Martial Arts World News Magazine - Vol 24 | Issue 3

MartialArtsWorldNews.com VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 3 

The #1 Business Resource for the Martial Arts Industry 

MASTER DANIEL 

SEGARRA 

INTRODUCES 

BUDO 

THE KARATE MOUSE 

Chuck Norris is Back! 

Announcing the 

MAW News New 

YouTube Channel 

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CONTENTS 

FEATURES 

30 AFKA Martial Arts Retreat: 

July 20-21 

34 The Martial Arts Wealth Mastery 

Team Visits Norfolk Naval Base 

38 Master Daniel Segarra 

Introduces Budo The Karate 

Mouse 

105 FREE Tool of the Month 

108 Sport Martial Arts 

DEPARTMENTS 

14 Industry Insights 

15 Birthdays 

18 Industry Innovations 

24 Social 411 

56 School Profiles 

67 Classified Ads 

114 Advertiser Index 

YOUR INPUT 

65 Tell Us Your Story 

80 Feature Your School, Organization, 

Accomplishment, or Event 

COLUMNS 

6 Editorial 

You’re Not In The Business You Think You Are 

Master Toby Milroy 

8 Martial Arts World News Faculty 

12 Master the Basics 

Developing Focus 

Master Tina Bane 

60 Teamwork 

Green Side Up 

Hanshi Dave Kovar 

62 After School Excellence 

Don’t Forget These Summer Camp Promotional 

Knockouts 

Grandmaster Mike Bugg 

64 Growth Hacks 

Survival of the Fittest 

Mr. Sean Lee 

66 Ninja Business Tactics 

Why Ethical Leadership? 

An-Shu Stephen Hayes 

68 Extraordinary Marketing 

Manage Your Time, Live Your Life (Part 1) 

Grandmaster Stephen Oliver 

70 Pillars of Success 

3 Steps to Build Corporate Leadership (Part 2): 

Grandmaster Y. K. Kim 

74 Staff Development 

The 4 Daily Practices for Committed Martial Arts 

Instructors (Part 2)) 

Master Zulfi Ahmed 

76 The Way of the Samurai 

The Three Rs of Combative Weaponry (Part 2) 

Shihan Dana Abbott 

78 Mastering Modern BJJ 

The Nature of Jiu Jitsu (Part 1) 

Master Carlos Machado 

4 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 3

STAFF 

82 Next Level Strategy 

Shaking the Bushes! (Part 2) 

Shihan Allie Alberigo 

84 Mind Mastery 

Master your Mindset Before you Think About 

Opening a Martial Arts School (Part 2) 

Grandmaster Jessie Bowen 

86 The Millionaire Smarts Coach 

Instant Communication Can Get You into Hot Water (Part 2) 

Ms. Lee Milteer 

90 Budo Philosophy 

Aggressiveness, Biology and Culture (Part 1)) 

Shidoshi Alfredo Tucci 

92 Complete Martial Arts Concepts 

The Evolution of MMA 

Professor Willie “the Bam” Johnson 

94 Instructional Excellence 

Teaching Young Children’s Class 

Grandmaster Tim McCarthy 

96 Business Buzz 

How to Add Value to Upgrade 80% of Trial 

Students (Part 2) 

Grandmaster Lawrence Arthur 

98 Martial Arts Philosophy 

Stories Hunting The Ultimate Makiwara Board 

Sensei Gary Lee 

100 Management Excellence 

‘The Leader as Coach’ 

Grandmaster Kirk Pelt 

102 The Warrior Way 

Increase Your Options 

Grandmaster Bill Clark 

104 Tactical Self-Defense 

More Students Or More Out Of Your Students 

Grandmaster Tom Patire 

106 Tools & Tactics 

Increase Enrollment with Communication Strategies 

Ms. Chris Lee 

VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 3 

PUBLISHER 


EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

Mr. Sean Lee 

MANAGING EDITOR 

Mr. Jeff Reulbach 

ART DIRECTOR 

Mr. Frank Meyer 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

Mr. Amen Blue 

WEB DEVELOPER 

Ms. Erin Pham 

COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTORS 


Grandmaster Zulfi Ahmed 








Professor Willie “The Bam” Johnson 



Ms. Chris Lee 


Mr. Sean Lee 








The mission of Martial Arts World 

News Magazine is to be the definitive 

source for information, news, education, 

ethical business practices, 

product reviews and innovative 

developments in the world of martial 

arts business. 

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MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 3 5

EDITORIAL 

You’re Not In The Business 

You Think You Are 

by Master Toby Milroy 

There is a clear, yet somewhat uncomfortable 

reality school operators must face on 

the path to success in their school(s). 

When you ask a school owner or professional 

instructor what business they are in, 

you’re likely to hear a few common answers. 

“I’m in the martial arts business”, “I teach 

martial arts lessons”, “I teach kids and 

families how to defend themselves”, perhaps 

even, “I’m in the character development 

business”, and more. 

While, of course, all these may be true, 

the underlying reality is quite different. 

Of course, you MUST teach great lessons. Of course, 

you must have great programs. Of course, you must 

help each student develop themselves physically, 

emotionally, socially, and build their character. 

But, all this is the MINIMUM requirement to 

operate a highly successful school. It’s only the 

‘baseline’. 

Even if you do all these things I’ve mentioned, 

even if you’re delivering AMAZING benefits and 

value to your students and their families, if people 

don’t “perceive” that you’re doing all 

these things, and if people don’t 

know about you, then your growth 

is limited. 

The ‘key’ growth aspect of 

your business is not just the 

‘delivering’ of your benefits, but 

in the attraction and creation 

of new students/customers. 

The hard truth is that 

you’re not in the “teaching” 

martial arts lessons business, 

you’re really in the marketing 

and selling of martial arts 

lessons business. 

Given 2 different schools in similar 

locations, similar demographics, 

and similar programs, conducting a 

simple thought experiment would 

lead you to naturally conclude that 

if all things are equal, the school 

who is ‘better’ and marketing and 

selling their lessons would be the 

more successful business. 

Furthermore, the impact of 

these skills, the marketing of your programs in your community, 

and the persuading prospective students to enroll, make a disproportionately 

high impact on your schools financial results and 

success as a business. 

Does that mean that we should then allow our quality standards 

to diminish, or inappropriately promote students who haven’t 

sufficiently ‘earned’ their ranks, or to ‘water down’ our system, or 

otherwise sacrifice the integrity of our art? 

Not only no, but hell no. 

In fact, it’s been my own personal experience with my own 

organization, and with the HUNDREDS of school operators I’ve 

worked with (either personally, or at a distance), that the opposite 

is true. When you commit yourself to MASTERING these skills, you 

tend to take even more seriously your commitment to each students’ 

outcomes. You tend to RAISE your standards, so that you’re 

producing even HIGHER quality outcomes for your students, their 

families, and your community. 

So, in short, adding these skills to your martial arts business 

growing ‘arsenal’ is a critical factor in the development of high performing 

Martial Arts Schools, and a challenge you should embrace. 

If you need any help at all with this, give my team a call at 

1-800-275-1600, and we can help! 

MASTER TOBY MILROY is a 6th degree black belt. Known as “The Master Systemizer,” Master Toby Milroy 

has positively influenced more martial arts schools than anyone in our industry. He has built a successful multi-school 

organization, lead the national trade association for the martial arts industry, and coached some of the most successful 

martial arts school operators in the world. 

6 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 3 

Photograph (top) by pcess609

OUR EXPERT FACULTY 

6 


is a 6th degree Black Belt, the CEO and 

Publisher of Martial Arts World News 

Magazine, and the Executive Vice 

President for AMS. In addition to building 

a successful multi-school organization, 

Master Milroy has positively influenced 

more martial arts schools than virtually 

anyone in our industry. 

12 


is a 6th degree master instructor and 

owner of a Top Ten martial arts school 

with successful after school and summer 

camp programs. 

64 

Mr. Sean Lee 

is the Executive Director of Sales and 

Marketing for hundreds of martial arts 

schools and specializes in online and social 

media marketing using his extensive 

professional experience in sports and 

martial arts marketing, contract negotiation, 

and investment. 

66 


has authored more than 20 books, 

worked as a bodyguard for the Dalai 

Lama, supervised over 30 school locations 

worldwide, and was named, "One of 

the 10 Most Influential Living Martial Artists 

in the World" by Black Belt Magazine. 

60 


is an 8th degree black belt and recognized 

as the “Trainer of Trainers.” Hanshi 

Kovar is an internationally acclaimed 

instructor with black belt degrees in ten 

different martial arts styles. His systems 

have been implemented in hundreds of 

schools around the US. 

68 


is a 9th degree black belt and is the 

founder and CEO of Mile High Karate 

schools, and founder of the Martial Arts 

Wealth Mastery Program. 

62 


is a 9th degree black belt and the owner 

of a 1.5 million-per-year location, with one 

of the largest after school and summer 

camp programs in the country. 

70 


is the most successful martial arts business 

leader in the US, having written 

over 30 books on martial arts, business, 

leadership, and success. He has won 

numerous public service awards and is 

the founder of the leading martial arts 

marketing and management company in 

the US. 



74 


has amassed acclaim as a world-class 

competitor, martial arts educator, and is 

most notably founder and designer of 

the internationally renowned style, Bushi 

Ban. With over 45 years of martial arts 

experience and over 300 martial arts 

awards, his schools include ten locations 

across Texas. 

76 


is a 7th degree black belt in Kenjutsu, 

starting his 14-year education in Tokyo. 

He has published five books and designed 

a US Patent. Abbott has also 

conducted seminars in over 30 countries 

and obtained his black belt at the Hombu 

dojo in Yokohama. He currently offers 

online classes on LearntheSword.com. 

78 


is one of the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu 

Jitsu in the United States of America. 

Currently a Coral Belt, and promoted 

to Black Belt by Carlos Gracie Junior, 

Carlos Machado came to the USA in the 

early 1990’s with his brothers where they 

formed the RCJ Machado Jiu Jitsu Association, 

one of the strongest & growing 

BJJ organizations in the world today. 

82 


is a 7th degree black belt, the founder of 

the L.I. Ninjutsu Centers, one of the largest 

Ninjutsu schools on the planet, the 

author of 4 books, and an entrepreneur 

with one of the first online coaching companies 

(TakingItToTheNextLevel.com). 

84 


is President of Karate International of 

Durham, Inc., a member of the American 

Martial Arts Association Sport Karate 

League and Hall of Fame, and has been 

a member of the Duke University PE Staff 

for over 25 years. He is the author of Zen 

Mind-Body Mindfulness Meditation and 

Zen Mind-Body Mindfulness Meditation for 

Martial Arts. 

86 


is an Intuitive Business Coach, awardwinning 

professional speaker, and TV 

personality who has counseled and 

trained over a million people throughout 

her career. Lee is Stephen Oliver’s 

Martial Arts Wealth Mastery’s Millionaire 

Smarts Coach and is also a best-selling 

author of educational resources. 

90 


is the CEO and General Manager of the 

Budo International Publishing Company, 

a leading publisher in the martial arts 

with over 35 years in the industry. He 

is also author of several books: The 

Immaterial Dimension, The Way of the 

Warrior, and The Spirit. He currently lives 

in Valencia, Spain. 

92 

Professor Willie “The BAM” Johnson 

is a 7th degree black belt and seven-time 

sport karate and Kung-Fu world champion. 

He has appeared in four movies, 

16 plays, and 11 television shows. He is 

also the national spokesperson for the 

Stronger than Drugs Foundation and the 

Champions Against Drugs. 



94 


is a 9th degree black belt and is a martial 

arts educator with a master’s degree in 

education. He has been instrumental 

in developing two industry-changing 

programs, and has directed and been 

featured in hundreds of martial arts videos 

and webinars. 

96 


is a martial artist specializing in Karate, 

Kung Fu, Kenpo, Shoto-kan, and Gojurue, 

with 40 Super Kick Karate locations, 

and founder of AFKA. World champion 

Lawrence also runs the Black Belt Success 

Systems consulting firm, training 

martial arts instructors on proper business 

practices in schools all over the country. 

98 


the American Samurai, is a 9th Dan black 

belt, a USA Karate Federation gold medalist, 

winner of five Super Grand National 

Titles, a featured actor in the movie Sidekicks, 

and is the founder of the National 

Sport Karate Museum. 

102 


is a 9th degree black belt and a former 

PKA Fighter of the year. He is widely 

considered one of the top experts in martial 

arts business with over 40 years of 

leadership and innovation, having been 

inducted into almost every Hall of Fame 

in the industry. He is one of the largest 

multi-school owners in the world. 

104 


is known as “America’s Leading Personal 

Safety Expert” and has appeared on 

Good Morning America, The CBS Morning 

Show, The Colbert Report, Montel, 

plus in mainstream publications such as 

Family Circle, Redbook, Fortune Magazine, 

and The Wall Street Journal. 

106 

Ms. Chris Lee 

is a martial arts business development 

consultant with a background in online 

and social media marketing. 

100 


is a 9th degree black belt and is the 

President of a multimillion-dollar, multischool 

organization, has a 30-year track 

record of success, and is currently on the 

leading edge of martial arts curriculum 

and business innovation. 

We’re Seeking Contributors! 

Do you have something to share? 

We’d love to hear about it! 

CONTACT US: 

407-895-1996 Editor@MartialArtsWorldNews.com 

MartialArtsWorldNews.com/Ureport 


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MASTER THE BASICS 

Developing Focus 

by Master Tina Bane 

As you’re reading this, if you’re watching your class go through drills while listening to 

the radio and getting an update on how classes are going from an instructor, you’re 

experiencing what it’s like for most kids when they try to pay attention in class at all times. 

Children are very easily distracted, which is a leading concern 

in their academic careers because their minds often drift when 

they’re learning new material that may be difficult to grasp right 

away. This is also a major concern for parents, who are expecting 

big things from their students in school. Focus keeps kids out 

of trouble and helps them learn new skills, so how can you bring 

more focus into the classroom so that you can use that as a selling 

point for your school? Here are some industry-leading tips for 

getting students to dial in and focus on what will benefit them—not 

only in after school martial arts, but in all aspects of their lives. 

Identify Students’ “Focus Fence” 

A “focus fence” is a barrier that a student cannot 

pass. It’s the point where they stop paying attention. 

This is slightly different for everyone. However, to 

best help your students develop their focus and 

attentiveness, you must identify where their focus 

fence is. You can do this by having one of your 

instructors or student volunteers lead the class 

while you observe. Pay attention to students 

who fidget, start talking, or begin looking 

around the room when instruction is 

given. Make note of each student’s 

threshold, because you’re going 

to need that information to 

help them develop better 

focus. 

Push Students 

Beyond Their Limits 

The only way to improve 

your flexibility is to stretch your 

muscles beyond their normal threshold. 

Each time you stretch the muscle 

a little farther you gain a bit more flexibility. The same is true of 

focus and concentration. If you have a student who can only focus 

for five minutes at a time, have them try staying focused for seven 

minutes. Work in small increments to bring your students along. 

The more you push their limits, the greater capacity they’ll have for 

concentration. 

Use Your Emergency Release Valve 

Just like with physical exercise, when you’re helping your 

students develop their focus, you’ve got to take breaks at the 

appropriate time. Pushing too far will have the opposite impact of 

what you’re looking for. Your students will feel overwhelmed or 

their minds will wander even more. You want to push just beyond 

their limits, and then give them a break before you push them too 

far. The key to building their focus is to know the right time to stop 

pushing. 

Follow these three simple tips and you’ll see your students’ 

focus improve. This will have long-term benefits to your program 

since they’ll be able to focus longer on the martial arts, therefore 

increasing your retention! 

MASTER TINA BANE is a 6th degree master instructor and owner of a Top Ten martial arts school 

with successful after school and summer camp programs. 


Photograph (right) by Liubomyr Vorona

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS 

Chuck Norris: Still Kicking Butt at 83 

in Two New Blockbusters 

In a world where action heroes come and go, one man continues 

to defy the odds and deliver adrenaline-pumping performances 

well into his eighth decade. That’s right, folks, none other than 

the legendary Chuck Norris is back in action, not in one, but two 

new movies set to hit screens soon. Buckle up and get ready for a 

double dose of Norris-powered excitement! 

First up on the roster is “Agent Recon,” a thrilling military action/ 

sci-fi extravaganza that promises to leave audiences 

on the edge of their seats. Joining forces 

with sci-fi icon Marc Singer and the talented 

Derek Ting, Chuck Norris leads the charge as 

Alastair, the commander of a covert Earth security 

task force. But this isn’t your run-of-the-mill 

mission. When a mysterious energy disturbance 

threatens humanity’s very existence, Norris 

and his team must face off against unstoppable 

hordes and unearth the truth behind a hostile 

alien fortress. With heart-pounding action 

sequences, cutting-edge visual effects, and a 

plot that’s as gripping as it is electrifying, “Agent 

Recon” is poised to be a blockbuster hit. 

But wait, the excitement doesn’t stop 

there! Prepare yourselves for “Zombie Plane,” 

an action-comedy like no other, where Chuck Norris teams 

up with none other than Vanilla Ice to save the world from an 

undead apocalypse. In this rollicking adventure, secret government 

agencies recruit celebrities as undercover agents, thrusting 

Norris and Ice into a battle for humanity’s survival. Directed 

by Lav Bodnaruk and Michael Mier, and featuring Australian 

star Sophie Monk alongside our dynamic duo, “Zombie Plane” 

promises a wild ride from start to finish. 

What’s truly remarkable about these projects 

isn’t just the star power involved, but the fact 

that Chuck Norris, at 83 years young, continues 

to showcase his unparalleled fighting skills and 

magnetic screen presence. From his iconic 

roundhouse kicks to his trademark wit, Norris 

proves that age is just a number when it comes 

to delivering top-notch entertainment. 

So mark your calendars and get ready to witness 

the return of a true action legend. Whether 

he’s battling alien invaders or duking it out with 

the undead, Chuck Norris shows no signs of 

slowing down. After all, when Chuck Norris is on 

the screen, excellence isn’t just a word – it’s a 

way of life. 



