Thank you for your feedback!  Our members have spoken and we’re using your feedback to update your membership and improve your experience.

We’re MASSIVELY upgrading your membership and providing you opportunities for EXTREME Growth in 2008, 2009 and beyond.

Dear NAPMA Team Member,

I’d like to share some “insider’s secrets”.

Then we launched “Inner Circle,” in part to bring some of the most successful school owners in the country together to “lead from the top” and to serve as a basis for “Best Practices” for everyone else.  It’s been  a HUGE homerun for us, them and most of all YOU.

Beginning in January we’re really taken the “Skin Off” the organization and taken a very painful scrub brush to systems, processes, contributors and mostly to support and guidance that you need to help you grow.  You may not realize it but I can share with you now that we’ve  created an INCREDIBLE Brain Trust of experts from within and outside of the martial arts industry.  We’ve pulled back in old friends and former staff with fantastic ideas about moving everyone to the next level.  We’ve sat down with the VERY best people who know how to fill Dental Offices, Chiropractic Offices, Fitness Centers and Dance Schools.  We’ve assembled a brain trust that include the sharpest marketing minds in the world.   We’ve taken our own advice and assembled an INCREDIBLE master-mind team of experts from within and external to the martial arts industry.

And, then we’ve looked into our membership base and for the first time REALLY dug into everyone’s perspective and expert opinion with one and only one objective in mind.

The question we’ve asked the brain-trust of experts and our own “Master-Mind” team of like-minded individuals from other industries is this:

“What can we do to make sure our Martial Arts School Members THRIVE in challenging times and to help them adapt to the changing industry conditions.    In short how can we be THE source of insuring a constantly growing student body, improving revenues, and a quality life-style for our members.”

We’re poised to implement some of the most radical improvements and enhancements ever seen in the martial arts industry to facilitate YOUR personal and professional growth.  To help your martial arts school be the unexcelled center of excellence in your community.  Most if not all of the improvements and enhancements come from outside the industry, the rest come from true HIGH PERFORMER school owners who are not the usual suspects hitting the speaking tour and trying to sell you the next sales or curriculum program.
We’re really excited about the incredible feedback that we’ve heard from members like you.

All of our staff have been poring over member surveys and reviewing the various letters and emails that we receive.   Now we have GREAT feedback from you for new ways to package content, new materials and programs to focus on, and new ways to help you grow.

We’ve learned a lot, and will be sharing much of it with you here or in months to come.  Early in the year we’ve completed extensive surveys, talked to 100’s of clients, and even invited Dan Kennedy and Bill Glazer to our Clearwater, Florida offices to give us lots off ideas to support our clients and help the martial arts industry grow – bigger and faster.

Most of our member feedback honestly is about how to make our content delivery more productive for your learning style.  It’s about how to facilitate moving things from the idea phase to aggressive implementation.  And, it’s about helping you be what you love to be (a quality martial artist) while giving your support on all aspects of teaching methodology, sales, marketing, leadership and persuasion.

Admittedly, after we read the many, many surveys that have been returned we arrived at two competing conclusions.  First, there are a lot more members running VERY highly successful schools than we realized.  Many of them are now in our “Inner Circle” team (www.NAPMA.com/innercircle.)  Others should be but aren’t yet.  We were surprised at the number of VERY big schools that we’ve heard from and who attribute NAPMA as a huge component of their success.  We were also made a aware of a larger group than we would have expected who will have to be drug “Kicking and Screaming” to be successful.  There are still more than we’d like who are interesting only in technical mastery and not in running a professional school with quality marketing, sales, and business systems in place.   It’s sad but true that some just don’t “get it” that quality and professionalism go hand-in-hand.

For those opposed to making a living and thriving in their community we gleefully admit that we may be forced to “leave you behind.”   For those looking to continue the dramatic professionalization that we helped kick-off many years ago and continue to lead the charge on – I think you will be thrilled not only by the new features of the program but by the incredible accelerations in RESULTS that you will experience if you will fully participate, read and listen to the materials, and most important wake up every day and DO SOMETHING to improve your school.  If have aspirations of growth you must not be missing the “Maximum Impact” content.  Certainly if you qualify you may want to ask about the waiting lists or availability of Peak Performers or Inner Circle.

Our first wave of feedback was that there are more schools hitting HIGH NET PROFITS than ever before in history.  We’ve learned that the top 20% of schools needed more room to grow and expand.  Many were ready to go from $300,000 a year to $1,000,000 a year or more.  Others, were ready to really go from part-time to full-time or from $100,000 a year to $400,000 or more.  Others were ready to either grow through multiple schools or become “Regional Developers.” Our first step was to add higher level “Telecoaching and Peer Support Master-Mind” teams.   These provide the  perfect venue to really “turbo-charge” member growth.

In a “Whirlwind of Activity” since December we’ve:

1.    Created and filled the “Inner Circle” Team.   It’s a team of some of the highest quality school owners in the world.  They have met twice as a “Master-Mind” team in Clearwater.  Many attended the “Ultimate Martial Arts Marketing Boot camp.” And the work together monthly by teleconference and discussion board.    These school owners are grossing $400,000 a year AND UP.   I think our current record is looking to be several schools in the  $1,000,000 + per year in a single school (less than 6,000 square feet.)  And, there are several multi-school owners.   They’ve been a marvelous “sounding board” for us to lean new ways to help all members achieve the highest possible levels of success.  They’ve made many of the suggestions that you’ve been seeing implemented for everyone.

A TYPICAL result from that team is as described here by Jonathan Metcalf:

UP 40% from 2007!.

I AM ON TRACK! My enrollment hit 310 yesterday which was my June 1st goal! I set income and enrollment goals last year for this year. I have been blowing past my financial goals (which were based on about 33% growth over 2007 even though I was steady between 2006-2007. I have had a very strong financial year.   My YTD goal was $215,887 but, in fact, I hit $261,584! That’s 20% over goal! Last year (for the first 5 months) I had made only 185,899, which is 40% growth!!!    Thank you guys so much for your help! For the first time I can remember, I had people come and ask me for an upgrade. Very empowering.  So: Here is what I have learned - that despite the unexpected - Stephen Oliver and Dan Kennedy were right in their predictions I raised my prices, increased my volume, increased my closing rate and decreased my complaints about money and have people upgrading into even more expensive programs even when consumer confidence is supposedly low.

WOW! This is cool! Thanks again guys. You have been a support and inspiration

Jonathan Metcalf (jonathan@integritymartialarts.com)

2.    We’ve created and are filling the “Peak Performers” team (limited space is available for qualified candidates.)  These are schools typically grossing between $100,000 and $400,000 a year.   They are either full-time in their school operations or targeting the transition very quickly.  It’s a combination “Master-Mind” and A-Z discussion and seminar format designed to more school owners quickly to the “next level” in their operations.   This is a place for schools with growth aspirations, but who are not yet in the top 5% of member performance.  Learn more at www.NAPMA.com/innercircle and complete an application for consideration if you quality.

Hi Rob,

I just wanted to thank you for a copy of “Think and Grow Rich”. It was a pleasant surprise receiving it in the mail yesterday. I think it’s a great time to re-read it.   I am already seeing the results of the peak performers group. May was our best month ever and I am hoping to see even better results in the following months.  The information I got off the forum has helped greatly and I am learning from everyone on it. I am starting to allocate time each day to write or respond on the forum.  The future is looking great!

Thanks.
Sensei Tim Rosanelli
Maximum Impact Karate
(215) 249-3532
www.maximpactkarate.com

3.    We’ve added Lee Milteer and her world renown “Millionaire Skills” coaching program which includes monthly “Telecoaching Calls”, Weekly lessons, and a member website among other features to help our “Inner Circle” and “Peak Performers” members expand their “Wealth Consciousness” and improve their personal business and success skills.   Each month she provides business lessons and success skills to help school owners grow.  She also brings very high caliber interviews such as the founder of Chuck-E-Cheese, Mr. Chicken Soup for the Soul:  Mark Victor Hansen, and Mr. NO B.S. Dan Kennedy.   Lee also has been kind enough to contribute to Martial Arts Professional Magazine, Martial Arts Professional – online, and occasionally to “Maximum Impact.”

4.    Resurrected the World Conference – Recreated and refocused as the “Extreme Success Academy.”   This is an event new and unequaled to teach you how to be successful in marketing, operations, sales, and in building and creating wealth.

It’s NOT focused on learning the next MMA move, or as a social environment for part timers without growth aspirations.  It’s DEFINITELY not populated with the “Usual Suspects” of speakers.  It is dominated by REAL World school owners sharing their actual CURRENT results and sharing with you how to accomplish that yourself, and by real-world business experts to help you grow your wealth and your business.  You’ve GOT to be at the Extreme Success Academy and if you haven’t registered, do it now at:  www.ExtremeSuccessAcademy.com  Unlike other events it’s about creating a substantial career as a school owner.

5.    Expanded, Enhanced, and Improved “Maximum Impact.”

At no additional charge, we’ve moved “Maximum Impact” from every other month to monthly and reorganized the format and the content.   Maximum Impact is now:   A once a month “telecoaching opportunity” where you get to ask questions and be focused on what you should be accomplishing in “real-time” moderated by Stephen Oliver along with Toby Milroy, myself, and a variety of experts.  The July “Bonus Teleconference” features Marketing Guru and Renegade Millionaire Dan Kennedy.

In addition by popular demand of members, to make your Maximum Impact materials easier to use we’ve:

A.    We’ve started posting MP3’s of the Teleconferences immediately on the Maximum Impact Members Website.

B.    We’ve started packaging the content DVD or CD’s directly with their transcripts for easy storage and to keep them together (rather than the separate plastic cases.)

C.    We’ve reorganized the transcripts as booklets rather than loose paper to help you use them effectively and internalize the material.

D.    Following our UNIVERSAL member feedback looking for real success stories from peers sharing their real life “best practices” we’ve added monthly “Success Story” Interviews with highly successful school owners just like you, who share their step by step secrets to recent success.

