As the story has it, one day I headed to the opposite side of the globe – the Flipside. I arrived in Korea February 16th, 2005 and thought I’d do a year, then leave. I was wrong. I stayed, launched my first company, Flipside Fitness, and then opened Korea's largest boxing club, Hulk's Boxing (now called Hulk's Club).

After 11.5yrs in Korea, I then picked up one day and returned to Toronto, Canada. But then I left again.

Now I live in the Philippines where I am the CEO and head coach of Empowered Clubhouse, the Philippines' first and only boxing clubhouse exclusively just for women. I also am the founder of the Lil' Sistas Project, CEO and designer of Slay Gear and Baa Baa Black Sheep .Ph.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Complainers Not Wanted, Only Community... Friday, June 14

In a last minute decision, a rooftop BBQ party was thrown together by Snickers and King Kong.  King Kong is a sushi chef and we had tossed the idea around about having him bring some sushi to the club but tonight he brought along more than just a some – he brought $400 worth of sushi. 

I quickly jumped online and Facebook some of my Hulk members/friends and then texted them too.  The plan was to get some out to the club for a party that’d be kicked off after midnight.  A few calls and text messages later and viola.  About 13 of us were chillaxin’ up on the rooftop with King Kong eagerly preparing a feast of seafood for us. 

Some of my favourite members had shown up for the party so it was interesting to see how they’d interact and social with each other. 


The other day I was told that my boxing club’s monthly member was too expensive.  We’re only $10 more than the neighboring boxing clubs and we basically do personal training with every single member that comes in – a bonus of our club that every fitness club would charge you at least $40 an hour for and other clubs don’t do.  Usually your padwork part of your training is the only time the coach trains with you and even then not every day is it a promised deal.  Beyond the additional reasoning that I could throw out to justify why our rate is what it is, tonight I looked out at those present at the party and the sight of them enjoying themselves and giggling away definitely justified our monthly rate because you can’t buy what we’ve created here among our members.  We’re not just a boxing club – we’re so beyond just being a club or a place to train.  So while the price tag may be another one of many excuses people may use to not exercise at our club or exercise in general, I am perfectly fine with that.  If it wasn’t the price it’d be something else.  I’m not too overly concerned about keeping those people happy as I am my members.  I try pretty damn hard to keep my members happy, training hard and feeling like they’re a part of a community here because we do care about them.  Our boxing club isn’t what it is without them and that’s the truth.  Today we had a last minute BBQ party and tomorrow we’re going bowling.  I think that’s pretty cool that we’re doing it as a club family and it sure beats messaging on Facebook “I’m bored, who wants to do something?” and complaining that you miss home.  Why not make Cheonan your home, at least for while you’re here, and get involved.  After all you may end up like me, stay a long time, and would that be so bad?! 

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