A judo sensei running a dojo of 40 to 80 members typically earns $1,000 to $2,500 a year in passive profit from a branded apparel shop, with under two hours per month of effort. Senseis who also refer other dojos to the platform earn 10 percent of every referred subscription and $1 per unit those dojos sell, forever. The combined income for an active sensei in the judo community lands between $3,000 and $8,000 a year at the upper end. Here is what is realistic, what the time commitment is, and how the affiliate program multiplies it.
Most teaching senseis are not in it for the money. The dues from a 50 member dojo, after rent, mats, and insurance, often leave the sensei with $200 to $500 in take home pay per month. Calling that a primary income is a stretch. Apparel income is what turns the dojo from a labor of love into something closer to break even.
The numbers are real and they are passive. After the launch afternoon, the shop runs itself. Orders come in, the print and ship operation handles fulfillment, and the dojo profit hits the account on a regular schedule. The sensei never has to box a shirt, drive to the post office, or answer a shipping question.
The time spent on the shop after launch is maybe one hour a month to add a seasonal item, change a promotion shirt design, or share the link in a new way.
The same revenue math from judo dojo merchandise revenue math applies here. The number for the sensei to focus on is the annual profit at their dojo size, plus the affiliate add on if applicable.
| Dojo size | Annual shop profit | Hours per month | Effective hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 members | $430 | 1.5 | $24/hr |
| 50 members | $860 | 1.5 | $48/hr |
| 100 members | $1,720 | 2 | $72/hr |
| 200 members | $3,450 | 2 | $144/hr |
The effective hourly rate is high because the work is mostly upfront. After the launch afternoon, the dojo earns regardless of how the sensei spends the time. The hourly is closer to $200 per hour for the actual ongoing effort.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Every dojo that signs up for Bear Grips Pro Shops gets both a shop and a unique affiliate link. When the sensei refers another dojo, instructor, or coach to start their own shop, the sensei earns:
For a sensei with relationships across the judo community (most senseis do), referring five to ten other dojos over a few years adds up. A sensei who has referred 10 dojos that each sit at the 50 member mark earns roughly $590 in subscription commissions plus $700 in unit commissions per year. That is $1,290 a year of completely passive income on top of their own dojo shop.
The judo community is small and connected. Most senseis already have referral opportunities they have never thought of.
The referral link is part of every account from day one. Share it in conversations with other coaches, in the regional judo federation chat, in the post tournament meetups. The affiliate income compounds.
From what we have seen across dojos using the platform, the apparel income tends to land in one of three places.
Reinvest in the dojo. New mats, replacement crash pads, a new heavy bag, a tournament travel fund for the competition team. The most common use because the dojo earned it and the sensei sees the operational need.
Subsidize the sensei's actual income. For senseis who teach full time and barely break even on dues, a $2,000 to $4,000 annual apparel boost from their own shop plus referrals is meaningful. It is the difference between teaching at a loss and teaching at break even.
Fund a sabbatical or seminar. One year of apparel income can pay for a trip to Japan to train at the kodokan or to attend a regional seminar with a visiting sensei. The money funds the deeper practice.
Whatever the use, the income exists in addition to (not instead of) the dojo dues. It is a complementary revenue stream, not a replacement.
Open a free Bear Grips Pro Shop, earn passive profit from dojo apparel, and refer other dojos for lifetime commissions. The math compounds.
Start FreeMost senseis at a 40 to 80 member dojo clear $700 to $2,000 per year in shop profit, with under two hours of monthly effort after launch. Larger dojos at 150 plus members clear $3,000 to $5,000.
Every account gets a unique affiliate link. When the sensei refers another dojo or instructor who signs up, the sensei earns 10 percent of that referred dojo subscription plus $1 per unit they sell, forever. Payouts are bi weekly.
Yes. Once a referred dojo is on the platform, the sensei earns the subscription and per unit commissions on every order that dojo processes, with no further effort on the senseis part.
Yes. The affiliate program works across every vertical the platform serves: martial arts, fitness, yoga, CrossFit, gyms, dance, cheer, and more. The 10 percent and $1 per unit applies regardless of niche.
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