What were you doing at age 21? In this episode, we sit down with Jason Roberts, a driven young entrepreneur and former military brat who turned a life of structure and movement into a thriving local business. Find out how growing up in a Military household meant constant change, but also helped build the foundation for leadership, grit and a “can-do” mindset.
This episode of The Fort NOT Lost in the Woods Podcast is sponsored by Nexthome Team Ellis, Security Bank of Pulaski County, TK’s Pizza in St. Robert, and Sugar Creek Farm
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**Podcast Opening and Guest Introduction**
Thank you for joining me for another episode of the Fort Not Lost in the Woods podcast. Every once in a while, well, actually it seems like it’s a lot these days, I get a message, an email, a Facebook message, or just someone in person says, “Hey, you know who would make a great guest?” And that is what happened with today’s guest.
I did not know you, still don’t but I’m getting ready to. And someone suggested that you would be a great guest and told me why and it immediately sounded like, “Yes, you would be a great guest!” So, I’d like to welcome to the podcast Jason Roberts. Jason is the owner of Team Enigma Martial Arts and Wellness Academy. Jason, thank you so much for coming in and doing this.
Jason: Thank you for inviting me.
Yeah, we we’ve been trying to make this happen and I appreciate you coming in early. I’m an early bird so a lot of time and I find that a lot of people aren’t. So I’ll I’ll be like, “Well, um, hey, do you want to do like, you know, 8:00 or 8:30?” And they’re like, “In the morning?” I’m like, yeah. So you’re definitely not going to get me here at that time at night. So I appreciate you making time to come in and do this. I know you’re a busy guy.
**Jason’s Background and Military Family Life**
Alright, so you are the owner of Team Enigma Martial Arts and Wellness Academy. I have a ton of questions about that, but first, where are you from and probably like a lot of people, you’re not from this area, how did you get here?
Jason: Um, so my dad was prior army, um, he’s retired now, but um, you know, I’ve been all over the world. Um, we actually came from Italy before we moved here.
Oh, wow!
Jason: Um, we actually got the memo that it was Fort, you know, lost in the woods, so I’m glad that there’s, uh, you know,
Hints the name of the podcast Fort Not Lost in the Woods, trying to prove it’s not true.
Jason: Yeah, hopefully trying to change people’s minds. But, um,
Well, and I want to talk to you about that too because I should probably start this out by saying something really interesting. And I know young people always hate it when you talk about their age, but you’re only 21, is that right?
Jason: Yes, I’m recently 21.
Oh, wow! Okay, so I have so many questions. Go right ahead. So you’ve been all over, you just came from Italy.
Jason: Yeah, so we’ve actually been here for a couple years now. I think seven, eight years. Um, so I’ve spent quite a bit of time here. Um, I was in college for a little bit like Arizona for a year of that, um, but I came back, you know, wanted to, you know, do Jiu-Jitsu and open up my gym and that’s kind of, you know, what started it all.
What, was there a time, sometimes, well a lot of times, I think military brats, so to speak. Um, it’s kind of either expected or just maybe anticipated that they will also go into the military, but you did not choose that path. Was that ever a thought for you? Or was that ever something you considered?
Jason: Yeah, it actually was. Um, so I I, you know, thought about joining, um, the Air Force. Um, I was really interested in like engineering at the time. I’m that’s actually what I went to to college for was Aerospace Engineering, um, in Arizona.
Wow, so you’re a real smart guy, huh? I can’t, I’m not sure I even know how to spell aerospace.
Jason: Yeah. I’m sure I forgot everything that I learned, so.
I doubt that, I doubt that.
Jason: Yeah.
Were you interested in Jiu-Jitsu at a young age? Or, I mean, how did that happen where you’re like, “I think I’ll do this?”
Jason: Yeah, so actually we’ve always kind of been, um, you know, a martial arts family. Um, both my parents did like Taekwondo and Jiu-Jitsu and stuff. So it was kind of like we have a motto like, you know, a family that kicks together sticks together.
I love that.
Jason: Um, so yeah, it was it was really cool kinda growing up, um, in that scene, but as far as Jiu-Jitsu, I started it when I when I got here. Um, before when I was in Italy, I did Judo, um, for four years. So, you know, I had a little bit, you know, of experience outside of just Jiu-Jitsu that I do now, but um, you know, they didn’t have Judo here.
Yeah.
Jason: You know, it wasn’t really an option, so, um, I started doing Jiu-Jitsu and, you know, I just fell in love with it, so.
My gosh, I have so many questions. Are you an only child?
