About Us
The Easton Online team combines 30+ years of experience in running successful martial arts academies and proven systems and standards proven across the martial arts industry. Our team is passionate about bridging the gap between passion and business, by bringing professionalism and excellence to martial arts.
What is Easton Online?
Easton Online is a comprehensive program designed for the martial arts academy owner and manager that is committed to enhancing every aspect of their business.
Why is Easton Online essential to the martial arts essential to your academy?
As martial arts academy owners, we are put in a very unique and privileged position where we have the ability to truly change people's lives and bring the best out of every individual- students, front desk employees, instructors, and our managers alike. We must run our academies skillfully.
We lose precious energy within the disorganized minutiae of the day-to-day due to structural insufficiencies. That takes away from the experience of everyone that is associated with your organization.
We all started out in martial arts with a passion and drive, and it is our mission to share this with the world and impact as many lives as we can. We want this to be the best job your instructors have ever had.
Our aim is to help you create careers for those who are passionate about aligning their life with martial arts.
Most martial arts schools never break the 200-student barrier because their systems are not scalable and break. Our martial arts are constantly evolving, and so should our business practices.
The martial arts industry has exploded over the last 10 years and it is now more important than ever to have a competitive edge.
Our Easton Online coaching staff has over 30 years of combined experience constructing time-proven successful systems to streamline your business operations which will ultimately allow you to work on what is truly important- changing lives.
Our Values
We Evolve
A constant striving for growth within our martial arts, business practices, and personal development.
Integrity
Providing the best product possible through honest and open conversation between all staff and members of Easton Online and commitment to supreme accountability and ownership across all members of Easton Online.
Teamwork
We work as a collective whole to solve all problems, figure out best practices, and provide the best service to our clients.
Empowerment
We are committed to making your academy the best that it can be. We have full conviction that martial arts are one of the best vehicles to realize an individual's full potential.
Building Relationships
At Easton Online we believe that 'your network is your net worth'. We have all chosen to go down the path of changing people's lives through martial arts, so it is our mission to help every academy realize its true potential in spreading martial arts to as many people as possible.
Our Story
The Easton Online system is founded on the 20+ years of experience that we have developed through building the network of Easton Training Centers.
Where We Began
It all started when our founder, Amal Easton, came back from traveling to Brazil and realized the need to bring jiu-jitsu to Colorado. In March of 1999, Amal opened the first Easton Training Center location in Boulder, Colorado. Our second location was opened in 2005 in Denver, Colorado. Our 7th location was opened in 2020 in Longmont, Colorado.
People and Culture
After over 20 years of building Easton we now have 5000 members and 7 locations. Most importantly, we now have an exceptional insight in what it takes to architect the replicable scalable systems required to build, not only martial arts academies, but a culture that transcends the physical structures. It is due to this culture that we were able to inspire 55% of our students to keep their memberships active during the COVID lockdowns.
What Now?
Our primary goal at Easton Training Center will continue being the same: changing lives and building careers within martial arts for as many people as possible.
World-class BJJ studio. They put as much into their kids' programs as they do adult training. The teacher-to-student ratio is great; usually 1 coach to 3-4 kids. The staff train the kids hard, with discipline, focus on self-control, and sportsmanship, and that losing is as important as winning (NOT in an "everyone-gets-a-trophy" way). They have a great class schedule, so if we miss a class there are still plenty of chances to get more training in. Staff are friendly, helpful, and make you feel welcome from the start. If you want an after-school activity for your kids with maximum ROI, this is it.
Bell L. - Easton Training Center, Denver, Parent
I love how organized and efficient each program at Easton has to offer. Whether it is Muay Thai, Jiu-jitsu, Kickboxing, Crossfit, or kids program they are all ran very well with good instructors. The community is great and everyone is very nice and welcoming to new and old members. If you or a group of friends or family are interested in starting a new path in martial arts or fitness this would be the #1 spot in Colorado to attend.
Austin D. - Easton Training Center, Littleton, Student
About four months ago, my business partner and I decided to join the Easton Online business group to open our second location. Understanding the magnitude of what we were undertaking, we wanted to lean on people with an established and successful track record of running and operating multiple schools. Our first interaction with Eliot and his crew made the right choice. It was made clear that we had made the right choice. Instead of providing little tidbits and helpful suggestions, Eliot helped us work from the top-down, starting with the structure of our business and our staff hierarchy. We've now got the right people in the correct positions with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. I could go on and on about the benefits that we've received with Easton Online, but I don't want my testimonial to turn into a novel.
