Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Kikin Ucelo

Kikin Ucelo shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Kikin, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
That one is easy! And i can name a few misconceptions right off the bat.

*Martial Arts is about violence!

It is not about violence its about respect honor and personal growth.

* It just a hobby !
Martial arts is much more , its a way of life , its therapy.. It’s a way to learn,grow and share with like minded people.

In general !

Martial arts is more than what you see in Hollywood. Behind the uniforms and belts is a community of people working hard to improve themselves and each other. The dojo is a place of growth, leadership, service and a community like no other.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Kikin Ucelo — founder and head instructor at Ucelo Martial Arts Phoenix. I’ve been living and breathing martial arts most of my life, and after a meant to be destiny moment that landed me in Arizona i feel deeply honored that now I get to share this passion with my community every day. At UMA PHX, we’re more than just a dojo — we’re a family.
We teach Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and Kickboxing, and we focus just as much on building confidence, discipline, and character as we do on technique we have an amazing team of instructors and staff are all home-grown, starting with my direct blood family wife, sons and daughter whobare their every day, to our sweat family that have been with us starting at 10, 15 and some 20+ years

What makes us different? We lead by example and with heart. We serve students from all walks of life — kids, teens, and adults — and we meet them where they are. We truly have a no judgement zone policy. Whether someone is looking for fitness, self-defense, focus, or just a place to belong, I am sure they’ll find it here.

This isn’t just a job — it’s my passion and have made this lifestyle to be a mission. We’re here to build the next generation of leaders and champions on and off the mat. 💥🥋

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
First person … definitely my mom. She has been my fan forever , i was born with birth defect called Pyloric stenosis and had my first surgery at 15 days old. She says today she knew I would be OK because I was born to live a life worth living to love and help others.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I definitely am not perfect nor the best in the world. But I don’t remember ever wanting to give up. I have always been of a mentality that I need to work hard and see the options to resolve the problems. This doesn’t mean I have gotten super stressed and made mistakes but giving up. No! Not in my thoughts!

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes — 100%.
What you see is who i really am.
I’m the same person on and off the mat. I’m friendly, I love helping people, and I try to lead by example.
I never ask for something I haven’t done myself or wouldn’t do for someone else. Whether I’m training students, working with families, or connecting with the community, I stay real. This isn’t an act — this is who I am. Martial arts isn’t just my job, it’s my way of life, I stay grounded in where I came from and thankful to who I serve. The passion you see…Is real!

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
How i made them smile😀
How i helped them 🫱🏻‍🫲🏽
How we trained and I won! Hahaha💪🏽
If I lost too, that’s fine!😜

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ucelomartialartsphoenix.com
• Instagram: Kikinucelo
• Linkedin: Kikin Ucelo
• Facebook: Kikin Ucelo
• Yelp: Ucelo Martial Arts
• Youtube: Ucelo Martial Arts Phoenix-Kikin Ucelo-
• Other: Tiktok: Ucelo Martial Arts Phoenix