Martial Arts Celebrity Birthdays 

May 5. ............................. Jim Kelly* 

May 12. ......................... Jerry Trimble 

May 12. ........................... Mike Bugg 

June 17 ..........................Scott Adkins 

June 17 ........................... Sho Kosugi 

June 20. ......................Benny Urquidez 

May 21. ...........................Dave Kovar 

May 25. ............................ Cung Lee 

*Deceased 



Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Warrior 

of Box Office Success 

In the ever changing world of cinema, where trends flicker 

and fade faster than a lightning-fast punch, one franchise 

stands tall as an ever present tale of triumph: Kung Fu Panda. 

Since its humble beginnings in 2008, the franchise has captivated 

audiences worldwide and also delivered a knockout 

blow at the box office, solidifying its place as an animated 

masterpiece! 

The story of the Kung Fu Panda has resonated deeply 

with viewers from the very first installment. “Kung Fu Panda” 

kicked off the saga with a resounding roar, garnering a staggering 

$632 million in lifetime gross. DreamWorks Animation 

introduced us to a world where martial arts met heartfelt 

storytelling, proving that even the most unlikely hero can rise 

to greatness. 

Following the success of the original, the franchise continued 

to rise to great heights with each subsequent release. 

“Kung Fu Panda 2” and “Kung Fu Panda 3” further established 

the franchise’s status as the Dragon Warrior of the box office, 

amassing impressive lifetime grosses of $665 and $521 

million, respectively. Audiences have grown in love with Po’s 

enthusiasm, coupled with the blend of humor, action, heartfelt 

moments, all while sharing deep martial arts philosophy. 

However, it has been the most recent release of “Kung Fu 

Panda 4” that has truly showcased the enduring power of the 

beloved series. Despite a change in distribution from Dream- 

Works to Universal Pictures, the film came out in theaters on 

March 8, 2024, with a formidable opening of $57,989,905. Po’s 

journey, now under a new studio, proved that the spirit of Kung 

Fu Panda transcends boundaries, continuing to inspire and 

delight audiences of all ages. 

Smart school operators around the country and the 

world leverage popular Martial Arts movie releases, like 

this, to help them get exposure for their schools, and attract 

more new students. From setting up a ‘booth’ at the 

theater, to doing ‘demos’, with the right strategies, these 

types of releases can be a massive opportunity to grow 

your school. 

With each installment, the franchise reminds us that, 

no matter the odds, the power to achieve greatness lies 

within each of us, waiting to be unleashed like the Kung Fu 

Panda’s Skadoosh. In the first month alone, Kung Fu Panda 

4 has already approached $100 million which nears the 

franchise to a staggering $2 billion, making it The Dragon 

Warrior of Box Office! 


INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS 

Revolutionize Your Martial Arts School 

Marketing with MA Biz Academy 

Are you tired of marketing tools and promotional strategies that 

fall short of making a real impact on your enrollment numbers? 

Look no further than the MA Biz Academy – your ultimate resource 

for innovative and proven martial arts promotional resources. 

The MA Biz Academy Will: 

• Stop Prospects In Their Tracks: Student-attracting promotions 

are designed to captivate and compel prospects to take 

notice and action. 

• Build Your Enrollment Every Month: A comprehensive collection 

of timely, seasonal, and evergreen promotions will draw 

new prospects and build loyalty with your current students. 

• Instant Access to Hundreds of Adult-Focused Campaigns: 

Whether it’s martial arts or fitness, you’ll be covered. The completely 

done-for-you promotions are tailored to attract adults 

to your classes, making your school the go-to destination in 

your community. 

• Engaging Kid-Friendly Campaigns: The kids’ promotions are 

designed to motivate and drive a flood of new prospects to 

your school and keep current children students in your program 

ready for more. 

• Variety of Fresh Tools Available: From videos to posters, flyers 

to Facebook posts, every tool imaginable to attract more students 

to your program. With new ads and promotions added 

regularly, you’ll always have access to fresh and attractive 

marketing proven to work. 

Why settle for mediocre marketing, when you can Increase Your 

Enrollment and Transform Your School? Visit MABizAcademy.com 

to learn more on taking the first step towards a brighter future for 

your martial arts school. 

MA BIZ ACADEMY 


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MARTIAL ARTS 

BUSINESS 

DISCUSSION GROUP 

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Unlock Your Martial Arts School’s Full 

Potential with Kovar Systems 

Are you a martial arts school owner striving for excellence in 

every aspect of your operation? Look no further than Kovar 

Systems. With a proven track record of empowering school operators 

worldwide, we are dedicated to elevating your success 

in three key areas: Student Acquisition, Student 

Retention, and Staff Development. 

The Kovar Systems staff understands the challenges 

of running a martial arts school. They offer 

integrity-based coaching and a wealth of community 

resources tailored to your needs. Founded by 

Dave Kovar, known as the “Teacher of Teachers,” 

the organization brings over 1000 resources to the 

table, ensuring martial arts school owners have the 

tools necessary to thrive. 

Dave Kovar’s unparalleled 

expertise, backed by an 8thdegree 

Black Belt and mastery 

in 10 martial art styles, forms 

the cornerstone of their mission. 

With a team of dedicated 

professionals headquartered in 

California, Kovar Systems is committed to giving back to the martial 

arts community by empowering school owners like you. 

Here’s how Kovar Systems helps school owners: 

Get More Students: With proven strategies for student 

acquisition to expand your reach and attract new 

members to your school. 

Train Your Staff: Elevate your team’s skills and effectiveness 

with comprehensive staff development 

programs designed by industry experts. 

Increase Your Profit: Maximize your revenue 

potential and achieve unprecedented levels of success 

with unique business solutions. 

The Kovar Systems can keep your 

students training longer, grow your 

active student count, and build a 

world-class team to navigate any 

challenge that comes your way. 

Visit KovarSystems.com today 

and unlock the full potential of 

your dojo. 

Black Belt Principles Will Elevate Your 

Martial Arts School 

If you’re committed to nurturing your students’ mental growth 

and character development, but need some direction, Black Belt 

Principles could be what you’re looking for. Black Belt Principles 

delivers martial arts training for children that is more just kicks and 

punches – it’s about instilling crucial life lessons that resonate with 

both parents and students alike. 

Why Character Development Matters: 

Most parents enroll their 

children in martial arts with 

the belief that they will 

gain essential qualities like 

Self-Discipline, Perseverance, 

Respect, Focus, and 

Confidence. However, only 

participating in physical training 

may not bring the desired results. To 

genuinely meet parents expectations 

and ensure great enrollment 

and retention, it’s essential to provide good instruction on the 

aforementioned topics. 

Get A Real Solution: 

With Black Belt Principles you get a systematic approach 

to character education, ensuring that every student receives 

consistent and impactful lessons. By supplementing your physical 

training with clear and resonating instruction on 

character development, you not only meet 

parents expectations but also show 

your commitment to your students’ 

holistic growth. 

With Black Belt Principles you 

could take your school to new 

heights. Visit 

BlackBeltPrinciples.com to learn 

more about starting a journey of 

comprehensive martial arts instruction 

to transform lives, one lesson at a time. 

Helping Young Minds Grow Stronger - Through The Power Of Martial Arts & Character Education! © 


We teach Character through Karate 

Kickstart Kids is an award winning in-school 

character development program that uses 

karate to teach life-changing values to middle 

school and high school students. The non-profit 

organization was founded in 1990 by martial 

artist, actor, and philanthropist Chuck Norris. 

For employment opportunities or to find out 

how you can help support this great cause, visit 

kickstartkids.org 

KickStartKids.org


Grandmaster McCarthy Gives a TEDx Talk 

Martial Arts World News Magazine columnist and AMSkids 

program developer Grandmaster Tim McCarthy was recently 

honored to present a TEDx Talk in the David Brinkley Studio 

at Barry University in Miami, Florida. For those of you who are unfamiliar 

with TED Talks, TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, 

and Design, and the short, powerful talks are recorded by the nonprofit 

organization with the goal of sharing the ideas presented. 

Aside from the annual main event, there are local events called 

TEDx that are organized and presented all across the globe. The 

TEDx YouTube site has over 39 million subscribers. 

The theme of the Barry University event was “Re-imagining Our 

Realities: What’s Next?” and speakers presented a range of topics 

from personal stories of overcoming seemingly unimaginable 

obstacles to surprising uses of AI to mindfulness. Grandmaster Mc- 

Carthy spoke on Re-Imagining Parenting in 4 Dimensions based 

on many of his contributions to the MA Biz Academy and AMSkids 

programs. For those of you who use those programs, playing this 

talk or at least offering the link to the talk to prospective parents 

may add credibility during your sales presentations. The talk has 

not been posted on the TEDx YouTube channel as of this printing, 

but keep an eye out for it in the very near future. 

The TEDx “idea worth sharing” is that we human beings experience 

the world in 4 Dimensions: The Physical, Mental, Emotional, 

and Spiritual, and that good parenting should include all four 

dimensions. This concept should be familiar to martial artists as 

our classes tend to develop children in all four dimensions. Grandmaster 

McCarthy explained that each dimension has building 

blocks and processes, and that children reach certain milestones 

in development at different ages in each dimension. Parents and 

teachers need to understand the capabilities and limitations of 

children at each age in order to effectively reach the child at his or 

her own level. 

In the 12 minute talk he addressed each dimension separately, 

and gave examples of how children progress at each age. Of 

course, this presentation presents only the tip of the iceberg of 

such a vast and important subject, and parents and teachers need 

much more information to implement it effectively. Fortunately, 

in his book Raising 4 Dimensional Children in a 2 Dimensional 

World, Grandmaster McCarthy presents not only the details of the 

theory but the practical application with over 400 age-appropriate 

activities to use with the kids. For the martial arts instructor, this 

book provides a crash course in education and child developmental 

psychology, so that instructors and even teenage staff 

members know which drills and activities are appropriate for Tiny 

Tigers, children’s classes, teen classes, and adult classes. These 

activities are especially useful for those martial arts schools using 

an after school program or martial arts summer camp, but many 

more activities and promotional materials are available in the 

AMSkids program. 

If you have an idea worth sharing and would like to give your 

own TEDx talk, check out the TEDx Event page for upcoming 

events in your area and apply to the organizers. We martial artists 

have a lot of valuable ideas to share and TED is an outstanding 

platform to share them. 


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SOCIAL 411 

Mastering The Digital Side: Social Media 

Basics for Martial Arts School Owners 

In the complex world of social media, where Facebook, Twitter, 

YouTube, and Instagram clash like martial artists in combat, many 

martial arts school owners find themselves lost. You may be confused 

by what platforms to use and how to master them in order to 

grow your school. If Bruce Lee were living today, he might say, “I’ve 

heard it said in the scrolls of SEO that “your disciples dwell within 

the realms of social media, thus you must traverse them.” But such 

words are but whispers in the wind.” 

Of course, delving into Social Media can be like facing many 

opponents with each one demanding true focus from you. Merely 

dabbling in these platforms without genuine commitment many 

times leads to more harm than good. Your students and potential 

students are on a variety of these platforms, seeking guidance 

and opportunity. Again Bruce Lee might say, “They do not seek 

the noise of the masses, but the true essence of what works.” 

You have to ask yourself, “Do I possess the wisdom to impart, 

the insights to share, on a regular basis?” The answer is surely 

a resounding, “Yes!” You can present techniques by video to 

capture attention and promote new special trial offers to attract 

prospects. Simple posts to inform your market of special events 

keeps them coming back for more because they want to stay on 

top of things. 

Simple things can turn a strength into a weakness: 

You can’t have an incomplete or outdated profile, with few 

posts from long ago because it will tarnish the professionalism you 

seek to present and many school owners have fallen into this pit. 

Instead you must craft your profiles with care like your skills as 

a martial artist seeking mastery. Present the weight of your legacy 

with powerful highlighted descriptions that distinguish you and 

lots of images that tell an intriguing story. Make yourself accessible 

through the platform because you are the doorway that visitors 

have found engaging initially through an impactful profile. 

Utilize Facebook to share ideas and your story to the marketplace 

that is seeking guidance. Make Instagram the platform if you 

are more inclined to a picturesque outreach. When videos are the 

weapon of choice to slay the market Youtube and TikTok is the 

way to go. 

As with ANY media, telling your story ‘yourself’ is great, but 

having raving fans of your programs tell THEIR experiences is even 

better. Lots of testimonials, great success stories, emotional graduations, 

and breakthroughs your students make can be the most 

powerful messages you can deliver! 

The thing about any of these platforms is that they have their 

own rules and are nuanced, which is no different than your martial 

art which required attention to detail to master. Again, Bruce Lee 

would suggest that martial arts is about “expressing yourself 

genuinely”, so let your presence in the digital realm be a reflection 

of your true essence. 

In the end, remember this: Social Media, like any martial art, is a 

discipline to be honed with patience and precision. Mastery is not 

found in haste, but in a continual steady progress. 

24 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 3

Our Goal is to Help Young Minds 

GROW Stronger and EMPOWER 

them through Stories that will: 

• Inspire Their Imagination 

• Develop Their Moral Compass 

• Set Positive Examples Both Visually and Verbally 

• Prepare Them for Life’s Challenges 

Sarah B. Tucker, Author of 

The Adventures of Harry & Friends 

Book Series 

AdventuresOfHarryAndFriends.com

SOCIAL 411 

3 Proven to Work Follow Up Tactics 

Effective marketing that produces new student enrollments 

for your martial arts school most certainly requires strategy 

and attention to detail. A key component in the process of 

converting prospects into becoming full-time students 

is a robust, multi media follow up system.. To best take 

advantage of every opportunity you need to 

know when and what to send to convert leads 

in a variety of situations. 

With the previous thoughts in mind here 

are 3 Follow Up Tactics that are historically 

proven to bring the results you need 

to have continuous martial arts school 

growth. (Since each of these techniques 

can have multiple layers, just the idea of the 

technique is presented.) 

FREE Trial – this comes in the form of an 

invitation to give your prospects an offer to get 

a sample or test out your martial arts classes at no cost. The purpose 

of this tactic is to give the lead an experience that will move 

them into becoming a new student long term. 

Event Invitation - Host frequent events in your school, and in 

the community that you can then invite the people in your lead 

funnel to attend. Things like Free Child ID Kit events, Parents’ 

night out events, and free child safety events 

are tried and true staples you might consider. 

Giveaway Entry – this strategy utilizes a 

contest for a chance at a prize in exchange 

for placing contacts in a pool of entries. By 

opening the door through being entered 

into the contest, the lead subscribes to continued 

communication about the contest as 

well as your exciting martial arts classes. 

Many of the schools we work with 

use ATLAS Martial Arts Software to both 

generate, and automate these lead follow up 

tactics. They provide the content, and the system you 

can use to nurture and convert more leads to new students. 

Check out AtlasMartialArtsSoftware.com for more information. 

Google Grapples To Chokeout 

Spam and Poor Content 

Google has announced significant changes to its search 

algorithm and spam policies aimed at improving the quality of 

search results. These changes include: 

1. Improved Quality Ranking: Algorithmic enhancements will 

prioritize the most helpful information while reducing unoriginal 

content in search results. 

2. New Spam Policies: Updates target various forms of spam, 

including expired websites repurposed 

for spam, obituary spam, 

and other low-quality content. 

3. Reducing Low-Quality 

Content: Continuation of efforts 

to reduce unhelpful, unoriginal 

content by refining core ranking 

systems. The goal is to favor highquality 

sites and provide a better 

user experience. 

4. Combatting Content 

Abuse: Strengthened policies target scaled content creation 

methods, site reputation abuse, and the misuse of 

expired domains to manipulate search rankings. 

These changes aim to enhance the overall search experience 

by directing more traffic to helpful and reputable websites, reducing 

the prevalence of low-quality content and spam. 

What this means for Martial Arts School Owners: 

Improved Quality Ranking: When potential students search 

for martial arts classes or related content, your school’s website, 

if your content is authentic, helps visitors answer their questions, 

follows good SEO practices, and is more likely to appear 

prominently in search results. 

New Spam Policies: Other schools or sites using inauthentic 

content, keyword stuffing, or other inappropriate 

content strategies will be 

penalized, lifting your SERP results. 

Reducing Low-Quality Content: 

When individuals search for martial 

arts resources or guidance, they’ll find 

valuable information from reputable 

sources which should be your school. 

Combatting Content Abuse: 

When people search for martial 

arts instruction or information, 

they’re directed to authentic and reliable sources such as your 

school’s website. 

In essence, these updates are designed to elevate the visibility 

and credibility which will be of huge benefit to your martial 

arts schools. If you follow the guidelines, your’re sure to Attract 

More Students. 


Photograph by Barriography

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SPECIAL FEATURE 

AFKA Martial Arts Retreat: July 20-21 

The American Freestyle Kaizen Association is founded on a commitment to nurturing 

both the mind and body, drawing from over 50 years of experience with countless 

students. Martial arts are seen as instrumental in positively transforming lives, fostering 

focus, awareness, self-esteem, and confidence. Beyond these personal benefits, 

improved physical fitness, coordination, and quick reflexes are also emphasized. The 

aim is to impart these skills and techniques to students, demystifying traditional martial 

arts and aligning them with American principles of freedom. Central to this philosophy 

is the importance of giving one’s best effort, even in the face of setbacks, as it leads 

to personal growth and achievement. 

Grand Master Lawrence Arthur introduced the 

“American Freestyle Kaizen System” in 1976, drawing 

from nearly a decade of martial arts experience and a diverse 

background including Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, 

Karate, and others. This system, different from traditional 

martial arts, blends techniques from various disciplines for 

continual growth and improvement. Master Arthur’s 

exploration of full-contact karate and 

kickboxing led to the refinement of effective 

techniques over years of competition. 

The system has produced 

numerous world champions in different 

martial arts categories. Black 

Belt instructors are committed to 

excellence, guided by Master 

Arthur’s philosophy and training 

methods. American Freestyle 

adapts to new environments, 

technology, and situations, 

ensuring it remains at the forefront 

of martial arts instruction. 

In today’s society, laws and law enforcement 

agencies primarily ensure people’s safety, reducing 

the immediate need for martial arts combat skills. 

