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DOJO CEO

DOJO CEO

By: Success Dynamics Institute
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Most martial artists open a school. The best operators become DOJOCEOs™. The DOJO CEO Podcast is for martial arts school owners and academy operators who want full mats, loyal students, and a business that runs on real systems. Hosted by Nick Cownie — black belt, entrepreneur, and founder of Enroll 365™, Dojo Toolbox CRM™, The Dojo Map™, and the DOJOCEO™ Mastermind — the show goes "behind the belt" with the operators, coaches, and innovators shaping the future of martial arts. No fluff. No guru hype. Just brutally honest conversations about what actually works. Each episode breaks down the strategies successful martial arts school owners use to grow profitable academies across BJJ, Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, MMA, and every other discipline on the planet. Learn how to: - Fill your mats consistently - Convert enquiries into students - Build retention that sticks - Install systems that run your school - Operate like a CEO instead of just a coach EPISODE STRUCTURE 🔥 WARM-UP Origin stories, philosophies, and the real motivations behind successful school owners. 🥋 SKILLS & DRILLS Tactical deep dives into student acquisition, retention, pricing, marketing, hiring, automation, and systems. ⚡ RANDORI Rapid-fire questions that pull out hard-earned lessons, insights, and truth bombs. Each episode is recorded live to tape — raw, unscripted, and unfiltered. Just like sparring. ABOUT THE HOST Nick Cownie is a lifelong martial artist, business strategist, and the founder of Enroll 365™, Dojo Toolbox CRM™, The Dojo Map™, and the DOJOCEO™ Mastermind. He has trained in Japanese Jujutsu for more than 30 years and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over a decade. After building multiple six and seven-figure businesses and coaching thousands of entrepreneurs, he now focuses on helping martial arts school owners install the systems that create full mats and profitable academies. PLATFORMS & SYSTEMS 🤖 Enroll 365™ — https://enroll365.ai The AI front desk for martial arts schools. Replies first, books trials in chat, follows up until the student steps on your mat. ⚙️ Dojo Toolbox CRM™ — https://dojotoolboxcrm.com The AI-powered operating system for martial arts schools. Run your academy on systems instead of stress. 🌏 The Dojo Map™ — https://thedojomap.com Connecting the global martial arts community. Helping schools get discovered and change lives through martial arts. 🥋 DOJOCEO™ Mastermind — https://dojoceo.com Where school owners learn the leadership, systems, and strategy required to run their academy like a real business. 💬 GET THE TOOLS — COMMENT TO UNLOCK Find Nick on Instagram @dojoceo and comment one of the keywords below on any reel to get sent the resource: 👉 Comment STUDENTS — Get a 30-day free trial of Enroll 365™ to stop losing money by automating your trial class bookings. 👉 Comment CEO — Get details on the DOJOCEO™ Mastermind to learn how we turn school owners into millionaires. 👉 Comment MAP — Get your martial arts school listed on the Dojo Map™. 👉 Comment POD — Get the latest DOJO CEO podcast episode sent directly to you. FOLLOW NICK 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/dojoceo Nick is on a mission to help martial arts school owners become DOJOCEOs™.Copyright 2026 Success Dynamics Institute Combat Sports & Self-Defense Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales Wrestling
Episodes
  • Why Athletes Struggle After They Retire | Dr. Jarrell Garcia

    Why Athletes Struggle After They Retire | Dr. Jarrell Garcia
    Jun 30 2026
