By: Denise
Mendiola-Hertslet
Senior
Business Advisor/WIB Program Coordinator
(Guam SBDC)
Honor, Respect, and Loyalty are words to live by for a man with humble beginnings. Santa Rita native, Kevin Jalique, also known as “Kru” to his students, has a passion for the art of Muay Thai. His unceasing determination and unbreakable self-discipline eventually fueled his desire to take the entrepreneurial path and open Guam Muay Thai in Mangilao. Since its inception in 2012, the business has quickly grown in students and now includes classes for women and children. We recently had an opportunity to share the story of Guam Muay Thai.
 |
|
From left to right: Christina Kidd, Alvina
Gumataotao, Adelle Dimalanta, Michelle Catahay, Jalanda Megofna, Januarie
Strong, Kat Aquino, Mariana Kidd, Meagan Kidd, Geralyn Mendiola.
Bottom: Kru Melchor Antolin, Kru Kevin
Jalique
|
Los Angeles, California was where Kevin Jalique’s passion in Muay Thai came about in 2000. He first started training under Instructor Kru Pongsan Ek-Yotin of the World Muay Thai Gym. It was through Kru Pongsan that Jalique honed his skills at being a teacher and a trainer and picked up some of the business aspects and operations of running a fight gym. Jalique returned to Guam and after teaching at the Talent Box Studio and Underworld Xtreme gym, he had the vision of owning his own gym. The enrollment at the classes he taught were growing and he saw that there was a demand for it. However, to accommodate his students, he needed a larger facility and more equipment.
Jalique visited the Guam Small Business Development Center where Denise Mendiola-Hertslet assisted him and his wife, Piyamas Sablan-Jalique. He states that, “Denise provided them with a business plan template, great advice, and a lot of resources for loans if needed.” Jalique still consults with Denise when he has questions and finds her very helpful. Jalique recalls that the start-up process was easy and exciting, because his passion was there and with that he had the motivation to realize his end goal.
After completing the business plan, Jalique’s next goal was to find a good location. He took into consideration that he was still teaching classes at Talent Box Studio and Underworld Xtreme gym and to ensure that his students were able to easily transition to the new location. In 2012, Guam Muay Thai opened in Mangilao. Jalique strategically positioned the gym where a large part of his main market in the age group of 17 – 35 years old frequent and because of its proximity to the college and university. Passersby would see the gym from the road on their way to class and there were no other Muay Thai gyms in the area.
Jalique faced many challenges, but the biggest obstacle was the organization and time management to plan the set-up of the location for opening, working full time, and continuing to teach two classes. All the work was done themselves with the assistance of friends and students. Jalique said, “It was well worth all the hard work and sweat!” Jalique discussed what was in store for Guam Muay Thai. For its short terms goals, he wants to keep their current students and increase enrollment. In the long term, Jalique plans on getting a bigger facility, provide more classes, increase retail sales, and start hosting amateur Muay Thai fights for kids and adults.
Lastly, Jalique reached out to the aspiring entrepreneurs with some advice. He stated, “Do something that you have a passion for because you may not see the profits come in right away, be prepared to a low, and make an appointment with the Guam SBDC before doing anything.” To learn more about Guam Muay Thai, check out their Facebook page at facebook.com/guammuaythai.ekyotin or give them a call at 671-487-7718.
For more information about the Guam Small Business Development Center contact Denise Mendiola Hertslet, Senior Business Advisor and Bank of Guam Women in Business Program Coordinator at denise@pacificsbdc.com or 735-2590 or visit our website at www.pacificsbdc.com.