Many perceive traditional martial arts techniques as 

overly aggressive for personal protection. However, 

American Freestyle Kaizen (AFKA) has adapted to 

focus on defensive arts, emphasizing self-protection, 

physical agility, and mental awareness. 

AFKA programs have evolved, including 

specialized training for preschoolers, 

which has been linked to improved 

academic performance. Beyond 

self-defense, AFKA is seen as a 

goal-setting and self-improvement 

program, fostering mental 

strength alongside combat 

skills. Recognizing the unique 

blend of physical and mental 

training, AFKA defines itself as 

a martial art that deve ops both 

aspects in its practitioners. 



Dear Martial Arts Enthusiasts, 

Mark your calendars for a weekend of excitement, learning, and 

camaraderie at the American Freestyle Kaizen Association Martial 

Arts Retreat! Taking place on July 19-21, 2024, at the Lynchburg 

Grand Hotel, this event is set to be a pinnacle gathering in our 

martial arts community. 

Courses That Transform: 

• Prepare to elevate your skills with a diverse range of courses 

led by renowned instructors: David Overstreet. 

• Karambit Knife Fighting with Master Clifton Abercrombie 

from Warrior Defense Lab. 

• “Jo” Soft” Firearm Training with Frankie McRae of Combat 

University RaidonTactics.com. 

• Katana Sword Principles with Master Tyler Palmer from Excel- 

MartialArtsRoanoke.com. 

• Special Forces Combatives Training with Sean O’Doud 

from Raidontactics.com. 

• Brazilian Jujitsu Fighting for Escape with Jamie Ridgeway of 

Renaissance Martial Arts Ramarts.com. 

“Jedi” Training for Fun and Self-Defense with Master 

Paul Lapointe from EmpowersMartialArts.com. 

On Friday, July 19, don’t miss the opportunity to attend the 

Special Instructor and CIT Only Training on “How to Teach So 

Your Students Never Quit” by Grand Master Lawrence Arthur. 

Gain valuable insights into fostering resilience and commitment in 

your students. 

Exciting Events: 

Witness the AFKA Tournament of Champions on Friday, July 19, 

at 6:00 PM (Separate Registration Required). Be part of the Special 

Entertainment and Awards Banquet on Saturday, July 20, at 6:00 

PM, featuring instructor certifications, exciting demonstrations, and 

guest speakers. 

SWAG and Training Equipment Included: 

Participants will receive a special tactical backpack, 

training karambit, practice jo, souvenir T-shirt, and other 

exciting bonuses 


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EARTH—Remain grounded in your thinking and footing to repel attempts to distract or deceive you 

WATER—Shift, angle and move fluidly to tactically confuse attackers and put them off balance 

FIRE—See where a situation is going as it develops and intercept it at the critical moment 

WIND—Stay light on your feet and move nimbly to evade and escape attempts to pin you down 

VOID—Control a fight's direction by changing dynamics to confuse your attacker 

“Ninja Fighting Techniques” explains how the five elements can 

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The Martial Arts Wealth Mastery 

Team Visits Norfolk Naval Base 

In the dynamic landscape of martial arts business mastery, there exists a select group 

of visionary school owners who are relentlessly committed to pushing the boundaries 

of excellence and leadership. Recently, this esteemed cohort gathered in Norfolk/ 

Virginia Beach for an exclusive behind-the-scenes leadership event hosted by the 

industry icon, Stephen Oliver and his esteemed team at Martial Arts Wealth Mastery. 

This four-day extravaganza was far more than just a gathering; it 

was an immersive experience that left attendees transformed and 

inspired. A highlight of the event was undoubtedly the exclusive 

behind-the-scenes tour of Naval Station Norfolk, the crown jewel 

of the U.S. Navy’s operational capabilities. As the largest naval 

base in the world, Naval Station Norfolk offers a glimpse into the 

intricacies of naval operations on a scale unrivaled by any other. 

Attendees were privileged to explore the inner workings of a U.S. 

Navy Air Wing and gain unprecedented access to the USS Gerald 

Ford, the newest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the U.S. 

Fleet. Led by active duty Naval officers and retired Captain Hung 

Cao, attendees were given unique insights into the rigorous training 

requirements, operational processes, and strategic considerations 

that underpin naval operations. The evening prior, members 

were treated to an intimate behind-the-scenes look at Captain 

Hung Cao’s U.S. Senate bid, providing a fascinating glimpse into 

the intersection of military service and political leadership. 

This event marked the latest chapter in Martial Arts Wealth 

Mastery’s ongoing commitment to excellence and leadership 

Navy Combat Veteran, Captain Ret. Hung Cao, Senate Candidate from Virginia, 

Leads the Wealth Mastery Team on an In Depth Private Tour of the U.S.S. Gerald Ford 

Leadership Expert, Best Selling Author, Robert Pizzinni Delivered a Powerful 

Presentation that Will Raise the Level of Excellence in Each Organization 

development. Past gatherings have taken place at prestigious 

locations such as the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the 

U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, as well as iconic destinations 

like Disney World and Disneyland. Each 

location serves as a benchmark for the 

highest standards of excellence, inspiring 

attendees to elevate their leadership skills 

and drive their businesses to new heights 

of success. 

Throughout the event, attendees were 

treated to intensive training sessions led 

by some of the most respected figures in 

the martial arts community. Sr. Master Greg 

Moody, Grand Master Jeff Smith, and Millionaire 

Smarts Coach Lee Milteer shared 

their wealth of knowledge and expertise, 

providing attendees with practical strategies 

and actionable insights to enhance 

their businesses. Special guests, including 

Tracy Thomas of GotoKarate and leadership 

expert Bob Pizzini, added additional 



depth and perspective to the proceedings. 

Highlights of the event included sessions 

on leadership inspired by the U.S. Navy’s 

training requirements for pilots and technicians, 

led by Bob Pizzini. Greg Moody shared 

his expertise on anti-bullying techniques, 

drawing from his Ph.D. studies on the 

subject. Grand Master Jeff Smith imparted 

invaluable insights on student development 

and instructor training, showcasing his 

championship-winning approach to martial 

arts excellence. 

In addition to the intensive training sessions, attendees had the 

opportunity to participate in a special session at the local IFly facility. 

Led by Stephen Oliver and Lee Milteer, participants engaged in 

staff development exercises and success skill workshops, gaining 

practical insights into running a multimillion-dollar operation. As an 

added bonus, participants had the chance to experience the thrill 

Visit now to subscribe to the 

“Mile High Maverick” Newsletter, FREE. 

MartialArtsWealth.com 

of “flying” in the wind tunnel, simulating the sensation of free fall 

skydiving. 

For those seeking implementation takeaways and additional insights 

from key members of the Martial Arts Wealth Mastery team, 

be sure to check out YouTube.com/StephenOliverMA. There, you’ll 

find a wealth of resources and inspiration to propel your martial 

arts business to new heights of success and prosperity. 

Grandmaster Oliver’s All Star Lineup of Super Successful Facilitators includes 

Chief Master Greg Moody 

Human Potential Expert Lee Milteer Leads an Executive Session For Elite Owners 

Targeting Multi 7 Figure Revenues 

Captian Cao, a Jeff Smith Black Belt, Awarded His 5th Dan 

Behind the Scenes of the Senate Campaign for Capt. Cao. 


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TANG SOO DO LEGEND 

MASTER DANIEL 

SEGARRA 

INTRODUCES 

BUDO 

THE KARATE MOUSE 

Tang Soo Do royalty; Master Daniel R. Segarra shares deep insights on the 

art of teaching and introduces Budo the Mouse and the Quest for Courage, 

a tale blending martial arts wisdom with timeless life lessons. Drawing 

from his Karate & Tang Soo Do background and teaching experience at the 

esteemed Warrior Scholar Academy since 1968, Segarra crafts a narrative 

resonating across ages. Inspired by his own martial arts journey, the story 

follows Budo, a forest mouse navigating a martial arts school, 

embracing courage and self-discovery.

COVER STORY 

Master Dan Segarra Introduces: 

Budo the Mouse and the 

Quest for Courage 

MAWN: The martial arts industry is a really fragmented niche. 

Unfortunately, some of those fragments have relatively solid walls 

between them. For example, what is common and well known in 

the Americanized karate community might be totally foreign and 

unknown to traditional Korean Taekwondo schools. 

You’ve been a key figure in the Tang Soo Do community for 

many decades, so, for those who may not know you well, share 

with us your background, and how your lifelong passion for the 

martial arts got started. 

DS: I started martial arts about 8 years old out in the South 

Ozone Park Boys Club. I was the only kid in the program which 

was Taekwondo Mudokan originally. I would sit at the top of the 

staircase, in the dark hallway, waiting for the instructor to open 

the class. He’d come walking up and he would see it was just me, 

and his shoulders would drop. I was the only kid and there’s no 

one else in the classroom. I was religious with it, but the instructor 

eventually ended up just dropping the program. 

My first exposure to martial arts was in a spiderman comic 

book. Where I saw the learn Karate, Kung Fu, Ju Jitsu ad. I was 

motivated because I was bullied, so I wanted to learn Karate or 

Kung Fu. This was typical back then, and there were really no martial 

arts schools in my area at that time. I replied to the ad and got 

the books in the mail. At that time, I was 8 years old (1972) and my 

mother worked for the post office. I asked her to bring home an extra 

mail sack. I sewed up one they threw out and used it as a heavy 

bag. I’d repeatedly look in the mirror to see if my muscles got any 

bigger after punching a few times (LOL). Then I officially started a 

few months later at the South Ozone Park boys club. I was the only 

kid in the program which was actually Tae Kwon Do Muduk Kwan. 

I would sit at the top of the staircase in the dark hallway waiting for 

the instructor to open up class. He’d come walking up and see I 

Students at Warrior Scholar Martial Arts learn far more than just kicking and punching. 

Master Segarra is not only a fantastic Martial Artist, but a MASTER teacher. 

was the only one and his shoulders would drop because there was 

no one else in the class. But he taught me. I was religious with it, 

but the instructor eventually ended up just dropping the program. 

A few years later, I started training with Master Daniel Bannard at 

the Five Towns Karate Center which is now known as the Warrior 

Scholar Martial Arts Academy. So, in 1979 I started my journey in 

Tang Soo Do at the age of 15 and now it is my studio. Master Bannard 

inspired me and I never missed a class. I had perfect attendance 

for five years straight. 

In 1979 at the age of 15, I went to the Five Towns Karate Center, 

which is now my studio, the Scholar Martial Arts Academy. So I 

started there at age 15, never missed a class, and had perfect attendance 

for five years. I actually trained so hard that I put myself 

in the hospital, which really annoyed me because I thought that I 

was going to miss class and mess up my perfect attendance record. 

But everybody in the class came to see me, so there was no 

class that night. So I kept my perfect attendance record. 

Then I saw an issue of Black Belt magazine with Master H.C. 

Hwang and Grandmaster Hwang Kee on the cover. Our school had 

lost contact with them during all the conflicts within the organization 

in Korea. Our school was originally opened up by a gentleman 

named Robert Soon who trained over in Korea as an MP. He was 

an American who opened the studio in 1968. It’s the oldest continuously 

running Tang Soo Do Studio in the United States, if not 

the world. We’ve been at that location since then up to the present. 

He passed the school on to Michael Maisly, who passed it on to 

Daniel Bannard and myself. 

So after I saw this Black Belt magazine article, I reconnected 

with Master H.C. Hwang and Grandmaster Hwang Kee. Then I 

got very involved in the US Tang Soo Do federation, before they 

changed to Soo Bahk Do. I assisted Grandmaster Hwang Kee with 


COVER STORY 

every one of his publications except volume one, because that 

was before my time. I was a professional artist, so I did the graphics 

for the foot patterns and lessons for the forms. Then I got on 

the Board of directors for a couple of years which was probably the 

beginning of the end for me with the organization. Sometimes it is 

best not to meet your heroes and not get a look behind the curtain. 

Once I got a good look at the politics, it just didn’t resonate with 

me. So I went my own way because it just wasn’t in alignment with 

what I felt I had learned originally from Grandmaster Hwang Kee. 

I was very fortunate because my studio was right near JFK airport 

and every time Grandmaster Hwang Kee came into the United 

States, he had to come through JFK. I would get a phone call, go 

meet him at the airport, and got to see him quite often. I personally 

started the translation of his philosophy book called the Moo Do 

Chul Hahk. That was when I was in Korea, in 1989 and 1995 when 

I was on the USA demo team. I picked up his philosophy book, 

which was only in Korean, but my Korean was at a lower conversational 

level without great depth. So I hired a translator. Between he 

and I we collaborated over the course of about a year and edited 

as he helped me with the language and I helped him with the 

martial arts terms. Unfortunately, Grandmaster Hwang Kee passed 

before it was finished. So I gave it to Master H.C. Hwang as a gift. 

10 years later they published it because there was a lot of information 

in it that everybody had to get caught up on. Shortly after that I 

left the federation and went independent. I trained on my own and 

Budo the Mouse is a new, innovative teaching tool, school owners everywhere 

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missed my brothers and sisters. Before, I thought that organization 

was my whole world, but then I saw that there were a lot of other 

disenfranchised Tang Soo Do people that followed their own path. 

It was nice to see that kind of community. So I built up a community 

online with the Town Center 2.0 on Facebook and the group has 

about 5000 members now. 

Like most in the industry, the federation didn’t want to get 

on the Internet when it first came out. So I had to go to a board 

meeting at the JFK Ramada and put out one of the first martial arts 

websites in the world because I’ve always been into technology. I 

believed there was a lot of potential in it and that was back when 

you couldn’t have a website. You could do it through AOL and 

CompuServe where you just had a page. Before that I had an ASCII 

bulletin board called the Warrior Scholar for posting information. 

I dragged the federation kicking and screaming into this new 

thing called the Internet. The only way they would get involved 

with it was if I paid for it, sponsored it, ran it, and so I did that for 

years. I hosted them on my Warrior Scholar site, and eventually 

they saw the light and agreed to have websites. Now other folks 

are running it, which is good, but they were reluctant to get into it 

like many martial artists who are hesitant to use technology. Then 

it becomes a thing where you have to catch up. 

Of course, once I left the organization, I saw there was a bigger 

Tang Soo Do world out there. I got to meet many other Tang Soo 

Do people. Recently I was promoted to 9th dan by Grandmaster 

Andy Ahpo. Which was a complete surprise and honor to me. I 

may have received it for my contributions over the years or because 

I’ve been around so long. Currently I’m just connecting with 

other Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, and other Martial Arts brothers. 

I have always trained with other people because I’ve never felt 

that you had to just stay in your lane. I’ve trained with Sifu Larry 

Hartsell, who was one of Bruce Lee’s original students. Tom Patire, 

who’s awesome and one of the world’s leading self-defense 

experts, and he’s one of the Martial Arts World News Magazine 

contributors. I’ve trained with Russian, Chinese, Japanese martial 

artists when I felt they had something to offer because I’ve always 

loved being a student. 

MAWN: So you started in 77 with Tang Soo Do and then inherited 

the school. Tell us a little bit about that transition from martial 

arts student, to instructor, and to school owner. What was that like? 

DS: The previous owner, Master Masley, was going to shut 

the school down. I was a professional artist at the time, fresh out 

of school, freelancing. When he told me the school was closing, 

I said, “There’s just no way. What do we have to do?” So Master 

Bannard and I put some money together and we bought him out. 

We inherited debt and no students because at that point he let 

it run down. So I had to build it up from that point, and I did. We 

were doing well for quite a while, but then hurricane Sandy hit 

many years later. We had a triple digit membership and it went 

down to single digits because the hurricane destroyed so much in 

our area. So, I had to rebuild and rise from the ashes from a huge 

financial hit. We did, and then COVID hit. 

My studio was in ground zero in the United States for COVID, 

New York City. The studio is in Long Island on the Far Rockaway 

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COVER STORY 

Traditional values meet innovation at Master Segarra’s school. 

continued from page 41 

border which was the worst hit area in the United States with the 

virus. I lost students and parents of students. It was insane. Again, 

we went from triple digits to single digits and it was a rebuild 

again. Because they shut down New York State physically for five 

months, we could not operate since we were not allowed to even 

step foot in the studio without receiving a $10,000 fine. After that 

there was seven months of social distancing, cleaning your floors 

and the whole studio with disinfectant in between classes. Nobody 

wanted to join during those seven months. For a full year we had 

no membership. I had to remortgage my house, my savings was 

completely wiped out, but we rose from the ashes again. Now 

we’re back to triple digits. 

MAWN: Did you do anything special while you had no 

membership? 

DS: The interesting thing is because of that, I decided to fix the 

studio up and do it the way I always wanted to do it. I wanted to 

make my dream studio, so I started sketching out a plan to make 

it the best student experience. I love the old Disney, and it was my 

dream to be a Disney animator when I was a kid. I love the attention 

to detail that they have even when you go into the bathrooms 

and you see a silhouette of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The little 

things they sprinkle around that they don’t necessarily point out, 

and when you see it you feel like you found an Easter egg. So that 

was my plan. 

So I repainted my studio and reconfigured everything. Some 

people might not agree with me on this, but instead of flags what I 

did was I put three large televisions in the studio and I put the flags 

on the television. So we do our opening ceremonies just like we’ve 

always done in the traditional martial arts. But now, throughout the 

class I can use those televisions as multi-media displays for anything 

I want. I have the pledge at the end of class, student of the 

month, and self-defense situations on the television. We even have 

some games on a parents night out that we put on the television 

so the kids can interact in that way. 

The bathrooms have a plastic man and woman silhouette, typical 

plaque for a bathroom. I took a sharpie and drew a black belt 

on them and it looks like they were made that way. You go into my 

bathrooms, and the mirrors have lettering that says, “Future Master” 

when they see themselves in the mirror. When you walk into 

my studio, there’s a life-size stand of me and my daughter smiling 

because when people come in, they don’t know what to expect 

and it can be intimidating. It’s a nice first impression because we’re 

both smiling. We also have sensors that will play when you walk 

in saying, “Welcome to the Warrior Scholar Martial Arts Academy. 

