Today we’d like to introduce you to Latroy Franklin.
Hi Latroy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Long Beach California and attended school and have lived in Arizona, Nevada, Florida and Georgia currently residing in Houston Texas. I started training martial arts at 14 years old by the time I was 19 I was competing in amateur Muay Thai Kickboxing through the IKF or International Kickboxing Federation. I always knew that I wanted to become a teacher of martial arts and self defense. Once I stopped competing in 2021 I began teaching full time and now I am the Head Instructor and Director at a martial arts school for children as young as 3 years old and into adulthood called Premier Martial Arts Jersey Village. I conduct 5 classes a day Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri and 8 classes on Saturday. My program is directed at improving focus, discipline, self confidence, and respect. I have taught and mentored more than 100 Houston Youth by providing a sense of confidence, understanding, and life skills that I have learned through the discipline that it takes to prepare for competitive kickboxing and countless hours of skills and techniques used by world champions and black belt martial artists and my continuous study of the highest level of all combat sports. I am a student forever and a teacher to some.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s not been a smooth road. There have been times in my life where I went off track from martial arts training. There were times where I’ve been injured there are times I’ve been totally wrapped up in the woes of life and martial arts has saved my sanity and spiritual self. I don’t come from a lot of money and have had to forge my own way even in competition I never went with a fight team it was just me my father and a handful of my supporters my self belief in my mission has powered my journey along this road.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What I’ve done at The Dojo has never been done before at most martial arts schools. When I arrived at the Dojo in 2022 I actually started as The Programs Director and was not the Instructor after awhile through the natural order of things I became the full time lead instructor in 2024 my goal was to ; create a community through intiating a parent committee similar to a PTO at the Dojo. PMA already had this idea they call it “Sidekicks”. No Instructor before me was able to do this and I was able to initiate this parent group and what they have done and the community we have built together has really been inspiring ! There are many families who have come into The Dojo from many backgrounds and stories. I have students who do better with personalized attention who are learning to live on the spectrum with ADHD and Autism . For them I have specialized personal classes that appeal to their individual needs and doesn’t put them in a box or make them feel as if they cannot advocate for themselves or live a life of discipline through martial arts. I have set myself apart from alot of those in the industry by setting apart ego and pride to enjoin families and children from all walks of life in martial arts here in Houston and hope this helps others to see what myself and the dedicated families are doing. Since I’ve taken over as Instructor we have become a championship school with multiple tournament wins on a state and national level for continuous sparring and creative weapons in 2024 and 2025 at TKO events in Beaumont, Galveston and Houston,TX. I can say all the things that set me apart but truly the work that has been done has been from my heart and through support of the Families of My Students. The Owners of the School Coach Khan and His Wife Mrs. Khan have been so supportive of all of the efforts that I have put forth and I would be reminisced not to at least mention them taking the risk of opening a business which has to have passionate people for the idea to work and where many have failed we have succeeded. I will say yes, I have been the one on the mat but I have not done this alone and am thankful to all those who support me I take nothing for granted and will continue to provide from the heart my love for martial arts and what it can do for people is truly remarkable. I am blessed to be able to boast about My Students more than anything they are the best and are the reason I continue the journey of martial arts.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I am a person of integrity so a mentor is someone who lives the way they want to lead. A mentor is a leader rather they know it or not they have a duty to uphold the vision of their students and be selfless in their guiding. I am a person who appreciates privacy and the traditional way of relaying information through word of mouth and face to face conversation and interaction. For me networking is about making the time to use conversation and learning stories to observe others ideas and build a community. I have created a community at The Dojo and look forward to the legacy that I will leave behind for my students. Being a person of integrity and using traditional ways of commutation, having patience and being self driven has worked for me on my journey and this is advise id give anyone else on the same, different or similar path.
Image Credits
All these images belong to me and I have permission to use them.
