Taking on the NFL

"In sports briefs, Seattle defeated San Francisco in a surprise win in martial arts and is back in the running for the National Martial Arts League title. Denver defeated Dallas; D.C. grappled to a hard-fought win over Atlanta ..." No, you won't hear that in sports coverage tonight ... but why not soon? Football, baseball, and hockey all have major league franchises in the United States, but those leagues haven't always existed. Martial arts could become a popular franchise team sport in this country as well, argues author Dexter Kennedy, who has developed a system for franchising martial arts that will draw spectators to games. Kennedy, who had earned a black belt in karate as a way to stay alive as a young, black man in the newly desegregated South, returned to the sport after a career in the military. He wanted to see his youngest daughter grow up and knew that, with his family history of heart disease, he needed to stay active and fit. As his tiny daughter grew toward adulthood, he went on to compete in national tournaments while developing his concept for a martial arts franchise league. Guided by faith and habits of accomplishment learned in the military, Kennedy has spent a decade fine-tuning his franchise concept. In Taking on the NFL: The National Martial Arts League, Kennedy describes: -How to structure a martial arts school for success -Why tournament competitors are paying more and getting less in return -Why mixed martial arts events, as currently structured, hurt traditional martial arts schools -How team owners in a pro martial arts league can succeed -What platform will increase spectator enjoyment at pro events -What uniforms will enhance the sport -How the industry can gain the national spotlight