Meet Jason Flame

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jason Flame. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jason, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Honestly, I didn’t “find” my purpose all at once. It wasn’t a single lightning-bolt moment. It was more like a series of doors that God kept opening, and I just kept walking through them — sometimes confidently, sometimes with no clue what was on the other side.

I’ve always known I loved helping people grow. Martial arts gave me that first taste — back in 1994 teaching at Arroyo Vista, watching kids who barely made eye contact suddenly stand a little taller, speak a little louder, and believe in themselves. That feeling stuck with me. It became the fuel.

But purpose deepens with life. Becoming a husband and a father shifted everything. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about achievement — it was about legacy. About the example I was setting and the kind of man I wanted my kids to remember.

Faith became another turning point. I always felt pulled toward God, but it was people like Danny Cleary who helped me understand what it meant to put God at the center. That alignment — faith, family, service — became my compass.

Wrestling at 38 taught me it’s never too late to chase the dreams that still whisper to you. Stepping through that curtain at MPW, feeling the crowd, testing myself physically and mentally — that reminded me that purpose is also about living fully, not just responsibly.

The podcast was another awakening. In a time when the world felt disconnected and negative, I just wanted to bring some light. I didn’t start it to build an audience — I started it to highlight the good in people. And somewhere around the 200th episode, I realized: this is ministry, too. Listening. Learning. Sharing. Connecting people who need each other even if they didn’t know it.

And journaling — especially during my wife’s battle with leukemia — changed me at a soul level. Grief, fear, love, gratitude… writing stripped everything down. It reminded me that our stories matter. That the people who shaped us deserve to be remembered. It also made me think about what my children and grandchildren would someday want to know about the man I was, not just the things I did.

So how did I find my purpose?

Through service.
Through faith.
Through showing up for people.
Through making mistakes.
Through trying things that scared me.
Through losing and getting back up.
Through following the small nudges that didn’t always make sense until later.

My purpose revealed itself along the way — not as a job title, or a business, or a single accomplishment… but as a calling:

To help people become the best version of themselves.
To lead with faith.
To serve my community.
To love deeply.
To leave a legacy my family can be proud of.

That’s it.
That’s the mission.

And every day, I’m still discovering new ways to live it.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Today, most people know me through Moorpark Karate & Krav Maga, where I’ve dedicated nearly three decades to teaching martial arts and helping students of all ages build confidence, discipline, and resilience that carries far beyond the mat. What started as a small program at Arroyo Vista Recreation Center in 1994 has grown into a full school serving families throughout Moorpark, and it’s been one of the great blessings of my life.

What makes our school special isn’t just the kicks and punches — it’s the community. We’ve never been about producing the “toughest” fighters. We’re about building strong human beings. Seeing kids who once struggled with focus or self-esteem stand a little taller, make eye contact, and believe in their own potential — that’s the magic. And honestly, I’ve never gotten tired of watching that transformation.

Professionally, I’ve also spent years consulting and speaking within the martial arts industry. I joined the MAIA Elite Consulting Team back in 2010 and worked with schools around the world, helping them build systems that allow them to serve more students and create healthier businesses. I’ve spoken at seminars, taught at the Martial Arts SuperShow, and wrote for MA Success Magazine. It’s been a gift to pour into others the way so many poured into me.

Outside the dojo, I’ve always believed in being deeply rooted in my community. Serving on the Boys & Girls Club Board, the Parks & Recreation Commission, and the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce gave me opportunities to give back in meaningful ways. “Service above self” has become more than a motto — it’s the way I try to live.

A more recent chapter of my story is the Master Motivation Podcast, which I launched during COVID when the world felt disconnected. My goal was simple: highlight positive leaders and share stories that inspire. What began with martial artists quickly expanded to entrepreneurs, athletes, educators, and community leaders. After hundreds of interviews, it’s become a platform for connection, learning, and legacy. Every guest teaches me something new, and I hope those lessons ripple out to everyone listening.

