Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Isaac.
Hi Daniel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in India on Sept. 9th, 1975 into a martial arts family, my dad was my mentor and my sensei. I trained in the martial arts all my life and became a world champion in kickboxing at the age of 18.
Over the years that followed, I pioneered some major martial arts movements in India that led to my success as an entrepreneur: 1] In 1998, I founded India’s first-ever MMA training center “Tigers Gym & Fight Club.” 2]. In 2003, I hosted India’s first-ever MMA championship event ‘Clash of the Champions. 3] In 2012, I became the COO and later CEO of India’s first-ever mainstream MMA promotion “Super Fight League.”
I moved to the United States in June 2016. I arrived on these shores with my family and St Louis Missouri became our home. Long story short: between Aug. 2021 and May 2022, our entire family became US citizens.
My wife is a personal trainer and I am a martial arts instructor: the name of our business is “Fighting Fit.” We train people from different walks of life in self-defense, fitness, and martial arts.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course absolutely smooth – LOL joke! No, it’s definitely been a struggle.
One of the most unique and challenging parts of literally picking up your entire life’s work and your family and your business and moving to another country on the other side of the world is that no one knows who you are here and no one cares. If you make it you survive if you don’t you go back from where you came, it’s as simple as that.
Except, we did not have the option to go back since we had to close down everything in our home country to fund our move to the United States. Moment of truth – we had to make this work.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Fighting Fit LLC is a training program created by my wife and me. We use the principles of ‘fighting’ and martial arts to help people with their fitness and life goals.
I specialize in the martial arts and my wife is a certified fitness professional. We offer both personal training and group classes. Our programs are custom-made based on your requirements.
Whether you want to walk the fashion ramp you want to compete in the ring or if you want to prepare yourself for a real-life attack situation: Fighting Fit will help you get there.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My family has always been my driving force.
My church and our close-knit community in India have always supported us with their prayers and blessings. My wife and I are ordained pastors and we strive to reflect the life, the love, and the teachings of Jesus Christ in our lives.
Ferguson Church of the Nazarene and Pastor Dusty Thompson helped us start our work during our first few years.
We appreciate the love and support from the staff and management of the Gateway Region YMCA, The UMSL Rec Center, The Missouri Athletic Club and the Maryland Heights Community Center, and many other businesses. We both worked as Instructors over these years.
In 2021, we met Melissa & Greg Morrison at Gateway Legacy Christian Academy, they believed in our ministry and work and helped us set up a fully functional location for Tigers Gym at Hazelwood. We thank God for their continued love and support.
God is the reason for our success and we thank God for all those that believed in us and supported our work.
Contact Info:
- Email: tigersgym@gmail.com
- Website: danisaac.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tigersgymdan/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachdanisaac
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/tigersgymdan
