We were lucky to catch up with Vanderson Gomes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Vanderson, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

My hero is a small woman, very strong and with a big heart, this woman is my Mom, I lost my father in a car accident when i was 10 years old, my mom showed us how to be strong and never give up on our dreams, supported us on pretty much everything, showed us that with education, respect and determination we could achieve everything in life.

Vanderson, 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 Vanderson Gomes Black belt 4th degree in Brazilian jiu jitsu, i am from Brazil, in my country if you are not good soccer player, you need be a good fighter lol. everything started when i got beat up on my first day at school on age 7, so my mom signed me up to a Judo school to learn self defense and i never stopped after that. my sensei was very straight and traditional where the most important to him is the values that Judo can give to you, to make you a better person. in 1993 i began training Brazilian jiu jitsu and was from there i knew that was what i was looking for, i was so excited that i was training 2 times a day, as much is possible and i could learn more values of the sport, i started teaching when i was purple belt and i felt good when i could see impact and results on people life. i moved to St louis in 2012 to be a head instructor, after that i decided to open my own place and start a new life, today i am a happy man, i don’t have the biggest school in St Louis but i can say it for sure i do have the best students. on my school i never treated my students as client, they are family, in short time they feel this love that we cultivate there, the respect for each other, the kindness, the friendship that we build there is amazing, they going to be your best friends, normally on my school we the whole family on the mats, they come with kids first and very soon the parents jump into too, i really don’t know what i have the different from the others school because i don’t waste my time whit the competition i focus 100% on my place and that is it. what i can say is my school we don’t treat you as business, that is one the reasons why i don’t do contracts, the students stays if they want to stay and not because the signed contract of 12 months. when you put love on your business your clients can see it, and this is something priceless, i love to see the impact on their life, weight loss, confidence, self-esteem, self control, happiness.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

i could stay all day talking about marketing strategies, but i really use my students as my biggest advertising, happy students will help your business grow because they want their friends, neighbors, family member get to know about our school, i believe if you focus on your clients needs, it is a huge game change to a business.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I don’t think i had any easy day, i fight every day, for someone from another country, the first difficulty is the language, second the culture, you need learn every day, then understand that you don’t have plan B, you can’t stop, study, make yourself bigger every day, “if you hang around the barbershop long enough, sooner or later you’re going to get a haircut”. For you that want to start a new business, don’t be afraid, if it is what you love, you already have 100% chance to be successful, i love to tell my students “The eagle don’t tell the chicks when it is the time to jump out of the nest” you know when it is the time.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vandersongomesbjj.com