A few months back, an old childhood friend and I reconnected thanks to FB. Somehow I always knew he'd wind up doing amazing things with his life.Meet Eddy Rolon- JW Wakeman/PS #6, G&T alum, master of scaling high rise apartments, and founder and owner of Openmat Fitness Training, a veritable haven for combat sports enthusiasts who can spar, share and compare techniques in a low ego yet competitive environment located in Lodi, NJ. Eddy's career began innocently enough in 1996, when he recalls being "forced to monitor UFC fights" as part of his job requirement as a service technician for the local cable company. Eventually with his intense training in Combat Sports and hosting openmat sessions- he was ready to begin competing on his own. Eddy would inevitably win the IFC Battleground Heavyweight Championship in Atlantic City in 2001 against a much bigger and stronger opponent that he beat by submission. Dubbed, "Smilin Eddy Rolon", he's been both ridiculed and admired as a relaxed and smiling competitor. Ultimately, thanks to a small government loan, working odd jobs to make ends meet, and a love for the combination of skill, athleticism and strategy involved in his craft, Eddy was able to open his own Combat Sports Academy in September 2001.
Here's a short interview with one of the most inspirational and passionate people I know. A few months ago, Eddy reminded me to just "do what I love". Here's payback for those incredible words of wisdom. Mahalo, old friend!
(mm)*What were your biggest obstacles/challenges in starting and now maintaining your business?
(er) "FAMILY, money, family, time, family and family juggling are the challenges. I do enjoy the extra time I have with my family compared to the 55 hour average work week I had with the cable company. I now enjoy a 35 – 45 hour work week. But is it really WORK when you love what you do? I slack on marketing since word of mouth has always done so well. I also let paperwork and the boring stuff pile up before I’m forced to address it. I think my ADD is the reason for my successes
and … what were we talking about?"
(er) "FAMILY, money, family, time, family and family juggling are the challenges. I do enjoy the extra time I have with my family compared to the 55 hour average work week I had with the cable company. I now enjoy a 35 – 45 hour work week. But is it really WORK when you love what you do? I slack on marketing since word of mouth has always done so well. I also let paperwork and the boring stuff pile up before I’m forced to address it. I think my ADD is the reason for my successes
and … what were we talking about?"
(mm) *What keeps you motivated?
(er) "This is fun and very important to some people. I’ve trained active military, law enforcement and people who have been forced to defend themselves out in the real world."
(er) "This is fun and very important to some people. I’ve trained active military, law enforcement and people who have been forced to defend themselves out in the real world."
(mm) *Does hard work really pay off? Are you living your dream life?
(er) "A measure of my success is that my children have a much better home life than I did. That makes me happy and proud."
(mm) *Thoughts on starting your own business?
(er) "Trying and failing would have been better than never knowing if you could do it."
(mm) *Eddy Rolon will be remembered as ....
(er) "A great father to his children, husband to his wife and friend to his friends…… Wait a second did you hear something? Am I sick? Who’s my doctor? Will insurance cover it? What’s the deductible?
(er) "Trying and failing would have been better than never knowing if you could do it."
(mm) *Eddy Rolon will be remembered as ....
(er) "A great father to his children, husband to his wife and friend to his friends…… Wait a second did you hear something? Am I sick? Who’s my doctor? Will insurance cover it? What’s the deductible?
For more information on Eddy and Open Training Fitness- check out: www.teamendgame.com
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