We were lucky to catch up with Damien Burge recently and have shared our conversation below.
Damien, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I left the with a one-way ticket and very limited Mandarin, lived inside the Shaolin Temple’s foreign-trainee center, and spent every day absorbing centuries-old combat philosophy straight from the source. The gamble was equal parts physical (six hours of daily practice), financial (no guaranteed income), and cultural (total immersion).
That leap paid off: I earned official certification from the Shaolin Temple, came home, and now pass those teachings on through my own Kung Fu programs in the States.
Happy to dive deeper or expand on any part of the journey—just let me know what fits your episode best.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have studied martial arts for 20 years, training in Aikido in Japan, Shaolin Kung Fu under warrior monks in China, and Judo in Europe. Together, those experiences shape the way I teach Kung Fu here in the United States.
I began as a kickboxing instructor and, while earning my master’s in business, was encouraged to open my own kickboxing school. What started as a small studio quickly snowballed: people kept showing up, and before long I was running a full-fledged gym. Today we offer kickboxing, MMA, Zumba, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and more, all within a small-group fitness model.
What sets us apart is class size—fewer than 12 students per session—so every student gets individualized attention. Beyond that, I am one of the few Americans certified by both the Shaolin Temple and the Chinese Wushu Association.
Our mission is simple: build community, keep fitness fun, and help every member grow stronger—together.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Adaptability—meeting clients where they are—is essential. Everyone responds to different forms of motivation, so discovering what drives each individual is crucial. Keep sessions fresh and engaging by going beyond a standard kickboxing class: introduce themed workouts, set fun class challenges, and create opportunities to build community.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your firm or practice?
I’ve watched too many startups in my industry collapse under heavy debt or oversized facilities. I took a different route.
Instead of chasing big grants or investor money, I secured a modest loan and launched with the bare essentials: a small room attached to an insurance office, a few mats, and a handful of dedicated students. Every dollar we earned was reinvested—first upgrading equipment, then expanding space only when demand truly justified it.
That “start tiny, grow steadily” philosophy has kept us profitable for nearly five years. By matching overhead to real-time growth and avoiding burdensome loan or franchise payments, we’ve built a sustainable business that scales at the pace of our community, not at the pace of a repayment schedule.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://velocityft.com
- Facebook: velociftiness
Image Credits
Damien Burge has the credit for these