The Red Belt Podcast
Real conversations with martial arts school owners about what it takes to grow a successful academy. Hosted by Brian Debes.
Real school owners. Real strategies. Real growth.
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30 episodes and counting — each one an hour with a school owner sharing exactly what worked (and what didn’t).
The problems every school owner faces — solved by owners who’ve been there
Getting More Students
How owners fill kids programs, convert parents into adult members, and turn trial classes into sign-ups.
Improving Retention
Progress reports, renewals, events, and the touchpoints that keep students training for years.
Increasing Revenue
Summer camps, after-school programs, multiple programs under one roof, and seven-figure gyms.
Systems & Staff
The staff systems, AI tools, and processes that let an owner step back without the school slipping.
Culture & Community
Leadership, the way we speak to students, and building a room people never want to leave.
Overcoming Challenges
Small towns, day jobs, starting from scratch, and planning an exit — real obstacles, real fixes.
Every conversation, newest first
- Episode 30 · Oct 23, 2026 · 117 min
Danny Duckworth using the power of AI to grow your gym
In this episode, our first podcast guest, Danny Duckworth, returns and we talk about his full entrepreneurial journey from building his gym to selling it, we talk about optimizing class schedules and then about the right way to use AI in your gym, how to use it to eliminate the need for data entry and such work for your front desk and how to automate posting quality content to every major social…
Listen to the episode - Episode 29 · Oct 16, 2026 · 99 min
Building a Martial School Empire with Mike Stewart
Mike Stewart started with around 100 students and broke the million dollar a year mark with his first school the first time he was a guest. Now he has 7 schools and a second one is on track for a million dollar year this year as well. Meanwhile, Mike is mainly just doing what he loves in the gym and has built a properly incentivized, well paid team that carries most of the work load and ensures…
Listen to the episode - Episode 28 · Oct 9, 2026 · 100 min
Becoming an Intrapreneur in a Martial Arts Gym with Stephan Miller
Stephan Miller is a coach at Mike Stewart's, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA gym. It's a seven-figure gym, and he was with Mike as they grew to five locations, and in this episode, Stephan talks about how you can better make your own living as an employee by better serving the gym. Stephan is able to make six figures as an employee with different hustles and commissions within his gym without being a…
Listen to the episode - Episode 27 · Jul 3, 2026 · 54 min
The New School Way to Grow Your School with Dave Kovar
Dave Kovar owns 18 schools with over 5000 students in total. His main facility has reached over 900 students by itself. Today Dave talks about how things have changed in the martial arts industry and what it takes to be successful today as well as specific strategies to engage students and keep them coming longer. Don’t miss this one! Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making…
Listen to the episode - Episode 26 · Jun 26, 2026 · 59 min
Changing the Way We Speak to Students to Transform Them with Joe Vitale
Dr. Joe Vitale was once homeless. Today he is the author of over 90 books, star in over 30 movies, including the hit movie The Secret, and he is a musician with 15 albums out. He received the US President Lifetime Service Award in 2024, and the Los Angeles Tribune Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. His own movie, Zero Limits, released in 2025 and won 27 film awards. It just today surpassed one…
Listen to the episode - Episode 25 · Jun 19, 2026 · 64 min
Converting Parents of Kids into Adult Members with Farshad Azad
Grand Master Farshad Azad has been teaching for decades and he has a system I’ve never seen before for turning parents of child students into members and in doing so both adding more students and increasing retention for the whole family. He also talks about the nurturing process of how after he gets students in he checks in with them, keeps in touch and monitors their at risk status with an…
Listen to the episode - Episode 24 · Jun 12, 2026 · 65 min
Building the Systems for a Super Gym with Nakapan Phungephorn
Nakapan Phungephorn is a lifetime martial artist who teaches BJJ, Muay Thai and MMA. His single location has over 600 members and is on track to do 1.7 million this year. Remarkably his spend on marketing is quite minimal and he instead leans heavily in referral systems and grass root marketing efforts. On this podcast Nakapan talks about how he structures his referral reward system, exactly how…
Listen to the episode - Episode 23 · Jun 5, 2026 · 65 min
Using AI and Progress Report Systems to Grow Huge in a Small Town with Dan Tyrrell
Dan Tyrrell lives in a town with only a couple of thousand residents but has over 200 students. In this podcast he talks about using AI systems to give better customer service and experience and also how he uses systems of progress reports to keeps students engaged and to show parents that the martial arts school is more than self defense for kids, it’s a partner in parenting and can demonstrate…
Listen to the episode - Episode 22 · May 15, 2026 · 58 min
How to Develop the Right Systems and Mindset for Growth with Scott Maczuga