Jason: No, I’m not. I have a
For some reason I thought you must be an only child. I don’t know why.
Jason: No, no. I have a I have a younger brother. He’s, uh, he’s actually in college right now doing like high-performance race drift team stuff. He’s
Wow.
Jason: Yeah, cooler than me.
I don’t know. You both sound pretty cool. Are your parents still here in the area? Do they stay as well?
Jason: Um, yes, they are. They
If you were gonna say no, I was just gonna be like, “Oh my gosh! Stay here by yourself.”
Jason: No. No. Funny enough, my my mom actually, she’s our Muay Thai coach. She’s a phenomenal instructor. She’s been
I have no idea what that is, but I’m gonna ask you.
Jason: Yeah. She’s been doing Muay Thai for, you know, seven, eight years now. She’s had, you know, super, you know, trainings and stuff with like Anderson Silva and like, you know, UFC legends and
I do know who Anderson Silva is, believe it or not.
Jason: Yeah, so like I said, you know, a family that kicks together sticks together and
I love that so much. So when did you decide, “Okay, maybe this place isn’t so lost in the woods. I will stay here and, you know, open this business and invest some time and money.”
Jason: Um, honestly after I got back from college and I was here for summer break,
Which was when?
Jason: Um, I believe 2021, 2022 time. Yeah, so a couple years ago now. Um,
Wait, you just turned 21.
Jason: Yeah.
Did you graduate early and go to college early and do everything early?
Jason: I actually started college when I was 17.
I knew.
Jason: I graduated at like, yeah, like right at 17. So
Yeah, yeah.
Jason: But, yeah, you know, there just wasn’t a whole lot to do here, um, but I liked being here and my family was here, you know, my dad retired here. So I was like, well, if I’m gonna do something, you know, I’m gonna do something that I want to do. Um, and for me that was that was Jiu-Jitsu, so.
So, traveling all over the world, why did your family decide to plant roots here?
Jason: Um, honestly, I think it’s just like, you know, the lifestyle. I think it’s, you know, pretty calmed down from what we’re used to, moving around and constantly, you know, finding new jobs, and new friends, and like, it’s just it’s so hectic, you know, like really, you know, they always say military brat, but there’s a lot more that, you know, comes with that, so.
Oh, I’m sure, yeah.
Jason: Um, which is actually kind of why I I started martial arts because I was getting bullied a lot as a kid, so.
Oh.
Jason: That’s kind of where that, you know, interest in
Okay, let’s dig into that. We’re gonna unpack that. Um, if you feel comfortable with it, what kind of things were happening to you?
Jason: Um, I was always like a small, obviously nerdy kid, you know,
Wait, why would you say obviously? You’re adorable. Why do you say nerdy?
Jason: Uh,
You you’ve got the the typical, you know, the glasses and the hair, but you’re so cute. I I would not think nerd if I saw you.
Jason: Well, I used to be really, you know, nerdy and I was always a small kid.
But now you kick their
Jason: Yeah, now they’re
Basically, yeah, but, um, yeah, I was always just like the smallest kid. I was always the kid that, you know, was interested in, you know, school and academics and things like that, the less popular, you know, things that people in school are interested in more, you know, social friends, so, um, just, you know, getting left out, getting, you know, pushed over and like, you know, left out at soccer team practice, and like stuff like that, you know.
Did you, um, go home and tell your parents that you were bullied? And if so, what was that conversation like? Was it one of those, “Get their ass!” Or was it, uh, you know, you just have to take the high road because it seems like parents are one or the other. You know what I mean?
Jason: Yeah, I think that I was lucky enough that, you know, I I had a a good balance. I think there was kind of like a, hey, like, you know, you can stand your ground, but also like not overdo it. You know.
Right, try to take the high road, but if it gets to a point where you have to defend, that’s kind of how I grew up too. Yeah. And but it it was uh a little more towards the kick your ass side. But but yeah. But so do you have advice for other kids? Because that that is such a lonely, horrible feeling when you are a kid. And you’re not alone, but you feel like you’re alone. You feel like you’re the only one going through whatever it is you’re going through, whether it’s, you know, family tension, a a divorce in the family, um, you know, not having confidence, whatever it may be that you’re going through, you feel like you’re the only one in reality you’re not, but gosh, it can be so lonely. So do you have any tips for kids that might be listening? And I say kids, I’m talking all ages, just
Jason: Yeah. Um, I would say the biggest thing is find something that you’re interested in. Find something that you’re passionate about. Find an outlet, you know, for me that was martial arts and Jiu-Jitsu. Um, I’m obviously, you know, biased and I think that it, you know, helps with friendships and teamwork and confidence and all that stuff. But, you know, whether it’s playing the violin, you know,
Finding like-minded people.
