In this episode of the Business of Jiu Jitsu Podcast, JP Levesque breaks down four simple systems that can dramatically improve the way you run your academy. Many gym owners feel busy all the time but still struggle to see real progress. JP explains how small weekly habits like calendar blocking, reviewing your metrics, and consistent lead follow-up can shift your business from chaotic to controlled.

You’ll also hear why tracking attendance is one of the most overlooked retention strategies, and how setting aside time each week for growth planning can help you move from reactive to proactive as an owner. If you want practical systems you can start implementing immediately, this episode lays out a clear and simple framework to help you grow your academy sustainably.

Want help figuring out what’s actually holding your academy back?

Book a free Growth Engine Audit and we’ll walk through your leads, onboarding, retention, and systems together.

Just clarity and direction.

https://link.growjitsu.com/widget/bookings/bjjgrowthengineaudit

On this episode we get some great gym owner insights from Jason Khalipa. We explore the journey of turning passion into a sustainable business, focusing on lessons learned from Jason Khalipa's extensive experience in fitness, CrossFit, and Jiu-Jitsu. Whether you're an academy owner or aspiring entrepreneur, discover actionable tips on business mindset, class structure, community building, and growth strategies.Key Topics

• The parallels between CrossFit and Jiu-Jitsu industry evolution (2010–2020)
• Treating your gym as a business, not a hobby
• Importance of formal partnership agreements to prevent conflicts
• The significance of class structure, curriculum planning, and relaying content effectively
• How to create positive member experiences and reduce dropout rates
• The role of professionalism, punctuality, and cleanliness in gym quality
• Strategies for owners of 100–120 students feeling stuck and scaling up
• The mindset shift from hobbyist to business owner for sustainable growth
• Personal growth, discomfort in expansion, and maintaining health as an owner
• Building community with men's programs and online digital apps

Connect with Jason on the links below:

• ⁠Th.fit ⁠ — Free parking lot workouts for men
• NC Fit — Jason's Gym's
• Instagram - Check out Jason on IG

If you are serious about growing your BJJ academy and you want a road map on how to do it, click the link below to schedule a free 30 min BJJ Growth map call.

Click here to schedule your 30 minute call

In this episode of the Business of Jujitsu podcast, JP Levesque discusses essential best practices for jujitsu academies, focusing on retention, onboarding, sales, lead generation, and business metrics. He emphasizes the importance of tracking student attendance, creating effective onboarding processes, simplifying sales techniques, nurturing leads, and understanding business metrics to foster growth. The conversation provides actionable insights for academy owners to enhance their operations and student engagement.

Takeaways

Retention is crucial for student engagement.

Regularly check student attendance to prevent dropouts.

Implement a structured onboarding process for new students.

Sales should be straightforward with clear options.

Lead nurturing is essential for building trust.

Understand the importance of Google reviews for credibility.

Track business metrics to make informed decisions.

Time block tasks to focus on CEO responsibilities.

Utilize paid ads for lead generation effectively.

Now is the optimal time for growth in jujitsu academies.

Interested in working with GrowJistu? Book a free demo call on this link: https://growjitsu.com/request-a-demo

Get your free ads training I mentioned in the video here:

Click here to get the doc - FILE > MAKE A COPY

Summary:

How to Grow Your Gym with Simple StrategiesIn this episode, JP Levesque breaks down straightforward marketing tactics that any gym owner can implement to boost growth. From Google reviews to internal engagement and paid advertising, learn how to create a sustainable and effective marketing system without relying on agencies.Key Topics:The importance of Google reviews and how to automate collecting themInternal marketing strategies: telling your students about upcoming events and programsBuilding a calendar of mini-events to increase engagement and retentionCreating cost-effective campaigns like Valentine's Day promotions and partner classesThe essentials of setting up a strong foundation before investing in paid adsHow to run and scale Facebook and Meta ads for consistent lead flowThe mindset: inputs (effort) drive outputs (results), not magic tricksTools and resources: automation tips, ChatGPT for content ideas, and a free marketing document

Timestamps:00:00 - Welcome and episode overview: marketing tips for gym owners0:29 - Marketing simplified: do cool shit and tell people about it0:54 - The ideal seasonal window for growth: early February to June1:24 - The crucial first step: boosting your Google reviews1:52 - Why reviews matter: social proof and search rankings2:21 - How to integrate review requests into onboarding and bulk emails3:19 - Using automation and incentivizing reviews with cookies or stickers4:17 - Ensuring your Google My Business profile is accurate and up-to-date5:15 - Tips to improve search visibility: open when you're open6:45 - Internal marketing: sharing what your gym is doing, upcoming programs, and mini-events7:15 - Creative internal campaign ideas: themed rash guards, partner classes, self-defense series8:37 - Planning and promoting your calendar of events and activities9:06 - The "roll with your Valentine" idea and other themed classes10:04 - Keeping your members engaged with consistent messaging and event promotion10:59 - Easy-to-implement automation strategies for marketing campaigns11:56 - The value of dedicated time monthly: content planning with ChatGPT and templates12:55 - The benefits of internal marketing: engagement, retention, lifetime value13:23 - The role of paid marketing: when and how to run effective ad campaigns14:17 - Making a simple, functional course for ad management using Google Docs15:15 - The importance of a consistent ad spend: minimum three months, $30/day16:12 - Foundation matters: lead nurture and onboarding first, then paid ads17:40 - How consistent ad campaigns can stabilize your student base and reduce stress18:10 - Avoiding financial stress by taking control of your marketing19:09 - Long-term approach: seasonal adjustments and persistent effort20:09 - The mindset: keep feeding the ad machine, reviews, and internal promos21:35 - Segmenting your messaging for different audience buckets at your gym22:35 - The power of paid ads for rapid growth and why to start now23:02 - Inputs drive outputs: focus on what actions create results24:02 - Free resources and how to get JP’s marketing document"

If you want to download the free Meta ads training guide metnioned in the video:

CLICK HERE AND FILE > MAKE A COPY

Summary
In this special 100th episode of the Business of Jiu Jitsu Podcast, JP Levesque reflects on the lessons learned from building GrowJitsu, coaching hundreds of academy owners, and recording 100 episodes of the show. He shares 10 key insights that every gym owner should hear — whether you're brand new or trying to get to the next level.

