We were lucky to catch up with Charles Dismang recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Charles thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights 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.

After spending years teaching at another martial arts gym as well as training in different facilities in different types of arts. I found myself at a crossroads. My passion for martial arts and my desire to create a unique training environment led me to make a bold decision: to open my own gym. This transition from instructor to business owner was both exciting and challenging but ultimately rewarding.
Working as an instructor at a reputable martial arts gym gave me invaluable experience. I learned not only advanced techniques in various disciplines, but also how to foster a positive and motivating atmosphere for students of all ages and backgrounds. My time there helped me understand the importance of individualized instruction, safety, and community building within a martial arts setting.
with the encouragement from an instructor in a Japanese system the planning began. The next step was planning. a strategy, I researched potential locations, developed a business plan, and considered what equipment and amenities would best serve my future students. I also sought out advice from other gym owners and industry professionals to ensure I was prepared for the challenges ahead.
My plan was to build a martial arts gym that would offer multiple disciples and fitness classes that would work with one another.it would take years to find the best combination for my gym of styles and instructors.
With everything in place, I finally opened the doors to my martial arts gym. The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive. Former students, friends, and new faces all came together to support the venture. We offered classes for beginners and advanced practitioners, focusing on a single system to start and slowly adding a variety of martial arts styles and fitness classes.
Opening my own gym has been a transformative experience. I am grateful for the foundation I built while teaching elsewhere, and even more grateful for the opportunity to create something of my own. The journey has taught me resilience, creativity, and leadership. I look forward to continuing to grow my gym, help students reach their potential, and contribute to the martial arts community, with now 30 years of owning a gym and through the many changes and adaptions to classes and schedules I sit back and reflect on the legacy I have built, the friendships created and most humbling of all the respect and recognition I have achieved.

Charles, 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 young child I suffered an injury from an accident that would have me confined to a wheelchair for a while, during this time I became interested in comics and superheroes which would later in life compel me eventually in joining a martial arts gym, my journey actually began in the early seventies as a young boy but would become more relevant in my early 20s. I have been blessed to have had some of the best teachers and couches in multiple styles and disciples from boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Pankration, wing Chun as well as several combative systems. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to build my gym into a very reputable place with great coaches. in the many years I have had the great privilege of traveling to compete and teach, I have been humbled to stand on multiple stages to be honored in hall of fames and organizations.
to me my greatest accomplishments are the people I have helped the lives I have touched, my community is my home and having been allowed to work with local law enforcement in their training, helping at risk youth through or programs, my building the 1st Parkinsons fitness program in this area and being a part of the journey helping individuals reach their goals with a great many becoming champions and some standing on a world stage.
my goals for my gym stay the same to offer a welcoming place to train, become healthier and chase your passions.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

over the years we have had several setbacks, from landlords not honoring the lease to poor decisions on my part for locations, the most difficult was surviving covid. the 2-week shutdown became months, losing our large facility and having to basically start over after years of success proved to be a huge strain financially and mentally.
I know for sure I would have not gotten through this without the support of my staff and our patrons and for sure the great heart of a new landlord who worked with us through the ordeal.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I truly believe it has been my passion for the martial arts and people that along with the fact I am true person I do not put on a show or act to impress anyone I am just me. my ability to be resilient and work through problems to get the best resolve. I have been told many times how much people in the arts and organizations appreciate my honesty and loyalty. we have to earn respect by our deeds and not seek recognition, if we stay the course, be honest with people and deliver on our promises it will get recognized

Contact Info:

• Website: https://WWW.fullmoonmartialarts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullmoonmartialarts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FullMoonMartialArts/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-dismang-4aa5015a/