Please proceed up the stairs for some awesome martial art 

classes.” There’s also an air freshener that’s automatic, so they’re 

smelling something nice. On our stairs there’s a painting on each 

step that says things like; discipline, respect, etc. So they’re seeing 

the things that we teach and encourage. So there’s a little bit of a 

journey before you even get into the studio to enhance the experience, 

make it memorable, and enjoyable. 

I remember hearing how Walt Disney would have his elves come 

out every night after the park closed to repair every little tiny thing. 

That impressed me because it showed an attention to detail and 

masterfulness. We’re supposed to be Masters, but we’re not demonstrating 

that sometimes in our environment. Yet, we’re teaching 

children discipline and organization, we have got to reflect that too. 

MAWN: What you’re sharing is a really valuable lesson for school 

owners. You have to focus on those little details because they matter 

a lot. Now can you share a little bit about Budo the Mouse as an 

program augmentation that any school can use with kids? 

DS: The concept started around 1985 or 86 after I finished 

teaching my kids class in the studio and went to my office to eat a 

sandwich. Quite a bit of it was nibbled away. I thought, “I’ve got a 

mouse in the studio. What should I do?” The next day, while I was 

teaching the kids’ class I heard a little scratching noise through the 

ceiling going right towards my sandwich. So I ran into my office 

and sure enough, I saw him right on my desk. I said to him, “Don’t 

even think about it.” The mouse took off. So,now I want to catch 

this mouse because I don’t want to kill it. 

A few day later he came out during the kids class. He found 

his way into the studio and I was freaking out because if the kids 

see it, it’ll be game over. So now, I start telling the kids, “Keep your 

eyes straight. Anybody who does not look straight, you’re doing 

a million push-ups!” So now they’re all training with their eyes 

straight forward and the mouse is running in and out of their feet. 

So, I walked around with my foot trying to just nudge it along to get 

it off the floor. Finally, it got off the floor and fell into a garbage pail 


COVER STORY 

that had a swinging lid. I took him outside and I let him go, but he 

started trying to come back up the stairs again. Finally, I got him 

out of the studio and it was over. 

MAWN: That’s a hilarious story! Do you retell it? 

DS: Yes. I would tell the kids the story because it was funny 

how they didn’t even know the mouse was running around in the 

studio. We started calling it Mudo Mouse because we do Korean 

martial arts and it’s the Korean pronunciation of budo. Then years 

later, with decades of teaching experience with kids, I wanted to 

write a book. I wanted the main character to be small, not strong, 

and could learn valuable lessons from the martial arts. So I started 

playing with the idea and obviously the mouse popped into my 

head immediately and I began crafting the story. I used my teaching 

experience, but I wanted to incorporate lessons in it like Stranger 

Danger, bullying, and discipline. Another idea is that the mouse 

has trouble tying his belt because that’s a common experience. 

I went to look for a publisher, but it would cost a fortune. Many 

want you to pay upfront to get your book published that they’re 

going to make money from. So I figured I’ll try the route of self-publishing 

first and get the proof of concept going. Of course, I’m thinking 

it’s a great idea, but you never know. So I put the book together 

and started showing it around to people and they absolutely loved 

it. Then AI started to become a thing, Chat GPT, Midjourney, and 

DALL E. So I started using AI to make a slideshow of the book to 

show the potential of it as an animated character. I got a bunch of 

copies published and did a book signing at my studio which was 

hugely successful. Our local paper even came a couple of times. 

MAWN: How do you connect it to your class lessons? 

DS: I designed it where I read the book or show the slideshow 

of chapter one. The kids watch it, get very excited and engaged 

because the mouse is wandering around, like a kid, outside not 

paying attention to what’s going on. Then suddenly a snake comes 

along and starts talking to him, but you can tell he’s got an ulterior 

motive. The mouse has a gut feeling that the situation isn’t good 

and tries to slowly, graciously, and politely get out of the situation. 

Then the snake attacks him, but he gets away and he finds his way 

into a martial arts school, like the mouse I had in real life. He watches 

the class and then he sees a girl that got distracted. She gets 

tossed by the boy who’s the bully, and the mouse is fascinated by 

this. So he stays in the studio, watches the classes, and copies the 

movements. Then as the girl is cleaning the studio, she peeks in 

the mouse hole and sees him practicing the moves. So she leaves 

him a little food, the mouse comes out, and they become friends. 

They practice together and the story takes off from there. 

So the kids will see chapter one where he finds the school. 

Then we do a Q&A where we ask, “What do you think the mouse 

did wrong? Should he have been walking around by himself, in a 

forest like that?” Of course, by using the Socratic method of teaching, 

we’re drawing the answers from them. Then we ask, “What did 

he do that was good?” They’ll say something like, “He ran away.” 

We reply, “Excellent. Where did he go? Did he run into the street or 

did he run to a safe place?” They respond, “He ran to a safe place.” 

We ask, “Do you think it’s a good idea that he starts taking martial 

arts?” This question is a plug for all martial arts schools. The idea 

behind this is to get into the public school system with this. We 

have scheduled a bunch of school talks and book readings from 

this. It’s a great way to get into the schools because it’s such a nice 

story. I’m building a whole Budoverse around this character that 

will have a whole bunch of supplemental supportive materials that 

can be given to school owners and school teachers. 

So the kids watch the video, do the Q&A, and then we go to 

chapter two. We have another Q&A and then an interactive video 

game, when I learned to do during COVID. I learned to make some 

of these videos where the kids watch the video and are reacting to 

what they’re seeing on their TVs. We have a little animated Budo 

escape video. So the kids get up, they’re moving and they’re exercising. 

That’s basically the kind of format that we follow. 

We also teach them the seven master stances. This is something 

that school owners might like. Even Jhoon Rhee had some 

similar things where he would say and repeat postures. It starts off 

where they stand at attention saying, “I’m focused and ready to 

learn. I show respect. I get respect.” Then Jube or Japanese Yame 

saying “I’m confident ready for any challenge.” Then they step 

back and say, “I don’t want to fight, but if I have to protect myself.” 

We do all seven of these every class because I want the parents 

to hear. You cannot expect people just to learn through osmosis. 

Parents leave your program because they don’t see the value 

in it. When you are constantly hitting them with the value during 

class and you’re reminding them constantly they stick around. For 

example, instead of saying, “Johnny, bend your knees more ‘’ and 

then “That’s better” and walk away. There’s an opportunity to say, 

“Johnny, Bend your knees more because that shows good discipline 

and that discipline is going to help you become” whatever 

Johnny told you he wants to. So when parents hear those kinds of 

things, it reminds them of the value of what you’re offering? What 

we’re offering is really valuable and that puts an exclamation point 

on the value for the parents. 

So basically we follow that format and then we’re teaching them 

martial art techniques. In chapter two the mouse is in the school 

watching a class, so we can now kind of run a little mini class. 

When instructors teach, they do an intro or a group intro and that’s 

not the time to make sure they’re perfect. If you get all old school 

on them it turns people off and that’s a missed opportunity. Whereas, 

if you get the concepts across, have fun, and show the value 


COVER STORY 

then when they become a student you can start tightening up on 

those details. You know hitting them with all that detail right in the 

beginning just turns people off when you act like a drill Sergeant. 

In the old days, I had a shinai (bamboo sword) and I’d walk 

around with it. The kids would hide it and I couldn’t find it. So 

then I went and bought a box of them and then another would go 

missing. Then one day I’d find them; one under the mat, one in the 

closet, and so on. I was old school with the kids back then, but now 

they’re motivated because of their respect for me and who I am to 

them, not because I’m walking around with a stick, banging it on 

the floor and scaring them. Motivation from the inside rather than 

from the outside, will keep them in for the long haul. I think that’s a 

key thing. The storytelling, like with the mouse, is great because it 

speaks their language and in an indirect way get’s the point across. 

MAWN: 100% right. So you have a book, a slideshow, and use 

this as a mechanism to penetrate elementary schools which are a 

great fit there. So how do these pieces work together? 

DS: We’ve had great success getting into local schools, all you 

have to do is hand it to a teacher. Then ask, “Would you like me to 

come to school and talk to your students on how to focus better 

and be disciplined, read from the book and do an interactive class 

with them?” In the book, for example, We teach how to meditate, 

You should see every student that 

walks in the door of your building as 

your next potential best black belt and 

your next potential best instructor. 

the calm palm, and what lessons did you learn from Budo’s adventure? 

Parents and teachers can see this in the book and go over 

ideas to help the students get the point of the lessons and explain 

what martial arts are all about. 

Basically, the calm palm is done by holding your hand out and 

taking an index finger of the other hand to trace up and down 

each of the fingers on the open hand. As you trace up a finger you 

breathe in and hold. As you go down you breathe out and hold. 

Then at the end you close your hand and say to yourself, “I got 

this.” I teach this to kid students in more detail. 

So here’s a proof of concept story. One of my Jewish students 

came to me the day after that horrendous attack in Israel. He said to 

me, “Sir, we had a lockdown drill in Yeshiva.” I said, “Wow, what happened?” 

He says, “I was really scared.” I’m thinking to myself, “This 7 

year old boy is going to talk about the horrific acts that took place.” 

They had a lockdown drill because they were afraid that someone 

was going to come and potentially do harm. So he said when the 

lockdown drill happened, he did the calm palm and it really calmed 

him down. I got choked up because it hit me how something that 

was such a simple thing helped this kid in a moment of fear. 

Here’s something else that I think instructors are going to like. I 

call it the four W’s. By holding up your first three fingers make a W. 

Using the proper finger order is important: First one is wisdom. You 

use your wisdom. Then fold your ring finger down. We use our wisdom 

to avoid trouble and come up with clever ways to get out of 

trouble. The next W is the use of our words. Then fold the middle 

finger down. Now we use our words, which means sometimes we 

have to talk confidently, make a joke, or be empathetic. For the 

index finger, the W is we walk away so you know we walk away, 

run away, and escape. Then you fold the finger down. Now what 

you have left is a fist which is the 4th W, warrior. You better know 

how to use this better than the other person, because if not, you’re 

in trouble. So when I show that to people and parents, they’re like, 

“Yes”. It is laid out in a way to show that violence is the last option. 

So when a teacher reads this, the instructor can follow up with 

the teacher and set up a date to come in. Some schools allow 

you to give promotional material, others don’t. So you have to be 

subtle. What I do is give out bookmarks with our school website 

on it which is perfect for this. We have blank bookmarks with the 

mouse that you can add your school address on and so forth. It’s 

great for assemblies and simple book readings in public schools. 

It’s an excellent way to get into the schools because sometimes 

there’s the barrier related to martial arts. They’re 

thinking, “We don’t want kids kicking and punching 

each other”, but with this they can see a clear 

beneficial intent. 

MAWN: This overcomes all the objections. It’s 

a cute little character. It’s nonviolent. It’s pretty 

clever. What about internal to the martial arts 

school? How are you using this? 

DS: The kids love this concept and it’s fun. One 

of the things we do every month is I have these 

little stickers of a mouse hole with the little mouse 

peeking out. I stick them around to school and 

there are maybe five of them and the kids have to 

find them, but I move them around every month. When they find 

them, I give them a coloring page to color and then bring back to 

the studio to take a picture of it. Then we post it on our website. 

You know, instructors often have the kids sitting and meditating, 

right? And maybe you get one kid peeking around with an 

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COVER STORY 

Budo the Mouse is a great tool for student engagement, and community outreach. 

say, “Remember the girl in the story. She did that and was that 

good for her? No. She got distracted later on, right? So you want 

to keep your eyes closed like the mouse did, right?” So you can 

do callbacks like this. I love when my kids excitedly come to me 

saying I’m up to chapter 4 or 5. Now the big thing is, when will the 

next one come out? So the next one is going to be in the latter half 

of this year, but there’s already a sequel in the works with activity 

books. The activity books are complementary to this and they’re 

consumables. They’re all social emotional learning oriented things 

done in a way where it doesn’t hit the kid over the head. 

For example, we have a thing called the Mind Garden where you 

know it’s a picture they color with different things. My mind is a garden. 

My thoughts are like seeds. I can plant flowers or I can plant 

My mind is a garden. My 

thoughts are like seeds. I 

can plant flowers or I can 

plant weeds. 

weeds. So what would be a positive thought? And they 

would write a positive point about the flower in the garden. 

What would be a weed, a negative thought? But 

you’re in control of your own mind garden. So there’s 

things like that in the activity book, like word 

searches and crossword puzzles too. Parents 

want their kids to learn words. There’s some 

games, crafts, etc. I plan on making various 

activity books, so there’s unlimited potential. 

There’s a lot of potential for School owners: 

give away and sell activity books, not just 

the books, get into public schools, and even 

do parent night outs. 

Little things are of great value to this 

program. In the interactive games, since there’s a snake character 

in it, we use a green belt and make it look like a snake. Stickers 

are another small thing, but for a kid that gets a sticker and it can 

make their day. One of the silly little things we did is take a yellow 

sponge and cut it into small squares. It’s used as cheese, and we’ll 

hide 20 pieces around the school and have the kids go find them. 

The kids run around like an Easter Egg Hunt in which they get a 

point for everyone they find. They love things like that. With the 

book and activity books, there is so much potential for parents 

night out. The kids are asking me right after the end of the one, 

when the next one is going to be. 

MAWN: So as school owner, basically you start with the book 

to use it in class as a teaching device. You’ve also got slides and 

things like that to augment the presentation. What about the retail 

opportunity? Can the books be sold? Can you take our readers 

through all the different ways this can also be monetized? 

DS: I don’t make a lot of money with books, but I use the 

book as a way to attract prospects into the school and to keep 

my current students happier. I use it in my studio to enhance our 

program to reach out and to show that we’re about more than just 

punching and kicking. Also to provide a fun experience for the 

kids in the school. 

I’m launching an instructors program and they will be able to 

get the book at a substantial discount. There will be merch and 

stuff like that which I’m working on figuring out how to get instructors 

a discount on that as well. 

MAWN: You’ve always been an early adopter of technology, 

and leverage it for innovation. What are some of your 

additional ideas about how to use technology in the martial 

arts school? 

DS: I Love technology and was into Virtual Reality 

before anyone even really knew what Virtual 

Reality was. I have headsets from the 80s that 

looked like a spaghetti strainer with wires sticking 

out of it in my closet. Virtual reality came out years 

ago, but it didn’t take off because everyone was 

concerned about changing their helmets. 

Facebook, now Meta, had bought out a 

company that was really bringing it back and they 

came out with the Meta Quest 1, Meta Quest 2, 

and now the Meta Quest 3, which is phenomenal. 

They invited me to be a beta tester on a software to 

build worlds. So I literally built the first virtual martial 

art dojang in the Metaverse. I built 1 to 1 scale so 

you can put a VR headset on and walk into my 

school. You can walk around, hit the bags 

which interact. There’s a meditation section 

which guides you through meditation. The 

graphics aren’t fantastic yet because the 

technology is catching up, but it’s getting 

there. 

So this is another thing for my students. 

They can get in there and then 

someone on the other side of the world 

can hold pads while they’re punching. 


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COVER STORY 

Again, martial artists are slow to jump on this, but their students 

are getting on it. I’ve seen some great things like sensors on bags 

and pretty cool augmented reality where an instructor is right in 

front of you and you follow along. One of the Tae Kwon Do organizations 

came out with that and I think that’s a 

great use of technology. 

Another example of embracing technology 

is my work with the NYPD. You can have 

a kid do role-playing related to stranger 

danger where you can put the headset 

on and actually have a character 

interacting with them. Then you can 

see how they respond and adjust 

how comfortable and uncomfortable 

it is. I mean this technology 

is really amazing. You can put on 

a headset and now you’re outside. 

Instead of taking a whole class outside, with 

the headset you out there in an alleyway and working 

on that. Then you take it off and you can drill in class. 

Then when they look at stickers 

with a smartphone, the mouse 

will pop up and talk to them. 

Another thing is augmented reality. This where you would use 

your camera or augmented smart glasses, headset glasses, or 

tablet and you would look at objects and an animated thing would 

pop up or video would play. If you’re looking at a magazine, the 

picture of the person will start talking to you. This technology is 

going to really kick off this year and go into next year. There’s lots 

of potential. 

One of the things we’re 

doing is something I call 

the Master’s Wheel for our 

Dan level progression system. 

Basically it’s 12 monthly 

values. So for example, the 

first one is peace. In that 

month, week one they learn 

how to do a simple meditation. 

They practice it 5 minutes 

a day and their parents sign off 

on it. Then week two, we teach 

them the calm palm. They 

have to practice it every day 

and the parents sign off on it. 

Week three they have to time themselves how long they can stand 

on one foot, both the right foot and the left foot to understand 

balance. We talk about why it’s important to balance your life. So 

they write down how long they can do it and see at the end of the 

week with practice they can do it longer. They go through four 

weeks of these kinds of things and then they put them in a sticker 

book with the masters wheel. Then when they look at stickers with 

a smartphone, the mouse will pop up and talk to them. If it’s about 

meditation, it’ll guide them through meditation. Or it can be a 3D 

model the kids can play with. It’s a collectible, and it’s a progression 

system. 

So basically they 

can have a sticker 

book or upgrade to the 

Masters wheel plaque 

to hang on the wall. 

Then at the end every 

month after they’re 

done playing with it or 

they want to take the 

tokens back out, which 

pop in, and then they 

work their way around 

the plaque. The whole 

plaque augments into 

a super cool animation. 

So it solves the 

problem of a progressive 

system. It is a call 

back to the values and 

reinforcement of what 

we’re teaching. 

I have Budo the 

mouse posters around 

the school. When 

you go up to it with 

your smartphone 

camera, the mouse 

comes out and 

waves. In addi- 

Scan the QR Code above, then point your phone 

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COVER STORY 

tion, I have QR codes on all my photos. There’s a picture of me 

and Chuck Norris and when you look at the QR code you’ll see a 

bunch of Chuck Norris fight scenes from YouTube. There’s also 

one with Cynthia Rothrock which shows her doing some amazing 

fight scenes. Huang Jiang Lee, one of my instructors, who played 

the evil Master in Drunken Master fighting Jackie Chan. So we also 

have these QR codes which take things a step further. 