In Episode 22 of Red Belt Podcast we talk to Scott Maczuga. Scott blew up his school and transformed into a fully accredited, highly successful private school! He’s the only martial arts school owner I know whom has done this. He talks about the current systems and mindset needed for any sort of growth! Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making student retention and…
Listen to the episode - Episode 21 · May 8, 2026 · 56 min
Double Your Revenue with Summer Camp and Kid Stages of Development with Doug Rankin
In Episode 21 of Redbelt Podcast Doug Rankin talks about how he doubled his year revenue in 9 weeks of the summer with a summer camp, how they divide kid classes based on children’s neural development level instead of “age” or “skill level” and more! Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making student retention and acquisition easier for gym owners. For more information about…
Listen to the episode - Episode 20 · Jan 29, 2025 · 71 min
Strategies for Kids Program and BJJ History with Don Stoner
Don Stoner is a BJJ Black that came up under the legendary Rigan Machado. Today he talks about how he can teach real legit BJJ but still make a great kids program with great retention. We also talk allot about BJJ history and how it fits in with BJJ today! Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making student retention and acquisition easier for gym owners. For more information…
Listen to the episode - Episode 19 · Oct 18, 2024 · 53 min
Growing a BJJ School from Scratch with David Freeman
David has no conventional business background but on this episode of Redbelt Podcast he discussed how he used his background in ordinary jobs to give him a boost in starting his bjj school and different tactics he has used to grow his school! Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making student retention and acquisition easier for gym owners. For more information about Red Belt…
Listen to the episode - Episode 18 · Aug 9, 2024 · 44 min
How to Leverage Multiple Programs with Victor Young
Victor Young was a school owner I knew that did Jiujitsu, kickboxing, mma and a tons of other traditional programs as well and was struggling. He turned his school in to close to a million dollar a year school with good business systems and consistent effort. Today, he goes over some of those systems. Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making student retention and acquisition…
Listen to the episode - Episode 17 · Jul 5, 2024 · 66 min
How to Keep Your Martial Arts Students Longer with Paul Halme
Paul Halme has been running a successful BJJ school and teaching others with successful martial arts schools for a very long time. Today he talks about strategies you can use to keep your students staying longer. Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making student retention and acquisition easier for gym owners. For more information about Red Belt Software, please visit us at…
Listen to the episode - Episode 16 · Jun 28, 2024 · 71 min
How to Run Multiple Gyms and Leverage Goals to Sign Up Kids with Casey Halstead
Casey has run 8 gyms, all very very successfully for quite some time while still raising a family. Casey talks about this, about the new booming future of pro grappling, why we shouldn’t feel bad to sell parents the dream their kids could be a pro one day and the benefits that actually has. Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making student retention and acquisition easier for…
Listen to the episode - Episode 15 · Jun 14, 2024 · 83 min
How to Exit and Retire From Teaching at Your Martial Arts School with Michael Bank
In this episode of Redbelt Podcast, Michael Bank talks about how he just retired a multi millionaire at age 40 after a career owning a martial arts school and how this strategy can also work for basically anyone, even employees and non business owners. Plus tons of tips for school owners, how to reduce cancellations, how to look at how to reinvest in your school and more! Red Belt Podcast is a…
Listen to the episode - Episode 14 · Jun 7, 2024 · 67 min
Run a High Success School from a Yacht at Sea with Stan Lee
Stan Lee has owned a martial arts school for over 30 years. He currently has an ultra successful school he runs remotely from his yacht for months at a time. He filmed this podcast from that yacht. Stan talks about great systems he has for charter development for kids, his after school program and how it can be both ultra profitable and still super legit and more! Red Belt Podcast is a production…
Listen to the episode - Episode 13 · May 31, 2024 · 70 min
Retention and Referral Mastery with Events in BJJ School with Troy Miller
Troy Miller is a life long martial artists that now has limited involvement in his school but still has close to a million dollar a year gym. He uses a number of internal and external events to drive referrals and increase retention. He also shares a number of subtle changes in process that increase the percentage of referrals when you ask for them. Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt…
Listen to the episode - Episode 12 · May 24, 2024 · 54 min
Making a 7 figure BJJ Gym While Keeping a Day Job you Love with Josh Frye
Josh Frye has maintained very close to a Million Dollar a year gym with a small staff of two full time employees and 2 part time employees while still keeping his day job as a teacher himself and limiting his own involvement. Today he talks about exactly how he set that up and how you could benefit from similar systems! Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making student…
Listen to the episode - Episode 11 · May 17, 2024 · 39 min
Making Your BJJ Gym a Non-profit with Mike "Jits" Tracey
