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THE 3 "UNSEXY" HABITS THAT GOT US TO 17 LOCATIONS
Social media makes running a martial arts studio look sexy and easy.
Chris Casamassa
March 11, 2025
Hello, kickers!
🚀 The Kick is Here! The Habits That Lead to Real Growth
Social media makes running a martial arts school look easy—but what you don’t see is the real work behind the scenes. This week’s feature article, The 3 "Unsexy" Habits That Got Us to 17 Locations by Chris Casamassa, reveals the long-term habits that separate thriving school owners from those who burn out. If you’re serious about scaling your business the right way, this is a must-read.
We’re also bringing you game-changing insights in What’s Kickin’ on Social, featuring leadership, mindset, and business tips from top industry voices. Plus, we’ve got a fresh batch of Martial Memes for when you just need to laugh at the chaos of school ownership.
Let’s dive in and start building the habits that create real, sustainable growth. 👊🔥
🙌 THE 3 "UNSEXY" HABITS THAT GOT US TO 17 LOCATIONS
Social media makes running a martial arts studio look sexy and easy.
You see the highlight reels—packed classes, smiling students, black belt graduations, and big wins.
But what you don’t see?
The behind-the-scenes grind that actually makes a studio succeed.
Stuff like:
✅ Reviewing student retention numbers and fixing the leaks
✅ Analyzing class schedules to maximize enrollment
✅ Training your instructors every week so they can deliver exceptional experiences to your students
✅ Handling parents’ concerns, answering emails, and responding to Google reviews
This is the boring, unsexy work—the stuff no one cheers you on for.
But if you want a thriving, highly profitable martial arts business, it’s exactly what separates successful studio owners from those who burn out and fade away.
The 3 Key Habits That Helped Us Scale to 17 Locations
After nearly 5 decades (ya, its true) in our industry, I can tell you with 100% certainty that flashy ads and shortcuts won’t get you where you want to be.
Here’s what will:
1. Do the Boring, Unsexy Work
The best school owners don’t just teach great classes—they study their business.
They know their numbers, track their leads, refine their marketing, and optimize every part of their studio.
This work may not be exciting, but it’s where the magic happens.
2. Be Strategically Patient
Everyone wants to scale fast. But if your systems aren’t solid, scaling too soon will break your business.
Martial arts is a long game. Focus on mastering your first 100 students before stressing about expanding to multiple locations.
3. Build Trust by Giving Value First
Parents and students need a reason to choose your school over another.
How do you stand out? By building trust through:
Free community workshops
School presentations on confidence and discipline
Social media content that educates, not just promotes
The more value you give, the more people KNOW, LIKE, and TRUST you—so when it’s time to enroll, they choose you.
Master These Habits—And Growth Becomes Inevitable
Success isn’t about one viral video or a single good marketing campaign.
It’s about consistently showing up, doing the hard work, and playing the long game.
Keep going. Keep growing.
Your best year yet is ahead of you.
Chris Casamassa - Red Dragon Karate
The Kick’s pick of the hottest headlines in social this week!
What’s Kickin’ on Social This Week 👊🔥
This week’s social highlights bring powerful leadership insights, mindset shifts, and business strategies straight from some of the best in the industry. Check them out and apply these lessons to your school today!
🔥 Adam Kifer – Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
"When God wanted to make a king out of David, He didn’t bring him a crown—He brought him a Goliath." Adam reminds us that growth comes from challenges, and how you face them determines your success.
👉 Read Here (Facebook Post)
🔥 Taylor Welch – Leadership is Earned, Not Given
"You are not a king just because you are a man." True leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about responsibility, service, and proving your value through action.
👉 Read Here (Facebook Post)
🔥 Dan Martell – The Smartest Advice I Ever Got
Dan shares one piece of advice that completely shifted how he approaches business and success. Sometimes, the best insights come from thinking differently than the crowd.
👉 Read Here (Facebook Post)
🔥 Bedros Keuilian – Loud Doesn’t Equal Leadership
Being the loudest in the room doesn’t make you an effective leader. Bedros explains why true leadership is built on trust, action, and leading by example.
👉 Read Here (Facebook Post)
🔥 Alex Cattoni – AI Prompts, Tips & Tools for Smarter Marketing
AI is here to help, but only if you know how to use it right. Alex shares some game-changing AI prompts that can streamline your content creation and marketing.
👉 Read Here (Facebook Post)
🔥 Take a few minutes to check these out, drop a comment, and bring fresh insights back to your school this week! 💪🔥
😂 Martial Memes
These memes hit home for all of us martial artists and gave us a good chuckle. Click on the image to view the original account that posted each meme. Enjoy!
Have a MEME that you want feaured? Send them to us at [email protected] or tag our instagram account @thekicknewsletter.
📖 What We’re Reading: Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday
Success isn’t built on motivation—it’s built on discipline. In Discipline is Destiny, Ryan Holiday dives into the power of self-control, consistency, and delayed gratification, showing how the greatest leaders and high performers in history mastered themselves before they mastered anything else.
Key Takeaways for Martial Arts School Owners:
✅ Discipline = Freedom – The more structured your habits, the more control you have over your business, your time, and your results.
✅ Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain – The best school owners don’t chase quick wins. They commit to the boring, unsexy work—just like this week’s Kick feature article discusses.
✅ Lead By Example – If you expect your students and staff to show up consistently, take their training seriously, and pursue excellence, you have to model it first.
If you’re serious about building a business (and a life) that thrives long-term, this book is a must-read.
📚 Grab your copy here: Discipline is Destiny on Amazon
What’s one area of your business or personal life where more discipline would create massive results? Let us know!🔥
📬 Have Something That Is Kick Worthy?
We know our readers have great ideas, insights, and stories to share! If you’ve got something that’s "kick-worthy"—whether it’s a success story, a marketing tip, or something that’s helping your school thrive—submit it to us at [email protected]. Your content could be featured in an upcoming edition of The Kick and shared with martial arts school owners around the world!
📅 We’re Back Next Week
🔥 That’s a Wrap for This Week!
Success in business, like success in martial arts, isn’t about flashy moves—it’s about consistent, disciplined action. Whether it’s mastering the unsexy habits that lead to real growth, refining your leadership skills, or dialing in your marketing, this issue was packed with strategies to help you build a thriving school.
Keep showing up, keep leading with purpose, and keep putting in the reps that actually move the needle. Until next time—stay focused, stay relentless, and keep kicking it to the next level! 👊🔥