Dana Dickeson shares his journey in martial arts, from his childhood fascination with action movies to his introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) as a police officer. He recounts his experiences in MMA and the challenges of running a BJJ school in a small area. Dana eventually opens his own gym, Absolute BJJ, and discusses the growth of BJJ in his region. He also mentions his affiliation with Fabio Holanda and the decision to start his own team. Dana Dickeson shares his experience as a martial arts school owner and the lessons he has learned along the way. He emphasizes the importance of finding help and building a team, as well as executing ideas without overthinking. He also discusses the success of his gym and the growth of his tournament, East Coast Grappling. Dana advises gym owners to be mindful of their finances, not to overspend on unnecessary gear, and to seek help and guidance from experts in the industry. He encourages gym owners to be brave and take risks, even when they are scared.

Takeaways:

• Dana's interest in martial arts was sparked by action movies of the 80s and 90s.
• He initially struggled to find a martial art that resonated with him until he discovered Judo and later Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
• Dana's journey in martial arts led him to compete in MMA and eventually open his own BJJ gym.
• Running a BJJ school in a small area presented unique challenges, but Dana persevered and saw the growth of BJJ in his region. Find help and build a team to support your gym
• Execute ideas without overthinking
• Be mindful of your finances and plan for a rainy day
• Don't overspend on unnecessary gear
• Seek help and guidance from experts in the industry
• Be brave and take risks, even when you are scared

The Legacy Martial Arts Business Podcast is hosted by Nick Castiglia and Sam Hattlestad, Entrepreneurs and co-owners of Legacy Martial Arts Consulting.

Want to get in touch with us? Just visit www.martialartsgymownersunited.com to chat with Nick and me. Follow us on our socials and YouTube:

• Instagram: @legacymaconsulting
• YouTube: Legacy Martial Arts Consulting
• Linktree: Legacy Consulting

Don't forget to subscribe and stay connected for more valuable insights and inspiring stories!

Brent Fryia shares his origin story of becoming a gym owner and MMA fighter. He started as a wrestler and had a successful career in university wrestling. After teaching for a while, he saw an ad for an MMA class and joined, eventually turning pro and moving to Asia to compete. When he returned, he found out that the gym he trained at had a falling out, so he decided to open his own gym. Initially, the gym was small and focused on MMA fighters, but it has since evolved to include recreational classes for boxing, kickboxing, and Jiu-Jitsu. Brent emphasizes the importance of the wrestling community and the tight-knit culture it fosters. He also discusses the challenges of running a gym and the need to delegate and invest in software to manage the business. Brent shares his experience of growing his gym and transitioning from being a one-man show to hiring staff. He emphasizes the importance of investing in coaches, creating a place for everyone, and fostering a strong gym culture. He also discusses his groundbreaking partnership with the school board to offer an in-school mixed martial arts program. Brent advises gym owners to respect the art of coaching, avoid making the gym too competition-focused, and prioritize professionalism.

Takeaways:

• Brent Fryia's journey from wrestler to gym owner and MMA fighter
• The evolution of his gym from focusing on MMA fighters to including recreational classes
• The tight-knit culture and community of the wrestling world
• The challenges of running a gym and the need to delegate and invest in software for management
• Investing in your coaches and groom potential coaches from within the gym
• Create a welcoming environment for all types of members, from recreational to competitive
• Foster a strong gym culture and prioritize community
• Respect the art of coaching and prioritize professional development
• Avoid making the gym too competition-focused and prioritize inclusivity
• Treat your gym as a professional business and seek help and guidance when needed

The Legacy Martial Arts Business Podcast is hosted by Nick Castiglia and Sam Hattlestad, Entrepreneurs and co-owners of Legacy Martial Arts Consulting.

Want to get in touch with us? Just visit www.martialartsgymownersunited.com to chat with Nick and me. Follow us on our socials and YouTube:

• Instagram: @legacymaconsulting
• YouTube: Legacy Martial Arts Consulting
• Linktree: Legacy Consulting

Don't forget to subscribe and stay connected for more valuable insights and inspiring stories!

Summary

Milena Hrebacka, founder of New Breed Design, discusses the importance of branding and marketing for martial arts schools. She emphasizes the need for a strong brand that reflects the gym's values and resonates with its target demographic. Milena highlights the impact of a well-designed logo and consistent branding across all touchpoints, including social media, signage, merchandise, and the physical gym space. She also stresses the importance of providing a high-quality experience for clients, from the cleanliness of the facility to the professionalism of the staff. Overall, Milena emphasizes the value of investing in professional graphic design and marketing to elevate a martial arts school's brand and attract and retain clients. In this conversation, Milena Hrebacka discusses the importance of branding and design for martial arts gyms. She emphasizes the need for a solid brand identity, a well-designed physical space, and a positive human experience. Milena also advises against using platforms like Fiverr for logo design and highlights the value of investing in professional design services. She shares the top three mistakes to avoid in branding: trying to design your own logo, balking at price points, and breaking what's working for your brand. Milena was a featured speaker at the Legacy School Owners Summit in July.

Takeaways

• A strong brand that reflects the gym's values and resonates with the target demographic is crucial for martial arts schools.
• Investing in professional graphic design and marketing pays off in the long run and helps attract and retain clients.
• Consistent branding across all touchpoints, including social media, signage, merchandise, and the physical gym space, is essential.
• Providing a high-quality experience for clients, from the cleanliness of the facility to the professionalism of the staff, is key to building trust and loyalty. A solid brand identity, a well-designed physical space, and a positive human experience are crucial for martial arts gyms.
• Using platforms like Fiverr for logo design can result in generic and unoriginal designs.
• Investing in professional design services is essential for creating a unique and effective brand.
• The top three mistakes to avoid in branding are trying to design your own logo, balking at price points, and breaking what's working for your brand.
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Check out more of Milena Hrebacka and New Breed Design here: https://newbreed.design/

The Legacy Martial Arts Business Podcast is hosted by Nick Castiglia and Sam Hattlestad, Entrepreneurs and co-owners of Legacy Martial Arts Consulting.

Want to get in touch with us? Just visit www.martialartsgymownersunited.com to chat. Follow us on our socials and YouTube:

• Instagram: @legacymaconsulting
• YouTube: Legacy Martial Arts Consulting
• Linktree: Legacy Consulting

Don't forget to subscribe and stay connected for more valuable insights and inspiring stories!