We were lucky to catch up with Brandon Kemmer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brandon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I never set out to run a martial arts school. At the time, I was working in IT as a network administrator and teaching martial arts on the side—just enough to stay connected to something I loved. The school itself was my brother’s dream, not mine. But one day, he told me he was ready to move on and planned to sell the studio.

That hit hard. I looked around at the students—the community we had built—and I couldn’t imagine letting it go. We weren’t just running classes; we were a family. People were growing, crushing their goals, and finding confidence through training. I couldn’t leave them high and dry. That responsibility, that love for the community, was the tipping point.

The problem? I was only 24 years old and didn’t know the first thing about running a business. But my excitement and belief in what we were doing outweighed the fear. I made the leap. I bought the school and walked away from a stable career in IT. I went all in—no backup plan, no guarantees.

That moment changed my life. I may not have known everything about business, but I knew how to work hard, how to learn, and how to care deeply. I leaned on mentors, studied obsessively, and slowly built systems and structure. I started to find my passion—not just in martial arts, but in leadership, in helping others grow, and in building something with purpose.

But it took years to learn how to work on the business instead of just in it. In the beginning, I was stuck in the day-to-day, wearing every hat, and doing everything myself. I was basically an employee in my own business. Eventually, I realized that being a true entrepreneur requires a different mindset. I had to become a student again—this time of leadership, business strategy, and growth. I sought out mentors who helped me shift from surviving to scaling.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Sometimes the right opportunity shows up before you feel ready. And when it does, you can’t let fear talk you out of chasing something you believe in. Risk is scary, but purpose is worth it—and if you’re willing to grow, the risk can become the best decision you ever make.

Brandon, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Master Brandon Kemmer, Chief Instructor and owner of Cutting Edge Martial Arts Academy in Woodland Hills, California. I’ve been teaching martial arts for over two decades—but my journey started long before that.

I began martial arts at just six years old at the Church at Rocky Peak in Chatsworth, CA under Mr. Mark Cox. I trained hard, earned my black belt at 10 years old—and then, like a lot of kids, I quit. I never imagined I’d return to it.

But in 1999, my brother asked if I’d help teach martial arts at an after-school program he was running. That changed everything. The moment I stepped back on the mat, something clicked. I fell in love with it all over again—and I’ve been teaching ever since.

In 2008, my brother decided to sell the studio, and I had a choice to make. I was working in IT at the time as a network administrator, teaching martial arts on the side. But I couldn’t let the school go—I couldn’t let the students down. I saw the community we had built, and I knew I had to step up. I bought the school, left IT, and went all in.

Now, I serve as the Chief Instructor at Cutting Edge, where I hold a 6th Dan in American Tang Soo Do, am earning my 3rd Dan in Krav Maga, and hold a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We offer a full range of martial arts programs including Tang Soo Do, Krav Maga, Muay Thai, and BJJ for both kids and adults.

But what really sets us apart is our focus on character and community. We specialize in helping kids become more confident, focused, and capable of standing up for themselves. We also serve adults who are looking for more than just a workout—they’re looking for a strong, welcoming community and the ability to truly defend themselves.

I’ve worked hard to make sure that from the moment someone walks into our school, they feel like family. We believe in giving every new student a VIP experience. Respect, connection, and personal growth are at the core of what we do.

What I’m most proud of isn’t just the belts or the business growth—it’s the stories. Watching a shy child become a confident leader, or seeing an adult rediscover their strength and self-worth through training—that’s what drives me. Martial arts changed my life, and now I get to help others change theirs.

For anyone considering training with us, I want you to know: we’re not just a martial arts school—we’re a place to grow.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Absolutely. My journey in martial arts has been anything but smooth—and that’s exactly what’s made it meaningful.

I bought my martial arts school in 2008—right in the middle of the housing market crash. Within months of taking over, we dropped from 110 students to just 50. I was 24 years old, with no business background, and suddenly running a school that was sinking fast. It was a harsh wake-up call.

To stay afloat, I went back to my IT job during the day and ran the school at night. But the tradeoff was brutal—I had no time for my family, and the business was still struggling. Eventually, I had to make a decision: keep playing it safe, or go all in. I chose the business. I quit IT again, fully committed to building the school, and never looked back.

But the hits didn’t stop there. Like so many others, we were crushed during COVID. We had to pivot fast—switching to online classes almost overnight. It wasn’t perfect, but it kept our students connected, moving, and supported.

Through all of this, my wife was the rock. For years, her income carried us while the school barely made more than break-even. There were many times I questioned whether it would ever truly work.

Then everything changed. I finally realized I needed help, and I reached out to a martial arts business coach, Jennifer Waters. She taught me how to run the business like a business—how to lead, systemize, market, and scale. That decision completely changed the trajectory of our school.

Today, we’ve rebuilt and thrived. We’re growing rapidly, we’ve built a strong, values-driven community, and we’re getting ready to open a brand-new facility. We now have over 260 students and a team I’m incredibly proud of.

What I’ve learned is that resilience isn’t just about pushing through the hard times—it’s about being willing to change, to learn, and to believe in what you’re building, even when no one else sees it yet.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Growing our martial arts school hasn’t come from just one tactic—it’s come from building a full ecosystem that reflects who we are, what we stand for, and how we help people.

We start with paid advertising—Google Ads, Facebook/Instagram ads, and Yelp—to get in front of people actively searching for martial arts or self-defense. But paid ads only work if you’ve built trust and systems to support them.

Our website, which I designed myself on Wix, is SEO-optimized and built to convert. When someone fills out a form, their info goes directly into our CRM, where a series of automated email and text responders guide them toward scheduling an appointment. These messages aren’t just reminders—they’re packed with value, showing people who we are and how we can help them or their kids.

We also show up daily on Facebook and Instagram, using posts and stories to give people a look inside our culture. We don’t just promote classes—we highlight what it feels like to train here: the energy, the respect, the personal growth, and the fun.

But one of our most effective strategies is referrals. We run a simple but powerful program—when a student refers a friend who signs up, they get a $50 Amazon gift card. More than that, we host regular internal events (at least one per month) where students can bring friends, making it easy to share the experience with others.

We’re also big on reviews. We ask for them quarterly and at meaningful moments in a student’s journey—after a belt promotion, a breakthrough, or a big event. Those stories from real students and parents add credibility and build trust.

And then there’s the heart of it all: retention. We’ve found that keeping students excited and progressing is the best marketing there is. We use belt and stripe testing, leadership opportunities, fun events, and an incredible team of instructors who genuinely care. Our focus is on helping students grow both on and off the mat.

Finally, our message is rooted in the why, not just the what. Most parents aren’t Googling “martial arts” because they want their kids to break boards. They want their child to focus better, stand up and speak up, and gain confidence. Adults are looking for community, mentorship, and accountability—and we make that part of the conversation from the start.

All these strategies work together because they align with who we are. And when your marketing reflects your mission, people don’t just sign up—they stay.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cemartialartsacademy.com
• Instagram: @cuttingedgemartialartsacademy
• Facebook: @cuttingedgemartialartsacademy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cuttingedgekarate
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cutting-edge-martial-arts-academy-woodland-hills

Image Credits

Hung Doan