Meet Akkim Lee

We were lucky to catch up with Akkim Lee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Akkim with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My mother. She’s raised me as a single mother and taught me the skills needed to be self reliant. She also showed me the importance of being thorough so that I can take pride in my work.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I have been studying martial arts since 1995. I fell in love with it watching Bruce Lee movies as a child. After a physical altercation in high school I decided to take Taekwondo. I studied Taekwondo for 2 years then I joined my high school wrestling team. In 2002, I took my first jiu-jitsu class. This had a huge impact on my life. My jiu-jitsu club became my fraternity and from then on, martial arts became my number 1 social outlet. In 2009 I started training in Mixed Martial Arts and, except for my relationship with my wife and child, it’s been the most emotionally fulfilling aspect of my life. I cannot imagine what direction my life would have taken without martial arts. It has always been my vehicle for staying in shape and it’s the primary driver behind my confidence and self esteem. There’s a unique kind of confidence a person acquires when they believe they can fight. Some are born with it and others have to work to get it. But once you get it, it positively changes your self perception. This is why I teach Mixed Martial Arts. It gives me great joy guiding my students on their own martial arts journey.

2020 MMA & Fitness is a place for physical and mental growth.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1 – Being a martial arts competitor with a variety of coaches has given me a unique perspective on how to be a better coach. I feel blessed to have experienced both good and bad coaches because even the bad ones have, even if inadvertently, taught me valuable lessons.
2 – Being the manager of a martial arts studio has given me an education on the best ways to run a martial arts program. I put the customers first. When you take care of martial arts customers, they take care of you. There’s a level of trust that’s built between a coach and a martial arts practitioner that’s very special. You are building a community with strong bonds. The way you treat them heavily matters.
3 – Patience is a quality in short supply. When you demonstrate patience with clients, they tend to respond more positively and show greater appreciation.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

My wife, Laura. She’s a business owner herself so her knowledge has made my life a lot easier. I don’t think I could have done this without her. She also pushed me to expand my knowledge and pursue a personal training certification. Keep learning. Keep an open mind. This has helped me be as successful as I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.2020martialarts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2020_martial_arts/