    Why the "life skills" from martial arts don't automatically transfer — and how coaches can build students who thrive off the mat.Every coach says martial arts builds resilience, focus, leadership, and grit. Dr. Jarrell Garcia's PhD research says something more uncomfortable — those skills don't automatically transfer to real life.In this episode, Nick Cownie sits down with Dr. Jarrell Garcia — Associate Director of Recreation at the University of Rhode Island, professor at Brown University, TED speaker, 10th Planet BJJ black belt, and consultant to Olympic and Paralympic athletes.Together they unpack what actually creates transferable skills, why athletes crash after retirement, and how coaches can build students who succeed in every dimension of their life — not just on the mat.This is one of the most cerebral, useful episodes for anyone who teaches, coaches, or runs a martial arts school.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE- Why the number one "jiu-jitsu made me a better business owner" story might be a myth- The difference between normative and non-normative career transitions- Why identity foreclosure destroys athletes when their career ends- How to actually develop transferable skills that transfer- The 3-step framework: awareness → acknowledgement → practice- Why coaches should "frame the why" before every hard training session- The stop-the-jumping-jacks argument that changes how you should warm up- Why great athletes go bankrupt within 2 years of retiring- How the structure of a class matters more than the teacher's skill- State elicitation, anchoring, and alter ego work for combat athletes- The multiple cups metaphor for balanced identity development- How the ecological framework is reshaping the way jiu-jitsu is taught🕒 TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro01:03 Meet Dr. Jarrell Garcia — PhD, black belt, professor03:00 What athletic identity actually means05:43 Do life skills automatically transfer off the mat?10:46 Identity foreclosure and the empty nester athlete14:09 Normative vs non-normative career transitions17:18 When athletes should start preparing for life after sport20:23 The multiple cups metaphor for balanced identity25:14 Memento mori, stoicism, and the Hagakure connection29:07 How Jarrell got into jiu-jitsu33:04 How Jarrell's research shapes his own coaching35:45 State elicitation and anchoring performance41:02 Anchoring peak states — lessons from Todd Herman50:28 The physical anchor Jarrell uses before competition rolls54:14 Stacking states and identities on demand57:20 Third-position thinking to solve identity problems59:07 Treat others how they need to be treated, not how you want01:01:06 The 4MAT framework for teaching multiple learning styles01:05:37 Why jumping-jack warmups need to die01:12:50 How class structure matters more than the teacher01:16:03 The one person Jarrell would love to roll with01:17:23 Where to find Dr. Jarrell Garcia🎯 Most martial arts school owners are one system away from consistent growth. Install the same systems used by real academies around the world:🤖 Enroll 365™ — https://enroll365.aiThe school that replies first gets the student. Enroll365.ai replies instantly, books the trial in chat, and follows up until the student steps on your mat.⚙️ Dojo Toolbox CRM™ — https://dojotoolboxcrm.comThe AI-powered operating system for martial arts schools.🌏 The Dojo Map™ — https://thedojomap.comConnecting the global martial arts community.🥋 DOJOCEO™ Mastermind — https://dojoceo.comMost martial artists open a school. The best operators become DOJOCEOs™.💬 GET THE TOOLS — COMMENT TO UNLOCKFind me on Instagram @dojoceo and comment one of the keywords below on any reel to get sent the resource:👉 Comment STUDENTS — Get a 30-day free trial of Enroll 365™ to stop losing money by automating your trial class bookings.👉 Comment CEO — Get details on the DOJOCEO™ Mastermind to learn how we turn school owners into millionaires.👉 Comment MAP — Get your martial arts school listed on the Dojo Map™.👉 Comment POD — Get the latest DOJO CEO podcast episode sent directly to you.👇 CONNECT WITH DR. JARRELL GARCIADr. Jarrell Garcia is the Associate Director of Recreation at the University of Rhode Island and a professor at both Brown University and URI, teaching sports leadership, sports psychology, research, and leadership courses. His PhD research focused on athletic identity — how deeply athletes connect with their athletic role, and what that means for their success on and off the field.A 10th Planet Bethlehem BJJ black belt with 16 years on the mats, TED speaker, and consultant to high school, college, Olympic, and Paralympic athletes, Jarrell has spoken at the Olympic Training Center on athletic transition and identity.📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/garciagriponlife📧 Email: jarrell_garcia@uri.edu⚔️ ABOUT THE SHOWMost martial artists open a school. The best operators become DOJOCEOs™.Hosted by Nick Cownie ...
