How a 65-Year-Old Karate Instructor Built a £147K Martial Arts School in 12 Months

Why Most Martial Art School Owners FAIL at Their 2nd Location

🚨 Thinking about opening a second martial arts location? Stop. Watch this first. Most school owners who expand end up working twice as hard for the exact same money — or worse, they lose everything, including their original school. In this episode I break down exactly why it happens, and the 3-pillar framework that took one of my clients from one location to twelve — without destroying their health, marriage or business. 📥 Grab the FREE 9-Step Foundation Guide → [INSERT LINK] The exact system I walk every coaching client through before they even consider opening school number two. ────────────────────────────────────────── 📌 CHAPTERS 0:00 – The hard truth about scaling 1:52 – Pillar 1: SOPs & The "Bus Test" 3:58 – Your 5 core SOPs to build this week 5:42 – Pillar 2: The Leadership Pipeline 7:40 – The 3 traits to look for (reliability before talent) 9:24 – Building your internal development track 11:19 – Pillar 3: Financial control & separation 13:00 – The 3 numbers to check every Monday 14:36 – Full recap & your action steps 16:15 – Free guide + what to do next ────────────────────────────────────────── 🎓 RESOURCES MENTIONED → Free 9-Step Foundation Guide: msg to grab free guide → Martial Arts Instructor University: https://martialartinstructor.university [https://martialartinstructor.university] → Msg toJoin MABGN: ───────────────────────────────────────── 📱 CONNECT WITH RICK → Instagram: @rdubidat → Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rdubidat [https://www.facebook.com/rdubidat] → Website: www.growthnetworkhub.io → Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/400292165420167 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/400292165420167] ────────────────────────────────────────── ABOUT THE MARTIAL ART BUSINESS GROWTH NETWORK The MABGN is the home for martial arts school owners who are serious about building a profitable, scalable business without burning out. Rick Dubidat has coached 100+ school owners from startup to scaling — and everything in between. Every episode covers real strategies, real results and real conversations. No fluff. 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@thegrowthnetwork5751 [https://www.youtube.com/@thegrowthnetwork5751] ────────────────────────────────────────── #MartialArtsBusiness #MartialArtsSchool #MultipleLocations #MartialArtsBusinessGrowth #MABGN #ScalingBusiness #MartialArtsOwner #MartialArtsEntrepreneur #BusinessGrowth #MartialArtsCoach #KarateSchool #MartialArtsStudio #BusinessPodcast #SmallBusinessGrowth #MartialArtsLife

How Antonio Doubled His Martial Arts School In 12 Months And Hit His First £10K Month | MABGN

Antonio Santorelli walked into the Martial Art Business Growth Network in January 2025 sitting between 60 and 800 students, four days a week, running his martial arts school around a full-time trophy business. Twelve months later he had doubled his revenue, hit his first £10K month, developed instructors he could hold accountable signed up 30 new members in four weeks, and rebuilt his entire staff structure. In this episode Rick sits down with Antonio to unpack exactly what changed. They cover the systems Antonio finally locked in (after eight months of fighting the follow-up calls), the Christmas "pens down" moment that reset his whole approach, the six-week sprint that brought in 30 sign-ups, and the mindset shift that turned a procrastinating school owner into a confident operator running two businesses. Antonio also goes deep on the personal side. Losing a child. Divorce. The years of depression. The way COVID forced a reset. The audiobook that started the climb back. This is not a polished success story. It is honest, raw, and full of the kind of detail school owners need to hear. Inside the conversation: * The exact moment Antonio realised his "systems" were just habits in his head * Why most school owners stay stuck for years (and the excuses they tell themselves) * How AI changed the way Antonio plans grading campaigns, lesson plans and member communication * The shift from teaching every class to running front of house * What he would say to the version of himself who almost did not join * The difference between one-to-one coaching and a community of school owners pulling each other forward If you are a martial arts school owner sitting somewhere between 50 and 250 students, wondering whether the plateau is permanent, this episode is for you. Ready to find out what is possible for your school? Book a free Scale Audit call with Rick at https://www.growthnetworkhub.io/ [https://www.growthnetworkhub.io/] and we will map out exactly where your business is leaking members, time and revenue, and what to fix first. No pitch. No pressure. Just a clear pathway, the way Antonio got one. Find Antonio: Antonio Santorelli on Facebook | ASBBA Martial Arts Find Rick: @rdubidat on Instagram and Facebook Learn more about the Martial Arts Business Growth Network: https://www.growthnetworkhub.io/ [https://www.growthnetworkhub.io/]

SEND Children in Martial Arts Schools: What's Really Working (And What We Had to Change)

