One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a martial arts school owner is that you can’t truly help others unless your own needs are met first. At first glance, this may seem selfish, but it’s a healthy and necessary mindset—one that allows you to give your best to your students while ensuring your own well-being and financial stability.
The Oxygen Mask Analogy
Think about the safety briefing before a flight: the flight attendant always instructs you to secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others. The same principle applies to running your martial arts school. You’ll be in a much better position to help your students and your community if your school is thriving—grossing $30,000 per month instead of $10,000, because you’ve prioritized your own financial health.
The True Purpose of Your School
The primary reason you signed that lease, risked your money, faced potential lawsuits, and took on the challenge of running a business wasn’t just to help the children. The true purpose is to build wealth for your family and secure your financial future. This mindset is crucial, and the most successful black belt school owners are crystal clear on it: the purpose of your school is to create wealth for your family and to sustain a fulfilling career in martial arts.
You achieve this by being the best instructor in your town and establishing a robust business system to support your teaching. By helping more people through your school, you create wealth—not just for yourself, but also for your family.
The Business of Martial Arts
Imagine you’re the owner of a television network. You didn’t take on that venture just to produce educational programs for children. While you might offer educational content as part of your lineup, your ultimate goal is to build wealth by hiring top talent, securing the best equipment, and delivering programming that draws in viewers. The same logic applies to your martial arts school.
When you have a family, this approach is even more important. It’s not fair to drag your spouse and children through the challenges of martial arts entrepreneurship without building a secure future for them. The purpose of your school is to provide for your family—to send your kids to good schools, to give your spouse a sense of financial security, and to ensure that you can retire comfortably.
Clarity of Purpose
Adopting this mindset makes business decisions easier and less stressful. When you have clarity of purpose—knowing that your school’s success is directly tied to your family’s well-being—it becomes easier to make the right choices. Pursue your passion for martial arts, but don’t let it compromise your financial security or your family’s future.
As Abraham Lincoln famously said, “We can’t help the poor by becoming one of them.” You can’t teach success and life skills if you haven’t achieved success yourself. Would you trust someone to teach you how to run a martial arts school if they’ve never owned a business, let alone a martial arts school? Probably not.
The Cardinal Rule
Never sacrifice the needs of your family for the needs of your students. The most successful martial arts school owners understand this: the purpose of their school is to build wealth for their families. Create profit—not poverty—from your passion.