Jason: Find something, yeah, finding something that you’re interested in and kind of just connecting with the people that, you know, kind of can get your mind off of it. Because that’s the biggest thing is, you know, when you are being bullied, it’s kind of like, like you say, like you’re being left out, you’re kind of alone in a situation, but you’re you’re honestly not, you know, there’s plenty of people that are probably going through the same thing, you just gotta put yourself out there and find those people, so.
Did your brother go through any of that?
Jason: Yeah, he went through it a lot. He was also a, you know, nerdy kid.
Look at you both are so cool now.
Jason: Yeah, he’s he’s pretty cool now.
You are not the only person to sit in that seat, especially, um, actually, you you kind of brings to mind another guest I had, um, Samantha Keaton, who owns Sweet Sam’s, down on the Square. She has the ice cream shop there on the Square. And she also had kind of a tough time in school and, you know, she now she’s thriving, her another young person with her own business and, so, you know, you just kind of have to hang in there and and come out on top later. But when you when you started doing the martial arts, was it, I I want something to be involved in with like-minded individuals, or was it, I’m gonna learn some skills so that I can, you know,
Jason: Yeah, you know, I think it was a little bit of both. I think it was kind of like finding myself but also finding like a group to fit into, you know, kind of like I said, finding that confidence. Um, you know, I looking back as I as a kid, I never would have guessed that I would be, you know, where I am now, being a business owner. Um, but it’s just really cool that, you know, stuff like martial arts, it doesn’t have to be martial arts, you know, I don’t want to be biased, but I think it’s it’s the best thing for you, you know, so.
Well, and it it there’s probably a lot of people just like you that it is the very best thing for them. And I want to talk about that too, but first, whose idea was it? Was it your parents’ idea? Or was it your idea to start the business?
Jason: Um, so I’ve always had an interest in like a coaching role. Like I’ve always wanted to help people, especially, you know, youth and children, especially because, yeah, especially because, you know, of my past experiences with bullying and kind of just giving kids that that confidence and that, you know, outlet or, hey, I I want to go to practice after school, you know, hey, I maybe had a rough day, but, you know, I want to see Coach Jason. Um, that for me is, you know, the most rewarding part of it. But I think it was kind of a group effort. I think we’ve all kind of came together. They helped a lot with it. Um, I don’t want to say it was just all me. It definitely wasn’t. Yeah. Um, but yeah, I I would say I’ve always wanted to be a coach. So.
**Team Enigma Martial Arts and Wellness Academy**
So Team Enigma, tell me about the name.
Jason: Um, so actually funny enough, my fiancée came up with that. I have no
Fiancée. Oh my gosh. We got a whole ‘nother direction to go here. Okay, we’ll get to that in a minute.
Jason: Um, I have no idea how she came up with it, but it kinda just stuck. I I liked it. I think I looked it up and enigma is like solving a puzzle, you know, something like that. So it kind of just related to like the martial arts of like, you know, hey, there’s so much to learn and, you know, I’m gonna learn it. Um, and find those solutions for those those practices and kind of like life too, you know, like, like I said, like everybody, you know, kinda goes through stuff and kind of finding your way out of it and coming out on top is is important, so.
I like the name. It’s a little bit, um, mysterious but it’s also kind of bold. I don’t know, I like it. It’s it’s a really cool name. So Team Enigma Martial Arts and Wellness Academy. Let’s talk about the martial arts aspect of that first. What different martial arts do you offer there? And is it for everyone? I mean, somebody like me, 53, out of shape, you know, I the only martial arts that I am familiar with at all is Tai Chi. And I don’t even know, is that considered a martial art? I don’t even know if that’s considered a martial art.
Jason: I don’t know. I haven’t dove too much into that.
So, and and it well, it’s just very relaxing and calming. It’s not so much a, I’m gonna, you know, take you down if you try to attack me kind of thing. It’s more of a calming just movements and and moving your body. And I love it and something about it just calms me and it feels good to do it. So that’s but that’s the only thing I know and I’m not even sure that’s a martial art. That might be some kind of something else. So tell me what martial arts you cover there.
