Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis Tooke.
Travis, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I began training Jiu-jitsu at age 15 when a friend of mine showed me a video of the first UFC. When I began, there was little known about the art locally so I had to learn from a local instructor who had some knowledge of the style. I ended up making regular trips to Dallas to train with Carlos Machado (cousin to the Gracie family who pioneered the sport) where I was able to take my skills to a higher level. At age 22 I moved to Brazil to live and train daily at the Gracie Academy. I stayed there for 14 months. When I returned, I began teaching from my fathers 400 sq. ft. garage. Fast forward to today, Team Tooke Mixed Martial Arts Academy has over 325 students and operated from a 9,000+ sq. ft. facility. We have coached Jiu-jitsu world champions and UFC fighters. Our goal is to enhance the lives of our students through the training and philosophy we teach in our martial arts program. We also have one of the top character enrichment programs in Texas in our kid’s martial arts program. Young martial artists learn valuable skills such as self-defense, respect, discipline, focus, teamwork and goal setting.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all LOL! Starting a business in a garage with no money and no business skills is not easy. But I did have a ton of passion and determination to read, learn and apply what I was learning every day. The biggest struggles have been trying to grow in a garage (not an ideal environment for many potential students), dealing with a herniated disc (injury I acquired shortly after starting the school in the garage), learning how to market, implementing a system for growing, adding coaching staff, teaching leadership skills…
We’d love to hear more about your business.
What sets us apart is our sincere desire to always grow and improve. Every year that passes here looks different than the last. As a team, we are always searching for ways to improve the quality of what we offer our students. In the beginning, we were just a small martial arts school. Today, we are a large family of teammates who live a martial arts lifestyle. We pass this way of living onto our students and their families so that they can improve both on the martial arts training floor and in their lives away from the academy. I am most proud of our ability to adapt and thrive in one of the most challenging businesses there is.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, Houston is an incredibly diverse city with endless opportunity. There is quite a bit of competition but that keeps business owners sharp and searching for ways to improve the services they offer. I would like to see businesses like mine work more closely with local school districts. Since their goal is to help the youth of the community, it makes sense to seek out other programs that can add value to those student’s lives.
Contact Info:
- Address: Team Tooke Mixed Martial Arts Academy
10111 Grant Rd, Suite R Houston, TX 77070 - Website: www.TeamTooke.com
- Phone: 281-955-7300
- Email: teamtooke@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ttooke/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamtooke
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/teamtooke
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/team-tooke-mixed-martial-arts-houston-3
Image Credit:
Hosanna Rull
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