Tradition with Innovation — by Jason D. Murry
A martial arts instructor trains young students – a rewarding passion that also comes with financial pressures. Many martial arts school owners pour their hearts into teaching, yet financial stress often looms in the background. From tight profit margins to personal financial sacrifices, running a dojo or gym is as challenging as any black belt test. In states like Oklahoma and Texas, where martial arts communities are growing, instructors face unique hurdles in balancing family finances and business needs.
As a martial artist and business leader myself, I’ve lived these realities. This discussion explores the financial struggles instructors face, how a plan (or lack thereof) impacts success, and how the Kintsugi Financial Leadership approach offers a path toward resilience, strength, and prosperity.
The Financial Challenges Martial Arts Instructors Face
Running a martial arts school is often a labor of love — but love alone doesn’t pay the bills. The financial reality is stark: most dojos operate on tight margins of 10–15%. A school bringing in $20,000 a month might net only $2,000–$3,000 after expenses — a cushion that disappears with any dip in enrollment or rise in costs. It often takes 2–3 years just to break even on startup costs.
These thin margins mean cash flow is a constant battle, especially given seasonal swings (enrollments spike in January and back-to-school, then drop in summers and holidays). Without proper planning, a bad month can push a school into survival mode.
Maintaining enrollment is another struggle. Many instructors find it difficult to attract and retain enough students to cover fixed costs like rent, utilities, and insurance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows about 50% of small businesses close within five years, and martial arts schools are no exception. While black-belt perseverance helps many survive early years, passion alone can’t substitute for structure. Growth stalls when owners neglect budgets, systems, and measurable ROI.
Financial strain also hits the family. Many instructors juggle teaching, training, marketing, and management while trying to provide for loved ones — often living “hand-to-mouth.” Some fall into personal bankruptcy after taking their eye off the financial “ball.” That instability at home creates anxiety, affects marriages, and drains the joy out of teaching. Proverbs reminds us: “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds” (Proverbs 27:23 ESV). Discipline in stewardship applies as much to dojos as it does to discipleship.
The Impact of Financial Stress: Burnout and Dojo Closures
When financial pressure builds without relief, burnout becomes inevitable. Long hours, unpaid overtime, and low compensation create exhaustion. As one advisor put it, “Dealing with these things and not earning a fair compensation ultimately leads to one thing — burnout and closed doors.”
The COVID-19 pandemic magnified these vulnerabilities. In 2020, government lockdowns forced dojos to close, and over 80% in California shut permanently. Even historic schools folded after months of zero revenue. Those who survived did so because they had either financial reserves, insurance coverage, or diversified income streams. This was the great reveal — financial resilience determines survival in crisis.
Instructors with savings, insurance payouts, or creative pivots (Zoom classes, outdoor training, prepaid memberships) endured. Others without a plan couldn’t recover. The lesson is simple: faith without strategy is presumption. Wise stewardship honors God’s provision by preparing for seasons of famine and plenty alike.
Even in ordinary years, risks abound — injuries, lawsuits, or the loss of a key instructor. Yet only 22% of small businesses have Key-Person Insurance, and just 30% have estate plans. If something happens to the owner, the dojo’s future — and the family’s livelihood — is in jeopardy.
Thriving Dojos vs. Struggling Dojos: The Difference a Plan Makes
Despite the challenges, opportunity is abundant. In 2024, the U.S. martial arts market reached $19.4 billion with over 50,000 studios and 6.6 million active participants. Parents willingly invest $100–$300 per child per month when they perceive lasting value. Thriving owners treat their schools as both a calling and a company. They apply discipline to their finances with the same precision they apply to their kata.
- They prioritize profit without guilt – recognizing it as the fuel for mission longevity.
- They enforce structure – having a personal financial system in place, automated billing, pricing integrity, and clear ROI tracking.
- They diversify income – lessons, seminars, pro shops, family programs, plus business investing add resilience.
- They protect the foundation – insurance, emergency funds, and estate plans to ensure continuity.
Schools with such structure thrive. Those without it fight fatigue, inconsistency, and decline. As James wrote, “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18 AMPC) In stewardship, intention without action is no plan at all.
The “Kintsugi” Approach: Financial Leadership for Martial Artists
Martial artists understand the balance of tradition and innovation. The Japanese art of Kintsugi (金継ぎ – “golden joinery”) teaches that brokenness, when repaired with gold, becomes stronger and more beautiful than before. Likewise, the “cracks” in a dojo’s financial structure can be healed and made stronger.
This is the mission behind Kintsugi Financial Leadership — applying timeless wisdom and modern strategy to strengthen both business and personal finances.
Our “Golden Joinery” Services Include:
- Life & Key-Person Insurance – safeguard your family and your dojo’s continuity.
- Health & Disability Coverage – protect your ability to earn while you heal.
- Liability & Property Insurance – shield your school from unexpected loss or legal claims.
- Debt Elimination & Cash-Flow Management – remove unnecessary weight and build financial agility.
- Investments & Retirement Planning – create freedom to teach by choice, not necessity.
- Estate Planning & Legal Protection – establish generational security and succession.
When these systems align, owners gain peace, families gain safety, and students gain consistency. Financial stewardship isn’t a distraction from your mission — it’s the armor that allows you to fulfill it.
Conclusion: Building an Unbreakable Legacy
As both Sensei and strategist, I’ve seen this truth repeatedly: every dojo’s strength is tied to its structure. We teach our students that pressure reveals the quality of training; the same applies to leadership. The Word tells us, “Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established” (Proverbs 24:3 AMPC).
It’s never too late to start repairing with gold. When you choose strategy over survival, stewardship over struggle, and faith with action, you don’t just build a school — you build a legacy.
Ready to Fortify Your Dojo’s Finances?
Let’s walk your numbers, protect your people, and design a plan that fits your mission. Schedule a Conversation with Jason
40 – 60 minutes. Bring your questions — I’ll bring the playbook.
Jason D. Murry — Kintsugi Financial Leadership | “Tradition with Innovation”
Sources
- Spark Membership – “Why Martial Arts Schools Struggle With Revenue Growth,” Sep 16, 2025.
- Kicksite – “Why Martial Arts Schools Fail (and How to Succeed!),” U.S. BLS data.
- Wellyx – “40+ Martial Arts Industry Statistics…,” 2024.
- Martial Arts History Museum – Press Release, Oct 26, 2021 (COVID-19 impact).
- MartialArtsCoach.com – “Financial Independence for Martial Arts Instructors.”
- Spectrum Jiu Jitsu – “Financial Wellness Workshop,” 2018.
- Smartest Dollar – “Key Person Insurance Basics,” Jan 2023.
- Gertsburg Licata Law – “Do I Need a Trust?…for Business Owners,” Mar 4, 2024.
- Dynamic Martial Arts – “Golden Scars – Finding Strength in Brokenness with Kintsugi,” May 10, 2024.
Financial Durability 