Jason: Um, so the big two, like on our schedule and stuff is Jiu-Jitsu, which is more submission grappling. Um, we do encompass the Judo and wrestling because I have experience in both of those. Um, we don’t have separate programs just ’cause I think that, you know, we get enough work in during the class time because we spend our time, you know, doing takedowns, doing the submissions, doing all that stuff. And then Muay Thai, um, my mom probably be better explaining this, but it’s the art of eight limbs, so, you know, punch, kick, knees, elbows, things like that. They do some sweep stuff, Um, but yeah, she she does a phenomenal job with it. You know, we have boxing, we have, you know, whatever kind of encompassed in that program, but on the schedule just the the Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, yeah.
What ages?
Jason: So Jiu-Jitsu, we actually have a toddler program. So we go as young as two years old. Yeah. And then the regular Muay Thai, we have ages five and up for all the regular kids classes. So.
What benefits do you think there are to kids? And how do you keep them focused?
Jason: Cuz I’m picturing my grandson who is, well, he’s, he’s on the spectrum and and but he he’s very intelligent. Very, very, um, what’s the word? Very energetic. And I’m thinking, oh, he’d love this, but then I’m thinking, how are they going to keep him wrangled? It’s like herding cats. So,
Yeah, I think the biggest thing, I mean, not just the taller, but kind of every every class that we have, like it’s structured in a way that, you know, there is like leeway in that, you know, I I understand they’re all still kids. Um, but we kind of try to channel that energy and use it, you know, into the learning aspect of Jiu-Jitsu or even just a workout, you know, some kids have no, you know, aspirations to really, you know, take it serious, but they want to get in shape, you know, even the adults, you know, I like, you know, you mentioned before.
Yeah, yeah.
Jason: Um, I think we have our oldest is like 55 and he’s, you know, wanting to do competitions and fights and stuff, which is super cool, you know, to see that we have people from from two to 55. Yeah, and that’s just, you know.
Are they in the same classes? Do you have different age groups?
Jason: No, no, no, no. Yeah. We have
‘Cause I would probably need to be in the two-year-old class. You just get to. It would be like herding cats teaching me something.
Jason: Well, I will say we are very beginner-friendly. Like we we definitely all of our our classes are mixed levels and I I believe that with the right structure and with the right coach, everybody gets something out of it, you know. Um, especially being near like a military base, like we have so many people come for a couple weeks, couple months, couple years. Um, people that never trained before, people that just want to work out, people that, you know, want to win a world world title. Um, and we kind of, you know, have to cater to everybody. So.
You do competitions because you were in what, Colorado last week? Or were somewhere?
Jason: Yes. Uh, Chicago.
Chicago. I don’t know where I got Colorado, but anyway.
Jason: The Cs, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, you were somewhere else. I know that. And and so how did that go?
Jason: Um, it went well. Actually, bouncing back to my fiancée, she’s only been training for two years and she went out and she actually beat somebody who’s been training for six years and then held her own against somebody for eight. You know, so like I said, I think like the system’s really work if you kind of dedicate and really put yourself in those
I’m gonna ask you a really stupid question and I’m sorry, but I have no pride and I just when I something pops in mind, I want to know. So I was interviewing someone, um, I don’t know, a couple weeks ago and they were talking about their kid being a wrestler. Their kid is a girl and they were talking about her wrestling boys and for some reason, that just kind of caught me off guard. Like, I didn’t really realize that that was a thing. So in your sport, do they is it how does that work? Do they um, compete, is that the right word? Or is that is that the right word against others of their same sex? Or how does that work?
Jason: So it it is common with like younger kids, not so much once they get to certain, you know, age thresholds. Um, but we have a beast of a girl at our gym. Uh, I think she’s nine. Yeah. She fights up 20 pounds. She fights boys. She fights
So there’s no rules like
Jason: Higher ranks. Well, she chooses to she chooses to that. Yeah.
If you choose to, you can.
Jason: Yeah, so she’s she just wants the challenge, you know, she wants to go out there and beat the boys, so.
Maybe I need to interview her. She sounds cool. So tell me about your fiancée. Did you meet her here? How did that work?
Jason: So I actually met her at a Jiu-Jitsu competition in Chicago. She’s originally from Chicago, which is why we go out there all the time to compete. Um, so yeah, it was it was really cool. We actually, I was fighting. She wasn’t. She was just in the audience. She just started Jiu-Jitsu, um, a couple weeks, couple months before.
She did not think you look like a nerd.
Jason: Apparently not. You know, she tells me every time. She’s like, oh, you know, the story. But, yeah.
That’s so sweet. So it’s like love at first sight kind of thing.
Jason: It was it was mutual. I saw her, you know, in the crowd and I was like
Did you? So how many people are in the crowd in an event like that?
