Meet the Georgia entrepreneur building community and teaching discipline through martial arts
When his high school track coach suggested he take karate lessons to overcome a mental block around increasing his speed and improving his hurdling technique, Renard Beaty was puzzled. How could learning karate help with hurdling?
But it was there, at a local school, that Renard discovered not only martial arts but the power of discipline and building strong self-esteem, skills that would shape his life and future career. More than 40 years later, now a black belt, a father of two black-belt daughters and owner of a successful karate school in Atlanta, Renard is passing those same lessons on to his community.
“I loved it. I love the discipline. I loved discovering the things that I thought I could never do. I learned self-control in the way I never thought, even though I ran hurdles, and that stayed with me,” Renard said.
Serving more than 150 students, Kick Start Martial Arts is a local martial arts center specializing in Tang Soo Do, Moo Duk Kwan, a traditional Korean martial art that was largely incorporated into modern Taekwondo. The center teaches hand and foot techniques, self-defense and overall endurance and flexibility training while also offering leadership training to those who qualify.
While running a profitable business, teaching about 100 more students than the average school, Renard sees his business as more than just a way to make a profit – he also values being a community leader. For him, it’s about uplifting the next generation of leaders and dismantling stereotypes as a Black business owner and a martial artist. By requiring consultations before acceptance into the school, ensuring girls are represented as instructors and in promotional materials, and being an active Black business owner in the community for more than 15 years, Renard is creating a space that fosters belonging, strong self-esteem and personal growth.
“We consult, we try to understand if there's a match, then let them come in. But don't chase the money. You know, do it for the right reason… if you are having trouble with something, or you try to do something and you come up short, the last thing you will not hear is someone making fun of you, teasing you. It's all about just supporting each other,” Renard said.
But running a successful business isn’t without its challenges. Like many other small businesses, Renard has been impacted by increased tariffs on imports, driving up some supply costs from $20 to $65 for a bo staff and $55 to $112 for a breaking board. To offset rising expenses, he cleans the facility himself, pays himself only once a month and even allows families to pause payments during times of hardship so students can continue training. Still, Renard worries about keeping his prices competitive and the long-term impact of these costs on a business that is often viewed as a luxury rather than a necessity. “I do get nervous, because I don't want my parents to feel like this is too pricey…we are not a mandatory thing that a kid must do. This is discretionary income,” Renard said.
But even amid rising costs and an increasingly uncertain future, Renard remains committed to staying open and serving his community. By continuing seasonal offerings like summer camp, launching new programs such as Parents Night Out and getting involved with city and local government efforts, Renard aims to strengthen community ties and build new connections.
To fellow small business owners trying to stay afloat, Renard encourages networking, staying connected and continuing to think outside the box and never saying never. But to lawmakers, Renard calls on them to take action and enact policies that actually protect and prioritize small businesses.
“I don't care how they try to twist it, it's not tax that the other person is paying for – that's being intellectually dishonest. Either you're fooling yourself or you're lying to me, which one is it?...If they say they're for small business, I need to see a policy that supports that because right now, it’s not.”