We recently connected with Master Renard Beaty and have shared our conversation below.

Master Renard, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I actually started my business path about four years before I opened my brick and mortar doors. I was working in human resource (HR) management during the day, and at night I was training in Tang Soo Do with my daughters. I had an opportunity to put my training into practice with students in a martial arts program at a local YMCA. There wasn’t a martial arts program for ages 4 – 7 years old, and I created one called Little Ninja. It was a success. Then I was given an opportunity to manage the entire program for ages 8 and up. That too was a success. Then I wondered if I could make this part-time opportunity into a full-time business. The first step in answering that question came with doing a business plan.

The process of creating a business plan was a turning point. You don’t need expertise to do a business plan. I searched online for information specific to the martial arts industry and found adaptable business plan templates that I could use to shape my own plan. The process of developing a business plan made me think about many issues like, targeted demographics, the industry trends, licenses, starting capital, and most importantly, revenue projections, marketing strategies and my brand.

I went down the Small Business Administration (SBA) and reviewed my business plan with a retired expert for feedback. He was impressed with what I did, by myself, and the details I included. In fact, he took out things that wasn’t needed. Creating a business plan wasn’t sexy but it gave me a road map to what to do next as I achieved certain milestones. I funded my start with personal savings and a family loan. Within my business plan, I established monthly goals for growing the business, and put as much revenue as possible back into the business. I was able to start paying myself after about a year. I tried various forms of marketing to see what was most effective in my area and kept up on industry articles for best practices. I wanted to give potential customers the feeling that my business was unique and the best. I accomplish that by having a detailed conversation with potential customers before they step through my doors.

Educate the Consumer:
My first goal is to educate the parents on what makes us different and unique. Most assume Kick Start Martial Arts (KSMA) is like every other martial arts school. I insist on talking with them to understand their expectations and to explain what I do. This is usually a phone conversation. They quickly come to understand that I am not a sports program, and my focus is not on providing just a fun experience. I am developing behaviors that will benefit the student and parents for long-term success in life. Yes, the student will get a great martial arts instruction by understanding the instruction, execute the instruction while the instructor is providing feedback, then make the instruction more challenging which makes it fun. To do this, KSMA demands a structured environment, safe from teasing or bullying. Also, the parent understands that KSMA teaches long-term leadership skills that will increase my students’ chance for life long success.

Leadership Program
Most people don’t get into a physical altercation. I did not want to convey to my students that they will definitely need to prepare for physical “battle”. I teach my student that the goal is to never enter into a physical altercation, KSMA isn’t developing tough guys but peaceful warriors. The strategy is simply one, don’t place yourself in a position of danger, for example, don’t go to a place known for danger. Two, if you’re in a peaceful place and danger presents itself, leave. Third, use de-escalation skills to calm an agitated person, and lastly tell the person to leave you alone while backing away, making sure others hear you, in case you need witnesses. Four, if attacked, defend yourself. With this in mind I want to offer something that my student will need 100% of the time in their lives.

In my past career, I was the Director of the Minority Engineer Two-year Management Rotation Program for Eastman Kodak Company. I Achieved a Master of Science in Training and Development which prepared me for this position. I would recruit a select diverse group from various schools. For two years I would assist with the development of team skills, working under pressure, building integrity, building partnerships and alliances, how to handle short comings, working with difficult people, how to manage others and eventually how to lead. I leveraged my experience to create my Kick Start Future Leadership Organization (KFLO) program. I believed that, if given the opportunity, my KFLO program students can learn transferable management skills that can contribute to their life-long success.

Because of my unique approach to marital arts, I have been given many awards, most recently, Voted by the Georgia Business Journal 2021 and 2022 best martial arts facility in Georgia. The parents enjoy seeing my young staff teaching and becoming role models to my new students. KFLO students sends a message to new students that they can achieve levels at KSMA that other organizations don’t offer. Even though I do not focus on them just having fun, my students have fun, and experience enjoyment from personal achievement which is more valuable.

Master Renard, 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 have a Master of Science. I am a 5th degree Master Black belt in Tang Soo Do, made famous by Chuck Norris and the Cobra Kai characters in the Karate Kid movies.

In my past career, I was the Director of the Minority Engineer Two-year Management Rotation Program for Eastman Kodak Company. I Achieved a Master of Science in Training and Development which prepared me for this position. I would recruit a select diverse group from various schools. For two years I would assist with the development of team skills, working under pressure, building integrity, building partnerships and alliances, how to handle short comings, working with difficult people, how to manage others and eventually how to lead.

I am very proud of the leadership program I offer by leveraging my experience to create my Kick Start Future Leadership Organization (KFLO) program. I believed that, if given the opportunity, my KFLO program students can learn transferable management skills that can contribute to their life-long success. I never met a parent that did not want their child to have these skills prior to college and daily independence from the parent. the student becomes more focus and mature and role models.

Because of my unique approach to marital arts, I have been given many awards, most recently, Voted by the Georgia Business Journal 2021 and 2022 best martial arts facility in Georgia. The parents enjoy seeing my young staff teaching and becoming role models to my new students. KFLO students sends a message to new students that they can achieve levels at KSMA that other organizations don’t offer. Even though I do not focus on them just having fun, my students have fun, and experience enjoyment from personal achievement which is more valuable.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When the Governor shut down public gatherings due to COVID, I had to act fast to provide my services to retain as many customers as possible.

I connected with my martial arts community to share and listen to strategies that would work for me, a one man show. I discovered online training. I invested in media equipment. Subscribe to zoom. Invested in more bandwidth, created a curriculum that would work for at home learning.

It was strange talking to a camera and not able to interact with my student who needed more support but I only lost 10 students and in 7 months, I started to enroll students. I was honored that the majority of my parents stayed with me. The school made it through the lock down.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

I tried all types of marketing form post card, lawn signs, flyers, me taking out Facebook ads, community events. Most were time consuming with little results. Most of my new customers came from referrals and seeing my presence in the community. I would enroll about 5-7 students a month. Then I met an enterprising person at the trade show who was doing something different.

The person was doing targeted digital marketing and she explained how to do it. I quickly realized that I could not duplicate her process because she was an expert in this strategy. I did the next best thing, I hired her for a test trail. Immediately I was enrolling 10-20 students a month. This was a game changer.!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kisckstartatl
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KSAtlantamartialarts
• Other: www.kickstartatl.com