More families with SEND children are walking through your doors — but most martial arts schools have no system in place to support them properly. In this episode from the Martial Art Business Growth Network podcast, Rick Dubidat sits down with four experienced school owners — Antonio Santorelli, Lee Smith, Simone Hopkins-Hall, and Kiel Tibben — for an honest, practical conversation about what it's really like running classes that include children with autism, ADHD, and other additional needs. Between them, they've coached hundreds of SEND students and many are parents of children with additional needs themselves. No clinical jargon — just the real challenges they've faced, the changes they've made to class structure, team training, and parent communication, and the simple shifts that made the biggest difference without disrupting the experience for everyone else. You'll hear how one student went from hiding in the boot of a car to leading younger students on the mat. How another was told he'd never train in a regular class — and went on to earn his black belt. And why the journey often starts not with the child, but with the parent. Whether you've got one SEND student or sixty percent of a class on the register, this episode gives you a practical starting point. Topics covered: The most common challenges when SEND children first join your school · Why parent anxiety is the overlooked factor · How to ask deeper questions without overstepping · Finding each student's "superpower" · Instructor training that actually sticks · Class structure changes that work for everyone · Building a team with the right transferable skills · Creating a safe space from first contact 🔗 Want to know how your school actually stacks up when it comes to supporting SEND students? Take the free Martial Arts SEN Audit Quiz — answer a few quick questions and get personalised feedback on where your school's doing well and where the gaps are. 👉 Take the quiz now: https://www.growthnetworkhub.io/sen [https://www.growthnetworkhub.io/sen] If you're a martial arts school owner who wants help growing your school with real systems, proven strategies, and a community of school owners who've been where you are — find out more about the Martial Art Business Growth Network here: https://www.growthnetworkhub.io [https://www.growthnetworkhub.io] Chapters * 00:00 Introduction to the Topic * 05:31 Parental Influence and Support * 10:35 Training and Developing Instructors * 15:39 Instructor Training and Adaptability * 21:51 Recognizing Individual Needs and Abilities * 30:40 Preparing for Trial Sessions * 37:14 Class Structure and Provisions * 43:26 Final Advice for Martial Arts School Owners

How a 65-Year-Old Karate Instructor Built a £147K Martial Arts School in 12 Months

In this episode of the Martial Art Business Growth Network Podcast, Rick Dubidat sits down with Steve Boland, a traditional karate instructor who completely transformed his struggling martial arts business in just one year. Steve's Journey: * 55 years of martial arts experience * 25 years running his business (but repeating the same year 23 times) * Went from £100K to £147K annual revenue in 12 months * Reduced teaching from 6 days to 3 days per week * Finally escaped the "hamster wheel" of overwhelm What You'll Learn: ✅ Why being the bottleneck in your business is killing your growth ✅ How to implement systems that actually work (not just theory) ✅ The retention strategies that go beyond high-fives and reward cards ✅ Why simplifying your curriculum improves quality over quantity ✅ How to use AI and automation without losing the personal touch ✅ The mindset shifts required to scale past 6 figures ✅ Why tradition doesn't mean staying stuck in the past Key Takeaways: * The difference between being a martial arts teacher vs. a martial arts business owner * How to build a team and let go of control (even as a "control freak") * The importance of rhythmical lead acquisition and proper systems * Why networking with other school owners is essential for growth Whether you're running a traditional dojo, MMA gym, or any martial arts school, this episode proves it's never too late to transform your business and reclaim your life. Connect with us: Rick Dubidat - Martial Art Business Growth Network Steve Boland - SNW Karate (Ellesmere Port & Chester) MARTIALARTSBUSINESS #KARATESCHOOL #BUSINESSGROWTH #MARTIALARTSMARKETING #DOJOOWNER #ENTREPRENEURMINDSET #BUSINESSSYSTEMS #MARTIALARTSINSTRUCTOR

School Owner Burnout to Business Success: Mike Stuart's Martial Arts Journey

From Burnout to Business Success: Mike Stewart's Martial Arts Journey | Martial Art Business Growth Network Podcast In this episode of the Martial Art Business Growth Network podcast, Rick Doda sits down with his friend and client, Mike Stewart, to discuss Mike's remarkable journey from a burned-out full-time educator to a successful martial arts business owner. The conversation sheds light on Mike's transitional challenges, his initial struggles, and the significant shifts he made under Rick's guidance. They delve into the strategic changes including system implementation, personal development, and balancing family life, which eventually led Mike to grow his club, achieve better work-life balance, and find success in his passion. Tune in to hear Mike's inspirational story and learn valuable insights on business growth and personal transformation. 00:00 Burnout and Realization 00:30 Introduction to the Podcast 01:09 Mike's Background and Initial Struggles 01:30 Starting the Martial Arts Club 02:39 Challenges and Perseverance 03:16 Impact of COVID-19 04:18 Turning Point and Growth 04:50 Balancing Work and Family 07:03 Implementing Systems for Success 10:32 Choosing the Growth Network 15:04 Overcoming Doubts and Seeing Results 17:15 The Importance of Showing Up 18:18 Transitioning to Part-Time Work 19:24 Balancing Family and Business 20:42 Strategic Business Growth 23:20 Reflecting on Success and Challenges 25:59 Future Plans and Team Development 31:53 The Importance of Systems and Support 34:09 Final Thoughts and Encouragement www.growthnetworkhub.io