Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Garner.
Hi Brandon , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing in high school in 1997. Within two years, I was competing in mixed martial arts.
I attended Appalachian State University to play soccer and founded the App State Jiu-Jitsu Club while I was there. During the summers, I traveled to Brazil to deepen my training and gain experience at the source of the art.
After graduating in 2003, I began working as a contractor at Fort Bragg, teaching hand-to-hand combat to members of the special operations community. After nearly a decade, the physical demands of the job were beginning to take a toll on my body, and I realized I needed to build a more sustainable future.
At the end of 2011, I opened Gracie Raleigh while continuing to commute to Fort Bragg for work. By 2015, the academy had grown enough for me to step away from contracting and devote myself to Gracie Raleigh full-time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Having a degree in finance was helpful when I started my business, but there was still a tremendous amount to learn. I was fortunate to start small without taking on debt, which allowed the business to grow at a manageable pace while I learned on the job.
One of our biggest challenges was relocating multiple times to accommodate our growth while navigating the rapidly rising cost of commercial real estate in downtown Raleigh. Then COVID presented an entirely new set of obstacles and was an extremely difficult period to overcome.
Owning a small business is challenging—most do not survive beyond five years. Long-term success requires a willingness to keep learning, constantly evolve, and pivot as the market changes.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We specialize in Jiu Jitsu and Kickboxing training for adults and Jiu Jitsu for kids. We are one of the longest running studios in Raleigh. We are generally recognized for our great coaching staff, incredible community, strong culture, and professionalism.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe in luck. I think timing is important. Getting a strong foothold in the downtown area before prices got too high was important strategically. Making pivotal decisions at the right time has been important to success. You have to be willing to go all in when betting on yourself. I’ve had to throw all the chips in multiple times.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gracieraleigh.com
- Instagram: @Gracieraleigh
