Recently, our team had the chance to chat with Jacob Hennessey, from TransformDojo in Concord, New Hampshire.
Can you tell us a bit about the history of the business?
TransformDojo opened in October of 2019. The vision was to focus on both fitness and martial arts training for adults. Covid restrictions starting in early 2020 made it difficult to stay open. What saved us was a fantastic landlord, dedicated members, and our ability to provide small classes and online options.
As the business owner or representative, what are you most proud of about your business?
We are most proud to offer a variety of options that allow even people with the busiest schedules to find a program that works for them. We work hard to be the best place in New Hampshire for adults to train. Kickboxing with a personal touch gets people having fun. Kenpo karate gives our members confidence. Personal training with a fighter twist keeps them motivated and progressing.
We are unique in that we have all classes booked by appointment, so we can be forever small. We plan on maxing out membership at 60 members so there are never more than 8 people in a class. Also with every membership comes included monthly personal training so people get that one-on-one attention that they deserve. The combination of these things allows our members to feel confident that they are doing the exercises and martial arts forms/defenses correctly, which makes them feel more capable to get active
What do you enjoy most about your business?
I enjoy helping people progress in fitness, becoming more confident and capable so they can get more active. Our small dojo gives a much more personal feel than the average martial arts studio. Also unlike most, our main focus is adult training. We have kid programs too, but we know healthy parents result in healthy kids because they are naturally more active. We remind parents that their training is not selfish and ultimately is a real benefit to their children
What challenges does your business face?
The challenge is getting the message out so we reach the people who would benefit from our programs. Many adults simply don’t believe they have the time or ability to participate in activities they enjoy watching others do.
Is the business involved in the local community in any ways you’d like to share?
We are always looking to help the local community. We have donated to a variety of programs, most recently offering a 6-month membership to the Healing on manes auction to benefit their equine therapy for children.
We are also starting a free program of Wednesday workouts. These are short videos, a new one each week to get people moving and started on a path to better fitness. No equipment and only a little space are needed. All the exercises can be done in a variety of ways to fit almost every fitness level.
What does the work/life balance look like at your company?
When you do what you love, it brings its own balance. I set a daily schedule of must-do chores and also carve out time for Rock climbing, snowboarding, and other activities – the same way I advocate for my members to do.
Where do you see your company in five years?
I see us being at our max of 60 members, where the members get personalized attention and are doing all the activities they love with confidence!
Is there anything else you would like to let us know?
We have a Facebook page we use to welcome new members and highlight their accomplishments
We also offer weekly fitness tips to help people stay motivated and get ideas
We have How To get started videos on youtube and Facebook to help people try new things and become more active
We do weekly Sensei Saturday videos as a way for people to get to know their trainer
Our members get full access to helpful videos to review material learned in Kenpo karate class
We are a BBB accredited business.
To learn more about TransformDojo, you can contact them with the information below:
249 Sheep Davis Rd STE 3
Concord, NH 03103
(603) 715-5940