ChampionsWay Spotlight featuring Carlos Machado

Carlos Machado was asked a series of questions, here are the questions and answers:
1) What form of martial arts do you do, and what have you trained?

C. Machado: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is what I have done more than anything, in regards to martial arts. I do train some wrestling, judo, and with some of my students and relatives, kickboxing as well. But, all those extracurricular activities are more from a personal growth point of view. In regards to my main martial art, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu will always be the one I do the most!

2) What inspired you to start your training?

C. Machado: My parents always gave us the support for sports, in particular martial arts. The fact we had a large family (five siblings under the same roof) was more than enough of a reason to get us involved, as early as possible, into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We would spend lots of energy at the academy, and mellow out at home. Our Gracie cousins and uncles were strong role models, who were also very influential in our upbringing into the martial arts.

3)What aspect of your business do you feel being very successful?

C. Machado: Before I had the drive to teach to make champions. That is a noble goal, but limited. The fighting aspect of BJJ is a smaller portion of the whole art. The minute I decided instead to change people’s lives through the martial arts, the picture got a lot bigger. My ability to break down difficult moves into easier steps allows me to teach both talented athletes and the “Average Joe”. To turn someone’s gift into prowess is pretty rewarding. Showing someone who never believed he/she could learn and progress is even more gratifying! I believe my curriculum structure was the turning point of our success. All the other aspects are being implemented with amazing results: the marketing and sales structure and the operational chart of our business. Expanding into additional locations is a possibility in the very near future. We want to prosper with our business, without ever compromising the quality of our martial arts. Our motto is “Growth with Integrity!”

4) What inspired you to continue in that style of martial arts?

C. Machado: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an activity that works better the more relaxed you are! When I practice, I feel like I am doing an active meditation. You lose sense of your surroundings, the focus grips on the moves and your training partner. BJJ is more about feeling than thinking, more about going with the flow than fighting. I cannot do it enough. It is one of the most exhilarating experiences someone can ever have! It is no accident that I still do it consistently and plan to do it for many years to come!

5) When did you decide to take martial arts as a career? And why?

C. Machado: In 1982, barely out of high school and into college, I realized that there was nothing that gave me more enthusiasm than to share the environment at the academy, and teach others the little I knew then. I did not grasp the reason why I chose martial arts until I came across so many young people, throughout my trips all over the U.S. and the world. They were all hungry for good BJJ training, and I felt it was not a career anymore, but a mission! Jiu-Jitsu is the tool I have to change people’s lives. I do not know a single student of mine who has not benefitted in some way from the art I teach and am so passionate about. I literally measure my success by how many of those I inspired along the way!

6) What business knowledge did you have when you first started running your martial arts business?

C. Machado: I learned after many years, that a bad product well marketed can still be sold; a great product poorly marketed will struggle to make it. An academy of great fighters without structure will limit its potential. Once I realized what other successful school owners were doing, I was open to their input, and adapted their systems into my program. Structure is the key. I did not have that. Today I have a detailed curriculum for each belt level, beginners and advanced students in different classes, and many other procedures, all in place to ensure that anyone who walks into our location can have a great experience at every time. The challenge has always been to prevent watering down the standards at the expense of selling more programs. I believe we can maximize our earning potential without degrading the martial arts!

7) What were some of the major obstacles you faced as a school owner, and how did you overcome them?

C. Machado: I believe, other than my lack of experience in many aspects, the lack of criteria dealing with staff members. Unfortunately, if there is no clear agreement between the owner and the ones who work for the business, disaster is bound to happen! I had a hard time holding staff accountable, and at the same time had no definite direction on where I wanted to go. Today, I hold everyone accountable for their tasks, and have a clear picture of where I am going! That is powerful. Now I know that the losses I had in the past became stepping stones to bring me to a higher level. It is crucial to take responsibility for your business.

8) How have ChampionsWay Martial Arts Solutions helped you manage your business needs?

C. Machado: What impressed me about Champions Way was their ability to answer all my questions, even when they had no answer for a specific problem at a time. They never said no, what they did instead was tell me they would find a solution, which would come sooner than later! That was incredible! In regards to their software, it is like having your school on cruise control. Almost every essential aspect of running a business is compressed in an easy to manage, every day language program. Every single staff member of my location knows how to operate it. Being able to access my student information and other website info via ChampionsWay’s web enabled front desk software is very convenient since I travel all over the world. If there is internet access I can see what is going on with my students and stay on top of the numbers the academy is generating. Can’t say enough of it!

9) What ChampionsWay Solution has been most useful to you and why?
C. Machado: Now, with ChampionsWay Solutions my staff has at their fingertips access to a great wealth of information for every concern related to how we manage our academy. I do not need to talk to anyone, just go to the computer, open the page, and troubleshoot what I need right away. If there is a need for customer service, Bonnie is ready to take charge, and tell us whatever we need to know whenever we need it. Every time I give ChampionsWay a phone call regarding issues with my academy, no matter how big or small my issue they always make me feel like I am their first and most important priority. I am never rushed off the phone and always hang up with my problem solved. It is awesome!

10) What new features of the ChampionsWay Platform excite you the most and why?

C. Machado: Although the website building platform is outstanding, I would have to say the ChampionsWay’s front desk software, has been my most favorite thing in regards to Platforms. I have used MANY different Martial Arts companies that offer front desk software and 1000 different marketing materials but found it was a waste of money and a waste of time trying to set it up to work for my academy. The ones I tried to use in the past were set up for primarily karate schools. Flying front kicks and karate chops on marketing materials do nothing for a BJJ school. So essentially I would get a lot of things in the mail that I was never able to even use. The ability to customize my academy needs in a front desk software is very appealing to me. The level of customization found with their platform is unbelievable and the amount of one on one help setting it up was fantastic. All the marketing material I need for my style of martial art is also another plus. ChampionsWay caters to all martial arts styles and if there is something they don’t have that you need they will find a way to get it. They are the best of the best and I can proudly say they have a customer for life.