Usually when you think of a franchise you think of a McDonalds or a Subway but at this franchise you won’t find any burgers, just champions.
When I walked into “Lawrence Championship Martial Arts” studio it wasn’t just the talented kids that impressed me, but the respect they had for me and each other.
With all of the kicks, flips and fighting you might think practice is an intense environment.
But instructor Anna Gaines made it clear that a big part of the studio’s success was lots of cheering and encouragement.
“I do calls off the floor and tell students the awesome job they are doing,” Anna Gaines, an instructor at the studio said.
Students in the practice team were all black belts. They performed a 3-minute routine in preparation for their upcoming competitions.
With every student and instructor I talked with, it was clear Lawrence, the owner and their instructor, has made a large impact on their progress.
“He's someone who cares about me genuinely and wants me to improve for the best,” Trevan Andelin, a student said.
Lawrence began teaching karate as a teenager under his dad. He credits his dad as the person who got this whole martial arts franchise started.
“My dad, his name is Bobby Lawrence. He started teaching karate in 1978 when I was born in a cul-de-sac in our garage,” Lawrence said.
From his childhood home to today, Lawrence now has three studios throughout Utah County.
“People love what we do and as they learn more of what the impact is on kids and what it can become for them it has become popular,” Lawrence said.
Laurence says these studios are meant to be a place where students work on more than just their physical fitness. They’re also focused on building their mental and emotional strength.
“For me that's the goal right there, to see people successfully become athletic martial artists but also maintain character along the way,” Lawrence said.