This episode is both a thank-you and a roadmap, packed with mindset shifts, tactical takeaways, and hard-earned advice from the past few years of growing Jiu Jitsu academies on purpose.

Key Topics

• The original goal of the podcast and how it’s evolved

• Why community engagement drives long-term success

• The power of systems and SOPs in avoiding burnout

• What it really takes to create a welcoming, student-first culture

• The myth of “just be a good coach” and what to do instead

• Why embracing business skills doesn’t mean selling out

• Using feedback loops to improve both your gym and your leadership

• How to leverage events, camps, and parties for retention and growth

• The role of passion and purpose in running a long-term academy

• What’s next for the podcast and future projects

If you are looking for help to grow your Jiu Jitsu academy head over to www.GrowJitsu.com and book a demo.

Summary

In this episode, JP Levesque shares a strategic month-by-month blueprint for gym owners to boost enrollment, retention, and operational systems during the peak growth season. Whether you're a seasoned owner or just starting out, discover actionable steps to crush it in the first half of the year.

Key Topics

• Importance of tracking business metrics monthly and how to interpret them
• Timing and execution for price increases to ensure profitability
• Creating a robust onboarding process for new students to improve retention
• Effective marketing strategies for January and February, including self-run Facebook ads training
• Planning summer programs, kids camps, and internal events to keep engagement high
• Developing SOPs, staff training, and system documentation for scalability
• The significance of reports and progress check-ins every 90 days
• How to plan for slower months (July and August) with system reviews and vacations

If you are serious about growing your BJJ academy and you want a road map on how to do it, click the link below to schedule a BJJ Growth map call - CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULEPS. Here is a link to the free FB/IG/Meta ads training I mentioned in the pod -CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS (FILE> MAKE A COPY)

In this episode, JP talks about the ten most common mistakes made by Jiu Jitsu academy owners, drawing from his personal experiences. He emphasizes the importance of tracking metrics, creating standard operating procedures, maintaining student engagement, and managing finances effectively. The conversation also covers the significance of hiring practices, communication strategies, and the necessity of developing business skills to ensure growth and success in running a Jiu Jitsu academy.

Takeaways

Waiting until you are big enough to start taking your metrics is a mistake.

Tracking financials is crucial for understanding your business.

Creating standard operating procedures can streamline operations.

Engaging with students regularly helps maintain their interest.

The value of membership should always exceed its cost.

Outworking business problems by spending more time on the mat is ineffective.

Centralizing communication can reduce chaos and improve efficiency.

Being comfortable discussing money is essential for business success.

Negative influences in the academy can harm the culture and should be managed.

Hiring decisions should be made carefully to ensure business growth.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Common Mistakes in Jiu Jitsu Academies

01:00 The Importance of Tracking Metrics

02:51 Creating Standard Operating Procedures

04:44 Reselling Students and Maintaining Engagement

06:38 The Fallacy of Outworking Business Problems

08:17 Centralizing Communication for Efficiency

10:11 Getting Comfortable with Money Conversations

12:35 Managing Negative Influences in the Academy

15:31 Hiring Mistakes and Timing

17:56 Prioritizing Business Skills for Growth

If you want to avoid these mistakes and grow your academy faster I'm doing a limited number of BJJ Business audit calls. It's a by the numbers look at your business to figure out where you're stuck and what you need to grow. Click the link below to book a call: https://link.growjitsu.com/widget/booking/cugd9bndUjStB6e1B15w

In this episode, JP Levesque discusses the four levels of Jujitsu Academy business, providing insights into the challenges and strategies at each stage. He emphasizes the importance of balancing artistic integrity with business acumen, and outlines practical steps for growth, retention, and systemization. The conversation is structured around the journey from the initial proving grounds to becoming an architect of a successful academy, highlighting key takeaways for academy owners.

Takeaways

The four levels of Jujitsu Academy business are crucial for growth.

Artistic integrity can coexist with business strategies.

Stabilizing cash flow is essential for long-term success.

Engagement and retention strategies are vital at every level.

Investing in systems and tools can alleviate bottlenecks.

Hiring full-time staff can enhance operational efficiency.

Understanding your stage helps in planning for the future.

Clear offers and pricing structures are necessary for attracting members.

Marketing calendars are important for both staff and students.

Deciding on a long-term vision is key to sustainable growth.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jujitsu Academy Business Levels

03:23 Level One: The Proving Grounds

10:02 Level Two: The Marathon Stage

18:13 Level Three: The Bottleneck Stage

24:52 Level Four: The Architect Stage

PS. If you're looking for help growing your Jiu Jitsu academy I'm the founder of a company called "GrowJitsu". It's part tech, part systems/best practices, and part coaching. It's basically an all in one solution for Jiu Jitsu academy owners looking for growth.

If you want to see what it looks like to work together click the link below to book a free demo call: https://link.growjitsu.com/widget/booking/cugd9bndUjStB6e1B15w