Finding Success Through Tenacity and Flexibility

How Pep Mendez and his business partner adapted their kids’ obstacle course training business to meet the needs of the community.

Pep Mendez and his business partner, Dave, opened the Warrior Kids Academy, an obstacle-based kids’ program for ages 4 to 17 based in Miami, Florida, in 2017.

They had the idea after seeing a young girl perform well at a Spartan race. Pep realized obstacle race training was an ideal option for kids who might not have an interest or a talent in team sports. This was a chance for them to be able to learn new physical skills and develop mental toughness.

In the first year, most of their members came through word of mouth. But then, in early 2018, they approached a school in Miami and offered to create an obstacle course race for one of the school’s outdoor events.

“After that event we had 35 new kid members at the gym,” Pep said, “and then it took off.”

Word began to spread that Warrior Kids Academy offered an alternative to kids who weren’t interested in team sports, and soon young athletes were coming in who wanted variety in their training. 

“The summer of 2018 we were approached by another school to do an after school program. I started with seven kids and then it got bigger and we started doing showcases,” Pep said. Those showcases helped fuel traffic to the gym, and as they worked with more and more schools, they created a youth development curriculum. 

“Now we're in year seven, having conversations with municipalities,” Pep said, adding that they are working to develop programs to help the city’s youth.

Adapt to Meet the Need

As their business developed, Pep and Dave realized the kids needed more than just simply obstacle racing 

“When we started, we were maybe 75 percent obstacles, and now we're 75 percent mindset and speaking to the kids, using the apparatus and the equipment more for demonstration,” he said.  

In their sessions with kids, Pep and his coaches explore things like fear management, failure management, confidence, empathy, perseverance, discipline, and commitment. 

Over time, they found their showcases turned more into youth development. As they learned, it’s essential to respond to what your customers or audience needs, even if it’s different from your original plan.

This strategy paid off. Pep said they’ve not done any marketing and very little social media. 

“It really has been a business grown by parents,” Pep said. While the growth has been steady, it’s been manageable, which is essential for their business, which has strict insurance policy restrictions on the size of their classes, given their space and the fact that they work with children.

Pep said it’s been helpful to have an insurance company like NEXO that’s a partner with them along the way, doing everything from making sure they’re following all the rules and regulations to offering advice about how to set up the business. 

“We love NEXO,” Pep said, “both from the early days of Lindsey and Michael, and now with the rest of the team, they've definitely been a partner in our business.”

Going forward, as the popularity of endurance sports grows, Pep wants to get into consulting with schools, sports psychology, and motor cognitive mechanics.

“We put a lot of thought into the mental element, Pep said “but it all started with obstacles, because that’s the easiest way to teach somebody all the mental aspect.”

About Author, Hilary Achauer

Hilary is a renowned fitness business writer, marketing content writer, and journalist. She’s written content for start-ups, entrepreneurs, executive coaches, wellness providers, gyms, and CrossFit. Her focus is always on telling the best story with a clear, compelling style and being able to engage readers, bring in new customers, or build an audience.