We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sabino Joseph Mendez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sabino Joseph below.
Sabino Joseph , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
Martial arts has been something that has been with me since childhood. From watching Bruce Lee/ Jackie Chan films, The Karate Kid movie, street fighter/mortal kombat video games, to watching professional wrestling and to being active in the art itself as a child. I did not really start to see the connection deeply until 2019. It is when I really started the self discovery journey. It led me to a Taekwondo school that was literally 5 mins from my house at that time. I walked in the school and chatted with the owner and we set up my first session. From there it all began to click, and make sense. My instructor saw the light in me that I did not see in myself at the time. She threw me into leadership roles, leading and assisting classes, and working with the students. It re sparked something in my soul again. I began to deeply explore and seek more. I began to take Jeetkunedo classes about an hour from my house at the time and taking 2 private classes a week. Also with that I would occasionally fly to Tucson, AZ to train with my other Sifu. Then in 2022 I moved from Chicago, IL to Tucson AZ. I then was a park that I enjoyed to go to regularly. I ran into an instructor there at the park, and we began to chat. He then offered me an opportunity to teach martial arts at public schools. That was a huge blessing for me, after struggling for a couple years trying to find a job willing to pay me for my talents. “As you start to walk the way, the way appears” says One of my favorite poets Rumi. I am currently teaching martial arts in public schools, night classes at my boss’s place as well. As I keep with my training with my Sifu in reality self defense, we discussed about that it is time for me to start doing it on my own and take the training wheels off. I owe a lot to my Sifu who helped me set up my website, handed down equipment to me, sent referrals down to me, a overall great person. That goes to all my instructors, they have all helped me tremendously in their own way. I am deeply grateful for them all. There was a lot of fear and doubt to actually going on my own and starting my own business. I ended up facing my fears, and gave it a shot. Launched a website, social media, gathered reviews for google, etc. I remember when I had my own 1st actual private lesson with the someone, there was a lot of fear and anxieties that came up. But before that session had come up, I left it all in prayer. I give all thanks to God for everything in my life. For the sufferings and the joy. The journey is tough, it is definitely a warriors journey. Filled with a lot of trials, tribulations, joy, peace, suffering, etc it is all necessary for our own growth and to gain wisdom to pass down to others on their own unique path.
Sabino Joseph , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Sabino Joseph Mendez, I am originally from Chicago, IL but not currently in Tucson, AZ. I am a certified reality self defense and martial arts instructor. I teach martial arts in public schools from grade levels K-8, and also run my own business on the side of teaching people of all ages reality self defense and martial arts. Martial arts has been something that has been with me since I was a child. From movies, to video games! My instructors along my journey have helped point the way for me. I saw myself in them, and that gave me clear indication on what I need to do. I also love to help others and uplift people in anyway I can. Since I embarked this martial arts journey, I have been put in many of those roles.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
A story from my journey that illustrates my resilience would have to be the times where I was going through a move. My current house was for sale where I was set up and had things in order. My personal training, access to my schools to go get private training. Then my mom and I moved away due to selling of the house. Where we moved temporarily closer to the city. Where I was over an hour away from both schools I was training at which threw me off at bit. On top of this my mom and I shared 1 car at the time. Everything got thrown off for me, but as a martial artist we learn to adapt to what is happening in life and learn to flow with it like water does. For about 5 months I endured a pretty challenging time in my life of living in a different environment, from originally living in a house with my own bedroom, basement to train, parks walking distance away, etc to it all getting striped away from me. I did not give up and kept moving forward. After 5 months of living in the city, my mom and I moved to Tucson, AZ. Another transition for my mom and I to deal with. It’s starting all over, but with the tools and wisdom gained through trials and tribulations.
Have you ever had to pivot?
A time where I had to pivot would have to be when I used the name “iStance” in mainly the car community. I would attend car shows and car meets and sell merchandise. Including decals, shirts, hoodies, hats, etc. As I prolonged in this scene, I felt something was missing. I took a break from the business for a while. I started the journey of self discovery and it brought me back to martial arts again. Martial arts was something that helped me and I am able to help others which I love to do. So I ended up using the name “iStance” for my self defense and martial arts business to this day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.istanceselfdefense.com
- Instagram: istanceselfdefense
- Other: TikTok- istanceselfdefense
Image Credits
Matt Zuska