Blackbelt Business Podcast

Building a great kids martial arts program requires more than one talented instructor. It requires systems, structure, and a deep bench of coaches who are prepared to deliver a consistent experience every day. In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Eliot Marshall sits down with Easton Kids Program Director Jordan Shipman to break down why coach-to-student ratios matter, how a lack of bench strength impacts retention, and why many schools mistakenly blame outside factors for declining programs instead of addressing internal problems. Eliot and Jordan also dive into Easton's process for recruiting, onboarding, and developing kids coaches, including the systems, training courses, and standards that help maintain consistency across multiple academies. They discuss the importance of always staying ahead of growth, creating a pipeline of future instructors, and ensuring every coach understands class structure, training philosophy, safety protocols, and student development. Whether you're struggling to find instructors, looking to improve your kids program, or trying to scale your academy without sacrificing quality, this episode provides a practical blueprint for building a stronger team and a better student experience. Watch or listen to the full podcast on our blog: https://www.easton.online/blog/ Visit https://www.easton.online to sign up for our mailing list!

In this episode of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Easton Training Center CEO Mike Tousignant joins host Eliot Marshall to discuss one of the most critical (and often neglected) components of a martial arts academy: the fundamentals class. They break down why having a dedicated fundamentals program is essential for student retention, safety, and long-term success. From class structure and warm-up consistency to when (and why) beginners shouldn't spar, this episode offers clear guidance for school owners looking to build a more effective and inclusive training environment. If you're serious about creating a program that serves both beginners and advanced students, this conversation is a blueprint you won't want to miss. Watch or listen to the full podcast on our blog: https://www.easton.online/blog/ Visit https://www.easton.online to sign up for our mailing list!

Whether it's dealing with members or managing staff, we as martial arts academy owners and operators are in the people business. Your ability to skillfully manage relationships, offer constructive feedback, and direct people's progress will dictate the success, culture, and health of your martial arts academy. Easton Training Center's CEO, Mike Tousignant, and Vice President, Ian Lieberman, join the Black Belt Business Podcast to talk about managing relationships and knowing when to look inward to find solutions instead of assigning blame. Watch or listen to the full podcast on our blog: https://www.easton.online/blog/ Visit https://www.easton.online to sign up for our mailing list!

Easton Training Center's Director of Kids Martial Arts, Jordan Shipman, and Director of Marketing, Michael Phipps, join Eliot to discuss the challenges of implementing systems in martial arts academies and how to make sure everyone on your team is on the same page. Watch or listen to the full podcast on our blog: https://www.easton.online/blog/ Interested in learning more about operating a high-functioning martial arts academy? Visit https://www.easton.online to check out our products and sign up for our mailing list!

Easton Training Center's Director of Kids Martial Arts, Jordan Shipman, and Director of Marketing, Michael Phipps, join Eliot to discuss strategies for reinforcing your martial arts academy's brand and how to understand and master your marketing channels. Watch or listen to the full podcast on our blog: https://www.easton.online/blog/ Visit https://www.easton.online to sign up for our mailing list!

Easton Training Center's Director of Kids Martial Arts, Jordan Shipman, and Director of Marketing, Michael Phipps, join Eliot to discuss how Easton run's our Kids Martial Arts programs and give some tips on what you could do to improve your kids Jiu Jitsu program.

Easton Training Center's Director of Kids Martial Arts, Jordan Shipman, and Director of Marketing, Michael Phipps, join Eliot to discuss the basic necessities of building a successful martial arts school. From marketing, to running classes and crafting a systematic sales process. Watch or listen to the full podcast on our blog: https://www.easton.online/blog/ Visit https://www.easton.online to sign up for our mailing list!

Amal Easton joins the podcast with Ian and Mike to discuss how academies, business owners, and martial artists must adapt and grow with the times or see themselves becoming irrelevant. Amal adds details about the way things used to be done and how Easton has changed and adapted over time, while Mike and Ian discuss the process of implementing and managing these changes in a large martial arts business with multiple schools.