E.    Launched a MASSIVE new “Maximum Impact” Members Only Website that includes teleconference replays, archived materials as members have requested, and A LOT of other constantly updating materials.   Including recently Dan Kennedy and Jay Abraham Interviews, Transcripts, bonus chapters, etc., etc.

F.    We’ve added “Inner Circle,” “Peak Performers,” and “Maximum Impact” Members Only Discussion Boards for accelerated feedback and an opportunity for peer support.

G.    Coming Soon to Maximum Impact:  Instructor Training resources including CONSTANTLY updated curriculum video clips for curriculum and drills including “Little Ninja’s ®,” “Edge MMA ™ ,” and “Fitness Kickboxing ®,”  among others.

6.    We’ve created and continue expanding www.MartialArtsProfessional.com, now Martial Arts Professional has DOUBLE or more the content as before with materials available on-line.  There’s also now a COMPLETE archive of past issues beginning with January 2008 and moving forward.  View any entire issue one or two weeks before receiving it in the mail, or return to reference valuable content.

Also at www.MartialArtsProfessional.com:

A.    We’ve also added interesting Blogs – See Stephen Oliver’s entertaining daily blog up and running now.  Toby’s and Mine coming soon along with content by Tom Callos.

B.    We’ve also begun expanding and posting ALL letters to the editor on-line (especially those that didn’t make it into the magazine.)

C.    We’ve added “Chuck Norris’s” weekly commentary as well.

D.    And, we’re rapidly expanding and preparing for daily updates for a complete range of Martial Arts in the News.  (see recent additions from “The Wall Street Journal” and “Forbes Magazine” among others.

E.    We’ve expanded our range of contributors to include Dan Kennedy, Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Jay Abraham, Joe Lewis, Jeff Smith, Denis Waitley, and many others.

F.    We’ve conducted many more high profile “Celebrity Interviews” with individuals ranging from Chuck Norris to Stephen Hayes and Jhoon Rhee to Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

7.    Exciting and POWERFUL timely promotions.   For all members we teamed up with Lionsgate Entertainment for powerful co-promotions with “The Forbidden Kingdom,” providing free teleconferences, written reports, and extensive marketing materials to use in conjunction with this BIG BUDGET Blockbuster.

We created tools to help with the adult market using “Red Belt” a solid adult movie with a positive martial arts (MMA & BJJ) message.

Most exciting is our current promotion in conjunction with Dream Works pictures with “Kung-Fu Panda.”   Again, complete artwork provide 8 weeks before the movie premier, teleconferences, written reports and a complete BLUE-PRINT as a Free Member bonus to capitalize on the “Little Ninja®” market in conjunction with this HUGE movie promotion.

All of these materials were made available QUICKLY on-line and communicated to members via Email & Fax (make sure we have both UTD in your file) and posted with complete A-Z instructions on your member websites.   Also,  teleconferences were posted for REPLAY immediately on-line.

These promotions will be worth many 100’s of new students for those industrious enough to implement aggressively.  I hope you took advantage of this incredible opportunity to fire up your current students and get in front of a huge flood of people looking excited about the martial arts.

8.    “Member Services”  For your convenience we’ve also added MANY new member services features on-line including:

A.    The ability to find out when any package was shipped for your planning purposes by visiting www.NAPMA.com/shipping

B.    The ability to immediately update your member information on-line without playing phone-tag with a staff member by visiting:  www.NAPMA.com/memberservices
This is extremely useful for updating credit cards, billing address, phone number, fax number, email address or any other member information.

C.    The ability to gain immediate answers to “Technical Support Questions” like:  How do I get into my member areas?  What’s my password” and such by immediately contacting our technical people from the member services page.  (Live person real-time chat.)

D.    The ability to immediately solve membership issues or shipping issues in real-time on-line.
(Live person real-time chat.)

E.    The ability to directly and easily contact staff members via Email for shipping, technical, and other member services questions. (Live person Real-Time on-line chat.)

F.    The ability to have your questions answered directly via the Discussion Boards or the Monthly “Maximum Impact” members teleconferences.

OK, Now WHAT’S NEXT??

We’ve taken your feedback and are now immediately implementing!  You’ll be seeing lots of things you’ve directly asked for and, some things that solve other problems and expand on opportunities that you’ve pointed out in your surveys.   We’ve learned a lot about what you want and need to grow your school.

Like what??

Your “Monthly Basic Toolkit” it’s becoming more “web-interactive.”  You’ve told us that you’re more internet capable and would like to have more ready access to member support tools.    You’ve also pointed about that some pieces are redundant, and other teaching elements can be expanded for an improvement in your results.   You’ve pointed out you’d like the content to be easier to use and more directly IMPLEMENTABLE.

Specifically starting this month we’re giving you what you’ve asked for by:

1.    As you’ve requested we’re making organizing your BASIC “Toolkit” easier by sending you a FREE NAPMA three-ring note-book.  (Maximum Impact Members already that 3-ring notebooks for the Maximum Impact Materials.)   From now on all physically delivered materials will be 3-Hole punched for easier organization.   The notebook includes monthly tabs for easy organization.  The member materials will continue to be color coded for easy reference within your notebook.

2.    As you’ve requested, we’re repackaging the CD’s & DVD’s so that they can be stored with the written materials rather than stacked separately (and, getting lost.)   The plastic cases are replaced by more convenient three hole punched disc holders.

3.    As you’ve requested “NAPMA Now” continues it’s evolution to a truly useful and beneficial newsletter and advice support tool.   One of the things you’ve told us is that you want “SPECIFIC HOW-TO” advice and very clear “DIRECTION” on implementation.

That’s now included in all aspects of our program (from me in the “Sounds of Success” and “NAPMA Innovations) and from Stephen Oliver and Toby Milroy in NAPMA Now.  NAPMA Now includes:

A.    Your “Growth Opportunities” calendar “looking forward” for many months to let you plan for events, teleconferences, Inner Circle and Peak Performers Meetings, along with special events like our “Maximum Impact Members Gathering.”

B.    Easily referenced “Contacting us” and problem solving guides.

C.    Technical guides for web access and discussion board access.

D.    ANSWERS to your questions from survey submissions (submit yours if you haven’t already by visiting www.NAPMA.com/survey)  by Stephen Oliver, Toby Milroy, or me.

E.    Timely and Focused advice on how to grow your school in conjunction with seasonal events or around Economic Ups and Downs.

4.    Giving you access to various “Modes” of learning.  Something that some of you shared is that it some of you prefer reading to listening.  Whether it’s because as some of you shared that you don’t spend much time in the car or for others it’s because you learn better by reading than listening.   To support your preferences we’ll be adding transcripts of the “Sounds of Success” and posting at your Member Web Site.   Additionally, we’ll be posting the interviews at your member website as an MP3 to listen to on-line or download into your IPOD or other MP3 player.

5.    We discovered that many schools find implementation challenging for one of several reasons.   We’re attempted to address all of these issues for you (as requested and with many enhancements) with the various marketing materials, ads, mailings, newsletters in the following ways:

A.    Incredible new “Print on Demand” options where you can:

1.    Personalize and have us print and drop ship marketing materials directly to you.  Eliminating having to deal with “Publisher Files,’ with having to deal with vendors, and with having to deal with several different vendors.

2.    Upload your student or prospect lists and we’ll mail it for you!

3.    Just ask and we’ll pull a “Suspect List” and mail the market materials for you in your area.

B.     COMING SOON:   Your student Kickin’ newsletter DONE COMPLETELY FOR YOU.  Give us your calendar of events or other information and we’ll personalize it and mail it for you to your Students, Former Students, and Prospect Lists.

Your school newsletter should go to your inactive student list, your prospects lists as well as your actively attending students.  It’s a chore each month to personalize the newsletter, get it printed and mailed.  We’ll be teaching you “best practices” for using a school newsletter, improving the newsletter we provide you AND handling everything for you including putting it in the mail.

C.    Artwork SOONER.   We’ll be making seasonal artwork available on-line a month earlier than you are used to.  We’ll also have two months of artwork at a time available on-line at your member site.  You’ll also have “Evergreen” artwork needs always available including accessible on our “Print on Demand” system.

D.    MORE art-work options that fit your particular situation.   We’ll have more options especially in “print on demand” personalized for your particular style and audience.

E.    COMING SOON:  A new NAPMA Members Only: “National Leadership Club” Newsletter and support materials including student websites, marketing materials and handouts.

We’ll be making all of these available for you online rather than having to wait for your “box” and the enclosed CD.   They’ll be available to you sooner.  With easier to use “Print on Demand” options that eliminate your need to master software and other technical stuff.

Many of you have requested VERY SPECIFIC support on specific topics.  In addition to answering questions each month submitted with surveys we will periodically include in your member materials (and, on-line) “Special Reports” with things you need to know as identified by both surveys and industry trends.

The first such report was on “Tuition Pricing,” the second one is on “Operating Statistics” with the accompanying forms you need.  Upcoming ones will include special reports on “Improving Student Retention,” “Creating higher quality Black Belts,” “Non-confrontational sales methods,” “Recruiting and Training Staff,” and “Growing your school quickly,” as well as specialty reports such as applying professional methods to BJJ schools, and moving from part-time to full-time.

6.    We are adding a huge number of additional member support options during the rest of the year, such as:

A.    Member Websites and Internet Support Tools.  A wide variety of internet marketing support and student resources.

B.    24/7 Telephone answering and appointment setting. Never miss another student “Info Call.”

C.    Higher Level “Expert” tools such as a “Time Management Program for Martial Arts Entrepreneurs,” and high level marketing coaching.

D.    Extensive continued enhancements to the “Maximum Impact” Members website.

As we continue to improve your membership materials, we’d like to hear your feedback!  Please submit your membership survey form and ask important questions.   As a side note, we’ve broken a pricing policy that we insist that you follow.  Since 1994 the membership fees have stayed the same.   Last year we went in the hole over $150,000 on shipping and handling alone.

