Exploring Life & Business with Mark Burns of Honor Martial Arts

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Burns

Hi Mark, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey in martial arts began at 9years old in 1989 with the American Taekwondo Association when a school opened in the basement of a Chinese restaurant in Elkhart, Indiana—where my mom worked as a waitress. I was just a kid, but from the moment I stepped onto the mat, I knew martial arts would be a lifelong passion.

In 2000, I moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to open my first martial arts school. It was a challenging yet rewarding experience, teaching me invaluable lessons about leadership, business, and perseverance. After nearly a decade of running the school, in 2009, I made the difficult decision to sell it and step away from ownership, needing a break to refocus and figure out my next steps.

That led me to Alpharetta, Georgia, where I joined Karate Atlanta and spent the next ten years developing schools, training students, and growing as an instructor and leader. But despite my professional success, something was missing.

Before 2016, I didn’t have faith. I wasn’t a Christian, and I didn’t believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I lived my life based on what I could control, what I could achieve, and what I thought mattered. Then, in December 2016, everything changed. I lost my dad and went through a divorce at the same time. My world completely fell apart, and for the first time in my life, I felt truly lost.

But in my lowest moment, Jesus met me. His grace, mercy, and forgiveness flooded my life, and I finally understood that I couldn’t do it all on my own—I needed Him. That’s when everything started to change. I began healing, and I felt a calling to serve. I started leading high school students in youth ministry, sharing with them the same hope that had transformed me. Even while I was still processing my own grief, God was using me to help others, and in that, I found true purpose.

In June 2019, I made the decision to get baptized. At that moment, I surrendered everything to Christ, fully committing my life to His plan. I told myself that I would be okay living a life single if that was what God had for me. But in all His glory, Jesus put His hand on me and said, “Now you are ready.” Just a few weeks later, I met my now-wife, Ariana.

In 2020, we battled through the storm of COVID—both in business and in our relationship. We had to pivot quickly, teaching martial arts classes over Zoom and adjusting to a world that was shutting down. We were forced to shelter in place for months with limited travel. But God, as the Waymaker that He is, turned 2020 into a blessing. That September, Ariana and I got married. Soon after, we received another incredible blessing—Ariana became pregnant with our son, Micah, who was born in August 2021.

God truly is a Waymaker and a miracle worker.

Fast forward to 2023—Ariana and I felt God calling us to take a leap of faith. We made the decision to purchase the business from Karate Atlanta and start our own school. That’s how Honor Martial Arts was born. The name Honor was chosen because we wanted to honor God for all He has done and will continue to do—not just in our lives, but in the lives of the families we serve.

Our core values mean everything to us. Honor Martial Arts isn’t just about martial arts—it’s about faith, leadership, character, and serving others. We believe that through discipline, perseverance, and faith, we can help our students become leaders—not just in the dojo, but in their homes, schools, and communities.

Looking back, I can see God’s hand in every step of my journey. Even before I knew Him, He was preparing me. Even in my struggles, He was guiding me. And today, I wake up every day with gratitude, knowing that this is only the beginning of what He has planned.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road?

Not at all. But every challenge, every failure, and every hardship has been part of God’s plan to shape me.

I am not perfect. I still falter, and I will always fall short. We all do. If any of us believed we could meet all of God’s commands on our own, we wouldn’t need Him anymore. And for me, I never want that. The thought of being separated from God is something I truly fear. I know that without His grace, I am nothing.

Even though I gave my heart to Christ, my journey of faith has not been without struggles. Trusting in the Lord is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. And I didn’t even realize it fully until just this past November.

For a day, I was a substitute gym teacher at a school, and during a Q&A session, a 5th-grade student raised their hand and asked me, “What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do?” Without hesitation, before I could even think, I blurted out: “Trusting in the Lord.”

It was one of those moments where I heard myself say it and knew it was the truth. Because even after everything God has done for me—even after He pulled me from brokenness, blessed me with my wife, my son, and the opportunity to lead and serve through martial arts—trusting Him fully is still my greatest challenge.

Why? Because I, like so many, have a tendency to want to control everything. I spent years believing my strength, my success, my identity was all in my own hands. Even now, I have moments where I try to take things into my own control, forgetting that God already has a plan far greater than mine. But each time I surrender—even just a little more—He proves Himself faithful.

