Trish & Ken Church

Church’s ATA Martial Arts • Piazza Carmel • San Diego, CA

Every martial arts studio aspires to greatness by creating exceptional students, who become exceptional human beings — creating a world champion is a once in a lifetime dream. But for Church’s Martial Arts, Piazza Carmel’s locally-owned Taekwondo Martial Arts studio, that dream has flourished beyond imagination. They have created more American Taekwondo Association (ATA) World Champions than any other studio in the country! With more than 130,000 active members and 1 million+ students trained to date, Church’s is a recognized powerhouse within the industry. How do they do it? According to Trish Church, who owns the business with husband Ken, “Simply said — it’s just HARD work.”

Hard work and discipline have always been guiding principles for the Church’s. When they launched their second location at Piazza Carmel in 2002, they started with a comprehensive and precise business plan that outlined all aspects of their financial sources and goals, marketing/PR strategies and instructional operations.

With preparation like that, start-up obstacles were few, but the team at Church’s has always valued the support they’ve received from their Carmel Valley landlord, Newmark Merrill. From the monthly tenant meetings designed to gauge tenants’ performances, needs, and challenges, to the ongoing marketing support and successful events that drive traffic, the Church’s consider NMC an incredible partner. They have — half-jokingly — requested that NMC purchase the shopping center that houses their original studio — just 15 minutes north in Encinitas, CA.

Church’s Martial Arts has become an institution in the community, a trusted place where parents know their children will be taught a ceaseless work ethic and respect for all — life skills that have bolstered students’ success in martial arts and more importantly, in life overall. Former students have landed spots at some of the most prestigious universities — Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Brown, Duke, Notre Dame and many more.

For the Church’s, entrepreneurship has provided an incredible sense of connection at their studios. She and Ken treasure the privilege they’ve earned of developing the hopes, dreams and minds of the next generation.

It’s important to have a good reputation in your communities.