Jason: Um, that one was a little bit smaller. I’d say there was probably only like 80 people there. It was just like a, you know, one-on-one. Almost like an MMA event, you know, it’s like one match and then, you know, the next match. Whereas sometimes there’s like tournaments where there’s multiple matches going, so.
**Jason’s Daily Routine and Business Vision**
What is your day like? What’s a typical day? You get up at what time and what do you do? I’m so interested.
Jason: Honestly, I I kind of wake up, um, whenever my fiancée wakes up for work, um, cuz she works actually. I I don’t. I just do the the the business side of things.
That’s work.
Jason: Um, it is. No, it is. A lot of times people kind of don’t, you know, get the insight, but
They really don’t.
Jason: No, it’s it’s a lot more work than than I probably let on. People probably just think that I get to train Jiu-Jitsu and
People think I just talk in a mic all day. So I get it. Yeah, yeah, I’m like, you guys don’t know.
Jason: Yeah, no. Um, I kind of just, you know, I guess it just depends on like what all we’re doing. Um, and what we have planned. Um, I think in the last year, we’ve we’ve grown so much, you know, like our our wellness program, we’ve added yoga and Pilates, um, which I’m sure we’ll talk about more later.
Actually, no, I’m really glad that you went that direction. So that’s where I was going to ask you is the wellness Academy. What does that part of it mean?
Jason: Um, so kind of my my vision on things and, you know, kind of rebranding because we used to be called Enigma Jiu-Jitsu. Um, was a more common name. We were kind of kept you in a hole. Yeah, I think it kind of kept us in a hole. I’m obviously, you know, a 21-year-old business owner. I’m super, I want to grow, I want to be the biggest, you know, baddest gym around. I want all these things into the future. You know, have those ambitions. So I think kind of aligning ourselves with a more inclusive name and kind of program, kind of helped that. So as far as the wellness, the yoga and Pilates, we launched it kind of in stages. So we did the yoga first. And then we had a lot of interest actually on Facebook. I I posted about it and people were just telling me like, oh, Pilates, Pilates, Pilates. Um, and I actually found an instructor who’s in Lebanon. She drives all the way out here for our classes to teach and she’s a phenomenal instructor. She’s been doing it 10 plus years. She’s got like Matt Pilates, she’s got the Reformer, you know, she’s got TRX, she’s got swim, Zumba. She’s got all these certifications, so she’s, uh, definitely a key part of our team.
How do you find someone with the skills that you need? You know, that is one of the things in a smaller area like this, that is hard to do.
Jason: Honestly, it didn’t take that much effort. I think it kind of just,
It just kinda happens when it’s right, doesn’t it?
Jason: Yeah, I think it all just kinda happens when it’s right, you know, like the gym starting up, you know, finding all these amazing people. Really just everything kind of kind of works out, you know, when you put yourself out there, so.
Where is your gym?
Jason: Right now we’re in St. Robert down secure by the secure storage place down Highway Z. Yeah, just look up Enigma Jiu-Jitsu.
Yeah.
Jason: Yeah, just look up Enigma Jiu-Jitsu.
Yeah.
Jason: We’ll give all that stuff out at the end too. Yeah.
Back to your day. You get up when your fiancée gets up and then what do you do? Like what is a day in the life of you?
Jason: Really right now, like I’m obviously competing a lot. I’m young. I have a lot of life left in me. I I kind of prioritize, you know, my health and my fitness first and then kind of all the business stuff after that. I think really truly like if you take care of yourself, you know, like I said, like things kind of fall naturally into your into your lap, you know, whether it’s relationships, whether it’s business, whether it’s money, whether it’s, you know, new car, whatever, you know, you just kinda kinda be in the right mindset to kind of accept that, you know, stuff into your life, so.
Your parents must be so proud.
Jason: Yeah, I I
Like I’m listening to you talk and I’m like, gosh, I bet his parents are so proud of him.
Jason: Yeah, definitely, definitely grew up the last, you know, couple years. But, um, as far as as far as the day goes, I kind of just work out, I, you know, see what needs to be done at the gym, whether it’s cleaning, whether it’s marketing, whether it’s, you know, even just game planning. Uh, we have a really big event that just happened. Combat Culture Invitational, which was our very own super fight tournament event.
So people come from around to come to that?
Jason: Yeah, we actually had people come from as far as I think Michigan.
Wow, that’s exciting.
Jason: So, yeah. And it was the first event, um, never done anything like it.
How many people did you have attend that?
Jason: As far as it’s actually competing. Yeah, as far as spectators, we had around 300 and we had 20 total matches. Yeah. In little old Waynesville, so.
