7/6: WELCOME AND GOODBYE
Last week was definitely an emotional week for many of us, especially for the kickboxing students and coaching staff. We had to say goodbye to one of our long-time team members, but got to welcome back another. I think it’s important for everyone to know who these 2 individuals are outside of their work inside the gym.
Noah Lavigne has departed for Colorado as he pursues a Master’s Degree in archeology. Noah joined GB Novi as a kickboxing student about 8 years ago when I was part owner of that gym. We got to know each other pretty well, especially during our sparring sessions. He was a member for a couple years before he had to step away. A couple years later, he got back in touch with us and was asking if there was any opportunity to work at the gym. The only opportunity I had at the time was to help clean the gym. As I got to know Noah, we gave him the opportunity to work behind the counter doing sales calls and helping manage certain aspects of the gym. Noah had no experience in any of that, and admittedly, was not very comfortable on the phone. However, he was open and eager to learn, and over the years developed into a confident and highly competent consultant that figured out how to exude real confidence when talking to people. It was personally incredibly rewarding to see him grow through the opportunities we had to offer.
While he developed a real confidence talking to people, we knew that it was not where his real strength was. About a year and a half ago, Coach John Rios took him under his wing, teaching him how to lead kickboxing classes with a plan to cover the classes John would be missing when he deployed for military service. I’ll be the first to admit, I wasn’t too sure if Noah was up for the task. I wasn’t sure if he would be able plan and execute a class on his own, but of course I was going to give him a shot. Noah absolutely exceeded my expectations. He ran high energy, very organized classes, often times with students that had more experience than him. He grew to levels that I’m not sure either of us saw coming.
Noah had also started training in BJJ years ago and competed at local events. We spent a great deal of time sparring after class, and Noah developed into a very well-rounded blue belt. It may surprise you that Noah has tapped me more than only one other person that has come through the doors. Noah has been a great student, great coach, and great friend to me and many others. His presence is going to be greatly missed but I know this is not goodbye. I am excited for him for his new adventure and certainly look forward to seeing him back in the gym on his trips back to MI.
Just one week after saying goodbye to Noah, we welcomed back Coach John Rios from his 9-month deployment to the Middle East. John joined GB Novi as well about 6 years ago as a kickboxing instructor. At that time, I received an e-mail from John. He was moving to MI from NY and was simply looking for a place to teach, having taught for years in a dojo in the Bronx. After looking through his resume I was eager to invite him in and see what he was like. We were all immediately impressed with John and made him an offer on the spot to become a coach. John sent his resume to about a half dozen schools in the area before moving to MI and he said I was the only one to respond. Those other gyms have no idea what an amazing person they overlooked.
John is one of the most loyal, honest, energetic people I have every met. He is a true martial artist with an insatiable desire to help people grow and share his knowledge with anyone willing to learn. His energy and enthusiasm are unmatched by anyone we have ever had coaching in the gym. He is also one of the most talented strikers I have ever trained with in my 30 years of martial arts. Not only is John a fantastic martial artist, he is an incredible leader. John took Noah under his wing before he deployed and developed Noah into the incredible coach he became.
When John moved to MI, he was working in retail but knew he wanted more out of life so he joined the military. About a year after he joined Gracie Barra, he went to boot camp for 6 months and when he came back started working at Selfridge AFB while still finding time to teach martial arts with us. During this last deployment, I received feedback from another student who is also in the military that John became one of the people in his platoon that everyone looked to for leadership as well, even though he had no leadership rank. One of the things we all eventually learn in life is that leadership does not come from a given rank, it comes from who you are as a person. John is one of the few people in this world that I would trust my life with.
For those of us who have gotten to know these two men, I speak for all of us in saying our lives have been greatly enriched by them, and will continue to be enriched by them where ever they are. For those who have not yet met Coach John, I want you to understand that you have a fantastic opportunity to learn from one of the best coaches I have ever known.