We announced several months ago that we would increase S&H fees for both Maximum Impact and Basic Members and waited until now to implement.  That minor increase will happen with the next billing cycle as our shipping and fulfillment costs once again JUMPPED in cost.   So you’ll notice a minor increase in your monthly tuition to cover that more appropriate Shipping and Handling fee.   For the time being we’ve doubled the Maximum Impact content (from 6 X a year to 12 X per year,)  radically expanded your resources, and improved your membership materials all at 1994 prices.

As we continue to improve we may have to follow our own advice and increase tuition in the future.   Certainly the tuition fees for “Inner Circle,” and “Peak Performers” will increase from our “Pioneer Discounts.”  We’ve already, as previously announced moved from the “Pioneer levels” to an intermediate “new release” tuition.  Soon they will escalate again.

I know that MANY members are excited about all the upcoming tools and enhancements.  Some have been apprehensive but they’ve been rewarded with incredible growth opportunities and great new member materials and opportunities.

I hope you are thrilled with your “Basic Toolbox” new look and feel.  If you are not receiving the Maximum Impact content you should make sure that your membership gets upgraded right away. Make sure you are making full use of your Member Websites, Discussion Boards, Telecoaching Calls, Meetings, and Events.    I look forward to meeting you in Clearwater, Florida at the Extreme Success Academy and hope to hear from soon.

Thank you.

Rob Colasanti, President
National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA)

P.S.  PLEASE make sure you’ve been heard by completing the member survey.   See www.NAPMA.com/survey

Finally, I’m sure you may have a few challenges figuring out how to get in the web site or figuring things out.  Feel free to directly contact our technical support team on-line to get immediate help.  Our priority is helping you grow your school, provide for your family, and create the income you deserve.  You’ll truly be able to improve your school while providing higher and higher quality instruction from our constantly improving membership materials.
Dear Rob,
I just opened this month’s Napma package, and surprisingly I found the CD that I had a conversation with Toby. I am so honored to be in the CD, and I want to thank you for that.  I felt that I am little embarrassed, because of my poor English, and I still have some difficulties to explain things in English.  I guess people who listen to the CD have to pay closer attention to it, right?   ;-)  Oh, by the way, you mention my school’s gross last year as 1.3 M, but 1.03 M is the correct number.  My number is still growing, and I am projecting 1.15 M for 2008.  I will let you know exact number early next year. I have seen that Napma has been doing lots of changing and improving.  Napma is always helpful to improve my Martial arts school in business and my teaching skills since the first day of joining.   Inner Circle Meeting has been extremely helpful, and all members are very open minded and eager to work together.
Again Rob, thank you for your help and all the great work in Napma, and I wish you and Napma continuously grow in the future. I will see you in July at the Inner Circle meeting.
Sincerely, Jason Yi

I can proudly report that you have helped me grow into a
successful business with two studios, five recreations centers, over 450 students and 11 instructors.

For ten years, I worked out of recreation centers and sports clubs. NAPMA helped me transition from a part-time karate teacher to a full-time karate school owner.

The programs that I currently use in my school, from self-defense to business software, have come to me through ideas from NAPMA conventions or from membership in NAPMA.

I have been in business for 17 years and a NAPMA member for the past 9 years, I can proudly report that NAPMA has helped me grow into a successful business with two studios, five recreations centers, over 450 students and 11 instructors.

I appreciate all that you have done and continue to do to help me with my growing business.

Ken Klotz,
Klotz Institute of Karate
13617 Annapolis Road
Bowie, Maryland

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FROM 0 TO OVER 300 STUDENTS
IN OUR 1ST YEAR

We moved to Santa Barbara where we knew one person and opened up a studio. We decided that it would be a good idea to go to the NAPMA convention and pick up a few ideas. What we found were programs that we could use to build and manage our business, an experienced, professional, helpful NAPMA staff, and other successful martial arts business owners that were happy to share their ideas on how to make a business grow.

We’ve been in business now for a little over a year, have over 300 students and we’re still growing.

For over 30 years I’ve kept my martial arts “sword” sharp by daily training, now I keep my business “sword” sharp with NAPMA.

Thank you NAPMA. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Dave Wheaton
President, Hapkido International
Martial Arts Family Fitness
122 E. Gutierrez Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 USA

Greetings From The Kingdom of Bahrain!

When I first joined NAPMA in 2002 I had less than 50 students, today I have close to 250! I think NAPMA is a great organization and is a great window into the professional martial arts industry for those of us who live far from the US.

The style of martial arts I teach is called Zen-Do Kickboxing. Zen-Do Bahrain is probably the largest school in the Middle East. I teach children from as young as three years. Our oldest student is a 57-year-old grandmother!

My NAPMA membership has been worth every penny. Thank you for making it such a great success.

Suhail G. Algosaibi, MBA, MCMI
3rd Degree Black Belt
Founder & Chief Instructor
Zen-Do Bahrain
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Thanks to our membership in NAPMA, we are exposed to the
techniques of the most successful businesses in our industry, allowing us to be the beneficiaries of what they have learned both
artistically and financially. I am proud to be surrounded by such elite, professional teachers and businessmen in a very exciting period in our field and to be a part of this growing and evolving industry that is earning the prestige it deserves.

I also want to extend my gratitude to NAPMA for helping Perfect
Balance Martial Arts and Fitness to become one of the most
respected schools in our community and allowing us to be able to coach, teach martial arts and transform lives while living our dreams.

The medical profession has the AMA, the legal profession the ABA, and the martial artist has NAPMA. It certifies our quality as
professional teachers and helps us realize our value and worth to an ever-expanding client base.

Master Al Agon,
PERFECT BALANCE MARTIAL ARTS AND FITNESS
Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Kickboxing
4008 Aurora St.
Coral Gables FL 33146

I launched my program and gained 100 students in 100 days. My program grew to 400 students

“My NAPMA membership has influenced my business enough that it changed my standard of living. Seven years ago I received my NAPMA package announcing a new program–Fitness Kickboxing.

I followed the video, instructions and marketing ideas. I launched my program and gained 100 students in 100 days. My program grew to 400 students and is at that level today!  I currently have a NAPMA
after-school program, a Little Ninjas program and a Padded Weapons program; and I am looking forward to starting a Tai Chi program. It just takes one monthly package, one idea…Thanks NAPMA!”

I would like to thank NAPMA for providing me with the information, marketing tools, education and programs that took my school from 150 students to 600 students. I attribute my success to the content and service of NAPMA and lots of hard work. I have looked at many so- called “marketing packages” throughout the years and none compare with the content of the NAPMA package. I’ve reviewed all the “me, too” and slick-looking packages but none contained the professionalism and information that helped me grow my business to what it is today. Beware of the wolves in sheep’s clothing!

Charlie Foxman, Midwest Martial Arts
Midwest Martial Arts Academy
11947 Olive Rd
St. Louis, Missouri  63141  United States
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“I joined NAPMA because their advice made sense and didn’t compromise the integrity of my art.”

“I teach traditional karate-do. I joined the National Association of Professional Martial Artists because their advice made sense and didn’t compromise the integrity of my art or my position as a teacher. NAPMA is about education and raising the standards of professionalism in the  martial arts. For a few dollars a day, I’ve hired a prolific team of graphic artists, marketing experts, martial arts business consultants and researchers that have helped me become financially independent and have allowed me to pursue the essence of karate without selling out. If you’re passionate about teaching the martial arts, NAPMA membership is an absolute must.”

Brad Jones
Traditional Shotokan Karate Training
Brad Jones Karate Do and Fitness Training Centre
244 Main Street South
Newmarket, ON
L3Y 3Z5  Canada

The Truth Will Set You Free…
my student base went from 83 students to over 450
students in less than 9 months

NAPMA has set me free from headaches. Each month its new ideas and marketing materials takes away all the guesswork. With NAPMA, my student base went from 83 students to over 450 students in less than 9 months. NAPMA showed me the way.

It’s simple, follow the NAPMA guidelines, do a little cut and paste and you’re on your way. Now I spend my time doing what I like to do, and do best…Teach.

Experience the difference…NAPMA  (speaks the truth)

Bruce Drago, Master Drago’s Karate, Blandon, PA
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My name is Henry Hyde; I am a 5th-Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and owner of Hyde Tae Kwon Do Inc. I have been a NAPMA member since 1999. When I first heard of NAPMA, I wasn’t interested in joining. I felt I didn’t need someone to tell me how to run my school. Boy, was I wrong. I was a very traditional instructor and just wanted to teach Tae Kwon Do. Long story short, I joined NAPMA.

Since being with NAPMA, I now teach Grappling, Judo and Kickboxing. I have also been certified in CDT (Control Direction Takedown). I currently have 16 Black Belts under me and every month I share the NAPMA information with my instructors. My retention rate is very high, which I am very proud of. For the wealth of information you get from NAPMA, it makes it well worth the money. I would encourage any school owner to join. It would be the best business decision you ever made. In today’s martial art world, one must have business savvy, in addition to extensive techniques to teach in order to thrive and not just survive. NAPMA puts you in that arena.

I would like to thank NAPMA for putting together a great organization for all martial artists.

Master Henry D. Hyde
Hyde Tae Kwon Do, Inc.
7701 Boca Ciega Drive
St. Pete Beach, Florida
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I have been a NAPMA member for ten years and have not regretted one moment of it. NAPMA has been the industry leader when comes to innovation and change. The program that your fine organization offers has allowed me to become a true professional martial artist. Ten years ago we implemented the Cardio Karate/Fitness Kickboxing program, which is still going strong today. We also redesigned our preschool program to encompass the Little Ninjas curriculum. As for staff training, we use the “Way Of”, ACMA Instructor Manuals and the NAPMA Staff Development programs. The audio and video/multimedia package that I receive as a member each month has been without a doubt the greatest benefit of being a NAPMA member. The contents of this package keeps me up on the latest trends in our industry and provide excellent content for my staff meetings. Through our membership with NAPMA, we have not only achieved 15 years in the industry, but we also reached our goal of 350 active students! Thank you, NAPMA!

Chick Gavitt, Ichiban Karate Studio,
Traditional Shorin-Ryu karate and Fitness Kickboxing
228 Robinson St, Wakefield, RI, 02879, USA
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“I doubled the size of my school in two months!”