This stuff can be used for scavenger hunts and different kinds of 

adventures. Augmented reality is really cool and we’re kicking that 

AI will turn you from a one man 

show to a one man army. 

off this year. We have the website, the Warriors Wheel and if people 

go to thewarriorswheel.com and input their email, they’ll get on my 

mailing list and I will also give them a gift of a PDF I put together - 

How to use AI course which has a ton of useful ideas in it. 

AI will turn you from a one man show to a one man army. Your 

productivity will skyrocket with AI. When you think you wrote 

something good, run it through AI and watch how much better 

it comes out. I had a picture of a kid that lost her tooth. I took a 

picture with her like this and then I wrote a cute caption. Then I 

ran it through AI. Wow, it was captioned and then hashtagged, 

The Toothless Warrior - it was hilarious. It got so many more views 

than what I initially wrote. One other thing I use AI for which is mind 

blowing is I took my book 

and I said, “OK, AI read this. 

Now AI, you are Budo the 

mouse. You are the character. 

Respond to me as Budo from 

this point on.” I have conversations 

with my character. 

It comes to life now and it’s 

hilarious. I’ll say, “Hey Budo, 

what’s your favorite cheese?” 

“Oh, I like Gouda.” He’ll go on 

a whole rant about cheese 

and then ask, “What’s your 

favorite cheese?” “I like mozzarella.” 

“Oh. Mozzarella is 

good. It’s a little hard to get 

over here in Japan.” 

So AI is definitely a productivity 

multiplier, it’s not a 

crutch, it’s an enhancement 

to your creativity. The Sky’s 

the limit with proper use. I 

can’t keep up with how many 

different ways I can apply it. 

MAWN: Great. So people 

can visit thewarriorswheel.com or budothemouse.com, right? Can 

they order the books yet? 

DS: Yes, if you go to budothemouse.com, you can order the 

books. We’re launching the instructor program. If you are a school 

owner you can contact me through my email and you can reach 

out to me. I’m working out the discounts. The idea is to show 

people how to use it to make students happier, get your programs 

outside your school, and things like that. That’s where the 

value skyrockets you know with this program and the book. 

MAWN: Fantastic! Is there any other advice you would like 

to share? 

DS: My advice to everybody, especially if you’re independent, 

get a mentor. Grow your network. It’s so important that you deal 

with people that know what you don’t know. So I know what I don’t 

know and I go to people that know more so I can learn from them. 

And also one of the uses of AI is it can enhance what you do. 

One of the technologies that I’m using on my website is a video of 

me popping up. It’s a transparent video. I come out and welcome 

you to the website. Then I have a chat bot. You type your name 

into the chat bot and it asks you some questions. Then it sends out 

a video of me introducing myself and the school, thanking the visitor 

for their information, etc. The video is animated and personalized 

for the recipient. Then of course, the next day we’re on the 

phone following up with that person. That kind of stuff is really cool 

because you’re sending them a personal message and everyone 

loves to hear their name. 

My advice to everybody, 

especially if you’re 

independent, get a mentor. 

Finally, years ago, people were using Disney as a negative 

description with the expression Disney Dojo. It could be that if all 

you’re doing when kids come in is playing around and they’re not 

getting any value and then they’re not coming back. But I’m teaching 

generations. I have kids of the kids that I taught coming back to 

me with their kids. Which means they got value. I look at a Disney 

Dojo as a place that’s got their act together. That constantly has 

their compass pointing in the right direction. This kind of school 

gives value to the students, teaches with quality, and is always 

looking to improve their game. 

The smart entrepreneur or the smart school owner in our case 

embraces what works. Like Bruce Lee said, “Absorb what is useful, 

reject what is useless” and that’s some great business advice 

from the man. 

Visit 

thewarriorswheel.com and budothemouse.com 


We provide integrity-based coaching and 

community resources to busy martial arts 

school owners that save you time and 

grow your business. 

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SCHOOL PROFILE 

Hwarang Warrior Martial Arts 

Academy: Nurturing Excellence 

Through Diversity 

Hwarang Warrior Martial Arts Academy has been quietly forging a legacy of skill, 

discipline, and community in Mt. Olive, North Carolina since 1992. Under the guidance 

of Grandmaster Lyndon Johnson, the academy has become a staple in the areas of 

martial arts expertise, offering a diverse range of disciplines to children and adults alike. 

With a curriculum that includes Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do, 

Hapkido, Jujitsu, Kempo, FCS Kali, Filipino Combatives, and Kali-Silat, 

the Hwarang Warrior Martial Arts Academy has remained true 

to its mission of offering a comprehensive martial arts education. 

The academy’s 1200 square-foot facility may sound like it is modest 

in size, but the impact of what comes from within its four walls 

has far surpassed those “physical 

boundaries”. 

Grandmaster Johnson, the 

founder and head master of the 

academy, is a leader who brings 

decades of dedication and 

achievement to and in the industry. 

A former World Kickboxing 

Champion, his journey through 

martial arts began at the age 

of 12. Under his instruction, the 

academy has flourished into an 

institution that develops champions 

and cultivates values beyond 

the martial arts school walls. 

The academy’s holistic approach 

extends to its goal of not 

only promoting excellence in 

martial arts but also emphasizing 

character development. Through 

rigorous training, students learn 

the virtues of discipline, respect, 

and perseverance that extend to 

their everyday lives. 

Over the years, the Hwarang 

Warrior Martial Arts Academy has 

had its fair share of successes 

and breakthroughs. Grandmaster 

Lyndon Johnson takes pride in 

the fact that the academy has created 

a program that allows students to continually learn and grow 

over the last 15 years. This legacy is now being passed down as 

former students bring their children to learn from the same source 

of instruction and inspiration that they initially received. 

From a marketing standpoint, the academy’s approach focuses 

on accessibility and engagement. The website provides easy-tofind 

contact links for trial classes, 

good SEO, and a comprehensive 

Google My Business profile. Additionally, 

the academy’s loyalty and 

dedication to its students extends 

to creative incentives that motivate 

them to invite friends to join their 

black belt journey. 

As Grandmaster Johnson looks 

toward the future, his vision includes 

mastering the art of grant applications 

and expanding the academy’s 

influence by acquiring a second 

location upon his retirement from 

his other profession in the next five 

years. With a heart dedicated to 

both martial arts and community, 

his aspirations promise to leave a 

lasting impact. 

The Hwarang Warrior Martial 

Arts Academy has had a profound 

influence in the community through 

martial arts training that develops 

character and discipline in his 

students. With Grandmaster Lyndon 

Johnson’s expertise at its core, the 

academy will continue to shine as a 

place of growth, empowerment, and 

learning in North Carolina from years 

to come. 


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Missing 

Every Month 

Everything You’ll Ever Need to 

Market Your Martial Arts School! 

MaBizAcademy.com 

MA BIZ ACADEMY

SCHOOL PROFILE 

A Holistic Approach to Martial 

Arts Mastery with Kokoro- 

Bushi-Do Kempo Karate 

In the metro Atlanta area is a martial arts school that has been quietly transforming 

lives since 2003. Soke Dr. Benson Campbell is the esteemed leader of Kokoro-Bushi- 

Do Kempo Karate, affectionately known as KBD Kempo Karate-Holistic, which offers a 

unique and profound journey into the world of martial arts. 

At its core, KBD Kempo Karate-Holistic is more than just a 

school; it provides a holistic approach to self-development, 

self-protection, health, and wellness. This art emphasizes 

what Soke Dr. Campbell refers to as “The Divine 

Process” — a technique that harmonizes the emotional, 

mental, and physical aspects of an individual. The process 

strives to maintain an intricate balance to empower 

students to face real-life challenges with confidence, 

fortitude, and grace. 

With programs for both children and adults, 

KBD Kempo Karate-Holistic welcomes 

seekers of all ages to walk the transformative 

path presented through martial 

arts training. The essence of this art 

lies in its commitment to nurturing 

the emotional well-being, mental 

acuity, and physical prowess of its 

practitioners. The result is not just 

skilled martial artists, but resilient 

individuals who can navigate adverse 

challenges that life often brings with poise. 

Within the spacious training facility, around 

25 students gather per class, ensuring an 

intimate and enriching learning experience. 

Each session is meticulously structured, 

emphasizing holistic growth and fostering a 

sense of strong community. The success of 

KBD Kempo Karate-Holistic can be attributed 

to Soke Dr. Campbell’s accomplished 

martial arts background, coupled with his 

unwavering dedication to the spiritual and 

emotional growth of his students. 

Reflecting on the journey, Soke Dr. 

Benson Campbell suggests that the 

school’s greatest triumph has been igniting 

a passion for consistency, self-discipline, 

and perseverance among a generation that often grapples 

with these qualities. This accomplishment stands as a testament 

to the school’s effectiveness in imparting the values of 

martial arts beyond the physical techniques. 

In promoting the school, KBD Kempo Karate-Holistic 

makes use of texting, email updates, as well as a strong 

presence on social media platforms. The school regularly 

engages the community and extends its reach through 

varied promotions. This commitment to outreach 

has not only sustained the school 

but has also aided in the post-pandemic 

recovery, gradually restoring its 

active student count to over 70. 

In thinking of the future, 

the vision for KBD Kempo 

Karate-Holistic is expansive. 

Soke Dr. Campbell aims 

to connect with a broader 

cross-section of humanity, 

inviting them to experience the 

profound benefits of holistic martial arts. 

The goal is to emphasize and promote a 

consistent participation and to allocate 

more resources to enhance the overall 

experience for all of his present and 

would-be students. 

In a world often dominated by 

external challenges, Kokoro-Bushi-Do 

Kempo Karate offers an internal sanctuary 

where the emotional, mental, 

and physical are harmonized. 

Through the uniqueness of “The 

Spiritual Process,” Soke Dr. Benson 

Campbell’s legacy shines as an illuminating 

path to holistic well-being 

and martial arts mastery. 


Action Martial Arts Mega 2025 

Jan. 24,25,26 2025 

ActionMA4@gmail.com 

Worlds Largest M.A. Event

TEAMWORK 

Green Side Up 

by Hanshi Dave Kovar 

I was visiting one of our martial arts academies a while ago and during my visit, the 

school manager (a great, hard working, ethical guy) was explaining to me how he 

was working on this incredibly sophisticated formula to track students’ progress and 

attendance. 

He felt like he was onto something, but there were a lot of moving 

parts and it would be some time before he had it all figured 

out. “Too complicated,” I thought. 

It reminded me of a story I once heard about a famous landscape 

architect. He was a master at what he did. He traveled the 

world creating amazing gardens and landscapes 

for prestigious locations. It is said that on days 

when he felt particularly challenged, he would 

pull out a piece of paper from his pocket, look 

at it, nod, fold it up and get to work creating 

another masterpiece. People were astounded 

by the brilliant designs that would seem to 

come out of nowhere after he studied that tiny 

piece of paper. 

Eventually this master designer died. His 

colleagues approached his widow and asked 

her for that mysterious piece of paper, 

which they were convinced contained 

the secret formula to his 

success. After much to-do, she 

allowed them one glance at the 

old slip of paper. As they gathered 

around, they unfolded 

the paper and looked at the 

writing, convinced that whatever 

was written on it would 

be the key to their success. It 

simply said, “When laying sod, 

always put the green side up.” 

I love this story because it 

reminds me that so often we 

manage to over-complicate our lives, our careers, our relationships. 

For example: In my field, martial arts school operators tend 

to get easily sidetracked by the latest trend or the newest ad, and 

in the process they sometimes forget that in order to have continued 

success, they must stick to just a few basic concepts. 

1. Be the cleanest school in town. 

2. Be the friendliest place in town. 

3. Always try your best to teach a great class, never just a good 

one. 

4. Have excellent student/parent communication. 

5. Every day look for opportunities to promote the benefits of 

Martial Arts. 

So, the next time you find yourself in over your head and not 

sure of which way to turn, remember, “When laying sod, always put 

the green side up.” 

HANSHI DAVE KOVAR is an 8th degree black belt and recognized as the “Trainer of Trainers.” Hanshi 

Dave Kovar is an internationally acclaimed instructor with black belt degrees in ten different martial arts styles. His 

systems have been implemented in hundreds of schools around the US. 


Photograph (right) by Prostock-Studio

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AFTER SCHOOL EXCELLENCE 

Don’t Forget These Summer 

Camp Promotional Knockouts 

by Grandmaster Mike Bugg 

It’s that time of year again to start getting ready for summer camp. 

If you heed the advice that an ounce 

of prevention is worth a pound of cure, 

you’ll definitely want to take some time 

to plan out your summer camp needs 

well in advance of executing your summer 

program. Getting a head start on 

new students means you can enroll tons 

of students in your summer camp and 

bring in four times the new students, and 

eight times the revenue over a single 

summer! You may have been working 

hard all year to get the word out about 

your summer camp, but you must still finish 

strong by promoting through the start 

of camp. Let’s look at some last-minute 

things you can do to promote your camp 

and get every possible student you can 

this summer. 

Summer Camp Brochures 

Stock your school with summer camp brochures 

that you can put in your brochure racks and hand 

out to your students and staff to distribute. If you 

don’t have a summer brochure you like, ATLAS 

has expertly designed brochures to grab the attention 

of both parents and kids immediately. 

Flyers 

This is one of the few times a year that we 

recommend direct mail, because this is an 

excellent time to get new students into 

your program. Print out the flyers for your 

camp and spread the word about your 

school through local businesses and 

referrals from your students. 

Snipe Signs 

Snipe signs are like mini billboards around town to grab the 

attention of potential new students and parents. If you don’t 

already, be sure to get your snipe signs out there to promote 

your school for you. A last-minute snipe sign sighting can get 

parents into your school and enrolling their children in your 

summer camp. 

Website 

Your website should have the most up-to-date information 

about your school. When you go into summer mode, you’ve got to 

make the changes on your website so students are informed and 

register early. 

With these last-minute summer camp promotional strategies, 

you’re almost guaranteed to have new students enrolling before 

the start of camp! 

GRANDMASTER MIKE BUGG is an 8th degree black belt and the owner of a $1.52 million-peryear 

location, with one of the largest after school and summer camp programs in the country. 


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Energize yourself and your staff by training 

in this amazing Gathering of Masters from all 

over the world. 

Grand Master Clark is hosting this 

revolutionary training on the physical, mental 

and business side of martial arts. 

EARN Certifications for 

• Warrior Krav 

• Warrior Fight Club 

• Warrior Kali 

register NoW! warriorkravmaga.com/EVENTS 

or CALL MS. HARRISON 904-724-2100 1400 Millcoe Road,Jacksonville, FL

GROWTH HACKS 

“Survival of the Fittest: 

The Ultimate Guide to Preparing Martial Arts Schools 

for the Summer Business Battle!” 

by Mr. Sean Lee 

As summer approaches, martial arts schools need to be proactive 

in preparing their business to maximize opportunities and 

navigate potential challenges. Here are some key areas for martial 

arts schools to focus on: 

1. Summer Camps and Programs: Offer specialized summer 

camps or programs tailored to children and teenagers who 

have more free time during the summer break. These camps can 

include martial arts training, character development activities, and 

fun events to keep participants engaged and active. 

2. Promotions and Special Offers: Use the summer season as 

an opportunity to attract new students by offering promotions or 

special offers. This could include discounted trial memberships, 

family discounts, or referral incentives to encourage current students 

to bring friends or family members. 

3. Outdoor Classes and Events: Take advantage 

of the warmer weather by offering outdoor 

classes or events. This could include training 

sessions in local parks, beach workouts, or 

outdoor martial arts demonstrations to attract 

attention and engage with the community. 

4. Flexible Scheduling: Recognize that 

students may have different schedules during 

the summer months due to vacations and 

other activities. Offer flexible class schedules 

to accommodate varying availability, 

including morning, afternoon, and 

evening classes. 

5. Student Retention Strategies: 

Implement strategies to 

retain existing students during 

the summer months. This 

could include setting goals or 

challenges to keep students 

motivated, hosting social events or picnics for students and their 

families, or offering workshops or seminars to deepen their martial 

arts knowledge. 

6. Safety Protocols: With increased outdoor activities and 

potentially higher temperatures, prioritize safety protocols to ensure 

the well-being of students and instructors. Provide adequate 

hydration options, educate students on the importance of proper 

warm-up and stretching techniques, and monitor weather conditions 

for outdoor activities. 

7. Marketing and Promotion: Increase marketing efforts to promote 

summer programs and events. Utilize social media platforms, 

email newsletters, and targeted advertising to reach potential 

students and inform them about the benefits of martial arts training 

during the summer. 

8. Staff Training and Development: Invest in training and development 

for instructors and staff to enhance the quality of instruction 

and customer service. Provide opportunities for continuing 

education, such as workshops or seminars, to keep instructors 

motivated and engaged. 

9. Community Engagement: Build relationships with local businesses, 

community organizations, and schools to foster partnerships 

and increase visibility within the community. Participate in 

local events, sponsor youth sports teams, or collaborate on fundraising 

initiatives to demonstrate your commitment to community 

involvement. 

10. Evaluation and Planning: Take time to evaluate the success 

of your summer initiatives and gather feedback from students and 

parents. Use this information to make informed decisions for future 

summer seasons and adjust your strategies as needed. 

By preparing in advance and focusing on these key areas, 

martial arts schools can effectively leverage the opportunities of 

the summer season to grow their business and strengthen their 

connection with the community. 

SEAN LEE is the Executive Director of Sales and Marketing for hundreds of martial arts schools 

and specializes in online and social media marketing using his extensive professional experience in 

sports and martial arts marketing, contract negotiation, and investment. 


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You are part of a wonderful industry and community 

with Martial Arts World News Magazine, and now, you’ll 

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Or send your story ideas to Editor@MartialArtsWorldNews.com

NINJA BUSINESS TACTICS 

Why Ethical Leadership? 

by An-Shu Stephen Hayes 

I told my friend Jack Hoban that I am getting a lot of questions from my friends about 

our up-coming ethical leadership seminar. 

