Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in martial arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Yat-Yee Chong, Founder of Axon Martial Arts Academy, located in Loveland, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I provide personalized martial arts training in small groups for families of all ages. Our women 40+ class offers camaraderie and supportive accountability for a healthy lifestyle. New this year: short lunchtime stretching and fitness classes for adults.
Tell us about yourself
I was a professional pianist and mom when my children's Tae Kwon Do instructor as me to join them. I thought, "Surely martial arts was not meant for non-athletic middle-aged women beginners?" Turns out it most certainly was. TKD engaged my mind, gifted me with treasured memories with my children, and awakened my inner athlete in my 40s. Today, I am fitter than in my 30s and greet life with an optimism that comes from having done audacious things like earning 5 Black Belts and winning a World Champion title. I founded Axon Martial Arts Academy to offer the same transformative powers of martial arts training, especially to those who don't think it is for them.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I created a supportive community in which students have thrived and formed friendships. At age 58, when most people slow down, I earned my 5th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and expanded this community. Axon moved into a new space for people in Loveland, Berthoud, and Johnstown to learn self-defense and be active in an environment that recognizes them as multi-faceted individuals. Axon Martial Arts Academy is the only karate school that offers a reading nook, a library, and a rotating gallery of students' art. Having this dedicated space gives me more ways to strengthen the connections within the Axon community, such as planning puzzles and board game exchanges, karaoke nights, showcases for our musicians, parenting workshops, and community services.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Managing time and energy for the many different areas: getting to know and being known in the local community, bookkeeping, and other administrative necessities, and being present and creative in my core activity of teaching.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make use of resources offered by the Small Business Development Councils.
- Connect with other business owners.
- Prioritize your mental and physical health: don't skip workouts, protect your sleep, and engage in some form of meditation or spiritual practice. Running a business is an ongoing problem-solving, obstacle-managing, opportunity-recognizing journey full of plot twists. You'll need resilience, creativity, and all the help you can get.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.axontkd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063521952592
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axonmartialarts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yatyeechong/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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