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • How to Build a Global BJJ Retreat Business | Luke Fraser

    How to Build a Global BJJ Retreat Business | Luke Fraser
    Jun 23 2026
    How one man built a global BJJ retreat business from a mining shift — and why the funnel that works is simpler than you think.Luke Fraser was working week-on, week-off in Australian mining when his mum — a travel agent — got sick of him talking about starting a business and put down a deposit on 15 hotel rooms without telling him.Five years later, BJJ Escapes has run 13 sold-out retreats with coaches like Josh Hinger, Heath Pedigo, Owen Livesey, Mason Fowler, JFlo, Jacob Driscoll, and more — across Australia and Thailand.In this episode, Nick Cownie sits down with Luke to break down exactly how BJJ Escapes works: the pricing model, the marketing funnel, the pre-selling timeline, and the operational decisions that turned a side hustle into his full-time business.This is the first episode released under the new DOJO CEO Podcast brand — a rebrand from the Grappling Map Podcast — reflecting the broader martial arts business focus the show now delivers.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE- The mum-forced-me-into-it origin story every entrepreneur can relate to- Why capping the mat at 3m² per pair became his biggest competitive edge- The three-package pricing model — training only, twin share, private room- Why the private room package outsells the cheaper options every time- How Luke sells events 9-12 months out (already selling March 2027)- Why he does zero sales calls and runs the entire funnel on Instagram + website- The expensive customs mistake that changed how he ships event gear- Why cleanliness protocols in Thailand became a business-saving system- How stepping back from operations made the last event his best ever- The dream coach list and what comes next for BJJ Escapes🕒 TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro — welcome to the new DOJO CEO Podcast01:28 The mum-forced-me-into-it origin story03:14 First event, 20-25 people, learning as he goes04:57 Jiu-jitsu as an instant social network anywhere in the world07:13 13 events in 5 years08:02 The 3m² per pair rule that shapes the whole business11:30 Scratch your own itch — the business principle behind the model14:16 The biggest mistakes over 5 years of running retreats17:20 Cleanliness, staph, and superbugs in Southeast Asia20:47 Travel insurance and Middle East flight disruptions21:44 The favourite event and why stepping back changed everything24:12 The stacked coach lineup26:01 The purple belt sweet spot — "high enough to respect, low enough not to target"31:04 The marketing funnel — Instagram content + inbound email33:26 Zero sales calls, sold off the page34:51 Selling events 9-12 months out36:08 The three-package pricing model38:29 Why private rooms outsell everything else42:04 The backpacker Covid horror story43:18 The dream coach list — JFlo, Heath Pedigo, Gordon Ryan45:03 Where to find Luke🎯 Most martial arts school owners are one system away from consistent growth. Install the same systems used by real academies around the world:🤖 Enroll 365™ — https://enroll365.aiThe school that replies first gets the student. Enroll365.ai replies instantly, books the trial in chat, and follows up until the student steps on your mat.⚙️ Dojo Toolbox CRM™ — https://dojotoolboxcrm.comThe AI-powered operating system for martial arts schools.🌏 The Dojo Map™ — https://thedojomap.comConnecting the global martial arts community.🥋 DOJOCEO™ Mastermind — https://dojoceo.comMost martial artists open a school. The best operators become DOJOCEOs™.💬 GET THE TOOLS — COMMENT TO UNLOCKFind me on Instagram @dojoceo and comment one of the keywords below on any reel to get sent the resource:👉 Comment STUDENTS — Get a 30-day free trial of Enroll 365™ to stop losing money by automating your trial class bookings.👉 Comment CEO — Get details on the DOJOCEO™ Mastermind to learn how we turn school owners into millionaires.👉 Comment MAP — Get your martial arts school listed on the Dojo Map™.👉 Comment POD — Get the latest DOJO CEO podcast episode sent directly to you.👇 CONNECT WITH LUKE FRASERLuke Fraser is the founder of BJJ Escapes — the premium jiu-jitsu retreat business running events across Australia and Thailand with world-class coaches. A BJJ purple belt with 8 years on the mats, Luke transitioned from full-time mining work to running BJJ Escapes as his full-time business.📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/bjj.escapes🌐 Website: https://bjjescapes.com.au⚔️ ABOUT THE SHOWMost martial artists open a school. The best operators become DOJOCEOs™.Hosted by Nick Cownie — founder of Enroll 365™, Dojo Toolbox CRM™, The Dojo Map™, and DOJOCEO™ Mastermind — each episode goes "behind the belt" to break down the business, battles, and breakthroughs behind successful martial arts schools.👉 FOLLOW NICK📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/dojoceo🌐 Website: https://dojoceo.com#bjjretreat #bjjtravel #bjjbusiness #martialartsbusiness #martialartsschool #brazilianjiujitsu #dojoceo
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    48 mins
