Today we’d like to introduce you to Ibere Reis.
Thanks for sharing your story with us . So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My whole entrepreneurship really started when I was 11 years old. We lost my father and ended up moving to a house that we had in a small city on the beach. Where my mother bought a bar/restaurant right in the sand. From there, I started to work and learn how to be with people, where I enjoyed a lot because I was learning from my mother how to take care of others; seeing how she treated all her employee – helping them out on their personal lives – to the extent that we constantly had “live in” roommates until I was 19. And from there, I learned how to share and what life is about – people, not money. My story with Muay Thai kickboxing started in 2002 where I was looking for a martial arts facility that would really help me to defend myself and be in shape, all around. I found everything I was looking for in Muay Thai, and, fell in love. I always admired leaders helping people through life or goals themselves, and, those that made it possible for them to be leaders… like, my mother, for example. So when I started to get good in Muay Thai, I jumped quickly to help other fighters train for their fights or reach their personal goals. Then, I had the opportunity to come to North America, by the invitation of my good friend, Gabriel Gonzaga, who was a well-recognized fighter and have a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gym. Inviting me to teach here, in the USA, and help him in his fights. When I came to North America, I opened Team Link Muay Thai of Worcester in 2009. In 2013, I partnered up with a really talented fighter as he was looking to open his own gym at the time, Julian Nguyen. At the end of 2017, our third partner joined us, Kosta Xhai, who has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a great teamwork mentality.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I can’t complain. I come to understand adversity since a very young age. But, it wasn’t easy. I didn’t speak any English, no one knew about Muay Thai, and I didn’t have all the equipment necessary at the gym, at that time. I needed to build it all. It was a lot of learning and work to be able to put the name out there so that people could learn about Muay Thai and about the quality of training, all while trying to make money to be able to buy the equipment. But, when I start to build the community, life got way easier.
Please tell us about Team Link Muy Thai of Worcester.
Here at Team Link Muay Thai of Worcester, we are a traditional Muay Thai and kickboxing gym that offers training for everyone from children to adults; women’s fitness kickboxing and children programs. We specialize in helping people to achieve their fitness goals and/or competition – from amateurs to pro-fighters. Team Link Muay Thai is known for the family/communal environment and quality of training. We are most proud of the community we have built here, at the gym, the friendships and memories that we share together. And this, alone, is what sets us apart from others gyms.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I come from an Italian family of immigrants who came to Brazil, so, we have a tradition that originated from my Grandmother… one which I plan to carry on for my children to enjoy as much as I did. Before Christmas, my whole family which consists of over 30 close family members, would gather at my Grandmother’s house in preparation of cooking the “Cappelletti” a traditional Italian dish – similar to tortellini that requires a lot of steps to make. My grandmother would divide us all into stations; from making the dough, the sauce, the filling (where we would hide some really hot peppers to surprise a few lucky ones), to stuffing, wrapping and boiling the final dish. Together, we would make thousands of cappelletti – so many that every surface of my grandmother’s house would be covered with small Cappelletti’s. Every surface! Come Christmas lunch, everyone gets their fill of cappelletti… and then everybody ends up sleeping… from the sofa to the floor. The best part of this tradition was the few people who found hot peppers in their Cappelletti – as they’d get clean-up duty. Even then, though, it was a lot of fun. Today, they still keep the tradition alive in Brazil, and I celebrate in memory, even though I am now in America.
Pricing:
- Adult Muay Thai Kickboxing – 3 classes + FREE pair of gloves ($45 value!) for just $19.99! www.worcester-kickboxing.com/muay
- Fitness Kickboxing – 3 classes + FREE pair of gloves ($45 value!) for just $19.99! www.worcester-kickboxing.com/kbx
- Kids Kickboxing – 6 weeks + FREE pair of gloves ($45 value!) for just $69! www.worcester-kickboxing.com/kids-ma
Contact Info:
- Address: 121 Water Street
Worcester, MA 01610 - Website: http://www.worcester-kickboxing.com/classes.php
- Phone: 774-413-0388
- Email: info@worcester-kickboxing.com
Image Credit:
Team Link Muay Thai
Blue Eyed Creatives
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