Daily Inspiration: Meet Ryan Hodges

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Hodges.

Hi Ryan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For readers unfamiliar with our brand, we run Point Muay Thai events under one of the world’s leading International Kickboxing and Muay Thai sanctioning bodies, know as IKF. When my partners and I started our tournaments over a decade ago, we started with a few goals in mind. We wanted an avenue for athletes to showcase their talents and skills in a safe and sanctioned event. We also wanted to build our athletes from the ground up so anyone new to the sport with zero experience could make their way up to the Amateur or Pro leagues. We also wanted our athletes to develop in a regulated environment so they could practice safely in a competitive environment. We tried to eliminate unfair and dangerous smokers, which, at the time, were unregulated and happening all the time. Lastly, we wanted to grow the sport of Muay Thai, an incredible form of martial arts that comes from Thailand. That is when we joined forces with Johnny ‘Superfoot’ Davis, who used to be my brother’s coach. He also is a 2x World Champion amongst many other titles. He started Point Kickboxing events, so we brought the idea to him to create the Point Muay Thai events as a new segment to that. Our very first event had only eight competitors! To promote my brother Daniel, my girlfriend Jaqueline and I would drive around our beater cars to every gym in CA that we could go to, personally educating them and introducing them to our events. At this time, a small few knew about Muay Thai martial arts, and most didn’t know what Point Muay Thai was. Most hadn’t even heard about Muay Thai.

Today, Daniel, my wife Jaqueline, and I are so proud to see the growth and the community we have built from the ground up. We now have a team of promoters underneath us and events all over the entire state of California. We also brought the events to Texas and Nevada, and our team continues to grow! An average show typically showcases 100 or more athletes! I couldn’t ask for better partners or the people we work with. We have an outstanding team of official referees and judges and we also have a solid team of promoters to run the events. The most significant part is seeing the athletes grow in their careers. We have had numerous athletes compete for the first time in our events, and they are now signed as professionals Internationally, or with big promotions like UFC, and Bellator. It’s such an honor and leaves us so grateful for it all.

In addition to the events, we also started the Nak Muay Foundation, our non-profit organization, where we donate to charitable causes and communities worldwide. We also love to focus on athletes and communities in need who want to practice Muay Thai but may not have the access resources, or local gyms and or equipment.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Anything worth doing has some struggles, but those struggles have always made me more determined and focused. They have also taught me valuable business lessons and helped our team grow as an organization. We all deal with struggles. That is life. We have had our fair share in the beginning, really trying to do anything to make ends meet and grow a startup business; there were events where we barely broke even and a lot where we were in the negative numbers. I’m glad I used my skills to persevere and stick to my vision. I think struggles pave the way certainly for a “smoother road” because you learn to start looking ahead and hopefully have a clearer picture of what’s coming.

As you know, we’re big fans of your work. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with it?
Regarding our work, I am the Vice President of Operations, so I handle a large portion of our team’s overall organization and management. The areas I manage are California, Nevada, Colorado, and Texas, which are continuously growing with our events by the year. We are also looking to expand into some of the midwest states, like Arizona and Idaho, very soon. I also handle marketing on social media, which keeps our users engaged and informed. I’m proud to see our growth over the years and the hundreds of athletes we have worked with over the years of development. That growth has led to us starting our dream project, launching our non-profit called Nak Muay Foundation, where we sponsor growing athletes and offers them a chance to go on trips to different countries like Thailand to train and grow their skills as an athlete.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I read nightly to clear my mind and reset before bed. It’s a great time to learn something new. They are all vital to my growth. I listen to podcasts all the time throughout the day, to anyone who inspires me to succeed. Having that constant form of motivation helps me out. I enjoy Bedros Keuilian’s podcasts. He is great for overall great advice, and very motivational. I enjoy anything business related as well so I’m constantly seeking out any videos where I can learn the latest tips of the trade. Learning is endless, so keep staying informed, and making your goals happen.

Contact Info:

• Website: pmtwest.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/technical_bouts_pmt/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IKFPMTWEST
• Other: https://www.nakmuay.foundation/

Image Credits
Bigbossmuaythai: Gabriel Torres, and TheVisualKnockout: Nawal Kassir