How I attract new members to my gym.

[@fritzdagger]

Im making this video series on owning and operating jiu-jitsu academies for all the people who love jiujitsu and are looking for a vehicle to orient their lifestyle and income around it. Jiu-jitsu gyms are great businesses with high returns and low start-up costs, so they make great starter-projects for entrepreneurs who love jiu-jitsu. This content is free but I do have a partner program for people who would like to model my systems and business strategies. IF you are a gym owner who is looking to scale their member numbers or an aspiring gym owner looking to make his mark in the world, we will work with you to make sure you have the best chances of success. I want jiu-jitsu to thrive and have as many people exposed to it as possible which means we need more gyms! At the end of the day its US the gym owners who grow jiu-jitsu and awareness. We are the tip of the spear so I want to arm any able bodied men and women to challenge themselves and make great money while training with your buddies. You can contact us through the form on legionajj.com/

[@hikermanwa]

Wow, you’re my BJJ guiding light. Great training videos when I started and now “how to open a gym” videos right when I’m thinking about that. I do want to orient my life around Jiu Jitsu!

[@bolenarrow9286]

Been a fan of your stuff for years, as I transition to coaching (and begrudgingly accept my competition years are getting to be behind me) I am glad to see you're also changing what you're teaching to help here as well :)

[@Skutchiamo]

This just brings you to the gyms website? Where’s info for new gym owners?

[@seanchristiansen4982]

It likely also helps to be a world class competitor universally recognized within the art 😅

[@gladiusbjj]

Noo way 🤣🤣

[@diogeneslantern18]

Keenan has mentioned that most of his new members didn't know that he was on the professional circuit when they joined.

[@seanchristiansen4982]

@@diogeneslantern18 Even if this account were fully reliable, the capital gained from his career certainly found its way into his gym.

[@meditate_ssbu]

Haha yes - I train under Thiago Ximenes and did not know he won pans and Brazilian Nationals until I was almost a month into classes!

[@SundarBJJ]

Nope, not at all. That might bring people in the door initially, but it doesn’t guarantee they stay. Lots of world-class competitors who are universally recognized within the art are complete and total assholes. First rule: “no one likes an asshole“. People just ultimately want to be treated well in combination with the best possible product they can get at the cheapest possible price. Business owners want to be respected by their customers while selling the least expensive product to them at the greatest possible price.

[@nerdobject5351]

I’m fortunate enough to live in Austin, TX and we’re watching this gym war stuff playing out in real time. Lots of new gyms and top notch instructors Providing amazing instruction and they have beautiful gyms.

[@jodyzung6455]

I'm also in the ATX area and just joined one near me in Pflugerville, I'm curious which ones you've tried and liked.

[@edmondlau511]

Competition benefits the consumer. Hope you guys found great gyms at the price range you are comfortable at.

[@nerdobject5351]

@@jodyzung6455A year later I never saw this message until today haha. I’m training up a Gracie Humaita in cedar park. We got amazing instructors including Giancarlo. We got open mat on Friday at noon. We got a judo floor although we only do bjj. So when you hit it you bounce off of it. You should come check it out.

[@GrapplingAutist]

Thanks for providing the content. As a new gym owner is good to hear we're on the same page - looking forward to hearing more from you!

[@Swagrific]

You're my inspiration! I am 32 male, did a year of JJ before covid hit, wasn't allowed to spar because of my age bracket in Norway. Was planning on getting back this fall season at my gym but tore my meniscus in May and had surgery, so it is rehab until next year January/February-ish when my physio gives me the go ahead. I know I am long gone to become a high-level athlete, but my dream is to open my own gym when I become black belt, train and produce high-level athletes! I am so thankful for what you have done and continuing to do in the JJ community 🙏 Much love! One day I will come and train at your gym.

[@badxradxandy]

Keenan my dude, I hope you are able to read this comment because I want to thank you for all these awesome videos.

[@diogeneslantern18]

Keenan, last night I dreamt that you owned a coffee shop (with Mark Boucher, the cricketer of all people), 2 blocks away from me. So I walked there to go get a cup of coffee. When I got there it was closing time and whilst I was asking about the different flavor profiles of the beans you got blunt with me and said "just order the mocha java" lol. What a trip.

[@Hooperboi]

Learn Jiujitsu and get an MBA in the process. Dropping serious knowledge.

[@tryharder3214]

Keenan in business is everything I'd like my coach to become. You take it to a different level. My coach has been complaining on this and that but he doesn't want to invest into new coaches, open new class times, invite people for seminars and so on. It sucks.

[@urbansamurai261]

Where do you train

[@mastermindmartialarts]

Everything said here is dead on. I was cheaper when I opened to undercut the other gyms, it didn't really work. Not even spending thousands on marketing worked for me. And what was said about traditions was true as well, I run my gym very loose when it comes to all of that stuff ( bowing, etc). I have ALWAYS focused on being the best teacher of martial arts as I can. And even though it took me a while, it has paid off for me. I have continued to grow every year. So much truth here.

