Today we’d like to introduce you to Salu Gbla.
Hi Salu, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
A first-generation born American kid to a West African mother who came to the United States to give her children a better life, growing up in a small two-bedroom apartment four siblings and my mother, I grew up first hand witnessing the meaning of sacrifice and hard work through a ton of ups and downs. A majority of my life was being raised in Washington D.C. and Virginia. Sports and Martial Art played a huge factor in my life growing up as an athlete wasn’t much of an option for me, it was a way for my mother to keep me out of trouble and away from things that she knew would hinder my growth as a good person. Martial Arts and Boxing were my first focus as a kid which taught me so much about myself I guess my mom didn’t know that it’d consume me as a whole! As time went on I would end up becoming a multidisciplinary martial artist, with wrestling, jujitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing all under my belt. It helped me travel around the world showcasing my talents with some of the greatest fighters in the world.
The transition into a career as a professional mixed martial arts fighter certified personal trainer, and coach was a smooth one because of the environment in which I grew up. I’ve had the privilege of training and competing alongside some of the legends of combat sports: Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, Ronda Rousey, Vitor Belfort, Rashad Evans, and others.
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?
The road hasn’t been the smoothest but nothing really worth having is! I began with having internal battles with myself because there was a part of me that questioned if this was the “most logical” path. I grew up with my mom who couldn’t understand why my passion had such a strong hold on me even though I worked hard to receive my masters degree and could have gone with the ‘safe bet’ of a career. I was choosing a path that I knew would come with struggle. And I am so happy I did and haven’t looked back since.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
When trying to explain my passion, I get so excited because the vision I have for being able to share my love for boxing with the world is really limitless. I have been working on building a community in order to bring this sport to every doorstep of every household. I focus on breaking down boxing to make it more accepting to those who never believed they could attempt the sport or even have the thought that they could ever even do it. I believe I am known for my magic ability to make every person I meet feel confident in their own skin knowing that they could achieve their highest self by learning a new skill at the highest level. Part of being in this business is that I am my own brand. I am most proud of my brand for the connections and community that I am a part of. From meeting other fitness experts to teaching clients from all over the world, I believe the art of servicing others is what I was put on Earth to do.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Many people deserve credit when it comes to my growth and success, nothing was self taught but instead my knowledge came from those who inspire me the most, teammates, friends, family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.salutestrength.com
- Instagram: salu_gbla
Image Credits
Corey Gray Jonathan Ortizz