- Jim Sheppard, Coach and Co-Owner, Straight Blast Gym Atlanta
Working with Easton Online has been an amazing experience. I have worked with other mastermind groups in the past but Easton taught me how to increase membership and profitability without having to resort to gimmicks. They not only taught me how to better my business, they have also held me accountable in taking action towards my goals. Our group learns not only from the mentors at Easton but also one another as we have several incredible individuals that have become friends and advisors to one another. It has forever changed my business.
- Frank Roncadori, Owner, Gracie Barra Greystone
Working with Eliot and the Easton team has been great. The team is passionate about helping everyone grow and the material we cover is perfect for any size academy. It doesn't matter if your looking to grow your school, or simply just have someone to keep you accountable. I give the program 2 thumbs up.
- Chad George, Owner, CMMA
If I could give this place six stars, I would! Easton is a top-notch facility with excellent instructors, friendly staff, and diverse and welcoming community. I've been training BJJ here for almost a year now, and the thing that stands out the most to me is how well you're treated as a novice - the higher belts in the gym are always willing to help you learn, and the instructors take a genuine interest in seeing you improve. The gym also has reasonable rates and policies around taking time away - I sprained my ankle running one day and was out for two months, but the membership policy was flexible enough for me to stay enrolled at my original rate. Finally, having done martial arts as a kid, I can tell that the kid's instructors work hard to instill the same values I learned from my martial arts instructors all those years ago: respect, perseverance, and humility. If I had kids, I'd sign them up in a heartbeat.
Kelsey C. - Easton Training Center, Boulder, Student
This group has changed my business. They gave me actionable steps, held me accountable, and helped me get through barriers that held me back. 10/10.
- Rico Steele, Owner, RS MMA and Fitness
Meet Our Team
Eliot Marshall
Co-Owner - Easton Training Center & Easton Online
After retiring from the UFC Eliot went straight into running the schools with Amal Easton, who has been his BJJ teacher his entire adult life. After opening and running multiple schools with him and the team, Eliot had a vision of teaching other academy owners how to successfully run their school. Hence, Easton Online was born. Now Eliot spends all his days coaching both on the mats and with other Owners how we can best operate Martial Arts Schools.Â
Jordan Shipman
Kids Program Director - Easton Training Center, Integrator - Easton Online,Â
Jordan Shipman started training at Easton in 2015, and it is not an understatement to say that jiujitsu and the community changed his life. In the fall of 2019, he became the General Manager of Easton Training Center Longmont, which opened in January of 2020. In 2023, Jordan was promoted from his role as GM to the Kids Program Director role for all of Easton Training Center. Jordan is also the integrator for Easton.Online, overseeing all of the company's operations.
Kyle Wright
BJJ Department Head - Easton Training Center Denver
Kyle Wright is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Eliot Marshall and is the Jiu-Jitsu Department Head of Easton Training Center Denver. Kyle began working with Easton Training Centers in 2020 and moved into a full-time instructor and department head role in 2021. He began working with the Easton Online team in late 2022 with the goal of helping martial arts academies grow to be able to create careers for anyone with passion for martial arts.
Michael Phipps
Director of Marketing - Easton Training Center
Michael Phipps is a Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai coach at Easton. He is the department head for the Easton Longmont Muay Thai program and also the Director of Marketing and Media for Easton Training Centers. Many of the videos and other digital media you see from Easton Online are Michael’s doing. When he’s not on the mats, he’s usually behind a camera or editing at his computer.
Derek Alumbaugh
Owner & General Manager - Matrix Castle Rock
Derek started working at Easton Training Center- Castle Rock in 2012, cleaning the mats and has since held every position in the academy: Coach, First Impression Specialist, Department Head and, most recently, becoming General Manager in 2018. Derek's first experience as a General Manager was turning around a struggling Academy Easton acquired from its previous owners, helping take it from 175 members to 450 members during his time there. In 2020, he opened a new location from scratch and has been managing its growth since. Derek has a deep knowledge of all the Easton systems and SOP’s and is excited to help whether you’re taking the leap launching your academy or trying to adjust and take your academy to the next level.
Ready For The Next Step In Your Growth?
No matter where you're at with your Martial Arts school, we have a product to help you.