Martial arts practitioners and spiritual seekers 

alike want to know why I have chosen to make 

such a boldly different move in my presentation 

for this event. I tell my friends I am doing this because 

I have passed the 60-year mark and there 

is much I have learned in my decades of study 

that I have not taught because it just did not seem 

to be in demand yet. But now things are different. 

I can no longer wait for my seniors in their 70s and 

80s to take that initiative in teaching, and the world 

seems different now, suffering from financial, 

ethical, and health crises that have caused 

so many to question the way they live their 

lives. I feel morally compelled to do it. 

I asked Jack what he tells his friends. 

Give it to me straight, I said. Why should 

people trust us on this one, and make it 

happen to be there with us on this special 

day in March? 

Here’s what Jack wrote back: 

Some people (actually many people) 

have asked about the seminar I am giving in 

two weeks with Stephen Hayes. 

The first question is: Why? 

Answer: Because I want 

to. I have been friends 

with Stephen for 

almost 30 years. 

Our lives took 

different paths 

over that time, 

but our friendship 

remained 

strong. He 

introduced me to Hatsumi Sensei at his house and facilitated my 

first extended solo visit to Japan. He is a brilliant guy with many 

interesting experiences to share – and I want to continue to share 

them, and I want my friends to have that opportunity, as well. If 

they want to. 

Second question: What is it about? Answer: It is about ethics, 

leadership and warriorship. While not a martial arts seminar, per se, 

it will have all the elements of the sanhsin: body, mind, spirit. We 

will draw from our martial arts experiences, military experiences, 

experiences in Tibet and with the Dalai Lama, business…in other 

words, LIFE. How do you live in the REAL world as an ethical person, 

a leader and a warrior? You do not need a martial arts uniform 

(loose-fitting business casual clothing is appropriate) but this ain’t 

going to be no Anthony Robbins workshop. 

Third question: Should I go? Answer: Only you can answer that. 

But if you agree that the world needs some fierce, ethical leadership 

in this day and age, you may want to join us. Because that’s 

what Stephen and I think. 

Fourth, (and unspoken) question: You are confusing me – Is 

this some weird twisting of the Bujinkan? Answer: Bujinkan is Masaaki 

Hatsumi’s martial art. So, no, this is not Bujinkan. Have both 

Stephen Hayes’ and my perspectives of life been impacted by our 

(very different) experiences with Hatsumi Sensei? Absolutely, and 

that is part of who we are and what we will present. But this is not 

a martial arts class. This is an ethics and leadership workshop – for 

warriors willing to take the lead in their lives. 

AN-SHU STEPHEN HAYES has authored more than 20 books, worked as a body guard for the Dali 

Lama, supervised over 30 school locations worldwide, and was named “A legend; one of the 10 most influential 

living martial artists in the world” by Black Belt Magazine 


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EXTRAORDINARY MARKETING 

Manage Your Time, 

Live Your Life (Part 1) 

by Grandmaster Stephen Oliver 

In a martial arts school operation, there are two major time-management problems 

that school owners encounter for themselves: 

First: Deciding that their work day is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., then 

spending their day with a variety of time-wasting activities. The 

reality of a school is that there are lots of important activities that 

should be accomplished during non-prime time hours. 

Remember that during class hours if you are not teaching or 

personally interacting with students and parents, then you are 

misusing your time. These are typically the only hours where you 

can really communicate with your students. 

What do you do during non-class hours? 

Almost all external promotional and marketing 

activities, including: 

• Meeting with local elementary schools; 

• Meeting with local merchants to lineup 

co-promotional opportunities; 

• Exploring advertising and marketing 

opportunities; 

• Writing up marketing letters for your 

old prospects; 

• Organizing your exam list and reviewing 

attendance records of your 

students; 

• Reviewing your inactive 

student list–and making a 

plan for their reactivation; 

• Updating your computer 

system and keeping 

your stats up to date. 

The main issue is that 

you must distinguish between 

prime-time activities 

and non-prime time activities. 

All administrative duties 

should be accomplished only 

during non-prime time hours. 

Second: Failing to manage time effectively on an hour-by-hour 

basis and minute-by-minute basis. 

How do you manage your time effectively? 

1. Use an effective planning system. I prefer Franklin Planners. 

They are more expensive than some of the other systems, 

but given the value of the addition to your life, it is well worth the 

expense. 

When using the Franklin system, I really end up planning on 

a quarterly and monthly basis for many activities — more so than 

really focusing on every quarter hour. 

During the evening as long as you keep your objectives clear; it 

can be relatively easy to manage your evening hours; 

2. Use an adequate school management software system to 

keep your intro appointments and your prospects under control. 

Currently, there are several fine systems on the market. Naturally, 

I prefer the system that I designed from the ground up, Master Vision. 

However, I would be the first to admit that other systems have 

similar capabilities to allow you to organize your day effectively. 

3. Prioritize appropriately. I highly recommend that you read 

First Things First by Steven Covey, or, at least, study this chapter in 

7-Habits of Highly Effective People. 

To summarize Covey’s concepts, all activities fall into one of 

four quadrants: 

1. Urgent and Important 

2. Not Urgent and Important 

3. Urgent and Not Important 

4. Not Urgent and Not Important 

A karate school in prime-time (i.e.: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) is full of 

quadrant 1 and quadrant 3 activities. On a minute-by-minute 

basis, the evening is full of ringing telephones, constant 

questions,classes that must begin and end on time, and the constant 

parade of important and unimportant urgencies. 

GRANDMASTER STEPHEN OLIVER, is a 9th degree black belt and is the founder and CEO of 

Mile High Karate schools, and founder of the Martial Arts Wealth Mastery Program. 


Photograph (right) by Mohamad Faizal Bin Ramli

www.ElitePublications.org

PILLARS OF SUCCESS 

3 Steps to Build 

Corporate Leadership (Part 2) 

by Grandmaster Y. K. Kim 

The Power of Powerful Vision: 

If you use three eyes, you will be a visionary and be competitive. 

In fact, vision is the key to everything in life except nature. The 

clothes you wear, your house, your smart phone, your car, GPS, 

airplanes, academic schools, department stores, hospitals, roads, 

the military, cities, nations, the UN, and governments would not 

exist now without vision. Whatever we see and touch, everything 

begins with a vision from inside someone’s head. Clever thoughts, 

imagination, or mental pictures came from someone’s brain and 

became reality. Vision helps make life easier and better every day. 

Without vision, life would be miserable. That’s why we need vision 

to create a better future. 

Vision comes in many forms, not just pictures of physical objects, 

but complex concepts that a visionary develops. 

Inventor Thomas Edison had a vision of turning 

electricity into light even though he didn’t know 

exactly what a light bulb would look like. 

He saw the expression of his idea in his mind 

before he invented the light bulb, but nobody 

could see what he saw because other people 

didn’t have a third eye like an X-ray or a telescope. 

For ordinary people, seeing is believing. However, 

visionaries see through their third eye, which is 

the mental eye, so visionaries can see what other 

people can’t see, and thus they create extraordinary 

things. It is because of vision that 

we live in the most advanced society in 

history. 

Let’s look together at how vision 

impacts our lives between positive 

vision and negative vision: 

Positive vision brings a 

positive future: 

The founder of Apple, Steve 

Jobs, had positive vision. He 

wanted to combine products with philosophy and emotion. He 

wanted them to be simple, beautiful, easy to use, meaningful, and 

beneficial. Whatever he created, he wanted people to use easily 

and beneficially. His positive vision brought positive results: iPods, 

iPhones, and iPads broke records in the IT industry and changed 

the world. The 5 Pillars of True Success 261 

Apple broke another record: It had more cash in the bank than 

the U.S. federal government. Another record it broke was that it 

was the first IT company to become the biggest company in the 

world (in market value). 

Negative vision brings a negative future: 

Hacker Gary McKinnon shocked the world by hacking into U.S. 

government secret sites and many more. I am sure he is intelligent 

and courageous, and he might have been the same as Steve Jobs 

or maybe better. However, look at the results: Steve Jobs is the 

hero of the IT industry, a role model in the business world, and the 

most popular person in the U.S. and the world. Also, he personally 

enjoyed huge financial success and helped Apple stockholders 

and many employees become millionaires. 

Gary McKinnon went to jail and became public enemy number 

one. If he had a positive vision like Steve Jobs, he could have 

competed with Steve Jobs to build the number one IT company in 

the world. 

Can you become a powerful visionary? 

The root of vision is greed. Positive greed creates positive vision. 

Positive greed creates desire and makes people hungry mentally. 

This hunger triggers the mental gears to turn, enabling you to 

figure out what you need to do to get what you want through your 

imagination. It will force you to become a visionary. 

Dreams and vision go hand in hand: Focus on your positive 

dreams 100 percent -- that is the trigger for vision. When you want 

something badly enough, focus on it and ask yourself: “How? 

How? and How?” Form a vision that will give you your answer. It 

will empower you to become a visionary. 

GRANDMASTER Y. K. KIM is the most successful martial arts business leader in the US, having written 

over 30 books on martial arts, business, leadership, and success. He has won numerous public service 

awards and is the founder of the leading martial arts marketing and management company in the US. 


Photograph (right) by jacoblund

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STAFF DEVELOPMENT 

The 4 Daily Practices 

for Committed 

Martial Arts Instructors (Part 2) 

by Grandmaster Zufi Ahmed 

3. LEARN. 

Never stop learning. Remember! You started your journey first 

because you wanted to learn. It was your need and desire to learn 

the Martial Arts. 

Continue your journey, keep learning and stay being a student 

for life. 

Find individuals who can teach, guide and grow you and 

your skills. 

Find mentors, find Masters, find ways to continue and grow. If you 

are lucky enough to still have a teacher. Consider that a blessing. 

Don’t waste any opportunity to learn as much for him / her. 

Realize that when you remain as a student, you understand the 

needs and wants of your students better. 

You can relate to them better. This is called 

keeping a white belt mentality. 

Staying humble and hungry. 

Stay empathetic to their needs. 

Learning also keeps us humble. It 

shows us that we don’t know it all. It 

keeps us grounded. Many instructors 

who stop their personal growth and 

learning become obsolete, not staying 

with the current information and not 

improving skills, makes an instructor outdated. 

Especially in today’s times, when 

Martial Arts is growing and changing 

constantly. 

You, remaining a student, 

also sends a positive message 

to your students, it tells them 

that you are open minded and 

humble. It tells them that when you grow they will continue to grow. 

It shows them that there is so much more to learn. You become a 

good example and a good role model. 

4.PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH RESEARCH. 

Continue your learning and exploration outside the normal 

learning channels. Be inquisitive, be curious, remain hungry for 

new knowledge and information. 

Read. Watch, observe, discuss, Question. Explore. Travel. Invest 

in books. Online learning. 

Go to seminars. Conventions. Seek mentors. Network with 

other like minded instructors. Become a member of a mastermind 

group. 

Seek knowledge from everyone and everywhere. 

To be a great instructor one needs to have active skills. Meaning 

your ability to perform and teach what is current and not out 

of old memory and skill sets but teaching with fluid and skilled 

movements. This is only possible when you are actively practicing 

your art. 

You also need to be current on curriculum and updated drills 

and materials. Best done by showing up to class and learning from 

your instructors. 

You also need to workout with your peer group to stay current 

and to be able to troubleshoot any area that you might be having 

difficulty or are unclear about something. 

Today’s high performing instructors have to be creative and 

must be able to troubleshoot and solve problems instantly and 

creatively. This is only possible when you are up to date and constantly 

learning, researching, and growing. 

After all self improvement, Self perfection and growth is the 

ultimate objective. 

GRANDMASTER ZULFI AHMED has amassed acclaim as a world-class competitor, martial 

arts educator, and is most notably founder and designer of the internationally renowned style, Bushi Ban. 

With over 45 years of martial arts experience and over 300 martial arts awards, his schools include ten 

locations across Texas. 


Photograph (right) by PeopleImages

THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI 

The Three Rs of 

Combative Weaponry (Part 2) 

by Shihan Dana Abbott 

Retail, Retention, and Renewal 

Weaponry programs in the past were only practiced by the 

higher ranks and the focused, especially since injury was a main 

concern among school owners. 

Now, with new approaches in marketing traditional practices, 

ActionFlex has designed a turnkey weapons program, which is 

easy to set up and manage while bringing new retail profits into 

your establishment. 

Padded weaponry programs and polishing tools were not 

created yesterday. These are all tried and true methods with 

decades of results. Recognized by the Japanese Department of 

Education and Recreation, these programs are geared towards 

children, youth, and adults. What was originally created for the 

elite few decades ago are now being taught safely to the masses 

in over 20 countries. Incorporating a padded weapons program 

in your school is easier than you think. You just need 

to understand the how-tos of padded weaponry 

programs and how they can be applied to 

your school, system, and style. The following 

suggestions are all you 

need to make an informed 

decision. 

Programs and curriculums 

in your school 

Short and long sword and 

mixed weaponry programs 

provide excitement among 

young and adult martial artists. 

Students can’t get enough and 

they want more. Read and 

view as much information 

as possible. Go on the 

internet, where you will find 

hours of useful written and 

visual information, then call 

and ask questions. Brainstorm with your staff and students. Knock 

around what works best today and how to improve for tomorrow. 

Decide which programs work for your school, style, and system. 

You might elect to incorporate an upgrade program for your little 

ninjas. Or teach a sword and staff class utilizing a core program. No 

matter what avenue you use, these programs and training tools are 

jam-packed with drills and marketing information; the key to success 

is making an educated and informed decision, which costs 

nothing but your time. 

Equipment in your school 

Instructors who use full contact padded weaponry and programs 

in their schools already know the possibilities. Instead of 

using a pipe taped with rags to construct a staff or other weapon, 

which is a dangerous gamble at best, consider this: If you can put 

a man on the moon, shouldn’t you be able to have full contact 

weaponry that is safe? Correctly designed and long-lasting equipment 

is a key factor. Test them out in school with the students and 

staff. Again, ask questions and understand the how-tos of padded 

weapons and what works best in your school. 

Incorporate in your school 

Have one or all of your instructors and staff members take a 

class or intensive course on full contact padded weaponry. Have 

your leadership team or staff assist with the various sword, staff, 

stick, and mixed weaponry programs. Incorporate these programs 

in your school by introducing them slowly, but with conviction. 

Allow all of your students to practice with the weaponry in one aspect 

or another, not just the higher-ranking students or black belts. 

Easy-to-find information on classes and courses are just a click of 

the button away. Concerned about a program in your school? Talk 

to another school owner. Chances are they already have classes in 

their school that promote a great workout with no fear of injury. 

Online classes available at LearnTheSword.com, his unique 

swordsmanship academy. 

SHIHAN DANA ABBOTT Is a 7th degree black belt in Kenjutsu, starting his 14-year education in Tokyo. He has 

published five books and designed a US Patent. Abbott has also conducted seminars in over 30 countries and obtained 

his black belt at the Hombu dojo in Yokohama. He currently offers online classes on LearntheSword.com, his unique 

swordsmanship academy. 


Unlock the wisdom of over half a century of 

Martial Arts School Success! 

Tap in to the innovation and excellence of 

Grandmaster Lawrence Arthur, an extremely 

successful martial arts school owner with over 50 

years experience! Grandmaster Arthur is a martial 

artist specializing in Karate, Kung Fu, Kenpo, Shotokan, 

and Gojo Ryu, and founder of AFKA. 

Gain the insights to transform your martial arts 

school into a powerful multi-school organization. 

Grandmaster Arthur shares his invaluable experience 

and wisdom filled strategies on the next installment of 

Martial Arts Industry Innovations! 

Uncover: 

Proven Systems for Success: Gain access to battletested 

strategies that have propelled Grandmaster 

Arthur to the forefront of the martial arts industry. 

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triumphs, and the pitfalls to avoid along the way. 

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MASTERING MODERN BJJ 

The Nature of Jiu Jitsu (Part 1) 

by Master Carlos Machado 

Jiu jitsu is an art, a science, a lifestyle, a way of life! It forges strong and lasting 

relationships, it holds us steady during the challenges of daily discomfort 

in order to attain higher knowledge and experience. 

It is altruistic in its essence, since sharing 

with others, contributing to someone else’s journey 

and growth only adds more purpose to our reason 

to persist on it, to pursue it even when there are 

days which won’t appeal to our will to do it. We 

can go to the mats for others rather than just for 

ourselves. 

Why is it so appealing, so powerful in its effect 

on all those who fall under its spell? It is a strenuous 

work out where our bodies find themselves 

into multiple positions and angles, often smashed 

and twisted on every limb. The nerves connect 

the dots, the muscles gear into auto pilot, the 

mind flows with the rolls, fading the walls of 

buildings and expanding into unknown 

horizons. 

All practitioners fall prey to the zen 

state of mind jiu-jitsu provides, as the 

muscles fatigue, the mind becomes mindless, and the 

body copes with it, in large or minute motion. What 

may impact the most could be a small detail, invisible 

to the eyes, yet noticeable to the more acute 

perception of developed technicians. 

Suddenly there will be the realization 

that thinking is not the most relevant, it 

is the feeling that ultimately guides us 

into optimal learning and eventually 

into optimal performance. The egoless 

state is the true reality of the 

art, when students realize there 

is no win or loss, always eternal 

possibilities of learning. Winning 

becomes a confirmation of 

competence, victory is achieved prior to the battle. A loss remains 

only as a reminder of revisiting previous steps, or envisioning new 

ones. Learning is and will always be the ultimate consequence, 

every time paths cross between two opponents, which despite being 

pitted against each other at a blimp of time, yet become one as 

a vehicle of progress regardless of results. My opponent is an ally 

in my quest to overcome my own self. The measure of success lies 

in doing the best, not necessarily being the best, but the best one 

can be at a given time. When heart and soul are poured onto the 

mats, there is no room for resentment or frustration if an adverse 

outcome takes place. Life says “doing what you can is not enough. 

Enough only counts when you do all you can!” At that point, there 

is satisfaction since fulfillment comes from within. We know we 

are on the right side when there is nothing more to add, that every 

attempt was made, every drop of sweat spilled. 

MASTER CARLOS MACHADO is one of the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the United States of America. 