Wow. That’s so cool. That is so cool. Do you coordinate with the tourism bureau when you do stuff like that? You should because, um, let them know that you’ve got things like that going on.
Jason: Yeah, I think I think we did a little bit with the chamber, but we do actually have another event plan for August 1st. Um, and that’s kind of what’s taking up a lot of my time now is just kind of planning, sponsorships, you know, fighter kits and like just everything, you know, the whole works. Even just securing the venues hard enough sometimes. So.
Yeah, so so that’s what I was going to ask you, you have to have a different venue for that, right? Is your ’cause your gym’s not going to hold that many people.
Jason: Well, our gym’s actually like 6,000 square feet. So it’s pretty it’s pretty big. That is big. Um, but yeah, we like to kind of really go and lean into like the production side of things. So last event we had like walkouts, walkout music, we had our sponsor tables, we had like projector screens, we had a live stream, like
How do you get so smart?
Jason: Um, stay in school. No,
Pay attention in school.
Jason: Yeah, pay attention in school. Don’t do drugs. No.
I’m sorry, I totally interrupted you. I’m just so impressed by you and the person that actually suggested you as a guest, I could totally see why because that was one of the words she used was how impressive you are. Yeah. And so I I’m like, yeah, I get it. I see it.
Jason: Well, I appreciate it. Yeah.
That sounds so fun. So what time does your day wrap up? At the end of the day, what time are you usually at home?
Jason: I teach classes from 4:00 to 8:00. Oh, wow. And then clean the gym, maybe train after depending on what tournaments we have. Go home, eat dinner.
What’s for dinner? What’s an average dinner for you?
Jason: Whatever my fiancée wants to make, who’s a phenomenal cook by the way. I love her so much.
Oh, well, you’re spoiled then.
Jason: She’s yeah. Well, she wants to. I told her all the time. Like she works full-time job. I don’t mind, you know, picking up dinner and stuff. But that’s her her love language. So I let her she likes everything. She’s healthy too, so she’ll make.
Perfect. Yeah.
Jason: The right meals.
That’s awesome. Well, we’re gonna take a a quick break. And when we come back, we are going to see what Jason said is the three things that people might be surprised to learn about him and also his favorite thing about the Pulaski County and surrounding area. We’re also going to have you spin the wheel and see what you land on there. So,
Jason: Sweet.
Yeah, we’ll be right back with Jason Robertson in just a moment.
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**Podcast Resumption and Interview with Jason**
Back with Jason Roberts, owner of Team Enigma Martial Arts and Wellness Academy. We’ve been talking about everything that kind of entails. Um, I was telling you during that break that I don’t know anything about Jiu-Jitsu. So you know how they have those 30-second elevator speeches, like you get stuck in an elevator with somebody, you have 30 seconds to explain your whole life. Tell me about Jiu-Jitsu in 30 seconds. What what how would you explain it to someone that’s a blank slate, ’cause I am?
Jason: Uh, I would say Jiu-Jitsu is submission wrestling is pretty much the easiest way to explain it.
What does that mean though? So submission wrestling.
Jason: Chokes, arm bars, leg locks, takedowns.
So wrestling until you can’t take it anymore.
Jason: Yeah, basically. Yeah. You basically, you tap out, you give up. Match is over. You won. So.
Do you give up because you realize you’re beat? Or do you give up because you’re in pain? Or do you give up because you can’t breathe? Like what it
Jason: I think it’s kind of a mix of all of those. You know, sometimes it’s like a mental I give up, sometimes it’s like a, oh, like, you know, my arm might, you know, fall off here or, you know, oh, man, I’m gonna pass out, so.
Do you ever get mad when you’re like wrestling with these people? I mean, or is I I understand that martial arts kind of teaches you to control that, but but I mean, there has to be a time when you don’t particularly like this person very much. You know what I mean?
Jason: Yeah, I would say sometimes
Trying to get to the gritty side of Jason. Let’s get to the real stuff.
Jason: Yeah. No. I I’d say like sometimes, yeah, maybe, you know, everybody, you know, would get upset in a situation where maybe they weren’t doing as well as they thought or maybe they were in a bad position and they were, you know, feeling the pressure a little bit, but,
Maybe mad at yourself too.
Jason: Yeah, yeah, mad at yourself. I think that’s more more what I my frustration comes from is, you know, when I’m mad at myself, you know, for not not doing something that I know I should have, you know, in a match or in the training room, so.