“our active enrollment was 123 students. With the help of NAPMA Little Ninjas preschool program and the Ultimate Body Shaping Course, I grew my school to 254 students by the end of February 2002. The momentum continued with 35 new students that March. My school leaped to the next level and the momentum has driven us to even greater successes.”

Not only does it give each Little Ninja something to focus on every day, but it also gives him a reward each day ( belt stripe or stickers and applause ). It also causes the instructor to focus on each child individually each day instead of looking at them as just a sea of eyes and bodies. They focus on individuals. The Little Ninjas program creates a special moment for each student everyday.

Comments: I have tried the business of martial arts, and with a management company. I must say that my livelihood is much better with the company helping me out. I have been a NAPMA member and have attended all their seminars and conventions. I went from a 200-student school to a 400-student school since joining with NAPMA. I must say I sleep better at night not having to worry about every little detail that goes on. My classes are better now that I am constantly motivated. I don’t need to pick my own brain now that I have professional consultants and people to network from. The entire NAPMA staff is the most professional in this field. But don’t take my word for it, ask any NAPMA member and I’m sure they would say the same!

We should be at 300 students at the very latest by the end of October and are on track for 350 - 400 by the end of the year….

I’ve gotten such a response for Ninjas that I’ve added a 2nd evening group that is already filled (I split them into low and high belts) and am starting morning Ninjas and Pre-Ninjas in 2 weeks….

We’re still working on improvements and additions to the system and it’s showing…..Let the games begin.

“If I hadn’t started NAPMA’s Fitness Kickboxing I’d still be working a job. If I hadn’t started Little Ninjas and the UBC I’d still be just getting by. I became a member before I even opened the doors to my school and I’m thankful that I did. Without the great new ideas and help from NAPMA I know all this wouldn’t have happened! Thank you, NAPMA!”

Keith Wilkes,
Fear Knot Martial Arts – Tae Kwon Do
1285 Manheim Pike * Lancaster, PA
17601 15 Center Square * Elizabethtown, Pa 17022
2285 West Harrisburg Pike * Middletown, PA 17057
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Dear NAPMA,

When learning martial arts, we didn’t do it all on our own, we sought out the teachings of the most experienced and accomplished Masters in our respective fields.

Mr. Colasanti has also worked with he best, the absolute business masters of our industry. His contacts include leaders in owning multiple locations and specialists in management development, staff training, advertising, marketing and enrollments. Mr. Colasanti has had the opportunity to get inside the doejahngs - inside the minds of these leaders - and has created this wonderful compilation of experience and wisdom.

This book and all of the information available through NAPMA is a priceless tool. Eliminating the need to reinvent the wheel allows us to start off with the wisdom that others acquired through decades of trial and error.

Mr. Colasanti’s mastery of information has been instrumental in skyrocketing our industry toward providing supreme customer service, excellence in instruction and extremely lucrative sales. The evolution from struggling school owner to successful entrepreneur has allowed me to actually have time to enjoy the “Art” that began this journey in the first place. Thank you.

Master Rondy Chang,
White Tiger TaeKwondo and Martial Arts
——————————————————————————— Most importantly, and here is where I shed a tear, is that NAPMA has elevated my life to a higher level of growth, development and personal achievement. My success personally and professionally is a direct result my NAPMA membership.

Three and a half years ago, I purchased my school from my instructor and let’s just say that I had my work cut out for me.   Starting with 60 students and most of their tuition already cashed out, bartered, or late, the school had a gross income of a whopping $6,000 per month! As an immediate call to action I pulled a secret weapon out from under my sleeve…my action plan. I got to work right away by applying all that I learned from my mentors at NAPMA. In martial arts, we generally learn stances first to establish a strong foundation to build up to learning the basics. The first six months was stance training! I implemented a billing service to get tuition on track. The curriculum was burned and revamped to suit the needs of a modern martial art student from children to adults and, no I did not sell out or comprise the integrity of my style! I got to work on getting my rear in gear with personal development such as goal setting and time management.

The belt ranking system was enhanced to keep students motivated. I could not even afford to pay myself, yet I hired my program director, now my lovely fiancé. I didn’t know where the money would come from; I just figured her work would generate cash flow which it did, by the way did I mention that I was living out of a spare locker room in the school! The basics where added on with a renewed pro shop, Christmas sales, movie nights, belt award ceremonies, low-cost marketing strategies, leadership team, picnics, black belt club, masters club. A lot of these things we had in place already but there is an enormous difference in doing things and doing things right. Six months later the school was generating cash flow and it was time to keep statistics. The monthly total gross now up to double digits before the comma $13,284.89!  Growing to 182 students later that year, I moved the school to a new location, $12,922.19 then $16,498.64 monthly gross, I built a monster and it was growing. Year two, the monthly gross peaked at $25,760.44, and I was drawing a paycheck and had long moved out of my locker room sleeping days. Each year I attended the NAPMA Conference and returned for the next round of rolling up my sleeves and getting busy.

Long story short, my school grosses on average $23,651.24, my personal income is well over $100,000.00 per year and I look forward to coming to work each day, I love what I do! I now have disability insurance, life insurance, health insurance, IRA’s, an increasing net worth, $0 debt; and it has only been 3 1⁄2 years later. I enjoy my involvement in our community, I get to train 2 hours per day in my martial arts just in my personal practice before classes start in the morning, not to mention positively impacting the lives of others all day long. I continue to utilize my NAPMA knowledge applying as much as I can from each package.

Most importantly, and here is where I shed a tear, is that NAPMA has elevated my life to a higher level of growth, development and personal achievement. My success personally and professionally is a direct result my NAPMA membership. This has been a nice stroll down memory lane and I thank you NAPMA for making it all possible. Oh. sure I could have perhaps done it without them, but I am positive it would have been a heck of a lot longer and harder, a heck of a lot!

Daniel Rominski
Kancho 52 Park Ave
Rutherford, NJ 07070

Olympic Karate Institute
Dear NAPMA Team,

I briefly cancelled my membership to NAPMA but soon realized how big a mistake I had made by canceling. I am now a member once again,
I reactivated my membership yesterday.

NAPMA helps me to not only increase my profits each time without fail, but also serves as a monthly motivational tool for all areas of my life.

I would like to thank the NAPMA team and take this opportunity to congratulate you on a truly excellent service.

Danilo Dusoswa,
Kerry Region Karate Schools, Ireland

I joined I joined NAPMA. At first, I was going
to get some ideas and quit. Little did I know that
I would get addicted to NAPMA and it would change
my life forever
“Thanks to NAPMA, I own one of the most successful
martial art schools in South Florida.”

The best advice that I can give anyone that wants to quit their day job and become a successful martial arts professional is first to join NAPMA. Second,
devour the NAPMA packages. Third, be a student for life in the martial arts, business and marketing. Never ever stop learning and devouring the NAPMA packages and you will continue to succeed.

I was once told that no one could make a living by teaching martial arts and I believed it. My first month teaching I had 12 students at $40 a month at an open pavilion at a country club. Today I’m the biggest and most expensive school in my area with 9 schools within a two-mile radius. I was working as a correction officer at a State of Florida maximum-security prison. I felt that teaching martial arts was a good part- time job. But my goal was to leave the prison before my hair grayed. I remember telling my wife when I was getting ready to go to work on the midnight shift after a day of teaching Kung Fu and Fitness Kickboxing, honey, one day I will look back at this and consider it a nightmare. Within a few months, I joined I joined NAPMA. At first, I was going to get some ideas and quit. Little did I know that I would get addicted to NAPMA and it would change my life forever. Three years later I began living my childhood dream and retired from the prison. In less than 7 years later, I look at my storefront school, my house, my students, the numerous TV shows and newspapers we have been in and I pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. I was the first Spanish speaker at the NAPMA World Conference; I’m NAPMA’s NSSN Florida representative; I own one of the most successful and recognized martial arts school in South Florida. I am what I call NAPMA bred and feed. Thank you NAPMA and Rob for leading the way.

Julio Anta
Traditional Southern Shaolin Hung Gar Kung Fu & Chi-Gong
10721 NW 58 St. Doral, Miami, Florida
——————————————————————————— NAPMA has been there with me, every step of the way, as I grew to over 300 students and completed an expansion literally doubling my mat space

It was over 10 years ago that I quit my full-time job in nursing to open my school. I’m glad I was insightful enough to join NAPMA six months before I even opened the doors!  NAPMA has been there with me from the beginning-from how to choose a location, to systems for tracing enrollments and retention, to special events, and really effective “NON-BLACK BELT EYES” ads.

NAPMA has been there with me, every step of the way, as I grew to over 300 students and completed an expansion literally doubling my mat space. But best of all, NAPMA encouraged me to truly value the character development skills I teach and to price the training accordingly. Without that encouragement, I’m sure I couldn’t be where I am today.

NAPMA is great at helping school owners to do their best because NAPMA is the BEST!

Diane Reeve, Owner
5th Degree Black Belt (Tae Kwon Do)
Vision Martial Arts Center,
909 W Spring Creek Pkwy # 370
Plano, TX 75023
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Suddenly it hit me that there is so much information in there,
it really isn’t necessary to invest in any other marketing materials,
martial art or otherwise!

I just have to tell you this. I’m getting myself ready for Valentine’s
promotions, so I decided to look at the NAPMA February 2005(package) for additional ideas. But I get caught up reading some of the other material in the package.

Suddenly it hit me that there is so much information in there, it really isn’t necessary to invest in any other marketing materials, martial art or otherwise!

I’m just thinking, “What if I had REALLY been using this material over the past 10 years? Where would my school be today?”
.
I feel reborn!

Dwight Woods
12580 SW 88th Street, Miami, Florida 33186
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You provide an invaluable service. Keep up the wonderful work!

