NAPMA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section needs to be wikified to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please help improve this article with relevant internal links. (October 2007)

This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2007)

Founded in 1994 by John Graden, The National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA) is the world's largest association for professional martial artists. It supports martial arts school owners and instructors with business plans, advertising programs, and other resources. Perhaps best known for its customizable advertising media and "Little Ninja" program and other programs for children, it also offers more detailed marketing and management advice for owners seeking to grow their commercial schools. The organization also publishes the monthly Martial Arts Professional magazine, also created by Graden.

The organization has been headed by Graden's student Rob Colasanti since 19 February 2004 and is located in Clearwater, Florida. NAPMA began as an independent organization but was driven into bankruptcy with lawsuits by Century who then purchased the company. Century Incorporated (formerly known as Century Martial Art Supply) purchased NAPMA in 2004 and is the company that owns NAPMA's only competitor.

The NAPMA organization was purchased by Stephen Oliver (best known as founder of Mile High Karate and as the director of an elite coaching program for martial arts schools) and Martial Arts Marketing, Inc. August 1st, 2007. Rob Colasanti remains President and Toby Milroy was added as director of Sales and Marketing.