Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Wilson.
Michael, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
By trade I was a mechanic, I carefully planned to make working on cars my career starting early in high school. In the early 90’s, I started working in low level automotive jobs starting with detailing and working up to tires. I worked at a couple of tire stores for about four years before being offered a job as a mechanics apprentice then a couple of years later I was on my own as a mechanic. I quickly found that my OCD and attention to detail made me a slow worker and in a job where you are on 100% commission that is a bad way to make a living. I struggled for a little over 10 years as a mechanic and decided I needed a new career. but I had invested all my education into what I was already doing. I thought hard about my escape plan from my career and all I knew how to do other than work on cars was martial arts. I spoke to my instructor Grandmaster Pereira, and set things in motion to be a professional martial art instructor. I talked my supportive wife into helping me take a loan against our house to get the business started. In May of 2004 we opened in our first location which was a tiny 1,000 sq./ft. unit around the building from our current location. I have to admit that being able to perform martial arts did not prepare me for teaching them! I was really bad at my job for a time but as they often say I had to fake it till I made it! Today we have a staff of about 20 instructors including myself ranging in rank for color belt to 4th degree black belt! We have weathered many storms like the economic collapse of 2008 where we watched other martial art academies close up all over our town and across the state. We are now the longest running professional martial art academy in our area.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not smooth at all! Our house was on the line now, the stress of starting a business just after getting married almost sent my wife and I in different directions too! Things started very slow and it was scary and I was putting in 10 to 15-hour days trying to get the academy in tip top shape and teach classes. My wife never had any interest in martial arts but with the help of my instructor we talked her it was a good business idea for her to begin training, then I peacefully forced her to certify as an instructor, many nights on the couch were to follow! lol She was one of my worst students and is now one of my best instructors. We quickly outgrew our small space and moved to the other side of the building in 2006 and then we had to learn how to expand a business as well as run one! In 2008 when the economic bubble burst it hit us hard as we are a blue collar kind of town here and we almost went under! We went for a long time just barely making the bills but I could not let my students down as what we do is important and we are family to many of our students so we weathered the storm and are still here. Our business has never fully recovered from that economic downturn but we are unwilling to stop working for our community good times or bad! We also dealt with things like the business above us having a plumbing issue and flooding our unit and destroying our very expensive flooring, but again we made it through to the other side. We not only make survivors here we are survivors!
Choi Kwang Do Martial Art of Cartersville, – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We teach Choi Kwang Do (CKD) here. CKD is a very unique form of martial art that was completely developed through modern science. This means our art not only develops maximum power but it is also safe as it has almost zero impact on the body. This means we can use CKD training for injury rehab, elderly can participate and adults can practice without the worry of destroying their bodies and not being able to function in their home and work lives. We also have a different focus from most arts. Traditionally in America the main focus of martial art training is to become better than others and to win awards by besting others at sport competitions. We are unconcerned with sport competitions as organized competition is not similar to situations faced in the real world and competitive martial arts are plagued with injuries that last a life time. Our art is also designed to relieve stress so removing competition and focusing on more practical activities like striking purpose built targets helps us keep a stress-free environment as science has long known that stress leads to poor health. So in short CKD training is for practical self-defense and for greater health and this allows us to have students from 3 to 70+.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
My definition of success has changed many times over the years. It started as the typical American idea that a good job and lots of money was success. Now we see all the stories about people with jobs and money who are depressed and empty so I changed my thinking. I know feel success it simply setting and achieving realistic and worthwhile goals. This is what life is all about, set a goal, achieve a goal then set a new goal. If you are reaching your goals then nothing else matters. Lots of money would be nice of coarse!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1239 Joe Frank Harris Parkway
- Website: www.cartersvilleckd.com
- Phone: 678 721 5166
- Email: Info@cartersvilleckd.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/cartersvilleckd
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ckdmj
Image Credit:
Choi Kwang Do Martial Art of Cartersville
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