Today we’d like to introduce you to Enrique Muniz.
Hi Enrique, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Southside Brazilian Jiu Jitsu started by placing a Craigslist ad for shared space. At the time we had little money to invest so we decided to start small so that’s why we thought it would be a good idea to start like that. A church in Dinkytown replied to our ad so we set up shop in the lobby and we never looked back. Conditions were not ideal to set up a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy there but that’s what we had to work with and we made it grow. Three years later we moved into our own space in Northeast Minneapolis in the beautiful Kennedy building.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been pretty smooth except when we had to close for COVID. Our student base dropped to 1/4 of what we had before the pandemic. Fortunately, we have money reserved for eventualities plus we received grants and loans designed to help small businesses during the pandemic.
Coming here has also been tough. I came to the US from Mexico with $150 in my pocket. I’m very proud of my journey from my humble beginnings to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
We’ve been impressed with Southside Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Southside is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy. We specialize in Jiu Jitsu and wrestling. The focus of the academy is self-defense and competition. In 5 years of existence, we have become arguably the best competition team in the State, which we are extremely proud of. Whether you’re a competitor or a hobbyist or want to get in amazing shape Southside has a place for and welcomes everyone. We offer classes from beginners to advanced and have classes for men, women, and children. If you want hard no-nonsense training, Southside is the place for you. What sets Southside apart is that we literally are like a family. It’s cliché to say this but in our case, this is definitely true. Everything that we do comes down to leadership. I am available to all my students 24/7. My goal is to lead them beyond the mats and help in any way that I can. I feel honored that I get to be a part of the young men and women at my school. If I can help them better their lives, then I am doing my job.
How do you think about luck?
I believe that while hard work is the key to success, it’s undeniable that good fortune plays a role in our lives. Certainly, in my case (business and life) luck coupled with hard work has been key. When we moved into our new place a friend of mine saw what we were doing and decided to become an investor. That definitely changed the course of Southside and how things are currently looking at our school. I feel very fortunate to be where I am today. At the time we moved I had shoulder surgery, which helped me be away from my regular job and focus on the move. Shortly thereafter I quit that job to be where I am today. Everything literally fell into place. Again, good fortune has definitely played a part in my success.
Pricing:
- $140 a month
Contact Info:
- Email: info@southsidebrazilianjiujitsu.com
- Website: https://www.southsidebrazilianjiujitsu.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southside_bjj/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/SouthsideBrazilianJiuJitsu/
Image Credits
Fuji BJJ Britleigh Photo
