Today we’d like to introduce you to Osby and Kianti Phillips.
Osby and Kianti, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My calling started out of necessity really. I was born in Houston’s 5th ward in a household of 8, and at 9 months relocated to the 3rd ward community. One year after being there, my mother was killed in a drunk driving “accident”, (at age 18) which left my grandmother to adopt the role of my legal guardian when I was only 1 years old. Growing up an only child with no parents, my grandmother was my everything. She would do her best with what little she had to place me in several extracurricular programs to combat what was going on around me. From swimming to boy scouts, from football to boxing, she tried everything. But I guess I found my calling in a boxing gym.
After training as an amateur fighter, and realizing I was pretty good at it; I wanted more, but that’s when my surroundings and lack of family structure and self-discipline caught up with me. Some years later I decided that I would do something for the kids in the community that I needed and benefited from. I left my former gym in 2008 where I was a boxing coach and personal trainer and went in search of what I needed to make my own dream happen. I started with a small church, then muddy parks, daycare centers, community parks, homes, schools; wherever I could to keep my own faith alive. Then I found my soul mate, my teammate. After many failed attempts at joining other trainers with their own gym to sublease a spot or join forces, All to no avail, me and my wife Kianti were granted so much favor.
Met the right people. Put in the work. And here we are 10 months in business with over 300 active members.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This road has been anything and everything but smooth. Lol But I honestly never expected it to be. I knew that nothing worth really having was going to come to you easy.
I guess the main struggle was the lack of support from those you expected to cheer you on you know? (Yeah I fell for it) I had “those expectations” that others who knew my personal story, my struggles, I figured would be the first and loudest ones to celebrate my accomplishment and effort. Once I stop asking myself why I found my peace.
The next biggest struggle was finding the right location, and with that came a greater expense. But it made no sense building an academy where it couldn’t have a chance to flourish. And lastly getting people to feel my passion. And trust us with their entire family. After all, this was my penance, this is my shot at redemption.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We specialize in boxing, fitness, personal training, wellness, self-defense, and child development thru mental and physical toughness. Our technique, our commitment, our knowledge, our passion of course. But I think it really comes down to our “swag”.
Being blessed with the ability to reach across all boundaries and communicate with all kids, from dozens of ethnic communities takes a gift from God I believe.
What were you like growing up?
Creative. Being poor and an only child you can only imagine. But that imagination, all those days of daydreaming made me believe that anything was possible.
Pricing:
- Level 1 Kids Classes (3-10 yr olds) $60 monthly Level 2 Kids (11-16) $75 monthly (no contract 30-day notice)
- Adult Classes Start at $75 monthly (No contract)
- Gym Membership $50 monthly (no contract)
Contact Info:
- Address: 15115 Westheimer Rd Ste L Houston, TX 77082
- Website: bodiesbyosby.net
- Phone: 346-244-1578
- Email: bodiesbyosby@gmail.com
- Instagram: BodiesByOsby Boxing And Fitness Academy
- Facebook: BodiesByOsby Boxing And Fitness Academy
- Twitter: BodiesByOsby Boxing And Fitness Academy
- Yelp: BodiesByOsby Boxing And Fitness Academy
- Other: BodiesByOsby Boxing And Fitness Academy
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
