MASuccess Magazine

By Beth A. Block

I’ve talked to many studio owners about security cameras. When we begin, the owner sees all the positives. I see the positives, too. I also see the negatives.

            One of the first positives is the security. One of my clients was robbed. The robber wasn’t the brightest criminal. He looked straight into the camera before shooting it. The local police caught him within hours.

            In another case, the studio owner found the cameras were a great training tool. She could not understand why new students were leaving so her school quickly. A review of 30 days of film showed she had an instructor using old-school discipline on her students.

            She spent a couple of weeks working closely with this instructor to improve his methods. Now, he gets more positive feedback on...

Two of the greatest iconic fighters have had their methods combined to form the Superfoot-Joe Lewis Martial Arts Systems. This unique system merges the celebrated fighting styles of Bill Wallace and the late Joe Lewis into some of the world’s most effective martial arts techniques. This brilliant combination of fighting knowledge and skills will be introduced on a large scale at this year’s Martial Arts SuperShow in Las Vegas!

By Suzanne Pisano

Learning from the Legends

Bill Wallace and Joe Lewis met in 1968, when both were competing at the World Professional Karate Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. Lewis noted that he and Wallace had a similar stance. It turned out that, while serving in the military in Okinawa, Wallace in the Air Force and Lewis in the Marines, both had studied shorin-ryu karate with the same sensei — Master Eizo Shimabukuro.  

So began a close and loyal friendship that lasted until Lewis' death in 2012 at the age of 68. The...

Do you want to grow your school, improve your teaching, excite your staff, and train with some of the best martial artists and best business people in the industry? Attend the Martial Arts SuperShow in Las Vegas this summer, June 30-July 3. It will be the best investment you make in time and money for your business this year!

The proof? Freelance journalist David Barnett to interview instructors and school owners from last year's convention — without any input from us. Here’s how they used what they learned at 2018’s MASuperShow to improve their profits and professionalism.

By David Barnett

The 2019 MASuperShow is the place to find your answers. Whatever you’re looking to learn or accomplish, you’ll find it in Las Vegas this summer. From opportunities to learn from the biggest and brightest (and most successful!) school owners in the country, to the chance to train with some of the best living martial artists, there’s...

If you're reading this blog, chances are, you're familiar with MAIA, or the Martial Arts Industry Association. But just because you know MAIA as an organization, you may not be familiar with all the individual team members. They do an amazing job, and are just as passionate about the work they do as you are. We're making this series of blog posts to shine the light on our MAIA team members and the amazing work they do! 

Cris Rodriguez is one of the newest additions to the MAIA team, so you may not know her yet – but you will! If you’re attending the 2019 Martial Arts SuperShow, you’ll have the chance to meet her in person and attend her seminar, but in the meantime, let this interview be your introduction.

How did you come to team up with MAIA?

In 2015, my wife Stephanie and I went to a MAIA Seminar in Tampa hosted by Mr. Frank Silverman. At the end of the seminar he suggested we meet with his business partner, Mr. Mike Metzger, because he thought...

The nicest instructor in BJJ offers some insights into his teaching methods, his famous students like Keanu Reeves and Stephan “Wonderboy” Thompson, how to succeed in business and what he has in store for the MAIA SuperShow.

by Perry William Kelly

“Life in the martial arts is all about opportunities. Each student offers the instructor the chance to make a difference. His or her life will be changed if you do it right. In the process, your life will be changed as well. It is the greatest reward to make a living by changing lives.”

- excerpt from Carlos Machado’s Putting the Pieces Together: Truths You Learn AFTER You Get Your Butt Kicked!

While growing up, Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert Carlos Machado’s nickname was Soneca (Sleepy) for the naps he used to take between training sessions. It’s good that he took the chance to rest while he had it, because these days, everyone wants to roll with now-black belt and...

By Herb Borkland

Cardio kickboxing and Impact Fitness entrepreneur Steve Doss has what Enter the Dragon villain Bob Wall once called the “greatest martial arts resume ever.” Among other distinctions, Doss grew up down the street from kickboxing superstar Jim Harrison and knew pre-fame Chuck Norris. He trained with Bill Wallace at Elvis Presley’s legendary Tennessee Karate Institute and, in Corpus Christie, learned from pioneer karate champion Pat Burleson. Considered the Father of Cardio Kickboxing, today Doss’s new Impact Fitness thirty-minute workouts are a growing franchise success nationally.

Herb Borkland: Where did you grow up, and what did your father do?

Steve Doss: I grew up in Kansas City. Dad was a business man.

HB: How did you first hear about martial arts?

SD: Jim Harrison lived next door. His school was across the street from the high school I went to. He ran two floors: one for judo, the other for karate. Sparring...

By Kathy Olevsky

In last month’s column, we discussed credit card chargebacks and a case of “Friendly Fraud.” My school had experienced several transactions being reversed due to a customer dispute.

In most of the cases, our students actually participated in the classes they were disputing, and had expressed no issues. My research into chargebacks and credit card transactions turned up some interesting facts and helped me create a plan to keep my income secure.

According to David DeCorte with Chargeback911, “The timeframe allowed by Visa and Mastercard to dispute a single charge is 180 days. When it comes to recurring charges, however, the cardholder has much more leeway. The time frame allowed to dispute recurring charges involving the same transaction data is left up to the bank that issued the card.” 

He adds, “For example, a cardholder could enroll in a service involving monthly charges. Then, after two years, he could decide to...

Learn how to generate more revenue this month with a Square Hand Target Seminar. Download the free marketing kit for the seminar here.

Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2019 Century Update.

By: Mike Metzger, Lead MAIA Consultant

Do you want a great way to generate retail revenue, increase retention and get new students?

A square hand target seminar is a perfect event to build skills with your students, encourage them to practice at home and aid in retention and recruiting. Retail revenue is one of the biggest missed revenue streams in most martial art schools and this event is a huge retail revenue generator. This is something you can do with very little planning and prep work. You can download the marketing kit here.

• Film yourself doing 10-20 drills that you will be covering in the seminar so that you can include train at home content for the students.
• Hang up posters promoting the event and display 8-10 square hand targets on a table.
• Make announcement to...

By Beth A. Block

Our industry provides lots of opportunities to take photos: everything from the first class to private lessons, extra activities and rank promotions. Many of us have covered the photos we take in a photo release. If you haven’t already done this, I strongly suggest you add this to your enrollment form.

Most of us have not thought about the pictures our families take of their kids. Those pictures usually include other people’s kids. Our photo release doesn’t cover those pictures since we didn’t take them.

Every studio has children enrolled from single-parent homes. We get the enrollment form signed by that parent. Do you think about liability issues from the absent parent? One of your fellow studios was stuck in the middle of a dispute between parents over a picture.

A girl of seven years old was enrolled by Mom. The enrollment director had Mom complete all the paperwork. Mom indicated on the enrollment form that no pictures of the girl...