[@jodyzung6455]

Coming from a traditional striking martial art, bowing is second nature and even tying turning around to tie your belt, but in bjj, gi's and belts are constantly getting undone and messed up its nearly impossible to turn around every time! lol Kudos for your school and others to let adults be adults in class and focus on the training.

[@mastermindmartialarts]

@@jodyzung6455 I appreciate that. I came from traditional martial arts before Jiu Jitsu (aikido), and I to bowed upon entering the dojo, turned around to tie my belt, etc. But In Bjj, it's just not as common, even Judo, while very traditional, used to almost make fun of me when I would turn around and tie my belt.

[@sethwinstead5643]

Brilliant. It’s amazing to me how so many gyms out there find it difficult to grasp these concepts of valuing students/customers. So happy for your gym and the success you’re finding, Keenan! Definitely gonna visit when we’re in SD again. 🙌🏼🤙🏼

[@notjonathan7857]

Man I enjoy all your content but have really enjoyed the past 3 videos of this series

[@wrxstock2820]

An instructor who gets it. Finally. 👍🏻

[@RodSpeak11]

Fantastic answer. American Jiu-Jitsu!! OSS!

[@SoulRollerFIN]

Smart play Keenan. Do you feel like jiu-jitsu should be about jiu-jitsu first and everything else second? Of course a business needs to make money, but I feel like that should not be the most important thing when martial arts are involved.

[@metrolinamartialarts]

These are gold.

[@fabiomedeiros7875]

Thank you for the video

[@tb9368]

As a student at Legion I can attest to what was said in this video. Legion is clean, friendly and the instructors are world class. I was a part of a cult gym that didn't allow cross training.. had to buy patches/gis from the gym.. couldn't even attend seminars outside the affiliation or buy instructionals without having the owner say something. Legion provides some of the best jiu jitsu around without making you feel like you have to live up to some arbitrary loyalty contract in order to participate.

[@NONE2NONE]

Is this shot in log? Theres no contrast

[@-WiseGuy-]

Keenan, have you had the same problem I've had when I owned an MMA academy years ago...you invest in your instructors, programs, and marketing, to build your student body, only to have instructors steal students for another school or go start their own schools with YOUR clients (probably less common for a known champion)? The combination of the economic crash in 2007/08 and this REPEATEDLY happening put me out of business and forced me into bankruptcy. I think a video on this could be particularly helpful to school owners.

[@stevena3333]

How do you find quality instructors to teach at your gym?

[@fritzdagger]

If someone can tap me and explain how they did it well, that’s a great qualifier

[@fritzdagger]

But I have a video about recruiting instructor talent. I’ll post it soon

[@ramirospinelli6453]

@@fritzdagger that a really high bar hahahaha

[@keystothetruth]

@@fritzdagger 🤣🤣

[@ukjw2]

Keep doing these man.

[@jiujitsustudent604]

I’ve actually thought about requesting a job transfer to San Diego from where I live just to train at your school. I would do it except for the fact that houses are too expensive over there. Can’t afford it!

[@gregarioushorse]

Here's a question I cant find the answer to. If you were to open a gym in the same general area of your instructors gym, what would be the ideal distance from their gym should you be to cut down on competing with your instructor?

[@aaronrummycruz]

What city?

[@gregarioushorse]

@@aaronrummycruz Dallas

[@aaronrummycruz]

@@gregarioushorse how many miles? More then 5? Also have you opened yet?

[@SkurgeBeatz]

Audio is too low

[@keystothetruth]

Who wins Andre or Gordon?

[@Luiseo1]

How do you feel about children in a kids program being required to say “yes sir” whenever the instructor gives instruction?

[@danielgodoyq]

Keenan, and how know the client’values?

[@harima6678]

great video!

[@monstabonza9168]

While I totally agree with this for a an adults gym/class but if it’s children’s based martial arts coaching a lot of parents want the traditional/structured way of tradition

[@BobBob-il2ku]

Would like a video on adding a striking class to a BJJ gym from a buisness perspective.

[@michaeledge7897]

Every gracie barra gym owner in a nutshell 🤫

[@RoloSolis81]

Open a gym in San Luis Obispo, PLEASE! I may have to resort to spamming you this until it happens!

[@slick222]

Great video but one thing you're definitely wrong about is ceremony. It creates culture and everyone wants that. Produce-consume is not a culture.

[@myrtonen]

That texas bbq is really hitting on those cheeks, my boy is thicc! Great stuff, thanks!

[@JoelReeves2006]

7 figures, omg

[@magcitrate]

Dang. He’s turning into a business man. 😁

[@rizzyullah]

How you grew to 7 figures

[@JoeHeine]

You need to 'attract' a louder microphone lol Jk, buddy thanks for the insights

[@lydial5695]

When I'm scrolling through the KZbins.... It looks like some homeless dude is making these gym business videos. 😆

[@sethwinstead5643]

Brilliant. It’s amazing to me how so many gyms out there find it difficult to grasp these concepts of valuing students/customers. So happy for your gym and the success you’re finding, Keenan! Definitely gonna visit when we’re in SD again. 🙌🏼🤙🏼