So no, the road hasn’t been smooth. But it’s been purposeful. Every struggle—losing my dad, going through a divorce, battling insecurities, facing the challenges of business ownership and leadership—has been a lesson in trust.

And if I’ve learned one thing, it’s this: I don’t have to be perfect. I don’t have to have it all figured out. I just have to trust in the One who does.

That’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. And I’m still learning how to do it every day.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Honor Martial Arts?
Honor Martial Arts isn’t just a martial arts school—it’s a mission, a family, and a calling. My wife, Ariana, and I are blessed to work together.

This journey has never been about just the two of us—it has been built alongside an incredible team of instructors who share our vision. Honor Martial Arts is not just about martial arts—it’s about developing leaders, strengthening families, and building a community grounded in faith, character, and perseverance.

We specialize in leadership development, character training, and martial arts instruction with a focus on faith-based values and personal growth. We believe that martial arts is more than just self-defense—it’s a tool to build confidence, discipline, and resilience that extends far beyond the mat.

What Sets Honor Martial Arts Apart

What makes Honor Martial Arts different from other schools is that we don’t just train athletes—we develop leaders.
1. Faith & Purpose-Driven Training – Our school is rooted in honor, integrity, and faith. We emphasize values that extend beyond the dojo, helping students become strong leaders in their homes, schools, and communities.
2. A One-of-a-Kind Leadership Curriculum – We don’t just teach martial arts techniques; we teach life skills. Our students learn how to communicate effectively, build confidence, practice self-discipline, and lead with integrity.
3. Proven Track Record of Excellence – With over 30 years of experience in martial arts and leadership coaching, I’ve worked with thousands of students, guiding them to black belt excellence, competitive success, and personal breakthroughs.
4. A Community, Not Just a School – At Honor Martial Arts, we are a family. Our students don’t just train together; they grow together, support each other, and become part of something greater.

The Bigger Mission

Through it all, we strive to honor God in everything we do—our marriage, our business, and the families we serve. With Ariana stepping into a bigger role and our team of instructors leading with passion and purpose, we are able to serve our students and their families with even more heart, dedication, and excellence.

Any big plans?
At Honor Martial Arts, growth isn’t just a goal—it’s part of our mission. We believe that leadership, discipline, and faith should reach beyond the four walls of our school, and we are excited for what’s ahead.

One of our biggest plans for the future is to expand Honor Martial Arts to multiple locations. We want to give more students access to the life-changing benefits of martial arts while also creating opportunities for our instructors to build meaningful, purpose-driven careers.
• Empowering future leaders – We want to raise up dedicated instructors who don’t just teach martial arts, but who mentor, lead, and inspire. By opening more schools, we can help passionate martial artists turn their skills into a career that provides both purpose and abundance.
• Reaching more families and communities – Martial arts changes lives, and we want to bring our unique leadership-focused training to even more children, teens, and adults.
• Creating a lasting impact – Honor Martial Arts isn’t just about teaching kicks and punches—it’s about building strong, confident leaders. Expanding means more people experiencing growth, discipline, and transformation through our programs.

While we’re focused on growing our business, we’re also excited to grow our family. Ariana and I have been blessed with our son, Micah, and he’s already been asking for a brother—a request he’s been making quite frequently!

We’ve always known that family is at the heart of everything we do. Just as we are building a strong community at Honor Martial Arts, we are also looking forward to expanding our immediate family and continuing to raise our children with the same values of faith, discipline, and love.

Whether it’s expanding our business, growing our family, or mentoring the next generation of leaders, everything we do is centered on our faith and purpose.

We don’t know exactly what the future holds, but we trust in God’s plan. As long as we continue to honor Him in our work, our marriage, and our parenting, we know that He will guide us in the right direction.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.honormartialartstraining.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honormartialarts
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EoNnLYiVV/
• Other: https://maps.apple.com/?address=150%20Front%20St,%20Ste%20100,%20Franklin,%20TN%20%2037064,%20United%20States&ll=35.928436,-86.920709&q=Honor%20Martial%20Arts&t=m