Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Thomas.
Hi Steve, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began my martial arts journey in my late teens/early twenties. I was a US Marine, and a member of my unit’s boxing team. After gaining some amateur experience, I attended a tournament try-out for the All Marine Boxing Team. Unfortunately, I did not have my best performance against some excellent competition, and did not make the team. I was also selected to be a unit combatives instructor in the LINE Combat System, the official Marine close-combat martial art of that era. Later in my career, I trained for a short time in an Okinawan Karate style, while stationed overseas. After leaving the service in 1998, I was mostly focused on establishing myself in civilian life, and wasn’t involved in any martial arts for about 20 years. One day I decided I needed a new challenge in my life, and committed to earning a Black Belt in Israeli Krav Maga. I attended classes five days per week, because I absolutely loved the training. I also trained in a few other styles, including Muay Thai and Lethwei during this time. My previous martial arts experience helped me to practice effectively at home, and I progressed through the ranks steadily. I eventually earned my first level Black Belt, and the owner of my school asked me if I would be interested in teaching boxing, kickboxing, and Krav Maga to teen and adult students at one of his school locations. I really enjoyed teaching and achieved a few instructor certifications as well. I later became the school manager at that location, and ran the day-to-day operations of the school, in addition to teaching students of all ages. This school was forced to close at the end of its lease, and the owner elected not to open at a new location. Not wanting my students to be “orphaned”, I decided to open my own school. October 1st marks two years since we held our first classes at Gainesville Martial Arts & Combatives.
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?
I would say the transition from managing a school for someone else to owning my school has gone about as smoothly as I could have hoped. I was blessed that almost all of my students at the previous school decided to join my new school. I was also very fortunate to have some students and parents of students who were extremely supportive of my vision for the new school. I did experience the same sorts of challenges any new small business faces, such as marketing, establishing our brand and growing the student count while keeping churn low.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Gainesville Martial Arts & Combatives?
Gainesville Martial Arts & Combatives teaches martial arts with a primary focus on self-defense, rather than sport/competition. We are a multi-discipline school offering programs in Boxing/Kickboxing, Israeli Krav Maga, Budoshin Japanese Jujitsu, Filipino Kali, Jeet Kune Do, American Kenpo, and Yang Tai Chi. Our programs start at age two and we have students in their 60’s. We are one of the few schools where students can earn black belt in multiple styles. Our instructors are all certified and hold multi-degree black belt in the style they teach, and they cross-train in other styles as well. What I am most proud of is the community of dedicated martial arts students we’ve built, and our dedication to “Kaizen”. Kaizen is the Japanese philosophy of consistent improvement, and this permeates our entire organization, including instructors and students.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success one student at a time. A student begins their martial arts journey and experiences all of the benefits that martial arts training provides. Students develop physical strength, confidence, focus and self-discipline. They set and achieve goals, overcome challenges and gain valuable life-skills. If the worst should happen, they possess the training and mind-set to get through it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gainesvillemartialartscombatives.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmac8050/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565772791759
