Craig Harmer discusses operating multiple martial arts programs in a small town while balancing a full-time law enforcement career and competing at world championship level.

IN THIS EPISODE:

1. How to successfully operate Taekwondo, Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and 4 other programs simultaneously
2. From 50 struggling members to 150+ profitable students
3. Why world championship success matters for small-town business credibility
4. The challenge of competing with rugby, cricket, soccer, and every other local sport
5. How law enforcement skills create better martial arts instruction
6. Doubling revenue without doubling membership — the exact strategy

TRANSCRIPTION

George: Hey, it's George Fourie.

Welcome to another Martial Arts Media™ Business Podcast.

So today I'm with Craig Harmer and I almost want to say you're probably the busiest guy on the planet, right?

Craig: It seems like it sometimes.

As we were talking offline, I went to the world championships recently and some of the competitors were talking about how busy they were.

One of the other coaches said, busy?

You don't know what busy is.

Talk to this guy.

So I went through my timetable during the week and they were like, yeah, I'm going to shut up now.

So everyone's busy.

Everyone's got stuff to do.

Just get it done.

George: A hundred percent.

So let's, well, let's dive into that, right?

You're a lifelong martial artist.

You are still running a full-time job.

Craig: Yes.

George: And you're running a super successful dojo.

Do you refer to it as a dojo, school, academy?

Craig: We call it, because I guess we have a number of different programs, I like to call it an academy.

George: Academy, cool.

Craig: I stole that from our head coach, John Will, as well.

It's a place of learning.

It was designed to be called Goulburn Martial Arts Academy.

I want it to be ownership for everyone that walks through the academy.

I didn't want it just to be Craig Harmer's or whatever.

I want everyone that walks in to feel as though it's their place to be able to come and learn.

So yeah, it's an academy, I guess.