In this episode, I walk through what it really takes to grow a Jiu Jitsu academy — and why lead generation should never be the first step.

We cover how to tighten up your retention, onboarding, and sales process before you worry about running ads or chasing new leads. I also talk through simple but effective ways to build trust during trials, communicate better with your students, and use basic tools (like Google Sheets) to track what matters.

If you’ve been stuck in overthinking or spinning your wheels trying to grow, this one lays out a clear, practical path forward.

If you're a Jiu Jitsu Gym owner looking for a little help to grow their business grab a copy of my free book 'The Unstuck Academy' here: https://growjitsu.com/book

In this episode of the Business of Jiu Jitsu podcast, I break down a layered approach to building and growing your Jiu Jitsu academy, from setting your big picture goals all the way down to the small plays that actually move the needle. Whether you're just getting started or trying to fix a gym that's already running, this episode walks you through the exact framework I use when helping academy owners clean up their systems and grow.

We go over how to do a simple “traffic light” assessment of your gym, how to build structure around retention, onboarding, and lead flow, and how to engage your current students without needing a huge marketing budget. I also share some easy-to-execute ideas like monthly attendance shoutouts, Google review habits, rewards systems, and how to know when you're ready to scale. If you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this episode will give you a real game plan to work from.Head on over to https://growjitsu.com/book to download a free copy of my book 'The Unstuck Academy'.

Spoilers, yes you should run a Black Friday special at your Jiu Jitsu Academy...

But there is both a right way and a wrong way to do this.

This episode breaks down what actually makes a good offer, not just for Black Friday, but year-round.

I talk about:
– Why you should always have some kind of offer running

– What makes a promo actually valuable (without giving discounts)

– What to do for current members during the holidays
– When to turn paid ads back on in the new year
– And yeah… the uncomfortable truth about price increases and cutting discounts

Short episode, straight to the point.

PS. If you want some help growing your Jiu Jitsu Gym or Academy I've got jus the thing for you.

Head on over to https://growjitsu.com/book to download a free copy of my book 'The Unstuck Academy'.