edge of martial arts curriculum and business innovation.<br />

104 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


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THE WARRIOR WAY<br />

Confidence Factors<br />

by Grandmaster Bill Clark<br />

Network with other Winners<br />

The seventh factor in building confidence is to form your<br />

own “mastermind” or support group comprised entirely<br />

of winners: people who inspire you, make you laugh, and<br />

encourage your success. It’s a fact of life that most winners<br />

are more than happy to share their success and enthusiasm<br />

with others.<br />

Remember, birds of a feather flock together. Make it your<br />

habit to form relationships with winners. The more confident<br />

and positive the people you network with, the more it will<br />

rub off on you. Nothing breeds optimism and confidence<br />

like the company of positive people, and nothing drains it<br />

faster than pessimists.<br />

Develop a list of high quality contacts in as<br />

many different fields as you can --not just your own.<br />

Keep every business card you are ever given<br />

instead of throwing most away and enter them in a<br />

CRM program or your electronic address book.<br />

With all the different people you contact,<br />

unless you are blessed with a photographic memory,<br />

many of the people you meet soon fade into<br />

the shadows of your mind. Be a source<br />

of information for others when you.<br />

Send emails with information<br />

on the comings and goings<br />

in your industry that may<br />

be of interest to them.<br />

Send out links to articles,<br />

book or videos<br />

of interest, along<br />

with a simple note<br />

saying, “I saw<br />

this and thought<br />

you would be<br />

interested. Best<br />

wishes, Bill” to<br />

key people.<br />

In short, keep<br />

in constant contact, and show them you are interested in the<br />

things that interest them.<br />

Turning Defeat into Victory to Boost Confidence<br />

The eighth factor in building confidence is positive self-talk. Do<br />

not get in the habit of beating yourself-up mentally when things go<br />

wrong or mistakes are made. There are plenty of other people in<br />

the world more than willing to do it for you. You must focus all of<br />

your energy on remaining positive and refocusing your efforts on<br />

the successful accomplishment of your vision.<br />

It’s an interesting fact that you will almost never hear great leaders<br />

or sports stars use the word failure.<br />

They will use experience, glitch, problem, challenge, or almost<br />

any other word in the dictionary, except the word failure.<br />

Successful people deliberately and consciously re-interpret<br />

their failures as mere delays or mistakes.<br />

They make the deliberate, conscious effort to judge themselves<br />

and their experiences in a positive way—a way that improves<br />

rather than undercuts their self-confidence.<br />

Use positive self-talk when dealing with negative situations<br />

and reframe each loss or failure from the perspective of how you<br />

will learn from the experience to do better next time. Never allow<br />

your own or your staff’s self-esteem or confidence to be adversely<br />

affected by a business problem.<br />

GRANDMASTER BILL CLARK is a 9th degree black belt and a former PKA Fighter of<br />

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

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

is one of the largest multi-school owners in the world.<br />

106 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5<br />

Photograph (top) by Jacob Wackerhausen


The Latest Guide<br />

All <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> School Owners<br />

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newest book, “The Science & Secrets<br />

of Becoming a Master <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong><br />

Instructor,” is the latest must-have<br />

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owners and instructors.<br />

The world of martial arts is a very<br />

complicated one, where you can soar<br />

to the heights of the profession or<br />

quickly hit rock bottom, all depending<br />

on your mindset, discipline, and skills.<br />

“The Science & Secrets of Becoming<br />

a Master <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Instructor” is<br />

designed to teach you everything<br />

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and succeed as an instructor in the<br />

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Featuring contributions from<br />

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including Grandmaster Ernie Reyes,<br />

Grandmaster Stephen Hayes, and<br />

Hanshi Dave Kovar, “The Science &<br />

Secrets of Becoming a Master <strong>Martial</strong><br />

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take your career to the next level!<br />

To get your copy today for $29.95,<br />

simply go to Lulu.com and search by author.