  • Exposing Martial Arts Frauds | Rob Ingram McDojo Life

    Exposing Martial Arts Frauds | Rob Ingram McDojo Life
    May 14 2026
    Inside the wild west of martial arts — exposing the frauds, the cults, and the business systems that separate real schools from McDojos.For 13 years, Rob Ingram has run McDojo Life — the most followed and most feared page in martial arts. He's exposed hundreds of frauds, written a book, helped run Academy Safe, and is now filming a feature documentary with Jocko Willink as executive producer.In this episode, Nick Cownie sits down with Rob to break down what 28 years in martial arts has taught him about culty instructors, the legal mess of an unregulated industry, and — most importantly — how to actually run a successful martial arts school.This isn't a fluff conversation. It's a rare, honest look at the dark side of the industry and the operational systems separating real schools from the frauds.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE- Why martial arts is the most unregulated industry on earth- The five rules every legitimate school must follow- The psychology behind why people believe in "no-touch knockouts"- How Rob enrolled 250 students in a single month at a consulting client- Why "Field of Dreams" marketing is the #1 reason schools fail- Pre-launch marketing 4 months before opening- The three-contract pricing model that locks in revenue without locking out students- The 2-4-6 phone call system that saves students from canceling- Why collections will destroy your school's reputation (and what to do instead)- How to use equity, positive reviews, and personal touch to beat negativity- How Rob turned McDojo Life from a hobby into a business- The one martial artist Rob would love to spar🕒 TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro02:51 The McDojo Life documentary with Jocko Willink04:27 The five rules every school must follow07:01 Why fraud instructors actually believe their own lies09:03 Martial arts is completely unregulated in the US12:51 Chi, Hermetics, and the deep rabbit hole of martial arts cults17:02 Why Australia and the rest of the world isn't immune19:25 13 years of McDojo Life24:11 The investigative journalism behind every story27:53 Did Rob start good at social — or get better?35:24 The big three: leads, conversions, retention35:54 Pre-launch marketing 4 months before grand opening43:06 Three contracts: month-to-month, six-month, yearly46:22 The retention secret most owners miss49:08 The 8-month to 18-month martial arts drop-off cliff49:57 The 2-4-6 phone call retention system56:48 Why collections destroys your school's reputation58:35 Equity, positive reviews, and the personal touch01:01:23 The Joe Rogan bump and turning McDojo Life into a business01:04:21 The one martial artist Rob would love to spar01:09:35 Where to find Rob🎯 Most martial arts school owners are one system away from consistent growth. Install the same systems used by real academies around the world:🤖 Enroll 365™ — https://enroll365.aiThe school that replies first gets the student. Enroll365.ai replies instantly, books the trial in chat, and follows up until the student steps on your mat.⚙️ Dojo Toolbox CRM™ — https://dojotoolboxcrm.comThe AI-powered operating system for martial arts schools.🌏 The Dojo Map™ — https://thedojomap.comConnecting the global martial arts community.🥋 DOJOCEO™ Mastermind — https://dojoceo.comMost martial artists open a school. The best operators become DOJOCEOs™.💬 GET THE TOOLS — COMMENT TO UNLOCKFind me on Instagram @dojoceo and comment one of the keywords below on any reel to get sent the resource:👉 Comment STUDENTS — Get a 30-day free trial of Enroll 365™ to stop losing money by automating your trial class bookings.👉 Comment CEO — Get details on the DOJOCEO™ Mastermind to learn how we turn school owners into millionaires.👉 Comment MAP — Get your martial arts school listed on the Dojo Map™.👉 Comment POD — Get the latest DOJO CEO podcast episode sent directly to you.👇 CONNECT WITH ROB INGRAMRob Ingram is the founder of McDojo Life, vice president of Academy Safe, and an author with over 28 years in the martial arts industry. A 3rd Degree Black Belt in American Freestyle Karate, 3rd Degree in Lima Lama, and BJJ purple belt, Rob is currently filming a feature documentary with Jocko Willink as executive producer.📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/mcdojolife📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/themcdojolife🌐 Website: https://mcdojolife.com🛡️ Academy Safe: https://academysafe.org📖 Book: Sensei's Bars and Scars — on Amazon⚔️ ABOUT THE SHOWMost martial artists open a school. The best operators become DOJOCEOs™.Hosted by Nick Cownie — founder of Enroll 365™, Dojo Toolbox CRM™, The Dojo Map™, and DOJOCEO™ Mastermind — each episode goes "behind the belt" to break down the business, battles, and breakthroughs behind successful martial arts schools.👉 FOLLOW NICK📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/dojoceo
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    1 hr and 11 mins
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