A great big thank you to Mr. Colasanti and the staff at NAPMA for your willingness to help and answer the questions that I might have. Finding new students has been challenging during the first 6 months of 2005, so I called NAPMA with questions about ideas that I might use to bring new people in the door. After being in business for 26 years, we had tried many things to bring in new students, but for one reason or another some of those things weren’t working for us. We needed to find the little thing that we are not doing right to turn these efforts into successes or be reminded of the things that we were no longer using that we should try again. Mr. Colasanti and the staff have always helped me find the little thing that I might be missing. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to Mr. Colasanti and the staff at NAPMA because you speak to so many martial artists who are consistently mentioning great ideas to you; and you, to your credit, are willing to share those great ideas with your membership. You provide an invaluable service. Keep up the wonderful work!

Fred Nicklaus
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Mr. Colasanti,

I just want to say thanks for contacting me about NAPMA and its benefits. I’ve started applying the marketing ideas and improving some of my programs to benefit the students and the center better. The book by Rob Colasanti is a great source of information and has given me a better understanding of the martial arts industry. I know that joining NAPMA is one of the best investments I have ever made.

James Isler, Chief Instructor, American Martial Arts Training Center, Eufaula, Al
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Dear NAPMA,

I have been studying martial arts for twenty years, and for the last ten I have heard of an association called NAPMA. I must say, at first, I was very skeptical, I mean really how can someone tell you all these secrets for a successful martial arts school and not be commonly known? I have trained with various teachers from various styles and systems throughout my years, and every one of them gave me advice on what I should do to be successful in the martial arts. So why would I need to join this association? After reading an article in Martial Arts Professional, I talked it over with my fiancé and we decided, why not give it a try? If it doesn’t work, or it’s just a bunch of things I’ve already been told, then after a couple of months we’ll cancel the membership. After becoming a member before I ever received the first package, I got a phone call from Bill Workman, a very energetic, and enthusiastic person who was willing to answer any of my questions. Shortly after that I received the first package and all the bonus material. I have now come to the realization that I only knew a small fraction of what I really needed to know. My fiancé is now the Program Director for our new school. Within in our first week of opening the doors, we attained 23 students and grossed $1,800. If you utilize all the steps that NAPMA teaches, you will succeed! Take it from a skeptic. Thanks NAPMA, and God Bless!!

Robert S. Staples, Master Instructor,
Staples’ Martial Arts and Self-Defense
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I did the best in my Life: became a NAPMA Member.

Good morning, Rob!

Before I become a NAPMA membership, my wife and I struggled every month and had a lot of problems. Then I asked a friend what NAPMA exactly is, and after studying Mr. Graden’s books (he opened my eyes) I did the best in my Life: became a NAPMA Member.
Things changed fast since I’ve been a member (I think I am now in year 4), and in the first month I have over 2000$ more income, and in this bad times it was coming in the right moment. Now after this years and two Conventions - I cannot believe why I not was earlier a member of NAPMA. I opened my first school in 1990, bought a bigger one to impress others (my greatest failure) in 1994. But in the last four years I am growing constantly, my active student count is 281 in my first school (population in my town 3700). In October 2003, I opened my second location 5 miles away with 90 active students.

My wife Claudia and I manage the schools, we have three full-timers and have, after starting the G.O.L.D. Team (thanks to NAPMA), 14 part-timers (everyone is doing his job for free).

Last week I received this month package and it’s still one of the best I ever held in my hand. From the great bonus ad to the DVD, there is so much material inside. What I love most is the NBC-TV bonus segment, which I will copy and give it out to parents and schoolteachers to see why martial arts is good and a must for kids.

Awesome job!
Oliver Drexler NSSN Germany
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Mr. Colasanti,

NAPMA has been the single most beneficial organization I have joined ever and through my association with you I’ve learned what I was doing wrong in the “early years” that kept me at such a small number of students, and with addition of NAPMA, two things have just exploded for us this year. We’re at 200 active and growing by leaps and bounds. We project to be well over 225 by year’s end.

My strong points are leadership and curriculum development as well as copywriting and advertising.

Thank you for everything and I await your response,

James Theros
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NAPMA has given me and my school ideas and plans that really cannot be fully equated to $$.

I am a diehard NAPMA fan. In the last 12 months, NAPMA has given me and my school ideas and plans that really cannot be fully equated to $$. Just to list a few things that we have done.

1:
Only because of NAPMA did we walk away from our organization (Choi Kwang-Do) and set out on our own. We reduced fees that we charge our students and still increased over last year by 25%.  And now I don’t have someone telling me what to teach and how to teach it and costing me $20,000 per year.  Instead I am exposed from great martial artist from around the globe and allow my students to pick and choose what they like!

2:
We have begun the NAPMA Padded Weapons Program with unbelievable success.

3:
We have begun the NAPMA Little Ninja’s Program and it has been excellent as well.

4:
In November, we had our first one-day holiday sale ever and grossed over $4000 in retail sales. Even without the extra 4K we still did more retail sales in November and December than the previous year.  So the one-day sale was just bonus!

5:

In December we had our first ever Holiday Party/Dinner featuring the demo team and awards for everything I could think of under the sun. This party alone fired up the entire school so much that we picked up 11 students from referrals in the week following the party.

6:
In my 9 community education schools, I implemented portions of the theme-based curriculum with phenomenal success. The 8-week course ends this Friday and we have already signed 26 kids from the program (out of 171 possible) to 1-year or 3-year programs. The best I have ever converted with these programs is 17 kids last year.

We were up $10,000 in November and are already up $7,000 in December for month end and I have 2 weeks left!  If only my stock portfolio was doing this well <grin>.

Jeff Duncan, Farmington Martial Arts
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“Since joining NAPMA in 1996, my schools have risen to the next level. Running a multi-school operation can be hectic, but fresh ideas and quality support from the entire NAPMA staff has allowed my organization to experience continuous growth. NAPMA has allowed me to compete and be successful in the modern martial arts industry without sacrificing the integrity of my traditional martial arts.”

Roger A. Jarrett,
President and Chief Instructor
USA Martial Arts Federation
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Your monthly support materials are worth 10 times what you charge

Dear Rob,

First of all, I would like to thank you and NAPMA for your help. When my wife and I decided to open a martial arts school, we had practically no business experience. With your monthly business tips, eye-catching ad material, and video support, we’ve grown by leaps and bounds.

When we first joined NAPMA, we had approximately 25 students and were teaching in an old television repair shop out of the city limits. Both my wife and myself were working full-time jobs plus running our school full time.

We were years ahead in offering any type of cardio karate in this area, because we took NAPMA’s advice. This was one of the things that allowed us to more than double our enrollment and be able to move to a better location. I was also in the first group who was ACMA-certified. Not only did this give me local publicity, but it also enhanced my teaching techniques.

At the NAPMA World Conference 2000, I was introduced to Krav Maga. My wife and myself traveled to California and went through the Krav Maga instructor program. I go to CA several times a year now to train. Krav Maga has not only enriched our training, but it has enabled us to double adult student enrollment by adding an exciting, to-the-point style of self-defense.

We cannot begin to thank you enough for helping build the backbone of our dojo. We now have a student base of 130, and have recently expanded our school to double the size with a bigger lobby, smoothie bar, and a second classroom currently under construction. This is now our full-time job. Our plan is to be at 200 students within this year.

Your monthly support materials are worth 10 times what you charge (maybe I shouldn’t say that). Not only would they help a school just starting out, but also help existing schools by adding new ideas and maintaining retention.

Mark Myers, Myers Family Karate Center, LLC, Hammond, LA
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NAPMA has helped me grow both personally
and professionally.

Dear Mr. Colasanti:

I have been studying the martial arts for almost 40 years. I hold a 9th Dan in Shorin Ryu Karate and a 7th Dan in Goju Ryu Karate as well as a Hanshi Grade, Chief Grand Master Instructor, teaching licensure. I founded the House of the Samurai, Inc. in the basement of my home approximately 31 years ago. Over the years, my dojo’s student population slowly increased, but my school’s growth rate was often surpassed by the magnitude and quantity of its business challenges. In time, I became a magna cum laude graduate of the school of hard knocks. Even so, I continued to make some monumental mistakes, costing me a huge number of students and money. I started to lose my passion for the arts and considered other employment opportunities. My own instructors were phenomenal technicians and taught martial arts professionally themselves during the earlier days of Bruce Lee, Billy Jack, and Kwai Chang Caine in the weekly television series, Kung Fu. However, they were all closed-minded with respect to the martial arts business, an affliction that often plagues traditional martial artists, even to this day. Consequently, all of these extremely talented Senseis have long since gone out of business. Some of them continue to teach an occasional seminar for a few bowls of rice as they say. Thus, I didn’t have any mentors or role models to emulate on the business side in the world of martial arts although I craved and needed this type of guidance. To fill this void, I initially joined the ranks of Martial Arts America under the leadership of Mr. Andrew Wood. This relationship was fruitful in the sense that it started me to think along new lines. After three or more years with Mr. Wood’s organization, I decided that many of the concepts proposed by Martial Arts America failed to harmonize with or mirror my own style of conducting business in my staunch traditional Dojo. Prior to my tenure with MAA, I employed the services of the Educational Funding Company, primarily to collect my school’s tuition. EFC did not offer a vast array of marketing and management material at that time. I eventually transferred my accounts receivable business to a local, more reliable and affordable service. Thus, I continued my quest for business knowledge. If my memory serves me correctly, I think that it was Mr. Tony Fournier from Portland, Maine that first talked to me about NAPMA. Tony is now the NSSN faculty member for his home state of Maine. Tony enthusiastically endorsed the company’s quantity and quality of services. I decided to join the ranks of NAPMA per Tony’s recommendations, a decision that I have never regretted. I am now also a NAPMA Squared member. As a result, I have access to a vast array of different resources, which continue to flood and positively influence my now wide-open mind. Consequently, I have revamped my school’s curriculum and class schedules; added various upgrade programs working under the guidelines of New Hampshire’s most restrictive health club statutes that govern and regulate martial arts schools; established a new ranking system, an act considered almost sacrilegious in traditional karate circles; increased my tuition substantially without suffering any dropouts; added instructor certification programs; hired a full time Dojo Director and Program Director, six part time instructors and office support personnel; assisted eight of my own students to open their own schools; formed my own martial arts organization; purchased the $650,000 building that houses my Dojo; etc. I always possessed the ambition to succeed in the martial arts industry without compromising my values and integrity, but basically lacked the tools to do so. NAPMA provided me with these tools, which I continue to use on a daily basis to attain many of my previously illusive business goals. This organization’s membership is teeming with extremely successful, professional martial artists from very diverse backgrounds. NAPMA provides a network for its members to share their stories of success as well as failure, enabling all to learn and profit collectively. NAPMA has helped to revolutionize the martial arts industry. The general public has been educated accordingly, and men, women, and children of all ages are finally starting to realize the many mental, physical, and emotional benefits that martial arts training truly offers. Many of the “old school” philosophies and abusive training tactics have been eradicated and the martial arts industry now enjoys a long overdue elevated level of respect.

