Building a Thriving Jiu Jitsu Academy: Sonia Sillan

Forever White Belt

In this episode, we have a very special guest, Seattle, WA Black Belt Sonia Sillan. Sonia is an incredible entrepreneur, a dedicated mother, and the owner of two Jiu Jitsu academies—Combat Arts Academy and Burien Brazilian Jiu Jitsu—as well as a fitness gym. Her journey to success was far from typical. In this episode, you'll hear the fascinating story of how Sonia, then a Blue Belt, was unexpectedly left in charge of an academy with almost no business experience. Despite the many ups and downs, she navigated the challenges and built a thriving business with low attrition rates. Whether you own an academy, dream of running one someday, or are simply curious about what it takes to operate a successful Jiu Jitsu academy, you won't want to miss this episode. Sonia was super gracious with her time, and I greatly appreciated her transparency in sharing her story. In our conversation, Sonia shares insights on believing in oneself, having confidence, and staying true to one’s vision. We dive into her sales process, website philosophy, and the value of focusing on the customer's goals. We also discuss crucial aspects of running a martial arts academy, including the importance of pricing, coach development, and training, creating standard operating procedures (SOPs), and ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students. Sonia highlights the benefits of women's programs and the Girls in Gis organization, shares her personal journey of recovery and prevention and discusses the tools and applications she uses to manage her academies, including Zen Planner and Discord.

Links:

https://caaseattle.com/

https://www.instagram.com/delridgestrength/

https://www.instagram.com/burienbjj

https://www.instagram.com/combatartsacademy

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