The Truth About Building a Jiu-Jitsu Academy No One Talks About
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With a martial arts background that began in childhood, Joshua earned black belts in kung fu and kickboxing. He has extensive experience as a competitive kickboxer and amateur MMA fighter, and has owned and operated multiple martial arts academies.
About Fit & Fight Gym
Square One Jiu Jitsu, founded in 2023, is located in downtown Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The academy offers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training with a focus on both beginners and advanced students, including adults and kids. Programs emphasize modern techniques, fundamentals, competition preparation, and efficient grappling methods. The facility supports a welcoming training environment for hobbyists and serious practitioners alike, drawing on the instructor’s extensive experience in martial arts and competition. Square One Jiu Jitsu is committed to high-quality instruction and community-focused martial arts education.
đź“Ť2 SW 4th St suite d, Lee's Summit, MO 64063
đź“ž 816-287-0492
Summary
In this episode, Alex Cuevas visits Joshua Smith at Square One Jiu Jitsu in Missouri to explore the untold realities of building a martial arts academy. Josh shares his journey from training in kung fu as a child in Alabama through competitive kickboxing and MMA and his transition to Jiu Jitsu, a sport that ultimately became his passion and life’s calling.
He opens up about the challenges of opening and maintaining academies, the importance of not doing it alone, and the value of building strong business and community networks. Josh emphasizes training smarter, building resilience through setbacks, and prioritizing personal growth over material success.
Throughout the conversation, he highlights the pivotal role Gymdesk has played in managing his schools—from streamlining student communication and attendance to supporting smaller academies with affordable, accessible features. The episode is both a candid look at the realities of martial arts entrepreneurship and a practical insight into how the right tools, like Gymdesk, can make a difference.