Since joining the ranks of NAPMA in 1999, I have attained a fair degree of success in the martial arts business. I now possess the freedom and flexibility to spend more quality time with my family, my highest priority in life. I have not yet acquired total financial freedom, but the peak of this lofty mountain is now within my sight and grasp. My passion for the arts has returned and I am now having more FUN than ever before teaching my arts. I honestly enjoy running my business. My business no longer runs me. In conclusion, these are some of the ways that NAPMA has helped me grow both personally and professionally.

Richie Bernard
Executive Director
House of the Samurai, Inc., Londonderry, NH

——————————————————————————————

Thanks Rob for the information.

I don’t know if you remember me or not but, we are located in Michigan. I have met you several times and have been with your company since it started (or close to that time). We have 9 schools now, and are adding 5 more main training centers in Sept. I appreciate and love what you folks do and that’s why I have been loyal to your company.

Keep up the good work Rob,

Rich Collins

We both know how much NAPMA has done to improve our business.

NAPMA has been a great source of strength for my school and myself. The Annual World Conference has always left my wife and myself hungering for more of what NAPMA has to offer us. The monthly package is something that we look forward to eagerly! Why? Because we both know how much NAPMA has done to improve our business.

We became NAPMA members after being members of another organization for many years. During the time with this other organization, our school would climb a little and then sink back down. Needless to say, we were growing very frustrated. No one was helping us. Then we heard about NAPMA. We left that other organization, found a new billing company and became NAPMA members. Since joining NAPMA we have left our old location, which was approximately 1,000 sq. feet and opened up in a prime new location with 3,000 sq. feet and have been there for over 2 years now. Our numbers have also increased! We went from having approximately 60 active students to now over 200 active students, and still growing!

We have also enjoyed belonging to the NAPMA listserv, which is a great resource! And we have learned so much from all the wonderful people we have been able to network with through this medium. Because of this, we have even started doing our own in-house billing which has been great, thanks to all the help and advice we have received through this list.

From almost Day 1 with NAPMA, we have always felt like we were part of a family! We feel like everyone is right there for us and not some obscure figure somewhere. People at NAPMA are REAL people who are always there to help us.

We cannot say enough about NAPMA and the wonderful things NAPMA has done for our school.

Robert M. Chester,
East Coast Martial Arts Center, Groton, CT

Thanks NAPMA for helping me “fire my job”
and live my dreams!

Before joining NAPMA in 1997, I was doing what most martial arts school owners were doing, writing my own flyers (in black & white), handling the accounting, collections, phone interviews, intros and enrollment conferences. Not to mention the fact that I was also teaching classes and working a full time job! Thanks to NAPMA, my school is fully systemized from “how to open the door” to what to say when the phones are answered! Our gross increased 400% and I went from one part-time employee (me) to four full-time and six part-time employees.

My Martial Arts, Kickin’ Kids, Summer Camp and Fitness programs are all on “auto pilot”. Not only had NAPMA helped me fulfill my dream of retiring at 37, but also it helped me help others fulfill their dreams. As Zig Ziglar says, “You can have anything you want as long as you help other get what they want.”

Thanks NAPMA for caring enough about our industry to do what others feared to do…ACT!

“NAPMA is great at helping school owners to do their best- because NPAMA is the BEST!”

Samuel Scott, President / CEO and Founder, Full Circle Martial Arts Academy, Maryland
————————————————————————————-My NAPMA membership has changed my vision…

I opened my first studio at the age of 21. My vision was to teach martial arts as a hobby while I pursued a career in law enforcement. I never realized that martial arts could be a serious profession (let alone a profitable one).

When I connected with the people at NAPMA, I learned that becoming a professional martial arts studio owner was more than just a daydream. They taught me how to run a professional studio, integrate new and exciting programs and turn my vision into reality. I currently have a dedicated program that includes grappling and kickboxing with alternative upgrade programs such Black Belt Club, Masters Class and Leadership training.

My vision has changed, my studio has grown and my way of life has improved dramatically…I went from part-time hobby, to full-time enjoyment! Thanks NAPMA.

Shane G. Weaver, Senior Instructor/Owner,
RED GRIFFIN MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO, Canada

Between nine months and one year of joining NAPMA, my martial arts school has tripled in size.

Dear NAPMA,

I opened my martial arts school in Bermuda two years ago and struggled to find and keep a core of students focused on training. About a year ago, I found NAPMA on the Web and contemplated whether I should join this organization, because so many organizations promise they will help you achieve your goals, and they never fulfill their end or there is always a catch. So I bit the bullet, and enrolled in the NAPMA program. Between nine months and one year of joining NAPMA, my martial arts school has tripled in size and has a student base more focused and excited about the benefits of joining a martial arts school. The monthly material that NAPMA sends you is guaranteed to work if you read it, study it and apply it. This is the only true industry that can target life skills development in our children and adults. Any serious martial arts school owner should strongly consider joining NAPMA if they want to make a living in the martial arts industry. I am proof of this success, and I endorse the commitment that NAPMA has in improving the martial arts profession around the world.

Sensei Shawn Harvey,
founder of the Bermuda Small Circle Jujitsu Academy
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Just a quick note to let everyone at NAPMA know how thankful we are.

Thanks to NAPMA and the Little Ninjas program we have been able to go out and pursue our passion full-time now. We have just opened a 4,000 square foot dojo and have new students enrolling daily.  Thanks for the great marketing tools.

Chris & Tami Sprague, Personal Development Institute, Inc., Lincoln, IL
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Dear NAPMA,

This is an update on our new studio construction, formerly Martial Arts of Springdale…now called Karate World of Oklahoma, LLC.

The building is 4500 square feet on one acre of Highway 412 frontage next to the golf driving range. Highway 412 is one of only three (3) routes across the state of Arkansas; I-40 in the center of the state at Ft. Smith to Little Rock, I-30 in the extreme South of the state at Texarkana and Highway 412 in the North from Tulsa to Fayetteville (GO RAZORBACKS!). Traffic flow is 97,000 cars per day in front of the school.
We are having the floor in our reception’s high traffic area treated to an etched and stained concrete treatment with our new logo inlaid.

We are using the livestock arena/ wooden workout area fence that I saw in the NAPMA magazine’s Largo, Florida studio last month…what a great idea especially in a Western-motif part of the State!

We have huge dressing rooms on opposite sides of the studio with the mall-type entry ways to reduce liability issues, instructor-only dressing room, retail area, private lesson room, hanging bags, Focusmasters, two walls of mirrors, Wavemasters, Surroundsound, parent seating and a host of other really cool stuff.

Completion date is somewhere around December 20th, with an opening date in early to mid-January.

For marketing, the public schools are distributing our NAPMA flyers to all the kids EVERY MONTH. I take ONE copy to the school  and they re-copy and distribute to the kids. It helps that I went to school there and hung around with the current teachers. At the local 3A football games where my former NASKA rated nephew, now a senior, attends and plays on the team, they promote the new studio over the p.a. system. (As a side note, my nephew and Ryan Pinkston were brought to my hotel room by hotel security in Atlanta for pressing all the buttons in the elevator at 3:30 a.m. a few years ago at the Battle of Atlanta!)

I gave free three-month lesson packets as rewards for academic performances for the grade school kids, donated free months of lessons for less fortunate kids at another school and have promised to do a Tony Robbins FIREWALK fund-raiser for the elementary school when my studio reaches 100 active! I did a Firewalk for Tyson’s computer programmers earlier in October.

We give out VIP Passes everywhere we go. We have an information box out front of the construction site with helpful info and schedules of classes…all 31 or more classes that we offer. We have several future newspaper ads ready to run, thanks to NAPMA. The local newspaper previously ran a 1/3-page story on the new business coming to town complete with phone number and address. I also hung out with the reporter’s uncle a few years ago!  He promised to come back when we open, too.

The phone is ringing….calls from future students as far away as Bentonville, (35 miles) requesting an opening date. Calls once a week from our former M.A.S. students 28 miles away inquiring on the progress of the new studio. They can’t wait until we open!

We are ready to get the ball rolling and want to say a great big “THANK YOU” to NAPMA for your incredibly OUTSTANDING support over the years!  The best is yet to come!

Steve & Nanette Place, Karate World of Oklahoma
Mr. Colasanti:

I wanted to write you this letter to thank you. I recently listened to your live interview on the PPS/Member Solutions Website and I wanted to let you know something…

It was inspirational.

Listening to your interview has empowered me; I am already seeing results in not only my martial arts club, but my personal life as well. It is a rare treat to encounter someone with your knowledge and experience that gives so selflessly. The topics you spoke on hit home for me on so many levels it is hard to express in this letter, I listened to the interview 3 times over in the course of a day and have since listened to it 3 more times. I can honestly say that had I not accidentally bumped into your interview and listened to it, I do not think I would be taking the steps I am today towards improving my life and my business. You sir, are an inspiration to martial arts instructors and business people everywhere. I am proud to be able to tell you that.

Chris Howes, Chief Instructor, Lightning Family Martial Arts
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Dear Rob,

It was really great to talk to you first hand about some of my questions. To tell you the truth I was quite surprised that you would make time for the “little guy”. That’s something I haven’t experienced too often.

I have already put some of your suggestions into motion by working on that letter we talked about and planning part of the marketing free seminar. I am very excited and not so overwhelmed.

Monica Burton
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Now in our 10th year of operation we have over 550 active members and 7 satellite locations. Thank you NAPMA!”