TACTICAL SELF-DEFENSE<br />

Line of Fire<br />

By Grandmaster Tom Patire<br />

As we all know, there are many forms of martial arts as well as even more instructors<br />

that teach the arts.<br />

Majority of instructors have their own way of teaching and will<br />

tweak a technique to what they believe would make it a better and<br />

a more proficient self-defense move. With that being said what I<br />

want to discuss is the topic of handgun disarms. There are various<br />

debates about whether you grab onto the gun hand<br />

or lock onto the weapon or redirect the weapon.<br />

If the technique is executed wrong and does<br />

not work, unlike a punch in the face which you<br />

can recover from, once the bullet leaves the<br />

chamber you can’t call it back, and if it hits a<br />

vital area in most cases, it will be your demise.<br />

So, when you’re training in handgun disarms<br />

pay special attention to the line of fire. Some<br />

people move themselves out of the way first.<br />

Some move the gun out of the way, while others<br />

rely completely on speed. In my opinion it’s a<br />

combination of everything. Since,<br />

in many cases, the gun will<br />

outweigh the hand, you<br />

have leverage in your favor,<br />

leverage to the point<br />

that a movement on the<br />

hand, which holds the<br />

mass of the gun, will<br />

be easy to deflect<br />

while moving yourself<br />

out of the way.<br />

It is a key essential<br />

for people that do<br />

any type of weapon<br />

disarms to know the<br />

weapon. As in the<br />

case of a handgun,<br />

if you’re dealing with<br />

a semi-automatic in order to get the gun to malfunction or jam, it is<br />

not a hard thing to do. If you’re dealing with a revolver, it’s a whole<br />

other animal. Statistically in robberies, carjackings and home<br />

invasions the weapon of choice on the street is a semi-automatic<br />

handgun. To be complete in your training when learning techniques<br />

for disarming a handgun make sure that you understand<br />

the weapon system. It is ideal to know how it fires, functions,<br />

and jams - because it could all play in favor of your disarm. They<br />

say expect the unexpected so if the gun discharges expect that<br />

sound, expect some flash burns, but also expect if you get onto<br />

the weapon system on the right angle and locked into position the<br />

gun will malfunction. It’s important to have all of that ingrained in<br />

your brain because if you flinch or delay things will go bad quickly.<br />

This is something that is not taught live with real guns due to safety<br />

precautions and probably insurance liability. In most cases a rubber<br />

or plastic type weapon is used in your classroom so be sure to<br />

understand the difference between rubber/plastic weapons versus<br />

the real McCoy because the substance is a bit different to disarm.<br />

Expect that on an actual weapon that your hands may get cut up or<br />

have a slight burn if the weapon discharges but it’s not something<br />

that should throw off your disarm because of focus, concentration<br />

and adrenaline. When you make your move, it’s on commitment<br />

and you don’t get a second chance, so do it with speed and<br />

efficiency but again make sure you’re out of the line of fire. If the<br />

gun discharges, it’s not going to discharge towards you. The only<br />

time that would change is if there was a third party or loved one,<br />

or if you work in my profession as an executive bodyguard where<br />

redirection of your body depends on where the person you’re<br />

protecting is. It is true when they say that the hand is quicker than<br />

the eye. Speed and proficiency will win every time as long as the<br />

weapon is within distance, and your movement is precise and your<br />

technique is sound.<br />

Remember Safety First Because You May Not Get A Second<br />

Chance! ®<br />

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

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

Family Circle, Redbook, Fortune <strong>Magazine</strong>, and The Wall Street Journal. He has written several books and has personal<br />

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

108 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


Join a Winning Team!<br />

W Want a Truly Inspiring Career?<br />

W Want to Join a Growing, Creative, Vibrant Organization?<br />

W Want to Help Make the <strong>World</strong> a Better Place<br />

by Expanding the Reach of the <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong>?<br />

If So, We Want to Meet You!<br />

We’re Expanding Our Teams!<br />

Seeking:<br />

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Tools & Tactics<br />

Experience Spooktacular Success<br />

with Halloween Campaigns to<br />

Grow Your <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> School<br />

by Ms. Chris Lee<br />

Halloween always presents a unique opportunity for martial arts school owners to kick<br />

their marketing into high gear.<br />

Not only is this season perfect for engaging current students,<br />

but it’s also a golden opportunity to attract new leads and boost<br />

enrollments. Leveraging the spooky spirit of Halloween can lead<br />

to a surge in student interest, increased loyalty, and more community<br />

recognition for your school.<br />

Why Halloween Campaigns Work for <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Schools<br />