Today on RedBelt Podcast, Brazilian JiuJitsu gym owner and former 7 figure BJJ mat company owner Mike "Jits" Tracey talks about the potential benefits of making your BJJ gym legally a non profit, how you can still control it and pay yourself and your family from it, and why he chose that route. Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making student retention and acquisition easier…
Listen to the episode - Episode 10 · May 3, 2024 · 54 min
How to Make a 6 figure BJJ Gym with Response Speed with Chris Conolley
Chris Conolley has been past a million dollar a gym for a long time, typically doing between $105,000 and $120,000 per MONTH at his school. In the episode he talks about what it takes to do that, how not only doing that doesn’t water down his school but has made it better with better competitors, how to get more out of the same amount of leads and more! Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red…
Listen to the episode - Episode 9 · Apr 26, 2024 · 71 min
Revenue Generating Systems for BJJ Schools with Matt Arroyo
Matt Arroyo has owned a bjj school all the way back when he was a blue belt. He’s also been to ADCC, has fought in the UFC and now runs a close to million dollar a year academy. But only around half his revenue comes from student tuition. That’s the same way for myself and many other very successful school owners. Today, we talk about one of the biggest elements in pulling that off as well as…
Listen to the episode - Episode 8 · Mar 22, 2024 · 118 min
Setting up Staff Systems for Your Martial Arts School with Amy Magers
Amy Magers owns a BJJ school along with her husband Kris Magers and is also a co owner of a consulting company. In this episode she talks about one of her specialties, setting up staff system in your martial arts school. This is applicable even if you are a small school or even if it’s just you. She covers how you should block out your time, what sort of tasks you should be doing, what an “SOP”…
Listen to the episode - Episode 7 · Mar 1, 2024 · 93 min
Better Retention and Annual Renewals at Your BJJ Gym with Mike Stewart
Mike Stewart had a giant BJJ gym before even reaching Black belt. Today Mike talks about the secrets of his great success and some specialty processes of his like his system to get a large amount of his students to enroll for their second year. Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making student retention and acquisition easier for gym owners. For more information about Red Belt…
Listen to the episode - Episode 6 · Feb 23, 2024 · 68 min
Martial Arts Business Growth and Learning the Systems that Built a BJJ Empire with Brandon Mccaghren (aka BMac)
Brandon Mccaghren (BMac) has become a growing sensation in BJJ. Known for his instructionals, commentating and his pro tournament circuit PGL, he’s been doing huge things! We talk about his BJJ school that he grew before all of those things, the tips he would have given himself when he started and how he shifted and grew to the other avenues. Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software…
Listen to the episode - Episode 5 · Feb 16, 2024 · 66 min
Building Culture and Leadership in BJJ with Johnny Buck
Johnny Buck is a BJJ black, Pro MMA fighter, former wrestler and highly successful school owner. He has an overwhelming focus on purpose and culture and his team is more bought into it than any I have ever seen. Today we talk to him about how we can build the culture of our gym so that members and staff want to stay as well as the exact experiences at every step of the customer journey that…
Listen to the episode - Episode 4 · Feb 2, 2024 · 64 min
Building a 7 Figure After School/Summer Camp for a BJJ School with Gary Schill
Gary Schill has been in the martial arts business a long time. He teaches both BJJ and traditional martial arts at his gym. To him, after school and summer camp are extra, supplementary things and not the primary focus. Yet with a few systems in place, he does over $1,000,000 in revenue a year from just those extra programs. On this podcast we deep dive into exactly those systems! Red Belt…
Listen to the episode - Episode 3 · Jan 19, 2024 · 143 min
BJJ Business, How to Sign up TONS of Kids in Your Program and Curriculum Tips with Mike Sandford
Mike Sandford is a BJJ Black Belt and highly, highly successful school owner. I wanted to have Mike Sandford because he does the best kids intro and demo I’ve ever seen. He’s done several months we’re he has personally sold over 100 full price kids memberships to a single gym in a single month. This Podcast got interrupted due to emergency but that ended up just being an additional upside since I…
Listen to the episode - Episode 2 · Jan 12, 2024 · 100 min
BJJ Business, Retention Strategies and Community Building with Phill Schwartz
Today we speak to our second guest Phill Schwartz. We talk about how to increase your students retention, encouraging them to stay far longer, how to build a great community inside your school, how fast you should move students into live training and more! Red Belt Podcast is a production of Red Belt Software, making student retention and acquisition easier for gym owners. For more information…
Listen to the episode - Episode 1 · Jan 6, 2024 · 99 min
BJJ Business & Curriculum Insights for Retention and Student Experience with Danny Duckworth
Today we speak with our first guest, super successful school owner and BJJ black belt Danny Duckworth! We talk about business, BJJ curriculum, Danny's opinion on promotions in BJJ and how they should work, what level someone should be to open a school and more. Especially if you own a BJJ school you should be following these, this podcast has the sort of information that a lot of people pay…
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