Bobby Freda, Founder
Ground Standard Agency
Martial Arts Business Marketing

A holistic, full-service approach to marketing services.

At the heart of every successful business lies an amalgamation of passion and expertise, a combination perfectly epitomized by Bobby Freda and his groundbreaking venture, the Ground Standard Agency. The full-service marketing agency has risen to acclaim over the years as it’s catered to the unique needs of martial arts businesses owned by the likes of Gracie family members and UFC veterans.

Martial arts—beyond its physical prowess—embodies discipline, respect, and continuous learning. It's these tenets that the Ground Standard Agency integrates into its suite of services. By offering everything from call services for martial arts classes to website optimization for lead capture, the agency guarantees that martial arts businesses aren't just visible but operating effectively as well.

The true differentiator though for Ground Standard is the harmonious blend of Freda's on-the-ground experience with his modern marketing techniques. Recognizing the significant impact he could make when physically present at a martial arts business, Freda envisioned a method to replicate that success remotely. The result? A holistic blueprint focusing on sustained communication and regular strategy sessions. Refined over the years, this approach is now a systematic formula, empowering gym owners with essential tools and backing them with Ground Standard's adept team. Their services span a broad spectrum, from call services and paid search advertising to sales training, videography, and the design and production of martial arts gear (more information can be found at https://www.groundstandard.shop/). For Freda, his work with martial arts businesses is not merely about isolated solutions; it's about envisioning and acting on the bigger picture.

But, Ground Standard’s mission extends beyond profit margins as well. In 2017, Freda formed the American Grappling Alliance, a charitable venture aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of children through martial arts initiatives. And this synergy between martial arts business marketing and Freda’s innate desire to help others isn't accidental either (more information can be found at https://www.grapplingalliance.org/).

Freda truly loves helping martial arts gyms grow. His own lifelong experience working, teaching, and training in the martial arts has uniquely positioned him to spot gaps in how martial arts schools typically operate. And his analytical approach, honed during his philosophical studies, ensures that every client benefits from a tailored strategy.

From humble beginnings with paper appointment books and Google Sheets to today's customized softwares and mobile apps, Ground Standard Agency has transcended barriers. A decade into this journey, the agency has enabled martial arts gyms of all sizes to flourish irrespective of their location.

From their local work with clients in the New York Metropolitan area to their work across the United States, the agency’s unyielding commitment to facilitating martial arts schools in reaching their zeniths of success continues to bear fruit.

“We’re not just consultants,” says founder Bobby Freda, “we’re partners in success. Our holistic approach has reshaped the way martial arts school owners operate their businesses.”

Historical achievements include partnerships with Inferno Training and Performance Center of Marlboro, NJ and Kurt Pellegrino’s Mixed Martial Arts of Wall Township, NJ, where Ground Standard orchestrated multifaceted strategies encompassing operations refinement, retention attentiveness, and innovative revenue stream inclusions. Tangible results were evident in the hike of membership prices, streamlined lead management, bolstered customer service, and enhanced internal community engagement.

In December 2019, Ground Standard then began work with another academy in Old Bridge, New Jersey with the academy then at 180 students. Ground Standard’s strategic interventions surged this figure to nearly 500 by October 2023. In the same time period, the Ground Standard helped boost the academy’s digital reputation as well by helping amass over 200 five-star Google reviews.

But, early in 2020, with COVID closures on the rise, monthly growth had begun to slow. So, Ground Standard helped the academy to film and edit a series of high-caliber, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructional videos in collaboration with director of photography Nick McIntosh. The videos were then hosted on an online platform designed and managed by Ground Standard so that students could watch from home. Due to the campaign’s success, student enrollment barely decreased throughout the pandemic. And then in 2023, Ground Standard assisted with the academy's launch of their second location, laying the foundation for the their success by securing 20 students, accumulating $3,000 in down payments, and another $3,000 in monthly recurring revenue before opening its doors.

Parallel successes are evident in Ground Standard’s collaboration with Gregor Gracie, as well. After working together at his headquarters—Gregor Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Brooklyn—they assisted in Gregor’s expansion into Teaneck, New Jersey, ensuring him a triumphant start by roping in 30 students and achieving a combined $17,500 in down payments and monthly recurring revenue before operations began.

And yet another win came from the strategic rebranding of the Renzo Gracie Jersey City expansion into the ‘Renzo Gracie Crown Collection’, which helped harmonize operations across their five locations. This unified brand approach resulted in an unprecedented boost to their digital footprint. Most notably, the tailored ad campaigns spearheaded by Ground Standard have yielded leads at an astonishingly economical $3.50 per lead, culminating in nearly 100 generated leads per month.

Ground Standard Agency’s accolades are not mere statistics; they’re stories of martial arts schools redefining success boundaries. As the agency looks ahead, it remains committed to unveiling more chapters of excellence.

About Bobby Freda, Founder of the Ground Standard Agency:

Ground Standard Agency, the brainchild of martial arts black belt and entrepreneur Bobby Freda, has become a beacon for martial arts businesses of all sizes. Ensuring their growth and visibility through a holistic approach involving meticulously tested strategies and his deep-rooted understanding of the martial arts ethos, Bobby has applied a unique blend of traditional martial arts wisdom with modern business strategies to elevate the Ground Standard Agency toward becoming the standard for martial arts businesses seeking effective, full-service—“bigger-picture”—marketing.