Halloween is a time when families are actively seeking fun,<br />

engaging, and safe activities for their children. This makes it an<br />

ideal season for martial arts schools to stand out and<br />

offer value to both current and potential students.<br />

By tapping into the excitement, you can create<br />

campaigns that not only attract new leads but<br />

also deepen the connection with your current<br />

students.<br />

Benefits of a Halloween Campaign:<br />

1. New Leads: Seasonal campaigns naturally<br />

draw interest, especially when they<br />

include unique, themed events or offers.<br />

Halloween-themed campaigns can attract<br />

families looking for new activities,<br />

translating into valuable leads for your<br />

school.<br />

2. New Enrollments: A well-executed<br />

Halloween event can turn interested<br />

leads into new students. By showcasing<br />

your school’s environment and what<br />

you offer, you can convert curiosity into<br />

commitment.<br />

3. Elevated Student Loyalty: Engaging<br />

current students with festive activities increases their emotional<br />

connection to your school, fostering loyalty and encouraging<br />

them to stick around for the long haul.<br />

2 Halloween Campaign Ideas<br />

1. “<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Costume Contest”: Host a costume contest<br />

during a special Halloween-themed class. Encourage students<br />

to dress up as their favorite martial arts character or superhero,<br />

with prizes for the best costumes. This not only brings excitement<br />

but also gives parents a reason to share their child’s experience<br />

with friends, potentially bringing in new leads.<br />

2. “Haunted Dojo Tour”: Transform your school into a haunted<br />

dojo for a day or weekend. Offer guided tours and mini martial arts<br />

challenges throughout the event. This is a fantastic way to attract<br />

local families and create buzz in your community.<br />

2 Strategies for Gaining New Leads<br />

1. Social Media Blitz: Create eye-catching graphics and<br />

videos to promote your Halloween events across all social media<br />

platforms. Use targeted ads to reach parents in your local area,<br />

emphasizing the limited-time nature of the event.<br />

2. Referral Incentives: Encourage your current students to<br />

bring a friend to your Halloween event by offering a small reward<br />

for each referral. This can be anything from a free class to branded<br />

martial arts gear.<br />

Halloween is more than just a time for candy and costumes—it’s<br />

an incredible opportunity for your martial arts school to shine. By<br />

embracing the season and creating engaging, themed campaigns,<br />

you can attract new leads, boost enrollments, and deepen student<br />

loyalty. Start planning your spooktacular Halloween campaign<br />

today, and watch your school grow!<br />

MS. CHRIS LEE is a martial arts business development consultant with a background in online and social media marketing.<br />

110 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


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ADVERTISER INDEX<br />

Action Mega Convention<br />

ActionMegaHoh.com ..............................61<br />

Atlas Marketing Studio<br />

AtlasMarketingStudio.app ......................19, 95<br />

Atlas <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Software<br />

Atlas<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong>Software.com ...............2, 44, 97<br />

Action Hero Photos<br />

ActionHeroPhotos.com ...........................103<br />

Adventures of Harry & Friends<br />

AdventuresOfHarryAndFriends.com ................25<br />

Amazing <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Websites<br />

Amazing<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong>Websites.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 87<br />

An-Shu Stephen K. Hayes<br />

NinjaSelfDefense.com .............................51<br />

AMS Billing<br />

OurAMS.com ..............................27, 76, 122<br />

AMSkids<br />

OurAMS.com/AfterSchool ......................39, 89<br />

Break Like a Champ<br />

TeamChipTKD.com ................................85<br />

Budo International <strong>Magazine</strong><br />

BudoInternational.com ............................ 113<br />

Budo the Karate Mouse<br />

BudoTheMouse.com ............................... 17<br />

Extraordinary Marketing<br />

ExtraordinaryMarketing.com ........................79<br />

Master Karen Eden<br />

Century<strong>Martial</strong><strong>Arts</strong>.com ............................15<br />