“Since 1997 NAPMA has had a tremendous impact on how we run our martial arts business.  They have given us many tools to implement.  In turn, this has helped us to elevate the professionalism of our staff, the amount of students we teach, and the quality of the programs we offer. Now in our 10th year of operation we have over 550 active members and 7 satellite locations. Thank you NAPMA!”

Steve Stewart, SSMMA Family Fitness Center, Canada
Dear Rob,
I wanted to drop you a line to tell you what a fantastic job you and your staff have done so far to renew my faith and interest in NAPMA. I as well as many of the martial artists I know agree that you have taken what I consider to be a cancerous organism and have not only cured it, but have literally breathed new life and excitement into it.

The damage done to your organization by past leadership editorial decisions, corporate culture and theoretical stance was in my opinion insurmountable. So much mistrust and bad will had accrued due to many things including the as-a-matter-of-fact statements that often alienated traditionalists like myself. It is not my intention to re-open any wounds but to instead focus on the positive. However, if we do not at least recognize past misdeeds we may never learn, heal and move on from them.

The NAPMA kits you send out monthly are a godsend to schools both small and large. I am a direct response marketer and dojo owner and have for the last eight years helped to produce a perennial top ten infomercial, which is an industry leader and top performer. Having said that - I have never held much faith in print. But to be honest, your creative staff have, month in and month out, created emotive copy and striking graphics that has changed my whole perspective on print advertising. The functionality of your print interface is very good and easy to navigate.

Your audio CD series is innovative and informative and the rest of the package is top notch as well. All of these kudos point to the kind of visionary leadership backed by a strong support team that was needed to honorably rekindle my faith and TRUST in NAPMA.

I thank you all for the hard work you have done to reach this point and look with interest to the future of marketing and networking in the martial arts - NAPMA.

Grand Master Kevin Huunjin Cullen
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Hello, Sir:

If you asked me for one thing that NAPMA has given my team and me, then it is the realization that martial arts is a profession. Before I was introduced to NAPMA, I was teaching out of a hall with students paying nightly, and a student base of what seemed to be 100, but in reality was more like 25.  I opened up a full-time centre some years before, but had to close it after only one year due to me running it like a “club” and not a school.  So I went back to teaching out of our local halls. Occasionally I would purchase goods from Bytomic here in the UK and they first put me on to NAPMA. Well, from the moment I had the first package, it blew me away. I had always dreamed of running a successful business in martial arts, but was forced to continue in my trade, which was carpentry.
UK school owners could really benefit
from NAPMA.

An opportunity came up for a full-time school, and now, having NAPMA in my corner, I was ready to step up. Well, the rest is history. Over the years I have realized that I must educate myself in “martial arts business”, and NAMPA started all that for me. Now I get as much knowledge as I can.

UK school owners could really benefit from NAPMA due to the fact that professional schools in the UK are still very remote. Every big name in the US that has come over to the UK, I have been there. I remember when you came over to our seminar, when Mr. Graden came over and promoted his cardio kickboxing, when Mr. Callos came over. The latest person from the states to come over has been Mr. Mertans from MASS training.  Love him or hate him a great motivational speaker with great ambition and a man that has changed the way I feel about students.

You see I love martial arts, but the way that we were teaching was for me a little “soft”. I had lost my identity a little, I was concentrating on just totally keeping students happy, no matter what.  But a funny thing happened, I tried to keep the students all happy, but I did fail at that as somebody always had a moan and I was the first one they would run to. I felt like the “I’m sorry man”, but hey they still left. Financially I was doing OK, I had staff, but I did nearly all the classes and if I did not, I would lock myself in the office in the hope that no body would know I was there.  Now though, I’ve been told to “put the martial arts back in martial arts”, and well, just like when I went from nightly paying students to monthly, what a change.

Now we are the instructors and basically the relationship I have with the students know is, I say you do. I now am able to teach the martial arts that I really believe in without being questioned.  There is calm in the school and everybody knows his or her place. The students are happy, the staff is happy and we are teaching the true values of martial arts. Leadership qualities are so important to me as an instructor, and I want to put that across in my school.

I am no longer on the floor teaching as I have a great staff, my job is to teach them to pass it on to the students. We averaged last year in one location £33k a month, compared to the previous year of £19k. Our quit rate is still there, but much better than last year. I would like to have 100% retention, but with about 8% quitting a month at the moment we are not doing to bad. I know there are schools out there with 4% and possibly even higher, this is another goal that I have set for this year, only time will tell. I have opened up my second location now, which is on a ground floor, and is a little bigger than the first. Did not really want bigger but the deal was there to be had.

Well, that is a little about the rise of Karate World and me. I thank you for Mr. Colasanti for giving Martial Arts a professional status and helping school owners achieve their goals.

Mr. Thompson
Dear Sir,

I hope everything finds you well?

I don’t know if you remember me, we spoke last year when I was serving with US Forces in Baghdad.

I just wanted to share my exciting news with you - I am now the proud owner of a studio. This has been a dream of mine since I had the luck to train at Grand Master J C Shin’s studio - World Tang Soo Do Association Headquarters in Philadelphia in 1986. Serving in the British Military meant that this would always be a difficult thing to accomplish due to constant postings. Also the UK is not as advanced as the US in the professional studio stakes, so it is still quite a big deal to run one.

I am still in the military, however, with the help of my brother and good friends I have took the plunge and opened my first studio. Moreover, being a member of NAPMA has been a huge influence on inspiring and guiding me. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your outstanding product and the great personal touch I have received from you and your staff.

I have kept the studio small and traditional looking, please see enclosed photographs. We are nearly there at finishing it just a few final touches.

My new web site is www.dkma.co.uk. It is still under construction, but is slowly becoming what I want.  I am looking forward to meeting you all in the near future as I intend to plan a trip with my Black Belts to next years NAPMA Convention.

Jan De-Vry, Master Instructor
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“I am a full-time martial arts instructor and have been teaching on my own for 12 years. I would not have been able to go full-time without the many ideas and motivation I have received from NAPMA. I owe it all to your organization. By contributing to the monthly package, I truly feel I have given something back to the organization I owe so much to.”
Raffi A. Dederian
Dederian Academy of Martial Arts

NAPMA gave me a vision!

My name is Mike Fillmore and I was one of NAPMA’s original members in ‘95. At that time I was a part-time martial artist with lots of talent and no business sense. Since then I have learned so much from my relationship with NAPMA that I have gone from running a school part time to become a full-time martial artist! It was difficult at first because I got all of this information, but I had a mentor that was steeped in the “Old Way” of doing things and as a result it stunted my growth. As the years went by, NAPMA gave me a vision and even more than that through the seminars of Joe Lewis and Ernie Reyes and others I developed the confidence to go out and “JUST DO IT.” At this point and time, I am doing better than I ever have before and I am only a few inches away from the brass ring.

I have taken this knowledge and have mentored many of my students in their own efforts and as a result five schools have spawned from this inspiration. I am fired up and fearless at this point, and I look forward to working with others to bring the martial arts to the next level. I want to see martial artists have the same if not even more prestige than doctors. lawyers and politicians in the community. It is my wish that I could be a representative of NAPMA on the state level because I am one of those people who went from nothing to something in this business as a direct result of NAPMA. I run Ultimate Force Martial Arts in Stafford, Texas and I would be Proud to represent the NSSN.

Mike Fillmore
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“I have been a NAPMA member for 3 years (and love the material).

My job as president for the NTFA involves me in trying to help our other 16 affiliate schools grow to a professional level. I have actively been helping them reach new levels for the past 2 years and really enjoy sharing the knowledge that I have gained through NAPMA with them. We recently ‘officially’ started the NAPMA Little Ninjas program. It has been fantastic. I went from 5 ‘ninjas’ to currently 40 in just 3 months of running the program according to the manual. Over the past 3 yrs., I have slowly made the transition from working a fulltime sales job while running 2 clubs to just doing Martial Arts fulltime. With the help of NAPMA I have been able to do this. Thank you for all of your guidance.”

Joey Perry,
Joey Perry’s Martial Arts Academy,
Jonesboro, AR

“Two years ago, I decided to start teaching karate on my own and I joined NAPMA. I started with 60 students, teaching for the Stratford Recreation Dept. Since then, I started two more programs at the town of Orange and the Valley YMCA in Ansonia. I now have my own business teaching full-time and have 180 quality students! I bought my dream house six months ago and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. Joining NAPMA helped me a lot! I have 3 huge Little Ninjas programs. I received my ACMA certification, and I have started a GOLD team to start creating future instructors. I use NAPMA’s ads in my flyers, which are sent out to schools in the towns that I teach. I use many of the drills and business/marketing ideas that I get from my NAPMA packages every month. I currently have 5 instructors working for me. My business is growing faster than I ever imagined! Thanks NAPMA for helping me become a professional martial arts instructor.”

Chris Sansonetti, Stratford Rec. Karate, Milford, CT
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I brought my school from 3 students to 123 paying students
in less than a year

“I would like to thank you for all the support that NAPMA has given me and is still giving me. I brought my school from 3 students to 123 paying students in less than a year, without a sign on the outside of the school, with no advertising, and no money to do so. I couldn’t have done it without the coaching of your great organization. I am really grateful and happy that there is an entity that worries about bringing your school to the next level. I was a National Champion, but I didn’t know how to pass my knowledge to the students and thanks to NAPMA and its stuff I learned how to be an effective instructor.”

Hender Alvarado, Gold Hender Martial Arts
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“Over the past thirty years, I’ve studied with some of the best martial arts masters in the world, thinking this would help my school grow, but this was not the case. It was only after I enrolled with NAPMA eight years ago, studied their material, then applied their material each month, that I was able to grow my school to over 600 active students. I’ve been with NAPMA from the very beginning and I can’t thank them enough.  A raving fan!”

