13 Years Later... I Still Can't Believe We Made It

By Professor Adam Smith

Thirteen years ago, I unlocked the doors to my first Martial Arts academy with no guarantees that it would work.

I didn't come from money. I didn't have investors. I didn't have a business degree or some perfect blueprint.

What I did have was a belief that martial arts could change lives.

That belief came from my own experience.

Growing up, I was raised by a single mom who worked. We didn't have much, but I had people who believed in me. One of the biggest influences in my life was my martial arts instructor. He became the father figure I didn't have and showed me what discipline, integrity, and leadership looked like.

I knew that if one person could have that kind of impact on my life, maybe one day I could do the same for someone else.

That dream became SMASH Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Today, 13 years later, I look around and see something I never could have imagined.

Three academies.

Hundreds of students.

Thousands of lives impacted.

And what I believe has become one of the most recognized martial arts brands in Eastern Washington for developing young people, competitors, and leaders.

But none of that happened overnight.

It Was Never About Building a Business

People sometimes ask me how we became successful.

The truth is, I never set out to build a successful business.

I wanted to build a place where kids could become confident.

Where teenagers could find positive mentors.

Where adults could discover they were capable of more than they thought.

Where families could grow together.

If we did that well enough, I believed everything else would take care of itself.

For 13 years, that's been our focus.

Every class.

Every student.

Every conversation.

Every opportunity to help someone become a little better than they were yesterday.

The Greatest Compliment I Ever Receive

The best part of owning SMASH BJJ isn't watching someone win a gold medal.

It's hearing a parent tell me:

"My child is a completely different person than when they started."

Those moments mean everything.

Over the years, parents have shared stories about children who were once shy, anxious, or struggling with confidence becoming leaders in school, making new friends, standing up to bullies, and believing in themselves for the first time. Others have described SMASH as a place where respect, discipline, and genuine care are part of every class, not just techniques on the mats. Those are the reviews that matter most to me because they reflect exactly what we've always tried to build.

Of course, we've also developed incredible athletes.

We've coached students who have won major tournaments, competed at high levels, earned college athletic opportunities, and stepped into MMA cages.

I've had the privilege of cornering athletes, promoting black belts, and watching kids grow into adults who are now coaching the next generation.

But every championship starts with the same thing:

Showing up.

Being coachable.

Working hard.

Treating people well.

That's what we teach every day.

Success Isn't Measured in Medals

People see the competition photos.

They see the black belt promotions.

They see the packed classes.

What they don't always see are the countless early mornings.

The late nights.

The weekends spent coaching tournaments.

The conversations after class with students who just needed someone to listen.

The injuries.

The sacrifices.

I wouldn't trade any of it.

Because every time a student tells me they got their first job because they learned confidence here...

Or a police officer tells me our training helped them stay safe...

Or a parent thanks me after watching their child accomplish things that helped them grow...

I remember exactly why I started.

We've Never Been About Being the Biggest

People often assume success means having the most locations or the biggest building.

I've never looked at it that way.

I want SMASH to be known for something much more important.

I want people to say:

"That's the academy that truly cares."

"That's where kids become leaders."

"That's where athletes are developed the right way."

"That's where families belong."

If that's our reputation, then I feel like we've succeeded.

Thank You

There is no SMASH BJJ without the people who believed in us.

To every student who trusted me enough to walk through our doors...

To every parent who chose us to help shape their child...

To every coach who has given their heart to this team...

To every teammate who has welcomed a new student...

Thank you.

You built this just as much as I did.

As I look toward the future, I'm more excited than ever.

We have bigger dreams.

More kids to inspire.

More athletes to develop.

More leaders to build.

More lives to change.

Thirteen years ago, I hoped to make a difference.

Today, I can honestly say that SMASH Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become far more than I ever dreamed.

And I truly believe...

We're just getting started.

— Professor Adam Smith

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."