Grandmaster Jessie Bowen<br />

ElitePublications.org and RevPublish.com .......73, 105<br />

Kick Start Kids<br />

KickStartKids.org ..................................21<br />

Kovar Systems<br />

KovarSystems.com ................................55<br />

Learn the Sword<br />

LearnTheSword.com ...............................31<br />

Lee Milteer<br />

Milteer.com ........................................97<br />

MA Biz Academy<br />

MABizAcademy.com ...........................59, 115<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Business Institute<br />

MaBusinessInstitute.com .......................34, 111<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> History Museum<br />

MAMuseum.com .................................101<br />

<strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Industry Innovations<br />

tinyurl.com/mawnewsvideo .....................23, 99<br />

Ninja Fighting Techniques<br />

tuttlepublishing.com ...............................34<br />

Otomix<br />

Otomix.com .......................................13<br />

Sport Karate Museum<br />

SportKarateMuseumArchives.com .................103<br />

Grandmaster Tim McCarthy<br />

4d-2d.com ........................................92<br />

Grandmaster Tom Patire<br />

TomPatire.com ....................................38<br />

Warrior Certification<br />

WarriorKravMaga.com/events ......................63<br />

Warrior Defence Lab<br />

https://bit.ly/20<strong>24</strong>Warrior ...........................83<br />

Grandmaster Y. K. Kim<br />

YkKim.com ....................................49, 75<br />

Grandmaster Zulfi Ahmed<br />

Lulu.com .........................................106<br />

Kids Point MMA<br />

PointMMA.com ....................................93<br />

114 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


EVENTS<br />

Official ISKA<br />

Sport Karate Rankings<br />

POST-ISKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 20<strong>24</strong><br />

Photo Courtesy: Lindsey Little Photography<br />

116 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


EVENTS<br />

Official ISKA<br />

Sport Karate Rankings<br />

POST-ISKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 20<strong>24</strong><br />

Photo Courtesy: Lindsey Little Photography<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 117


EVENTS<br />

Official ISKA<br />

Sport Karate Rankings<br />

POST-ISKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 20<strong>24</strong><br />