One of the most powerful shifts in my journey has come from journaling and writing. When my wife was battling leukemia, putting words on paper helped me reflect, process, and remember the people and moments that shaped me. It opened the door to an entirely new chapter — charting milestones, capturing stories, and honoring the mentors and experiences that brought me here. That work planted the seed for projects still unfolding, including a book that I’m developing to share my journey and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

As I look ahead, my focus is simple:
• Continue growing the impact of our martial arts school
• Serve more families in our community
• Expand through speaking and storytelling
• Keep building platforms that inspire and uplift others

Everything I do — whether it’s teaching, speaking, podcasting, or writing — is rooted in helping people become the best version of themselves. I believe our legacy is written not just in what we achieve but in the lives we touch along the way. And every day, I’m grateful for the chance to keep doing the work that feels like my calling.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, there are three qualities that have had the biggest impact on my journey — not just professionally, but as a husband, father, coach, and community member.

1) Consistency & Discipline

If there’s one thing that has carried me through every season — martial arts training, business ownership, wrestling at 38, podcasting, even my faith — it’s showing up day after day. I’ve never been the most naturally gifted athlete or the smartest guy in the room, but I’ve always been willing to keep working when others stopped.

How to develop it:
Start small, show up daily, and don’t quit when it gets boring. Discipline isn’t dramatic — it’s doing the work when no one is watching. Build habits that align with the person you want to be. Over time, consistency compounds.

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2) Being Coachable & Seeking Mentorship

Every major turning point in my life came because someone believed in me, challenged me, or held a mirror up to who I could become. From my martial arts instructors to faith mentors like Danny Cleary, to leaders in business and wrestling — I’ve always tried to stay open and teachable.

How to develop it:
Find people who are doing what you want to do — or living how you want to live — and learn from them. Stay humble. Ask questions. Be willing to hear the truth, even when it stings. The right mentor can shave years off your learning curve.

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3) Serving Others First

I learned early that leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about service. Whether teaching a beginner’s class, serving on a board, or interviewing a guest on the podcast, I’ve always tried to put people first. When you focus on helping others grow, doors open — and purpose becomes clearer.

How to develop it:
Start with the people around you. Look for ways to help — big or small. Volunteer, mentor, pick up the phone, ask how someone’s doing. You don’t need a platform to serve; you just need a willing heart. The more you pour into others, the more your own gifts will come alive.

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Final Thought

If you’re early in your journey, understand this:
You don’t need to have the perfect plan. You just need to keep moving.
Be consistent, stay coachable, and serve others.
Those three things will guide you through every door you’re meant to walk through.

And one day, you’ll look back and realize your purpose wasn’t something you chased — it was something you lived into.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

There’s no way I’d be where I am today without the people God placed in my life. I’ve been blessed with mentors, friends, and family who challenged me, believed in me, and showed me what it looks like to lead with purpose.

First and foremost, my wife, Jackie, has been my constant — my grounding force. She’s believed in me through every chapter, every wild dream, every risk. Walking with her through her battle with leukemia changed me. Her strength, faith, and resilience reminded me what truly matters. She’s taught me more about love, grit, and grace than any book or mentor ever could.

In my martial arts journey, my instructors and mentors helped shape the foundation of who I am as a teacher and a leader. They pushed me, guided me, and set a standard for what it means to honor the art and pass it on. Later, through my time consulting with MAIA, I had the privilege of learning from incredible leaders in the industry who expanded my understanding of the business side of martial arts and helped me turn passion into a sustainable mission.

Spiritually, Danny Cleary was one of the most important influences in my life. He helped pull me toward God at a time when I wasn’t even sure what I was looking for. Danny didn’t preach at me — he walked with me. He modeled what it looked like to live faith authentically, and that example helped me center my life around something bigger.

I’ve also drawn so much inspiration and direction from the guests on the Master Motivation Podcast. Every conversation leaves me with a new lesson, a new perspective. Over hundreds of interviews, I’ve built a personal library of wisdom from entrepreneurs, pastors, teachers, parents, artists, and athletes — many of whom didn’t even realize how much they were coaching me in the process.

And of course, the greatest teachers are often the ones who never signed up for the role — my students and children. They teach me patience, curiosity, humility, and the importance of listening. Seeing them grow reminds me to keep growing too.

At the end of the day, I stand on the shoulders of many. My journey isn’t a solo achievement — it’s the result of countless people pouring into me, challenging me, and walking with me. And now, I try to honor that by doing the same for others.

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