We recently connected with Amanda Piepgras and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Amanda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

When I began training in martial arts I saw that there were many benefits to it besides fitness and self defense. My anxiety decreased, my health improved, I made lifelong friends who offered positive support, and I gained confidence in myself. As a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), I thought it would be fun to pass those benefits along to a population that is often overlooked, kids with special needs. The decision to rent space in various gyms around San Diego and apply for nonprofit status were made after seeking advice from friends in similar fields. During the pandemic, many parents were concerned about the amount of time their children were spending cooped up in the house and not getting any exercise. It seemed like the perfect time to put my plan into effect.

Amanda, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As a sibling of a person with special needs, becoming a healthcare worker felt natural to me. Starting this business felt like taking that role to the next level. Combining two things that I am passionate about is a dream come true. Making a contribution to an underserved population makes me proud and fulfilled. As a therapist, I feel I’m uniquely qualified to make my training as beneficial as possible, including strengthening, motor planning, and sensory strategies into my classes. Working with kids provides the challenge to make hard work fun so they will be happy to participate.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

The choice to apply for nonprofit status was not an easy one. Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts was completely self funded from the beginning, and since I wanted to have my classes be available to as many families as possible, I decided to do some fundraising and grant research. In order to have the time flexibility to work on building my brand, I switched to per diem work, rather than full time. Many people seem to like what I’m doing, and fundraising has been a learning experience about who is willing to donate to a good cause and help out when needed. My grant writer is in the process of applying for funding to expand the program, which is exciting.

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

Marketing to a specific population can be tricky. Social media has helped a lot, there are many Facebook groups for resources such as Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts that parents frequent for activities and recommendations. Resource Fairs and Adaptive sports events help to get parents information on my classes, and also networking with like-minded entrepreneurs who are agreeable to collaborating. Being flexible and open to new opportunities is important. Willingness to meet people where they are at and change how you do things is important when seeking trust and positive connections. My goal is to be easy to work with and attentive to the needs of others. So far, it has been helping my business grow and making people feel confident in recommending my program to others.

Contact Info:

• Website: amandasmartialarts.com
• Instagram: amandas.adaptive.martial.arts
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070645291991
• Linkedin: Amanda Piepgras