Men’s Open Weapons<br />

C: Esteban Tremblay<br />

1. Ben Jones<br />

2. Dawson Holt<br />

3. Phillip Brumme<br />

4. Brennan Green<br />

5. Alex Mancillas<br />

Women’s Open Weapons<br />

C: Haley Glass<br />

1. Samantha Mitling<br />

2. Sara Campbell<br />

3. Andrea Guzman<br />

4. Kaitlyn Vong<br />

5. Rose Rheaume<br />

Men’s Open Forms<br />

C: Phillip Brumme<br />

1. Esteban Tremblay<br />

2. Will Nevitt<br />

3. Dawson Holt<br />

4. Shaquan Parson<br />

5. Brennan Green<br />

Women’s Open Forms<br />

C: Haley Glass<br />

1. Lilli McGuire<br />

2. Noell Jellison<br />

3. Kaitlyn Vong<br />

4. Andrea Guzman<br />

5. Cassidy Williams<br />

Men’s Trad Weapons<br />

1. Jake Presley<br />

2. Dawson Holt<br />

3. Ben Jones<br />

4. Esteban Tremblay<br />

5. Alec Jahanvash<br />

Women’s Trad Weapons<br />

1. Haley Glass<br />

2. Rose Rheaume<br />

3. Lilli McGuire<br />

4. Katelyn McMillan<br />

5. Melina Pecci<br />

Men’s Trad Forms<br />

C: Joey Castro<br />

1. Mason Stowell<br />

2. Caio DaSilva<br />

3. Luca Ricotti<br />

4. Jeff Doss<br />

5. Diego Rodriguez Florez<br />

Women’s Trad Forms<br />

C: Amber Rutherford<br />

1. Gabrielle Rudolph<br />

2. Lilli McGuire<br />

3. Kaitlyn Vong<br />

4. Melissa Baillargeon<br />

5. Kaelyn Kowalski<br />

Men’s Team Sparring<br />

C: Top Ten Team USA<br />

1. Team Paul Mitchell<br />

2. Team Straight Up<br />

3. Team DMND G3<br />

4. Team Legend<br />

5. Team Impex/KTOC<br />

Women’s Team Sparring<br />

C: Team Paul Mitchell<br />

1. Team Revolution<br />

2. Team Straight Up<br />

3. Team Legend<br />

4. Team Army Strong<br />

Men’s Open Weight<br />

C: Kristhian Rivas<br />

1. Bailey Murphy<br />

2. Enrique Letona<br />

3. Avery Plowden<br />

4. Darren X<br />

5. Mason Bumba<br />

Women’s Sparring<br />

C: KiTana Everett<br />

1. Katarina Herman<br />

2. Francesca Ceci<br />

3. Tahirah Abdul Qadir<br />

4. Savannah Wolaniuk<br />

5. Alexi Jimenez<br />

118 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


EVENTS<br />

Official ISKA<br />

Sport Karate Rankings<br />

POST-ISKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 20<strong>24</strong><br />

Men’s LW Sparring<br />

1. Bailey Murphy<br />

2. Enrique Letona<br />

3. Martin Balint<br />

4. Tyreeke Saint<br />

5. Jack Buckley<br />

Men’s HW Sparring<br />

1. Avery Plowden<br />

2. Kameren Ali<br />

3. Devon Hopper<br />

4. Dwayne Morin<br />

5. Dimitrios Economo<br />

Senior Men’s Sparring<br />

1. Kevin Walker<br />

2. Yoskar Gamez<br />

3. Pablo Moreno<br />

4. Brayan Rodriguez<br />

5. Coca Guzman<br />

Senior Women’s Sparring<br />

1. Silvana Shamuon<br />

2. Mouse Millner<br />

3. Andrea Busa<br />

4. Samantha Miller<br />

5. Robyn Lebuffe<br />

Senior Men’s Weapons<br />

C: Tim Conkel<br />

1. Kevin Kowalczik<br />

2. Samuel Diaz Ill<br />

3. Jeff Doss<br />

4. Eric Tremblay<br />

5. Brett Thomason<br />

Senior Women’s Weapons<br />

1. Melanie Strauss<br />

2. Ashley Bartlett<br />

3. Amy Williams<br />

4. Melanie Cantin<br />

5. Curcha Marks<br />

Senior Men’s Forms<br />

1. Kevin Kowalczik<br />

2. Tim Conkel<br />

3. Samuel Diaz III<br />

4. Jeff Doss<br />

5. Eric Tremblay<br />

Senior Women’s Forms<br />

1. Ashley Bartlett<br />

2. Ana Lucia Conde<br />

3. Tere Barrosso<br />

4. Melanie Strauss<br />

5. Clarissa DeHoyos<br />

Junior Boys Open Weps<br />

C: Judah Sagawa<br />

1. John Lorenz<br />

2. Jackson Hensley<br />

3. Wassim Dridi<br />

4. Xristos Triantafillou<br />

5. Gavin Dollarhite<br />

Junior Girls Open Weps<br />

C: Averi Presley<br />

1. Kodi Molina<br />

2. Jada Cloud<br />

3. Savannah Agosto<br />

4. Alyss Groce<br />

5. Erica Goldt<br />

Junior Boys Trad Weps<br />

1. Noah Sansait<br />

2. Nolan Grunwald<br />

3. Wassim Dridi<br />

4. Jackson Hensley<br />

5. Gavin Dollarhite<br />

Junior Girls Trad Weps<br />

C: Sofia Rodriguez Florez<br />

1. Averi Presley<br />

2. Emmersyn Cottingham<br />

3. Kodi Molina<br />

4. Ava Becker<br />

5. Quinlynn Brooks<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 119


EVENTS<br />

Official ISKA<br />

Sport Karate Rankings<br />

POST-ISKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 20<strong>24</strong><br />