I watch my Doberman and my Husky wrestle and they’re playing and they’re having so much fun and they’re like, yay. And they’re, you know, if they were people they’d be smiling. But they’re just happy happy and then sooner or later, it never fails. Somebody gets mad. Somebody gets mad and then it’s on and I just didn’t know if like humans wrestling was the same thing or not.
Jason: I would say yeah, probably a lot of probably a lot of other people are like that. I’ve definitely seen my fair share of like people that just can’t take it anymore and just start, you know, going crazy or trying to brawl or, you know, make it an MMA fight instead of a Jiu-Jitsu match, so.
Can people come observe what you do? Like let’s say that you have someone who maybe has a child or someone like me that’s older and wants to get active, wants to stay fit, whatever, get fit in my situation there’s no staying fit. Um, can you come and observe and just kind of see if it’s for you? Or how does that work?
Jason: Yeah, so actually I definitely recommend, I mean, you know, if you’re the type of person that doesn’t want to try it hands-on, to just watch it. Um, I actually had somebody message me the other day and was like, hey, you know, you know, kind of getting back in, you know, I had an injury, like can I just watch, see how you guys do things. So like, yeah, totally, like absolutely. Like, you know, see if it’s for you. Um, but if you’re more of like a hands-on person, we do offer two free trial classes. So you can try the Jiu-Jitsu, you can try the Muay Thai, um, kind of see which one, you know, Yeah. Is your cup of tea and which one fits you, you know, better, um, and kind of just go from there, so.
That is so cool. Okay, well, I asked you, list three things people might be surprised to learn about you. We already covered one of these. You said you’re a 21-year-old business owner. You are a Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
Jason: Yes.
You’re also a graduate of Waynesville. I was gonna ask you that. So that’s really cool. You you said, I’m so I’m a locally grown and new or and now business owner, new business owner too, I guess. Yeah. And, um, I love that you graduated from here and you planted roots here and you started your business here. You’re a military brat. You’ve been all over the world. I think that is also cool. We’ve covered almost all of that. I ask you, what’s your favorite thing about the Pulaski County and surrounding area? And you said, this is the first time anyone has said this, your favorite thing is the military base. Um, and you said for what you do, it’s very rewarding to see new faces. And I bet that’s kind of comforting for you too because those are your people. You know what I mean? As a military brat, that’s your community, those are your people. You get them, they get you.
Jason: Yeah. I mean, I I guess it’s kind of, you know, every person in the community that I’m grateful for. But I think I definitely like, you know, being a military brat myself, kind of resonated with a lot of those kids or even, you know, active duty, you know, personnel who are kind of, you know, here on orders that are only here for a little while and have to kind of, you know, find friends, find a place to train, find a place to stay fit, um, you know, things like that. And like I said, I love coaching. It’s the most rewarding thing ever. I, you know, could be working for NASA right now, you know, building rocket ships, but This is way more cool. This is way more cool.
Jason: This is way more cool.
Do you have a lot of patience? You seem like you would be a very patient person.
Jason: Yeah, I think I I think I do. I was always like growing up, you know, the weird in between age where I was like always older than all the kids, but like younger than all the adults. So like I was like very mature, but also like babysitter, but also like, you know, kind of in my own world, so.
I know exactly what you mean. My granddaughter is that way. Um, I think at one point she’s like, is it weird that I just hang out with my grandma all the time? And I’m like, no, it’s not. Is it weird that I hang out with my granddaughter? Probably. Alright, Jason, I want you to spin this wheel for me and then we’re gonna go over real quick your contact information, how they can find out more, all the stuff. Okay. Let’s see what you land on.
I was such a wimpy spin. I better spin than that. There you go. It’s harder to say.
Jason: Oh, it’s upside down, what does it say?
Uh, it says
Jason: It’s the yellow one, right here.
Oh, the yellow one. Oh, I’m glad you landed on that one because you seem like you’re such an insightful person. What do you know for sure? One thing that you know for certain. It can be anything. But you know it for sure.
Jason: Um, I would say the one thing that I know for sure is that no matter how hard, um, you know, I fall into, you know, struggles, I think that having the right mindset and all of my experiences, you know, being bullied, being a military brat, you know, doing Jiu-Jitsu, doing all those things. Um, I think those have really helped me and kind of built my character up to be resilient, you know, and I think that no matter what happens, um, you know, especially, you know, being a new business owner, being so young, you know, I have a lot of life left in me. So, you know, if God forbid, you know, things didn’t work out, I know that I’d be okay, you know what I mean? Obviously,
That’s not a good feeling.