Currently a Coral Belt, and promoted to Black Belt by Carlos Gracie Junior, Carlos Machado came to the USA in the early 

1990’s with his brothers where they formed the RCJ Machado Jiu Jitsu Association, one of the strongest & growing BJJ 

organizations in the world today. 

78 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 3 Photograph (right) by gustavofrazao

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As professional martial arts school 

owners and instructors, it’s important 

that we stay up to date with the 

latest tools, tactics, and strategies 

for operating a successful martial 

arts school or organization. 

We here at Martial Arts World News 

Magazine are on an unstoppable 

mission to help our industry grow, 

and one of the best ways to do that 

is by sharing “what’s working” and 

what’s not. 

So, we want to feature schools, 

school owners, instructors, 

organizations, students, and industry 

contributors that might have a story 

our readers would find valuable! 

No story is too small or too big for 

consideration so long as there is 

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• One of your students 

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NEXT LEVEL STRATEGY 

Shaking the Bushes! (Part 2) 

by Shihan Allie Alberigo 

1) A Student - Shaking the bushes as a teacher 

is the constant push we do for our students. A 

good teacher pushes their students to heights 

unimaginable. Using our life experiences, we 

take them places that normally they would never 

take themselves. After all, people only do what is 

comfortable to them. We need to continually push 

them out and help them to expand their comfort 

zone. I get a huge amount of resistance on this 

from parents and students. They become comfortable 

and being the martial arts is an activity, not a 

life-style, they resist and do not normally take the 

lesson and listen to their teacher. If I had just $1 for 

every time I heard a parent of one of my students 

tell me – “they didn’t want to force their children to 

do something” I would honestly be retired on an 

island somewhere set for life. The goal 

as a teacher is to find the fine line in 

the sand where we can push before we push them 

away. I have a parent in my school right now, who 

sadly will not adhere to the rules. We are at the point 

where they are resisting competing in one competition 

per year – where I can no longer allow their 

child to be promoted. Inevitably it is going to 

be my fault and they will get angry and quit 

my school, but do I allow them to do what 

they want and not adhere to the rules or 

do I continue to shake the bushes? 

2) School Owners - As a 

coach I mentor many martial art 

business owners. I continually 

ask them to be happy but not 

to be satisfied. What I mean by 

that is if for example they are 

doing a special event at their 

school such as a Halloween party or 

a competition. I ask them to continually 

“Shake the bushes.” Meaning to continually 

promote the event by asking the students, 

educating and explaining why it is essential for every student to be 

a part of this event. What most students and parents do not realize 

is the school is run and fueled by student and parent interaction. 

In other words, if they do not support the school or the event, then 

the school will not thrive and survive. I have seen many schools 

close, due to the lack of student support and they actually loved 

their training, teacher and school. 

However, it is essential for the parents and students to realize 

without their help, we cannot continue to offer these extracurricular 

events. So we as owners need to shake the bushes until everyone 

runs out into the open and we can then get them to be a part 

of what we do. To understand the reason we are a community in 

the first place. Plus, if they have never done it, they are missing out 

on some amazing fun. We cannot give up when we are promoting 

when we have a few, we have to continually shake the bushes and 

push until we have everyone attending. On another note when I 

said “Be Happy but not Satisfied.” It directly links to this type of behavior 

of shaking the bushes. Sometimes when hosting an event 

and we are all complete, we end up saying “Hey, that wasn’t bad, 

we had 40 people attend.” You may even say I wish I had more, but 

I will promote better next time. 

SHIHAN ALLIE ALBERIGO is a 7th degree black belt, the founder of the L.I. Ninjutsu 

Centers, one of the largest Ninjutsu schools on the planet, the author of 4 books, and an entrepreneur 

with one of the first online coaching companies. 


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MIND MASTERY 

Master your Mindset 

Before you Think About Opening 

a Martial Arts School (Part 2) 

by Grandmaster Jessie Bowen 

I would suggest that you look at other 

successful martial arts schools. Give a 

clear picture of how you might achieve 

similar accomplishments. Make a vision 

board for your martial arts business. Train 

alongside the pros. There are various excellent 

martial arts management programs 

in which you can enroll. A coach can be 

really beneficial. Every day, take action. 

Have a Money Mindset 

Yes, money. In my work with martial arts school owners, I’ve 

encountered people who believe that martial arts have 

no financial value and that we should just give it 

away. Please don’t get me wrong: I bought a Karate 

International Franchise in 1980 after earning a 

bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with 

a concentration in Martial Arts Management, and 

I ran it for 38 years before selling it in 2018. 

Anyone who came to my school and could 

not afford to train in the martial arts was 

always welcome to join me on 

my mat. Alternatively, I was 

always available to help 

anyone achieve or learn 

through my martial arts 

instruction. My desire 

was to create a martial 

arts school for me. I 

opened it in 1980 

because I wanted to 

make a job teaching 

martial arts, and that decision has 

provided me with a wonderful life, with 

the things that are most important to 

my family. 

When it comes to money, there are 

two mindsets to choose from: a scarcity 

mindset and an abundance attitude. A 

scarcity mindset is a belief that opportunities, 

resources, and successes are few 

and must be protected as such. Another 

example of the scarcity mindset in business 

is paying yourself last because you’re afraid there won’t be 

enough for everyone else. 

A worldview of abundance entails seeing life’s boundless 

potential. It implies that you are aware of your own and others’ 

potential. As a result, you make a conscious effort to create the life 

you desire. 

The takeaway from this article is to be cautious while deciding 

whether or not to create a martial arts school. Use recreational 

centers, fitness clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs, or simply volunteer to 

teach at a church if you just want to educate. All of these are fantastic 

ways to use your martial arts knowledge to help others and 

make the world a better place. 

However, if you want to build a martial arts school and operate 

it as a company to save time, energy, and money, start with a success 

mindset that is driven by a strong desire, fueled by belief and 

expectation, and equals faith in your ability to financially succeed. 

If you need business coaching support, contact the American 

Martial Arts Alliance Foundation at www.whoswhointhemartialarts. 

com/book-online. 

To learn more about the abundance mindset, visit www.theabundancemindsetcoaching.com. 

GRANDMASTER JESSIE BOWEN is president of Karate International of Durham, Inc., a member of the 

American Martial Arts Association Sport Karate League and Hall of Fame, and has been a member of the Duke University 

PE Staff for over 25 years. He is the author of Zen Mind-Body Mindfulness Meditation and Zen Mind-Body Mindfulness 

Meditation for Martial Arts, as well as several other books, programs, and audio CDs on meditation and success training. 

84 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 3 Photo (right) by photoschmidt

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THE MILLIONAIRE SMARTS COACH 

Instant Communication 

Can Get You into Hot Water (Part 2) 

By Lee Milteer 

The truth is communication that is important and sensitive should NOT be trusted to 

mere words on a screen. 

Better to have some face time (in person or with a device), or at 

least a phone call, since these higher forms of Communication leverage 

how you say what you say. Words on a screen simply can’t 

do that. The old days when you actually had to write a letter, put a 

stamp on it, and put it in a mailbox may seem slow and outdated 

in today’s world. But if you think about it, since the entire process 

took so much time, we most likely did not get into as much trouble 

as we do today. 

Did You Actually Send That? 

How often have you wished you had not hit the send button? 

Or worse – panicked to find out how to recall it before it gets 

opened? (It ain’t easy, I can tell you.) 

Part of being human is that we overreact and 

have unconscious expectations and personal 

agendas that occasionally run our behaviors. 

So I am asking you to be more conscious. You 

can ruin relationships with clients, friends, 

and loved ones by being too impatient to 

actually think about what you are saying. 

May I suggest that you remember the old 

saying: Sleep on it before you respond. 

How many messes would you keep 

yourself out of by not responding 

so quickly when your 

emotionally driven ego is in 

the way of seeing the truth or 

the other side of a situation? 

Use the 24-Hour Rule 

I know we live in a world 

today of instant texting, and social media. If you look at your past 

and you have had a problem with communicating too quickly, how 

about giving yourself the 24-hour rule? Write whatever you like, but 

only send it to yourself. Then wait 24 hours and review it again with 

a cooler head. Most of the time, if you are upset and you give yourself 

just one day to reread your communications, you will rewrite it 

to be calmer and more acceptable. 

Remember, we are either part of the problem or part of the 

solution. As you can see, we sometimes are the problem. And 

it could have been avoided if we had just kept our big mouth 

(screen) shut. 

A better solution to exchanging heated words with someone 

would be to stall for time. Ask for a phone appointment to discuss 

the issue at a later time, when everyone has had a chance to calm 

down. Then you can approach the situation from a more rational, 

less emotional, state. The old saying that time does heal is often 

true. Food for thought: If you are having a challenge, give yourself 

permission to let TIME do its magic. Who knows? Maybe in the 

meantime another alligator will come along to bite them in the butt, 

making the problem they are having with you seem less important. 

MS. LEE MILTEER is an Intuitive Business Coach, award-winning professional speaker, and TV 

personality who has counseled and trained over a million people throughout her career. Lee is Stephen Oliver’s 

Martial Arts Wealth Mastery’s Millionaire Smarts Coach and is also a best-selling author of educational resources. 

Visit www.milteer.com 


Photograph (right) by AaronAmat

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BUDO PHILOSOPHY 

Aggressiveness, Biology 

and Culture (Part 1) 

by Shidoshi Alfredo Tucci 

“The human being is a ‘precarious balance’ among mind, body, emotion and spirit. 

We act, even when we don’t want to, stimulated, more frequently 

disturbed, by the result of adding, for good and for evil, our 

physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energies. 

It is a serious mistake to prepare ourselves only in the physical 

plane. Our response will be very poor in front of those who have 

initiated in all four levels, as every true practitioner of a Martial Art 

should do. 

For this reason, Martial Art is a difficult art: it requires us to confront 

in a global way our limitations in each of these fields.” José 

Luis Paniagua Tevar 

During the millions of years that it took to conform 

us as a species, the guidelines that gradually 

made us what we are today biologically, are 

quite different from the idea that we may have 

of ourselves through a predominantly cultural 

view. 

Culture and biology tend to oppose each 

other and, in the middle of that shock and as 

a result of that encounter, pathologies arise. 

Denying that primary part of ourselves is at the 

origin of most of the vital neuroses and conflicts 

that the modern human being carries on his 

shoulders very much to his regret, since 

contradictions are time bombs that 

continually jump here and there in 

our daily lives. 

One of the least considered 

functions of Martial Arts today is 

their ability to be that practice that 

stimulates the reunion with the primary 

self, a remedy that avoids the 

dissociation of body, emotion and 

mind, that so many problems 

conceives in the sedentary 

modern man, especially as far as aggressiveness and violence are 

concerned. Both impulses are part of our elemental natures; they 

have their own function and their raison d’être in the evolutionary 

program, but unfortunately they do not match our daily realities. 

All education is based on denying instinct and taming behavior. 

Thus, every culture is based on the idea of taboo, the evil or 

wrong that should be annulled. But we cannot cancel what we are, 

because so much of our nature is not related to prefrontal cortex 

or logic and reason, but to much older brain spaces that coexist 

fundamentally in our being in an unconscious way. 

We don’t think, “I must breathe,” we just do it. We don’t think at 

every moment that the heart must beat, or that the stomach must 

process the food, or that we must blink, but that doesn’t mean that 

those orders are not being given. The fact that we don’t identify 

with that part of who we are does not mean that its presence in our 

daily lives is not much more important than the choice of the book 

we are going to read. 

Modern man’s haughtiness and arrogance prevent him from 

seeing such a simple truth, that places us as a complex organism, 

with different layers in its consciousness of being, but that they 

work together, modulating what we call “I”. 

SHIDOSHI ALFREDO TUCCI is the CEO and General Manager of the Budo International Publishing 

Company, a leading publisher in the martial arts with over 35 years in the industry. He is also author of several 

books: The Immaterial Dimension, The Way of the Warrior, and The Spirit. He currently lives in Valencia, Spain. 


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COMPLETE MARTIAL ARTS CONCEPTS 

The Evolution of MMA 

by Professor Willie “The Bam” Johnson 

It is a hot summer day in the city of Baltimore on the basketball court and as the player 

from the opposing team goes up to slam dunk the ball before making the opponent 

on the defensive balance from the cross over. 

As the ball controller slams the ball and the crowd 

goes while and in the midst of the celebration the 

grand opponent jumps up in anger and sucker punches 

the opponent with the surface of his fist, followed 

by a back head lock with a knee strike to his lower 

back. He then runs backwards dragging him off balance 

as he releases him with a 3 hammer fist grounding 

and pounding technique to his face following a 

back drop knee strike to the face, shattering his jaw. 

Damn what a scene which is a regular occurrence 

on the streets of Baltimore, which has been 

synonymous with the drug trade and all 

out violent deadly encounters. A city 

with a homicide rate nearly seven 

times the national rate. Six times the 

rate of New York city and three times 

the rate of Los Angeles. This is the legacy for 

decades of these mean streets and the others of 

this article was one of the contributors to 

it. Willie “The Bam” Johnson, 2000 

black belt hall of fame winner 

for instructor of the year, says 

“When I was coming up it was 

Bruce Lee and now it is UFC, 

the mixed martial arts craze. 

As one of the fastest growing 

sports today, love it or hate it, 

its here to stay. A multi-billion 

dollar industry boosting public 

awareness through bars, clubs, 

pay per view, DVD’S, video 

games, toys and so much more. 

Now they master corporate 

sponsorship. And the major fan base is that of 18 to 34 makes super 

human demographics. Johnson adds “And I know if I was able 

to teach myself how to do acrobatics and martial arts back then, 

just think of the simplicity in learning MMA today, and imagine the 

skills of the next generation. With the techniques being simple and 

easy to learn these lethal, deadly techniques. On the street a guy 

like Kimbo Slice was not such a big deal like he was in MMA. And 

I know first hand the street’s origin of fighting has no rules, it has 

always been about wrestling and boxing but first for the most it’s 

the fun or any object that would dismantle or kill a person. With 

more exposure to violence and the glorification of bad behavior 

and negative lifestyle things have not gotten better but worse and 

more dangerous. 

And even with all my experiences, skills and will to survive and 

overcoming jail, gun fights, homelessness, drugs and abuse I try to 

stay ahead of the streets and try to stay away without a legitimate 

reason to help the youth or bring mainstream America the truth. 

PROFESSOR WILLIE “THE BAM” JOHNSON is a 7th degree black belt and seven-time sport 

karate and Kung-Fu world champion. He has appeared in four movies, 16 plays, and 11 television shows. He is also 

the national spokesperson for the Stronger than Drugs Foundation and the Champions Against Drugs. 

92 MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 3 Photograph (right) by RuslanShevchenko

Lee Milteer is an Internationally known and celebrated 

Entrepreneur, Visionary, Best Selling Author, Award winning 

Professional Speaker, TV Personality, and Intuitive Business Mentor. 

Lee provides business and success advice and resources to nearly 

250,000 people around the world. 

Reclaim the Magic 

will evoke a consciousness 

shift and an awakening 

within you to manifest your 

heart’s true desires. is 

book will give you the tools 

and concepts to claim your 

natural birthright power as 

a manifestor. 

Success is an 

Inside Job 

will empower 

ANYONE to 

achieve new levels 

of self-clarity and 

control over their 

destiny.

INSTRUCTIONAL EXCELLENCE 

Teaching Young Children’s Class 

by Grandmaster Tim McCarthy 

It should be no secret to any instructor of the martial arts that students have different 

needs at different ages. 

If you teach children the same way you teach adults, you will 

not have a very well-attended children’s class. With that understanding 

in mind, here are some things you may not have realized 

about teaching Young Children’s Class (ages 5 to 7.) 

Most schools understand that children should be at least 5 

years old to begin martial arts class. Children differ widely in their 

development, so you can find a few who are ready at a younger 

age, and some who are not ready until they are older, but 5 is a 

good guideline. Younger kids need a separate class designed for 

their age group (see last issue.) 

Children have a short attention span. Classes 

should last no longer than 45 minutes, with lots 

of changes of activities. I recommend starting 

class with a short meditation – 30 seconds or 

less – just to help them learn to sit still. You 

can increase the time as they advance in age 

and rank. 

Have a fun warm-up with strength-building 

exercises (sit-ups, push-ups), coordination-building 

exercises (jumping jacks), and flexibility/stretching. 

Young children are usually flexible, so help them 

keep that flexibility. 

Establish a routine of your basic exercises 

(kicks, blocks, strikes) to begin 

every class. Consistency helps build 

muscle memory and gives them 

a feeling that they not only know 

what to expect, but know how to 

do it, so they are comfortable and 

confident about coming to class. 

Learning forms and combinations 

is important for 

mental exercise – not the 

mental exercise of math 

or vocabulary, but motor 

memory, which starts with mental memory and transitions to 

body memory. Learning to connect the mind and the body is an 

important skill. 

Line drills are fun and a chance to motivate and improve each 

student as they take their turn, but long lines or the same technique 

over and over will allow their little minds to wander. Keep it 

short and active to keep them focused. Partner drills are challenging 

for the younger ones, so I don’t recommend them. 

Ask different students to demonstrate a technique to the others 

to build the confidence of performing in front of others. Always 

encourage a round of applause after the demonstration. 

Competition is an important skill to learn at this age. Some will 

love it and some will dread it. Limited or free sparring (non-contact 

or with pads) and grappling develop confidence and problemsolving 

abilities. Contact is a double-edged sword: On one hand 

you don’t want your students to be wimps and afraid of getting hit, 

but on the other hand some students will get hit too hard once and 

never want to spar again. You have to find a balance and slowly 

develop the confidence and grit not to quit at the first pain, but 

persevere. You want to build a winning attitude by emphasizing 

that it’s OK to get hit or even lose if you learn from it. Emphasize respect 

or sportsmanship, so that they learn not to lose their temper, 

win with humility, and lose with grace, focusing on treating the loss 

as a learning experience. 

