Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Nunez.
Nikki, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was on a personal weight loss journey 15 years ago after having my firstborn and found myself eyeing a kickboxing class through the glass in Gold’s Gym, Redondo Beach. In one year I managed to lose 100lbs and began competing in Jiu-Jitsu and then MMA. I had several jiu-jitsu tournaments and a few MMA cage fights and was teaching kids classes for several years as I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Business and working full time – and a single mother. After having more and more people want to train with me, I made the big leap and left the corporate world to be a full-time trainer and manager of the gym I trained with, Triton MMA in Redondo Beach, CA. It was through business that I met my current fiance (we are set to be married in April 2024). I had been in the martial arts world myself for ten years, and he owned a boxing gym, Sweet Science Boxing, also for ten years.
Shortly after meeting, we took another big leap and decided to work together. In the five years together, we have outgrown his original location and now own the biggest and best Boxing & MMA Gym in the South Bay. I helped on the business side of things, and we outgrew the original location, added a mat room which now we offers MMA, Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, and Wrestling. We have also opened a second business – Goat Fight Shop and are on our 3rd project – opening a Smoothie/Acai shop just a couple doors down from our gym and fight shop. This year, we had two of our boxers make and compete in the USA Boxing Olympic Trials. We have one of the strongest Amateur teams in Boxing out of CA and several professional boxers as well as MMA Fighters that train with us.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
NEVERRRRR!!!! Hahahaha, ALWAYS SOMETHING. The biggest setback for us was the same as any business in the last few years, especially a gym – COVID! We saw several small gyms go out of business during this time and if it wasn’t for our stubborn determination, it would have wiped us out as well. On top of that – I was pregnant! I was pregnant during covid, burning through our savings to keep the businesses alive (we had JUST opened our fight shop the week before Covid hit the US) and my fiance and I had just moved in together along with my 13-year-old at the time. It was crazy to say the least. Covid actually made me have to reopen in an entirely different way which ended up working out for the best – higher prices, smaller classes, etc.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Sweet Science Boxing & MMA?
We are the best Boxing Gym in CA and growing our newer programs including: Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, MMA & Wrestling. Sweet Science Boxing & MMA was established in 2009 with the goal of providing the community with a boxing & MMA gym for fitness and competition. As a dedicated member of USA Boxing, and licensed through the California State Athletic Commission our aim is to produce high-caliber boxers and MMA fighters but as a community business, we’re motivated to inspire and help people get in shape. We have classes for ages 4-104 🙂 We are most proud of the community we have built in the gym – any member will tell you it’s more than just a gym – it’s a family. Being able to provide a healthy environment for our youth is something very special to us as well. Instead of being out causing trouble, we’ve given teens and young adults a space to feel safe, get a great workout, and make some friends. We offer group classes for all levels, personal training and have a very competitive fight team as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
No luck – Following our passions with hard work and bullheaded determination has allowed us to provide the Best Boxing Gym in CA that provides a healthy fun environment for our youth and adults that centers around fitness and martial arts.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sweetsciencegym.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetsciencegym/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetsciencegymhawthorne
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sweetscienceboxinggym