Junior Boys Open Forms<br />

C: Judah Sagawa<br />

1. Aidan Guernsey<br />

2. Wassim Dridi<br />

3. Zeke Gomez<br />

4. Xristos Triantafillou<br />

5. Caysen Junell<br />

Junior Girls Open Forms<br />

C: Alyss Groce<br />

1. Averi Presley<br />

2. Jada Cloud<br />

3. Savannah Agosto<br />

4. Sofia Rodriguez Florez<br />

5. Asia Asesor<br />

Junior Boys Trad Forms<br />

C: Noah Sansait<br />

1. Matthew Gruitia<br />

2. Sebastian Villanueva<br />

3. Henry Hawkinson<br />

4. Trey Dietrich<br />

5. James Fernandez<br />

Junior Girls Trad Forms<br />

C: Sofia Rodriguez Florez<br />

1. Quinlynn Brooks<br />

2. Emmersyn Cottingham<br />

3. Kodi Molina<br />

4. Alyss Groce<br />

5. Erica Goldt<br />

Youth Boys Open Weps<br />

C: Adomas Rackauskas<br />

1. Michael Molina<br />

2. Carter Underwood<br />

3. Jett Kowalczik<br />

4. James Potter<br />

5. Lukas Drevinskas<br />

Youth Girls Open Weps<br />

C: Madalynn Wiersma<br />

1. Abigail Hunck<br />

2. Camille Trippodo<br />

3. Piper Miller<br />

4. Norah Belverud<br />

5. Olivia Cano<br />

Youth Boys Trad Weps<br />

1. Adomas Rackauskas<br />

2. Michael Molina<br />

3. Oscar Pecci<br />

4. James Potter<br />

5. Kaiden Camacho<br />

Youth Girls Trad Weps<br />

1. Madalynn Wiersma<br />

2. Olivia Cano<br />

3. Amanda Duarte<br />

4. Demi Rodriguez<br />

5. Abigail Hunck<br />

Youth Boys Open Forms<br />

C: Jaiden Graciani<br />

1. Jayvin Jones<br />

2. Carter Underwood<br />

3. Michael Molina<br />

4. Adomas Rackauskas<br />

5. Jett Kowalczik<br />

Youth Girls Open Forms<br />

1. Madalynn Wiersma<br />

2. Amanda Duarte<br />

3. Alicia Sanmiguel<br />

4. Abigail Hunck<br />

5. Olivia Cano<br />

Youth Boys Trad Forms<br />

C: Adomas Rackauskas<br />

1. Aiden Ramirez<br />

2. Kaiden Camacho<br />

3. Oscar Pecci<br />

4. James Potter<br />

5. Angel Perez<br />

Youth Girls Trad Forms<br />

C: Amanda Duarte<br />

1. Madalynn Wiersma<br />

2. Raegan Campbell<br />

3. Charlize De Gannes<br />

4. Olivia Cano<br />

5. Nora Potter<br />

120 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5


EVENTS<br />

Official ISKA<br />

Sport Karate Rankings<br />

POST-ISKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 20<strong>24</strong><br />

Synchronized Forms<br />

C: Dawson Holt & Ben Jones (Open)<br />

Joey Castro, Cameron Klos,<br />

Amber Rutherford (Trad)<br />

Diego & Sofia Rodriguez Florez<br />

Will Nevitt & Noell Jellison<br />

Samuel Diaz III & Gabrielle Rudolph<br />

Phillip Brumme & Wassim Dridi<br />

Xristos Triantafillou & Max Swierczek<br />

Synchronized Weapons<br />

C: Ben Jones & Esteban Tremblay<br />

Kodi & Michael Molina<br />

Dayton Gale & Austin Murray-Ohmart<br />

Michael & Samuel Brumme<br />

Will Nevitt & Cougar Harkins<br />

Oscar & Melina Pecci<br />

Team Demonstration<br />

C: Team Competitive Edge<br />

Team Freestyle<br />

Team Infinity<br />

Team Leclerc<br />

Team Intensity<br />

Team FSMAA<br />

MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME <strong>24</strong> | ISSUE 5 121


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