Jason: Hopefully it doesn’t get to that. You know, I think we’re we’re doing good. I we reached 160 members after just a year, so really cool to see, you know, in the community, such a small community, that many people, you know,
That sounds like a lot. I I mean, I wouldn’t have a clue what’s a lot in that type of business. But
Jason: You know, I think it is. I think it is a lot, especially after, you know, a year, especially with so much competition around now that, you know, I have a lot of confidence. I know that everything’s going to be okay. You know, I know that no matter what happens, that I’m gonna be successful and I’m gonna bring all the people in my community up with me, so.
I would have given anything to have that kind of confidence when I was 21 because I did not find that until way later in life. So I think
Jason: I think I think it comes from the day-to-day stuff. If you’re, you know, too confident and you don’t back it by action. I think it’s, you know, maybe ego or
Sure.
Jason: Or arrogance.
Or arrogance.
Jason: Illusion, you know.
Illusion.
Jason: That you’re something you’re not. But I think that I I put in enough work. I think that I have enough time on the mat. I put myself out there, you know, even coming on here, you know, Jason, nerdy, you know, seven-year-old would never guess that he would be, you know, on a podcast and talking about stuff.
And doing a great job, by the way.
Jason: Yeah. I appreciate it. Thank you.
Not even nervous, like you’re just doing great.
Jason: Yeah.
Yeah. No, I think confidence, sometimes people think confidence, which blows me away, but that is a bad thing. And no, arrogance is a bad thing. Like you said, if you can back it up, but also you know that you’re not perfect and you know that you have lessons to learn, but you just have the confidence that it will work out and you will have the skills that you need to to fix things.
Jason: Yeah. I think that’s the biggest thing, like you said, like that I take into my life and that I tell all my students is be a learner. I’m always growing. I know that I have so much more, you know, business, Jiu-Jitsu, personal development, you know, left in my lifetime, just gotta learn, just gotta, you know, put myself out there and try it, so.
I was in radio for a long time and when I left and I was gonna start a podcast. My father, who was in his 70s, I’ve surprised you knew what a podcast was, but he did. And I said, you know, I’m gonna have this podcast and, well, how are you gonna make money at that? He said, well, I mean, I’ll get sponsors. And he said, first of all, you think people are gonna listen to you basically you will think people want to know what you have to say? And I’m like, well, I don’t know, I haven’t thought about that. He’s like, well, you think that people will actually, you know, buy by time by commercials? And I’m like, yeah. And then you start to second guess yourself and you’re like, why would anyone care what I have to say? And why wouldn’t advertise? But you know, like you said, you just have that confidence and you have that passion for what you do and it just happens. So.
Jason: Yeah. I think I think too, like going from studying aerospace engineer, knowing that that’s what I wanted to do when I was nine years old, you know, work for NASA and be so interested in planets and things like that. Oh, so crazy. Yeah, now where I am. I think I kind of do have to have a little bit of confidence to leave that, you know, secure career path, which, you know, pays pretty well. So.
Yeah, no kidding. I love that you can that you can shift though. It’s so important. Some people, if they have a goal and then at some point they realize that’s really not my goal or my passion anymore, they almost feel like a failure and that is that is just life. That’s not a failure.
Jason: Yeah. I think I think too with that, it’s kind of important to know that you have so much life left in you, you know. I could be 40, 50, 60 years old, you know, and I would still think that I could go start a business or I could be a real estate agent or go back to school and be a doctor, you know, like, obviously, time moves pretty quick, but I think you have enough time to kind of reset, recalibrate and try something new.
Always, always. All right, well, Jason Roberts, tell people how they can find Team Enigma Martial Arts and Wellness Academy, how they can find out more, all the stuff.
Jason: On our website, we have all of our information on classes, schedule, all of our social links, directions, everything, teamenigmajujitsu.com. You can
Spell Jiu-Jitsu.
Jason: Jiu-Jitsu, J-I-U J-I-T-S-U. So. All right.
I’m sure it’ll pop up. Team Enigma. Thank you so much again for doing this.
Jason: Thank you for inviting me.
It’s been really great to talk to you and I’m not your mother, but I’m proud of you. I’m so proud of you and I’m sure your parents are too and it’s gonna be exciting to see where you go and what kind of things you achieve. I think the future is so bright for you. Thank you so much.
Jason: Thank you. I’m excited.
**Podcast Outro**
This episode of the Fort Not Lost in the Woods podcast is sponsored by Security Bank of Pulaski County. Next Home Team Ellis, TK’s Pizza and St. Robert, and Sugar Creek Farms, your home for farm fresh pork products. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Oquinn Media, its hosts, affiliates or sponsors. Content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Thank you for listening.