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On this episode Guardian's Ben Kovacs shares updates regarding the Oakland and Baltimore expansion.  He tackles questions about how Guardian will grow its impact in both cities, and how the two cities will share their resources while ensuring donors in both cities are able to ensure that they are maximizing their impacts in their local communities.

Meet Alex Nichols. A 29 year old gentle soul that embodies everything that is good about martial arts. Constantly thinking of others, a great training partner, and all-around special human being that enriches the lives of those around him.   After being bullied in school growing up in Berkeley, California, Alex found mental strength through beginning wrestling and judo before eventually finding jiu jitsu. He talks about his journey that has led him to finding his calling today in the study of movement and helping his clients live the healthiest lives possible.   Hear his story here: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Check out the Guardian website at: http://www.guardiangym.org/   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2

Welcome Xander a 17 year old who holds a unique perspective of attending college from a younger age than usual. His parents separated when he was 7 leading to a tough upbringing. Raised by his mum, living with his 2 younger siblings in a financially struggling home, he hopes to not repeat the mistakes he has seen already. Xander shares that he can't imagine not attending Guardian, that it's given him a new sense of pride, confidence and a feeling of having a second home. Hear his story here: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Check out the Guardian website at: http://www.guardiangym.org/   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2

Say hi to Isaac, he's been coming to the gym for a while, he’s from a sporty family that is originally from Mexico but has lived here in Oakland for 10 years. He suffers from Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also known as ADHD.     Isaac shares how Guardian has allowed him to focus more in class, brought him out of his shell and given him an ability to interact with others more easily. Even how Guardian helped bring out his creative side as he looks to apply to Barnard Art College.   Hear his story here: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Check out the Guardian website at: http://www.guardiangym.org/   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2

Who's the king, who's the king? - Nas! Please welcome one of our first students, a kid who's overcome so much for his age, like; moving from Yemen to the US, receiving multiple transplants and surviving surgery complications.   Nas shares how he feels he's been given a new chance of life that now drives and motivates him to pass all he's learned onto others around him. Also inspiring him to take an internship program studying strength, mobility and kinesiology under our very own Alex Nichols.   Hear his story here: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Check out the Guardian website at: http://www.guardiangym.org/   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2

Meet Vince, our head kickboxing instructor. An excellent guy with a robust martial arts background, from Taekwondo to Kickboxing, with 20 years of experience teaching.   Vince shares his enjoyment of taking new students from nothing to something, seeing the look on their faces as levels of confidence rise when it all clicks into place. We are excited to see him recently bringing alternative Chinese styles of kickboxing to Guardian with such as Sanshou and Sanda. Enjoy!   Hear his story here: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Check out the Guardian website at: http://www.guardiangym.org/   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2

Welcome Ramil Rodriguez Jr. . He’s a great 18 year old kid, with a lot on his plate. Originally from the Philippines and raised in a single parent household, he is one of our most enthusiastically attended members.   RJ talks about the difficulty of integrating into a different culture at school and the battle of living up to his parent’s expectations to become a doctor. He shares how Guardian’s helped him deal with these pressures and find new career goals in sports medicine and kinesiology.   Hear his story here: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Check out the Guardian website at: http://www.guardiangym.org/   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2

Introducing Choca Lee, an incredibly hard worker and a mom of 3. She’s one of the first adult students to join Guardian and a favorite student of ours.   Despite holding down 3 jobs, mortgage payments, and raising her children in a single parent household, Choca Lee just keeps giving. Here at Guardian she’s known for her generosity, whether that’s buying boxing gloves for the kids, or helping out whenever she can. Choca Lee is an inspiration to us all.   Hear her story here: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Check out the Guardian website at: http://www.guardiangym.org/   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2    

Say hello to Leoul. He’s a really sweet, brave 13 year old kid that has struggled with bullying and had to overcome losing his hair at an early age.   Leoul Suffers from a physical condition called alopecia, which means that his immune system attacks his hair cells. He shares what it’s like to be ostracised from groups and to deal with challenging kids who don’t understand. He also shares how Guardian has given him a place to show his potential while learning new skills.   Hear his story here: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Check out the Guardian website at: http://www.guardiangym.org/   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2

Meet Joel Lunenfeld, he is our other co-founder, and has been with the Guardian since its inception. Although you may have not seen him around much, Joel has played a vital role in shaping Guardian into where it is today.   Ben and Joel met while working for Twitter. In this episode Joel shares how they came up with the branding, marketing and the purpose behind Guardian Gym. He also reminisces on growing up in Brooklyn Projects and teaching from a young age while working in after-school programs with his late father.   Hear his story here: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Check out the Guardian website at: http://www.guardiangym.org/   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2

Meet Devon Nelson, a 14-year-old foster kid who’s now found a place to be. Devon is such a unique, smart, awesome young man with maturity beyond his years.  He’s always thinking of others and trying to broaden his skills.   Now on his 7th foster home in his young life, Devon shares his philosophies and wisdom that would normally come come from people twice his age – like; “Guardian gives you reason not to fight” and “if you have the opportunity, you have to help you must”. Amazing!   Hear his story here: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Check out the Guardian website at: http://www.guardiangym.org/   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2

Say hello to Sacha Feinman, he’s the managing director here at Guardian. After completing his master’s degree at Harvard, he travelled to San Francisco to work in politics. Eventually he realized he wanted to pursue a different path which led him to meeting Ben and the rest was history.     In this episode Sacha chats about what draws him to martial arts also the also the positive neurochemistry that happens as a result of both working out as well as being part of a tribe.     Hear his story here: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Check out the Guardian website at: http://www.guardiangym.org/   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2

Join Ben Kovacs as he talks to the youth students, adult members, and instructors that comprise their growing and thriving community in Oakland.   Hearing the diverse perspectives from different ages, genders, and backgrounds only cements one common theme...we are all struggling with something in our lives. Youth learning from adult’s failures and successes, and adults being able to understand what challenges youth are facing is at the heart of the Guardian mission.     Check out Ben Kovacs’ Guardian Podcast at: http://www.guardiangym.org/podcast   Or get in touch on social media at; Twitter: https://twitter.com/guardiangym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangym/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiangym/ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/guardian-gym-oakland-2