We recently connected with Rick Seid and have shared our conversation below.

Rick , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the decision of whether to donate a percentage of sales to an organization or cause – we’d love to hear the backstory of how you thought through this.

I have been teachng Krav Maga for nearly 30 years. It began and remains passion for me seeing the self esteem and confidence grow in every student that walks through the door.
Years back I developed a couple training programs for kids and teens in the aftermath of the Elizabeth Smart high profile abduction. I put out a home training video and book for parents to teach their kids at home. I was fortunate to get national attention with interviews on some major networks and sales of my video training soared.

Now to the present project. For years my wife, an occupational therapist worked pediatric therapy. I used to see some of the children afflicted with handicaps and disabilities that brought tears to my eyes. 11 years ago my grandson was born with issues that soon resulted in a stroke at 3 years old leaving him unable to move, see or speak and fed through tubes. But he is the light of our life via his ability to laugh at every goofy voice we make. I know the costs and strain this type of situation brings upon a family. Thus I am relaunching my books and videos with a percentage of the proceeds from the sales to provide wheelchairs, Hoyers and other items for disabled children and returning injured military.

Rick , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Being an athlete basically all my life even playing professional minor league baseball, I found martial arts intriguing. I began with my son, aged 7 at the time training to Black Belt at a local school in Coral Springs Florida. I was in a bookstore one day looking at Martial Arts magazines and a story caught my eye. “Krav Maga, the secret weapon of the Israel military.” Being Jewish and never hearing of Krav Maga I got excited to read it.
From the article it described the system as real life application. Not martial artsy. Easy to learn and based off ones natural instincts. I looked it up and amazingly in Los Angeles that weekend was a 10 day course for instructors. I flew out and loved every minute and wanted to teach others this amazing system that originated in Israel now taught all over the world. Shortly thereafter Elie Avikzar (IDF head Krav maga Instructor) and Guy Dar in Israel invited me to come and train in Israel. I did and I became a representative of their organization Krav Magen here in Florida. After Elie’s passing in 2004 I formed my own Frontline Krav Maga organization.
I think what has enabled me to be successful is my methodology to teach the system quickly as it was meant to be taught NOT focus on stretching out the lessons to collect fees for years as most do. I have created, modified and enhanced tactics to improve the system. Again that was the goal of Krav Maga basically because I am not constrained to the curriculums other Krav Maga organizations demand. I also create a family atmosphere that every walking in the door becomes part of.

Reasonable costs and every class is meant to teach lessons that could save their lives. It for me is passion, the money secondary and I think that shows through to my students. I have had a few defend themselves successfully in life threatening situations one woman fighting off a rape situation. That has made this adventure worth it all for me.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

I began owning a commodity trading firm in 1980 I was in that highly stressful business for about 16 years. In 1996 I found Krav Maga and I wanted every part of it. Learn it and teach it. It overlapped my commodity business for about 10 years and teaching Krav Maga was kind of like therapy from every stressful day trading the markets.

Being new teaching Krav Maga I wanted to find out what the best in the business were doing to be successful. I was blessed to meet Dana Kaplan of Krav Maga San Diego. His many years teaching and his knowledge of Krav Maga and how to generate and keep students thriving were invaluable but also I saw what made him one of the best. No matter what business I believe strongly we can learn from others. Others willing to share their secrets of success as Dana did for me in Krav Maga.

I started out teaching at a local community center. I paid them 30% of each tuition and didnt have to worry about rent, electric etc. Once I built up a big enough following I got my own place unrestricted by available times or rules. Another option is find a person in your same business and cut some type of arrangement to work together or partner.
Most important your customers, students etc benefits need to be your priority. Or they will see right through you. Lucky for me their benefit has always come before anything else.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

As mentioned Krav Maga was not only my passion but almost therapy from my main business at the time, owning a commodity trading firm. The teaching at night and weekends gave me refuge from the stresses of trading the markets. In 2006 I had built a big enough following that I was able to strip away the stress of the trading firm and move forward with Krav Maga as my main business.

Starting out in a local community center teaching a few days a week provided me to be part of their marketing to the city in their monthly mail out without me spending a dime for marketing. I did pass out flyers , use social media and local news stations. I was able to get on national networks due to an anti-abduction program I developed. Calling local news producers for your product is helpful since they are always looking for stories.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Frontlinekrav.com
• Instagram: Frontline Krav Maga
• Facebook: Fighting Chance programs…. Frontline Krav Maga ….Rick Seid
• Youtube: Frontline Krav Maga….