The Fighter's Mindset with Ryan Diaz: Building Community at DCS in Vancouver's Chinatown

This week on One Step Beyond, we’re joined by Ryan Diaz, owner and head instructor of DCS, a top martial arts gym located in Vancouver’s Chinatown.

Ryan’s got the mindset of a fighter, and he brings that into everything he does. As a fighter who made the move from amateur to professional, he knows what it takes to level up – hard work and a willingness to learn.

This mindset has served him well. Ryan started DCS in his garage before taking the leap to a small space in Chinatown. In this space, DCS grew and expanded to the point that they needed to move to a much larger space to accommodate the growth. And while growth is exciting it’s also difficult and full of risk, especially when the timing coincides with a global pandemic. However, through it all, Ryan found a way to build a bigger and stronger DCS.

In a heartfelt conversation, Aram and Ryan discuss the difficulty of starting your own business, the hardships of Covid shutdowns, the power of a strong work ethic, and so much more!

ON THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT

• 
  
• The importance of reading and continued learning.
  
• Creating a welcoming vibe and building a community
  
• Putting yourself in other people’s shoes
  
• Being a role model
  
• Perseverance through hardships
  
• No champion is universally loved. As some people root for you to win, other will be wanting you to lose.
  
• The risks and difficulties of being a business owner.
  

Connect with Ryan:

@DiazCombatSports

https://diazcombatsports.com/

Connect with Aram:

LinkedIn

@AramxArslanian