The news came to me yesterday that famous BJJ practitioner Nino Schembri has closed his school, and he shared the saddest sentiment:
“After 16 years, I’m closing my academy. My dream is over. I am very sad. 😔 I hope the next chapter of my life is better than this one that closed. Thanks. Obrigado 🙏🏼”
I had followed Nino’s career in Jiu-Jitsu and later when he moved into MMA and began fighting in Pride. He also placed in the IBJJF World Championships and in ADCC. What happened? I think this story is all too common, we just don’t hear about it. No one is running into the streets saying, “Hey, we didn’t make it.”
This is what I do know. This is why I created Legacy, to help school owners like Nino become educated in what it takes to run a successful martial arts school and to help them build their team so there can be brighter and lighter days ahead. I was very fortunate to be taught the business of martial arts at a young age and blessed to still be doing it 24 years later.
I think this story has valuable lessons for us all:
- We always need to be learning and improving what we’re doing in our martial arts school.
- We need a plan. What is my plan? Where am I going? How do I get there?
- Everyone needs help—whether that’s building your staff team, hiring a business consultant, or enrolling in an online course to further your education. No one does it alone.
There’s a saying: “Alone you may go faster, but together we will go further.” Let’s look at this situation and use it as motivation for all of us school owners to stay focused and on our mission.
If you are reading this and feel like you need help with the three questions above, reach out to us at: http://www.legacymaconsulting.com and book a free consult. Join our free group here: www.martialartsgymownersunited.com
For our current clients: stay on course, stay focused, and let’s keep crushing our goals together.
Nick Castiglia
Legacy Martial Arts Consulting