By James Keith
Managing a martial arts-based gym can often be a challenging endeavor, requiring both high-level instruction and black-belt-level business sense.
Odessans Josh Olliff and Ruben Hernandez have found success building a community-based Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym, helping students to participate in competitions across the country while leading classes in what they consider to be a world-class facility.
Partnering together in 2019, Olliff and Hernandez purchased Vagabond Brazillian Jiu Jitsu from former owner Clay Hantz with hopes of creating a gym that could enrich other’s lives and build a strong community.
Olliff, who was a member of Vagabond before purchasing the business, said the opportunity was a perfect storm, and soon after set a goal of relocating and building a new facility.
“It took us a couple of years between purchasing the land and getting it built, and obviously we couldn’t do it without the community we have that pays their dues and memberships,” Olliff said. “That’s how we were able to do this and establish a world-class facility in West Texas.”
Olliff said since taking over Vagabond, the number of members has grown from around 100 to almost 400.
Olliff said managing the business and profit side of Vagabond is the same as any other small business.
“We treat Vagabond just as seriously as any other business. It’s not a hobby for Ruben and I, this is our living and so we treat it as such,” Olliff said. “It’s really no different compared to any other business.”
Inside the facility, training and instruction are led by Ruben Hernandez, who started practicing jiu-jitsu in 2007.
Hernandez said he enjoys the localized feel of the gym and thrives to accommodate everyone’s goals.
“We rely on the community, we have to make each other better because we don’t have other opportunities like other big places,” Hernandez said. “We have to build the people here and we have to take care of the people here.”
Hernandez said it is important to try and make training goal-oriented over anything else, and that jiu-jitsu is not about the journey or destination, but who someone becomes on their journey.
This practice has shown results, as Vagabond has garnered two International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Master World Champions, four American National Champions and two Master International Champions.
While Vagabond has found success on a business and instruction front, on an instructor-to-student level Hernandez said he tries to help students prepare and brace for inevitable failures.
“Whether someone meets their goal or not, it’s not as important as that,” Hernandez said. “As long as you had a goal, you’re better off and that’s how we try to handle losses. There’s days where you’re gonna feel worse or better, but as long as you’re setting a goal and working towards it you’re making progress.”