Try to end every class with something fun and exciting even 

if it’s barely related to the martial arts, and then bring them in 

for a mat chat that is as much for the parents watching as for the 

students. Present an idea like respect, confidence, or compassion, 

and illustrate it with a story or a short skit. The students 

will learn lessons far more valuable than any physical technique 

you have taught them, and the parents will see why your 

classes are much better than gymnastics, dance class, soccer, 

or any other activity they could choose. These talks can make 

the parents your best allies in keeping the kids in your program 

for years to come. 

GRANDMASTER TIM MCCARTHY is a 9th degree black belt and is a martial arts educator with 

a master’s degree in education. He has been instrumental in developing two industry-changing programs, plus 

has directed and been featured in hundreds of martial arts videos and webinars. 


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BUSINESS BUZZ 

How to Add Value to Upgrade 

80% of Trial Students (Part 2) 

by Grandmaster Lawrence Arthur 

Add value after the first class by sending parents a thank you card for their trust in you 

to mentor their child. Send the student a good job card and let them know that you 

thought they would make a great candidate to become one of your black belts. 

Add value by setting up a mini private lesson after class and 

teach black belt material for 3 - 5 minutes. And invite them to the 

monthly or weekly black belt workshop. Tell them “You’re the type 

of student that I know has what it takes to become a black belt 

here in the academy. 

Add value by scheduling a Parent and Student Celebration / 

Orientation Class every week or monthly for new students, about 

30 to 45 minutes. Add value to your program and teach 

them how they can be a better student/parent in 

your school. Teach Culture, Philosophy and Objectives, 

Mission Statement, Etiquette, Protocol, 

Rules, Do’s and Don’t, Achievement Program, 

Citizenship Awards Program, Viewing Classes, 

Dropping off Children, Referral program, School 

closing schedule. Serve refreshments, pizza, 

snacks, fruit, etc. 

Add value by scheduling a 45 minute 

Leadership Workshop every week. 

Make sure parents are there too. 

Preview the curriculum in the 

black belt program. 10 minutes 

of Forms, 10 minutes of practical 

Self Defense, 10 minutes 

of pad work. Review 

the Life Skills and teach 

the characteristics and 

responsibilities of Black 

Belt Leaders. Make sure 

they Invite a friend / parent / sibling / spouse to attend Celebration 

and the workshops. 

Add value by Inviting them and/ or their parents to be your 

special guest at the next special event / seminar / outing / fitness 

Kickboxing or Krav / Self Defense /Kali class. 

Add value and celebrate when you present them with a 

framed, formal nomination letter. Call to congratulate them on their 

nomination later that evening and remind them of their Progress 

check appointment. 

Invite them to commit, enroll, and ask for the money that you 

and your program rightfully deserve. 

For more details contact me at AFKALawrenc.Arthur@gmail.com 

visit our website at AFKAonline.net 

GRANDMASTER LAWRENCE ARTHUR has been a martial artist, specializing 

in Karate, Kung Fu, Kenpo, Shotokan, and Goju Ryu, since 1968. He owns 40 Super Kick Karate 

locations and is founder of the American Freestyle Karate Association (AFKA). A world champion 

and hall of famer, Lawrence also runs the Black Belt Success Systems consulting firm, which trains 

martial arts instructors on proper business practices and is used by schools all over the country. 


MARTIAL ARTS PHILOSOPHY 

Stories Hunting 

The Ultimate Makiwara Board 

By Sensei Gary Lee 

Stop, Maim Disable, Destroy Mentally, Osu 

You are in the deep forest in the middle 

of nowhere, silent as a forest can be, you 

can hear every sound around you, every 

step is a new sound and in a distance you 

hear a new sound 

You hear a consistent sound over and 

over again, 

It is mesmerizing because it had been 

silent in your dream. 

A big “THUG”, the sound it is constant, 

“THUG, THUG, THUG, THUG, THUG ” over 

and over again,,,,, 

You follow the sound 

through the deep woods 

underbrush, though 

the stickers, briars 

until an opening in the 

wooded area 

You see a train 

track 

You follow it until 

you see one large locomotive 

sitting on the track, by itself,, 

as you walk slowly around 

the huge steel piece of 

machinery 

The THUG sound 

now is getting 

louder and louder, 

stronger and 

stronger,, 

now you 

hear a 

grunt 

with every THUG, GRUNT, THUG, GRUNT, THUG, GRUNT, 

THUG, GRUNT THUG, 

You walk to the front and a small 5’5 Japanese man in a white 

uniform and Black Belt, drenched in sweat and hands bleeding 

standing in low Hicibi-Dachi horse stance hitting the front of the 

locomotive with low hard reverse punches and hitting with his 

Seiken (forefist) front second knuckle)” 

Then you witness,,,, THUG, E-Yaaaaaaa THUG, GRUNT 

THUG, E-Yaaaaaaaa, THUG, GRUNT, THUG, K-Yaaaaaa, THUG, 

GRUNT, THUG over and over and over again and again, and 

again 

These are the dreams of “The Karate Whisperer” 

SENSEI GARY LEE, the American Samurai, is a 9th Dan black belt, a USA Karate 

Federation gold medalist, winner of five Super Grand National Titles, a featured actor in 

the movie Sidekicks, and is the founder of the National Sport Karate Museum. 


MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE 

‘The Leader as Coach’ 

Review of Dr. Richard Huseman’s “The Leader as Coach” 

by Grandmaster Kirk Pelt 

The “Leader as Coach” is a practical, easy, and effective book on modern leadership. 

It covers some interesting statistics. Here are two interrelated ones: 

1) The number one reason why people say they quit their job 

is their immediate manager. 

2) The number one reason why people stay, work hard, and 

like their job is their immediate manager. 

One of the best principles it explains is how a leader can get 

the best out of their employees by being perceived as highly 

competent and genuinely caring about the people they lead. By 

achieving those perceptions, you’ll get the most out of them for the 

organization, and they’ll get the most out of the organization, creating 

a win-win cycle for everyone involved. Here are some 

keys from the book that you can apply to operating a 

martial arts school: 

3) Fit each person’s talent to the team’s benefit. If 

someone is a good teacher, have them teach 

more. If someone is a great promoter, have 

them promote more. 

4) Whether it’s promotions or a tournament, 

tap into your team’s desire to win. Encourage your 

team to exceed, whether it’s to contact 100 leads or 

a first place cup. 

5) Share your vision and/or goals with your 

staff. Your staff will perform better if 

they know where they’re going. For 

example, if you want an A+ Program 

with 100 students they need to 

know that vision or goal. 

6) Be it promoting or teaching, 

give your staff specific feedback 

on their effectiveness. It’s an 

educational axiom that feedback 

increases performance. 

For example, if you have a 

staff member that’s strong on 

phone skills, let them know what makes them strong, like 

good timing, a pleasant voice, etc. 

7) Celebrate all triumphs with your staff, both great and small. 

Praise in public. Even adding two students to your program 

is well worth praising a staff member. 

8) Help your staff recognize their highest potential. Encourage 

them to reach their highest potential. If you 

see a talent in a specific area, like if a staff member has 

a gift for working with children, then guide him to reach 

that potential. 

9) Have reasonable expectations of your team. Don’t expect 

your staff to live up to superhuman expectations in an 

impossible situation. For example, they can’t be expected 

to get 100 leads to call for your children’s program at a 

midnight movie showing an R-rated movie, but they may be 

able to get 100 young adult leads. 

10) Practice what you preach. If you preach promotion, show 

your staff your commitment to promotion. 

11) Know what motivates each employee specifically. A few 

ideas could be an afternoon off, thank-you notes, gift certificates, 

or tickets to events. Remember, different people 

have different likes and dislikes. For some people, football 

tickets may be great fun, and for others they’re useless at 

best. 

12) Put your priority on relationships 

with your staff. Know 

them and their family. 

“The Leader as Coach” is 

an excellent book worth reading. 

It’s clear, practical, and well 

worth the investment for your 

professional library. 

GRANDMASTER KIRK PELT is an 8th degree black belt and is the President of a multi-million 

dollar, multi-school organization, has a 30-year track record of success, and is currently on the leading 

edge of martial arts curriculum and business innovation. 


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THE WARRIOR WAY 

Increase Your Options 

by Grandmaster Bill Clark 

The fourth factor in building confidence and a most important one is creating options 

for yourself. The control you have over events, and therefore the confidence you have 

it’s successful outcome, is in direct proportion to your well-developed options. 

Stress and worry are caused by 

things that we perceive to be beyond our 

control. If the problems we face are easily 

within our sphere of control, we rarely feel 

insecure. We are, instead, brimming with 

confidence. 

Your confidence in any major decision, 

such as changing jobs, moving to another 

state, getting a divorce, buying a business, 

or firing a key employee, will always rest on 

one factor—the quality of your welldeveloped 

options. It’s much 

easier to fire a key employee 

if you have two or three qualified 

people who you know 

can adequately replace him. 

It’s much easier to yell, 

Take this job and shove 

it, when you have 

six month’s income in the bank in 

reserve. 

Options increase your courage 

and confidence dramatically. 

Always be on the 

lookout for options. You 

can both find them and 

create them. The more 

options you have, the 

less chance there is of 

you being boxed into a 

situation from which you 

feel you have no escape. 

Most Americans live from paycheck to paycheck, and I suspect 

that people all over the world do the same. It’s hardly any wonder, 

then, that people are always worried about their job, their company, 

and their health. If any one of these things fails for more than 

a week, they will be in desperate trouble. 

Free yourself from this form of anxiety. Prepare for whatever 

problems could hurt you. Save more money, buy catastrophic 

health insurance, put extra canned food and water in storage, 

keep your job contacts active, earn an MBA at night, and so on. 

Make whatever sacrifices are necessary to accomplish and give 

yourself options. It’s amazing the increase in confidence you enjoy 

when you know, no matter what happens, you have half a year to 

regroup and follow a different path. 

GRANDMASTER BILL CLARK is a 9th degree black belt and a former PKA Fighter of 

the Year. He is widely considered one of the top experts in martial arts business with over 50 years 

of leadership and innovation, having been inducted into almost every Hall of Fame in the industry. He 

is one of the largest multi-school owners in the world. 


Photograph (right) by EtiAmmos

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TACTICAL SELF-DEFENSE 

More Students or 

More Out of Your Students 

By Grandmaster Tom Patire 

Everyday I see more and more Facebook Ads for these self-proclaimed ‘consultants’ 

that talk about how their methods or system can get you hundreds of new students, 

but I never see or hear anyone talk about how to get more out of your students. 

Think about all of the people that come in and out of your 

school, all the parents, relatives and friends that come to watch 

their kids. My question is a simple one - have you ever taken the 

time to get to know who they are and what they do, especially how 

it relates to who they may be connected to or the type of business 

they are in. Those people are all potential leads and 

many school owners never think to approach or capitalize 

on them. 

Many years ago when I had my school and I was 

starting my executive protection company, I would 

incentivize my students, which at the time I only 

taught adults. I had about 140 adults and taught 

a very aggressive, combative style way before 

combat self-defense was in. It was back in the days 

of point fighting, after my class was over I sat my 

loyal student body down and explained 

about the company I was opening. 

I explained my certifications, 

explained the type of clientele I 

was looking for and incentivized 

them to help me. After all, business 

is business. My students 

became my lead generators 

getting hot leads for direct 

one-on-one meetings which 

I would attend and sell my 

services. I would verify each 

lead and then set the meeting 

using my students name 

as the intro point and I would use their name to get a direct meeting 

with the company/person and go do what I do best. One of my 

biggest contracts that lasted over 20 years – FOX TV – came from 

a student having me speak at a business event. He wanted me to 

talk about martial arts and when I saw who was in the audience, I 

changed the talk to Executive Protection. I have landed over 200 

contracts like that all because I got more out of my students. Not 

more money but more information on who they knew and what 

they do and never once needed a marketing consultant to help me 

capitalize on a captured market. 

This is a formula that works for all businesses. Schools are 

untouched gold mines of additional revenue sources that come 

from their existing students, yet not many tap into them. Look at 

the people in your school as hot leads, for example if it’s more students 

you want then see whose parents or spouses are connected 

to different elementary middle school and high schools. Then have 

them book you as a guest speaker. When you go to speak, know 

your audience and cater your talk to them. Whether that talk be on 

empowerment, confidence, bullying, or personal safety make sure 

it hits home. Do not be heavy on promoting yourself like a salesman, 

use the backdoor approach of offering them rules or codes 

you teach in your school, so it meshes the talk together and it’s a 

soft sell not a hard pitch. This can also be done at houses of worship, 

community groups, local businesses, and even hospitals that 

all have crisis centers for people that have been victimized. Your 

classes are a captivated audience so capture their connections 

and grow your bottom line from within to without. 

Remember Safety First Because You May Not Get A 

Second Chance!® 

GRANDMASTER TOM PATIRE, is known as “America’s Leading Personal Safety Expert” and has appeared 

on Good Morning America, The CBS Morning Show, The Colbert Report, Montel, plus in mainstream publications such as 

Family Circle, Redbook, Fortune Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. He has written several books and has personal 

safety programs that can be incorporated into your martial arts school, available at TomPatire.com. 


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Tools & Tactics 

Increase Enrollment with 

Communication Strategies 

by Ms. Chris Lee 

All martial arts schools follow certain techniques, crowds, and ages that determine the 

school’s enrollment. 

For example, if a school has 80% children, 15% adults, and only 

5% teens, chances are the majority of the flyers, promotions, and 

ads reflect the majority of the students who come, which would 

be the children. That idea focuses on retention, which is great to 

stabilize a school, but if a dojo is going to prosper, it has to be a 

priority to do more. If the school wants to improve where it’s lacking, 

sticking to old ideas isn’t going to change things for the better. 

The dojo must reach out to its minorities as well as keep current 

students active. Here are some tips to get you started: 

Use your strengths. Most martial arts schools are all about 

the children. Without them, most schools would lose almost all of 

their students. Since they make up such a vital part of running a 

successful martial arts school, it’s important to use 

them as your business weapon. Express ideas and 

use your students and their parents to create a 

larger school, and perhaps offer them a deal in 

return. With their aid in promoting programs, 

it’s hard to believe some new students won’t 

come knocking on your door. Every school has 

a majority, use it to help your business and 

students as well. 

More public promotions: if the same 

old promoting strategies for the public 

aren’t working, try promoting yourself. 

Activity promotions are great, but they 

take time. However, demonstrations 

can be very cheap and worthwhile. 

How else can the public be interested 

in your school unless they know what it 

entails? Three easy-to-remember promotional 

ideas that are effective and 

shouldn’t cost you much or anything 

at all are based on demos, holidays, 

and tournaments. Everyone 

loves to see a demonstration 

of backflips, flying 

side kicks, and weapons. 

Arrange a group of instructors, 

set a date, promote, 

perform, and celebrate 

a great chance for your 

school to grow. For holidays 

such as New Years, Spring 

Break, July 4th, Halloween, 

or Christmas, kids love to have parties and it’s easy to get them to 

come. There are many ideas reflecting the holidays, and setting 

up a date outside the usual times families take vacations shouldn’t 

pose a problem. Lastly, training your adults and youths to compete 

in tournaments can give you another chance to get the name of 

your school out there. Tournaments are safe and offer many ways 

to compete such as sparring, forms, weapons etc. This will help 

your students improve as well. 

Work with clientele. In these hard times, some schools have 

been losing students. If this issue arises with your students, don’t 

be so quick to say goodbye. Work with the parents and see if you 

can put them on a weekly payment plan or offer them a free month 

to give them a chance to keep their child enrolled at your school. 

We have to be fair with all students but also sacrifice for them as 

well. 

With these communication strategies and proper execution, 

you can upgrade your school and find yourself teaching more 

students in no time. Remember, enrollment and retention result in 

income and profits. Make it happen. 

For help or ideas for promotions to retain and enroll new 

students, please feel free to give my fellow Marketing Consultants 

and myself a call at (800) 275-1600. 

MS. CHRIS LEE is a martial arts business development consultant with a background in online and 

social media marketing. 


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ADVERTISER INDEX 

Action Mega Convention 

ActionMegaHoh.com ..............................59 

Atlas Marketing Studio 

AtlasMarketingStudio.app ..........................91 

Atlas Martial Arts Software 

AtlasMartialArtsSoftware.com ...............2, 42, 95 

Action Hero Photos 

ActionHeroPhotos.com ............................99 

Adventures of Harry & Friends 

AdventuresOfHarryAndFriends.com ................25 

Amazing Martial Arts Websites 

AmazingMartialArtsWebsites.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 81 

An-Shu Stephen K. Hayes 

NinjaSelfDefense.com .............................49 

AMS Billing 

OurAMS.com ..............................27, 72, 116 

AMSkids 

OurAMS.com/AfterSchool .......................37, 87 

Break Like a Champ 

TeamChipTKD.com ................................83 

Budo International Magazine 

BudoInternational.com .............................111 

Extraordinary Marketing 

ExtraordinaryMarketing.com ........................75 

Master Karen Eden 

CenturyMartialArts.com ............................15 


ElitePublications.org and RevPublish.com .......69, 103 

Kick Start Kids 

KickStartKids.org ..................................21 

Kids Point MMA 

PointMMA.com ....................................89 

Kovar Systems 

KovarSystems.com ................................53 

Learn the Sword 

LearnTheSword.com ...............................29 

Lee Milteer 

Milteer.com ........................................93 

MA Biz Academy 

MABizAcademy.com ...........................57, 115 


MaBusinessInstitute.com ......................33, 107 

Martial Arts History Museum 

MAMuseum.com ..................................97 

Martial Arts Industry Innovations 

youtube.com/@MartialArtsWorldNews/podcasts . 23, 77 

Ninja Fighting Techniques 

tuttlepublishing.com ...............................32 

Otomix 

Otomix.com .......................................13 

Sport Karate Museum 

SportKarateMuseumArchives.com ..................99 


4d-2d.com ........................................88 


TomPatire.com ....................................36 

Warrior Certification 

WarriorKravMaga.com/events ......................63 

Warrior Defence Lab 

TheEvolutionOfKrav.com ...........................79 


YkKim.com .....................................47, 71 


Lulu.com ..........................................28 


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Martial Arts World News Magazine - Vol 24 | Issue 3

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