Lamon Kersey, Mr. Kersey’s Karate School
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“NAPMA offers state-of-the-art materials, such as CDs, DVDs, and written materials far exceeding anyone else in the market. I believe there is no better organization of this type. I have been with NAPMA a long time, and I recommend it to anyone starting a school or maintaining an established school.”
Master Ed Sanchez, Kuk Sool Won

Here’s what people are saying about NAPMA:  I have always been motivated more by ethics than by money and NAPMA has, for the five years in which I have been a member, been honest, forthright, direct and ethical in all its actions. You have never been afraid to speak out where necessary and to break established paradigms in favor of a better way of doing things for the students. NAPMA stands at the forefront of the industry, forging new ways of looking at things and developing new ideas concerning all aspects of running a professional martial arts school. My experiences tell me that NAPMA has always been motivated by what is best for the industry and has consistently provided excellent service to its customers.

Dr. Chris Dewey, Starkville Martial Arts Academy
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NAPMA has provided my school with the advantages I need to be a successful and professional martial artist.

Hello Rob,

NAPMA has had a very positive influence on my school. It has provided my school with resources for good advertising and marketing strategies. In particular, it has helped both our children’s and Cardio-Kickboxing programs to grow tremendously. I also received audio and video resources that sharpened my staff’s management and Martial Arts skills. I would say that my school has brought in more than a million dollars because of NAPMA’s supplements. I don’t have a big school like some of the gurus in martial arts. In fact, my school was located in basement of bowling alley with only 2000 sq. feet. NAPMA has taught me that you do not have to have a big school or chain of school to be successful. In fact, I am very confident that my school in the basement was the one of the most profitable schools in the nation for that size. I think all of this happened because NAPMA has provided my school with the advantages I need to be a successful and professional martial artist.

As a former NAPMA regional director, I have had a unique perspective on the martial arts world.  I have witnessed that the majority of martial arts schools go out of business within only a few short years of being open. If they survive those first few years, many of them barely make enough to pay for their living expense. This is not necessarily because the instructors are not good at their art. In fact, most of these schools fail because of a lack of necessary management skills.  NAPMA helps schools to form a strong management foundation. It supplements your school with advertising information, training videos, audiotapes, and essential articles to learn to manage correctly. These supplements, if used properly, increase your chances of becoming a highly successful school.

Sam An, Rockford Academy of Tae Kwon Do , Rockford, IL

NAPMA membership has contributed significantly to our success
Dear Rob,
You may remember me from previous conversations and NAPMA World Conferences. I’ve been thinking about throwing my hat in the ring for this position for a while but have had some reservations about my ability to commit time to it. Over our holiday break I mulled it over some more and have decided to “Jump and the Net will appear”

I don’t wish to prattle on about myself, but I know you want some background info on me. Here’s a link to my website that has some of that stuff. If you need more than this, please let me know. http://www.tmas.info/credentials.htm

Suffice to say, I left a very lucrative position as a Microsoft executive to dedicate myself to martial arts. This is a career I hope to enjoy the rest of my life.

As for my commitment to NAPMA, I think we’ve been very dedicated for many years. As a previous co-owner of Mid-Cities Martial Arts in Bedford, Texas, I had been a member since around 1997. We divested from that business in December 2001. As I started my new school, signing up for a NAPMA membership was as fundamental as having a mat on the floor. NAPMA has been invaluable to our success.

We opened our doors here in April 2002, with 1600 square feet. By January 1, 2003, we had to double our space. We grew over 100 students from scratch over the first summer we opened and are now approaching 300 active martial arts students (284 today). With the number of calls and walk-ins we’re having today, I should hit 300 this week. I’m also exploring demographics for additional school locations and even building my own facility.

We have implemented several NAPMA programs over time, i.e., Cardio Karate, UBC, EZ-Defense, FAST Defense, and are launching our Tai Chi class this week. It was really fun to see one of my instructors and students on the cover of MAPro this month (I’ll hit Bill Kipp up for my royalty checks later :-)). I took 3 employees to the World Conference in 2002. Based on our success, I now have 5 paid Instructors and took 10 people to the 2003 Conference.

Although I think I’m a pretty sharp guy, NAPMA membership has contributed significantly to our success here by showing us things that work, things that don’t work, and generally stimulating our thought processes with all the articles, letters, flyers, tips & tricks about how to run a successful business. I get lots of information regarding martial arts from several other affiliations too, but NAPMA is my primary source for business management issues.

I have tons of background and experience in Sales, Marketing, Technology, Martial Arts, Management (personnel, operations and fiscal) and Public Speaking. More importantly, perhaps, is my openness to all styles of martial arts and a passion to see the industry as a whole grow and flourish. I’m excited about the opportunity to lead this effort in Texas.

Joe Turner, Chief Instructor & President, Turners Martial Arts Studios
Mr. Colasanti,

I would sincerely love being a part of NAPMA’s NSSN program. We have been members of NAPMA since August of 1999 and we have made major progress since the addition of NAPMA’s materials. We have been able to implement messages of the week among our three locations, with consistency, thanks to the NAPMA Words of the Week. We are able to plan events using our monthly packages and I truly enjoy the NAPMA monthly magazine. I read it as soon as it comes in the mail and I don’t put it down until I have finished reading it! The video workshops have allowed us to expand our Master’s Training curriculum and we always have more exciting information to provide to our students. I enjoy the Black Belt Leadership support and use it in my team meetings. I feel that we owe much of our continued growth to the support we receive from NAPMA and I would love to give back to the organization. I feel that the networking with other schools will be invaluable and I will never forget that we started with only 40 students on a month-to-month basis. We would never be where we are now without the help we have received from NAPMA and United Professionals. We now have approximately 1000 students over our three locations in North Alabama, we teach the martial arts and Kardio Kickbox classes for the University of Huntsville in Alabama, we are currently building a 10,000 sq. foot strip mall to house my location (we will move up the street) and to build equity and long-term stability, I am the first female on the United Professionals Board of Directors, and my husband and I are dedicated to constant and never-ending growth. I would be thrilled to support other people on a similar path and keep the martial arts community thriving!

If you have any questions for me or would like to discuss anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

Kristen Alexander
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Being a member of NAPMA is a wonderful value for all school owners.
Dear NAPMA,

I personally feel that you and your organization have revolutionized the martial arts industry, and I think being a member of NAPMA is a wonderful value for all school owners. You guys are good.  Once again, I just wanted to share my thoughts. No need to respond.

Keep up the good work.

Lance Farrell
Dear Rob:

I have been a NAPMA member since NAPMA first began and have supported all of its programs. Karate Plus has implemented the following programs: Little Ninjas, Cardio Karate, Kickin Kids After School Program, UBC, and I am looking at the Tai Chi, Chi Kung. NAPMA has been instrumental in our continued success and staying in business. I am a teacher of special education and hold a PhD. in this area. We have implemented programs for the autistic in our summer camps and in our after school program. The NAPMA monthly package is outstanding and we use Words of the Week with all of our children and adult programs. It is especially useful in our after-school program where we use it with our special education population.

We have hosted a seminar for NAPMA in the past on the Little Ninjas programs and would be open to do so again.

Please consider me for this position because I would like to give back to NAPMA with service for what I have received in professional growth.

Harold L. Lauber, PhD. ( Bud Lauber)
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I have gone from a school of approximately 70 to a school of 321.
Hi guys,

My time with you has been nothing short of great; the info packs that you send out every month have been excellent. I gotten so many great ideas from you and implementing them has put my schools in the lead here. My competition have not got a chance with the way the currently are doing things. I have gone from a school of approximately 70 and I say approximately because we did not have good statistics, to a school of 321 and holding strong and expanding to larger facility. I am doing all this out of 1,000 sq feet dojo. I use to charge $35 per month, now my fees are $75 and I have no problems getting that, as a matter of fact, I have people charging a lot less for classes a half a mile away and we are still 4 time bigger, so thank you NAPMA. Could you please send me role and duties that you think a Program director should have. I heard the tape that Rob did and now we are looking to put on a Program director.

Frank Monea, Chief Instructor, Kempo Karate Australia

Our income went from 23k to 30k every month

Hello Rob,

Just wanted to let you know that since the summer convention and our many discussions things have been going much better. Jason and I applied the concept of clear and precise instructions on a daily bases. As a result the positive aspects of marketing, retention, and goodwill has resulted in an increase in every area, including attitude and excitement.

We have gone from 250 students to 330 and our income went from 23k to 30k every month and this last month Jan. 41k. The moral to this story for other owners is keep it simple — apply the simple rules of management each and every day and allow the laws of compensation to work for you.

Again, thank you for being there when I needed you — and I am sure it will be an ongoing relationship.

Sensei Brad Wenneberg
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I became aware of NAPMA many years ago when I was training at B.C. Yu Martial Arts Center in Ann Arbor, MI. I owned and operated my own ad agency at the time. I was also helping Grandmaster Yu run his school, acting as Program Manager, but without the formal title. I was enrolling students, teaching, cleaning the school and training. I have been a loyal student with B.C. Yu for 24 years ~ and still training.

Master Yu was one of the early members of NAPMA. I remember going to an EasyPay seminar in Chicago with Master Yu, Rick Bell, Larry Doke, John Graden, and John Corcoran among others. This is where I first met John Graden. He was friendly and professional. His desire to help the martial arts industry made a lasting impression on me.

Soon after that, Master Yu joined NAPMA. He was so excited about the organization and how professional they were. He knew his school could benefit by having such a great organization to help martial arts school owners run the business end – efficiently, and effectively. And it worked! By following NAPMA’s lead, our enrollment increased by 200 students that year.
We received monthly tapes, used the newsletter materials, and followed the lead of the NAPMA tutorials. It was a big step. The marketing materials were professional and easy to use. They made a big impact on our marketing efforts. Even with my many years of graphic design and advertising background, I realized the benefit of using the NAPMA materials by not having to start from scratch. It saved a lot of time, work and money. Way to go, NAPMA!  I moved to NH with my husband in 1997 due to his job relocation. I had to give up my training, my business and working with Master Yu. I had to start all over and knew nobody.  I always dreamed of having my own school. I knew this was for me – to pass on the values and art that I had fallen in love with and believed in. But how? And in New Hampshire??  I was teaching cardio kickboxing at the time at a fitness center in Concord, NH, just waiting for the right place and time to make the big s