Rick Martinez

Dr. Jack Wong: Hey guys, this is Dr. Wong, the host of our provider spotlight. Today I’m with Mr. Rick Martinez. He is the owner of 9Round Kickboxing in Humble. Welcome to the show, Mr. Rick.

Rick Martinez: Hello. Hello. Thank you for having me here.

Dr. Jack Wong: So, I’ve known Mr. Rick for quite some years now, a good friend of mine and he is in the health care space with 9Round Kickboxing. Uh, one of the questions we get asked all the time from our patients is what are some type of trainers I can go to or some businesses that I can go to after physiotherapy. And Mr. Rick is definitely expert in the boxing realm. So, just wanted him on the show to explain a little bit about what he does and how he got into 9Round Kickboxing.

Rick Martinez: Perfect.

Dr. Jack Wong: All right. So, Mr. Rick, first question I have for you is, what made you decide to open a 9Round Kickboxing business?

Rick Martinez: Well, actually, I joined as a member back in January of 2018. And at that time, I thought it was the most effective, efficient workout I had ever done. Um, I had been I was at Chase, JP Morgan Chase for 22 years in corporate America. I had reached a certain level of success as a VP in operations there but I had lost the passion for kind of what I was doing although it was very very lucrative. Um and I joined 9Round and I thought hey maybe this might be my next chapter in life and I really 100% believed in the program back then. I still do my workouts. I did my workout this morning, but um I thought, you know, this might be a great way for me to marry my passion for helping and assisting people and also my my high level of um fitness at that time where I was training for like triathlons and other competitive races. So, it was just a perfect match for me at that time. And fast forward, here we are eight years later.

Dr. Jack Wong: That’s fascinating. That’s quite a change from uh going from corporate VP to uh into fitness.

Rick Martinez: Yes, absolutely.

Dr. Jack Wong: That’s awesome. So, I know there’s a lot of businesses out there that are in the healthcare space, right? So, one of the common questions we get is what makes 9Round Kickboxing different from other workout businesses.

Rick Martinez: There’s uh quite a few differentiators. I think for me, the one if I have to pick one, it’s that we give you a full body workout in 30 minutes. And that was kind of the big appeal was like, wow, I work like every day is leg day. Every day is abs, every day is arms. So from your upper body to your lower body, we touch all the muscle groups very carefully so that you don’t overexhaust one particular muscle at at in one workout. But for it to have so much jam-packed in 30 minutes, it’s just it’s so good. That’s the biggest differentiator, but there are others.

Dr. Jack Wong: That’s um it’s interesting you mentioned that because we do get a lot of patients who exercise outside of you know doing rehab with us and they always get really sore if they just have a a leg day by itself or upper body by itself. [snorts] Do you find that because the workouts are half an hour that um [clears throat] our clientele is typically training more towards a senior age or middle age or what kind of age group do you typically serve?

Rick Martinez: Wow. Our ideal client we have anywhere from my youngest client right now is 11 years. My oldest is 80. So in the middle, we’re about 45 years of age in the middle. Um I have some that have knee issues, back issues, but it’s all about engaging the muscle groups properly and modifying accordingly because you have to adjust as we get older for our bodies. Um and what my 12 year old or my 15 year old can do is not the same as what my 40 or 50 year old can do. So we we kind of slice all across all the different age groups. But if I had to say there’s a medium, it’s 45 um years of age predominantly female. We have more about 60/40 split. 60% female, 40% male is our ratio. Most are career or stay-at-home moms and dads. Um but yeah, we we kind of touch everybody.

Dr. Jack Wong: That’s interesting. Okay. Are the workouts standardized at half an hour or depends on the age group?

Rick Martinez: We have a standard template. Every day we create something that’s a little more universal and then trainers have a way to amp it up for our more experienced ones or or ones that have a little bit more athleticism to it or we can modify it down if someone has some movement they can’t do lunges or box jumps or things like that. There’s always a modification and I I highly encourage people to speak up and tell us this is my element. This is what’s happening today so we can modify accordingly. And there’s nothing wrong with that. The great thing about this um workout is you you may be in a group setting, but you also are doing your workout individually at your own pace, at your own skill set.

Dr. Jack Wong: That is awesome. Um I love the modification aspect because we’ve had patients in the past that got injured because the person they’re working with didn’t have knowledge how to modify the workout. And that’s something we look for when we refer patients out to like, you know, a business like yourself where you’re not just treating people. um as a template because everybody’s so different. So I think the modification definitely speaks volume about know what you guys do.

Rick Martinez: Absolutely.

Dr. Jack Wong: What would you say is some of the common issues that people come to see you guys for?

Rick Martinez: Um well a lot of people have the most common goal because we we kind of do an assessment at the beginning but the most common thing is just to stay in in general good fitness. Now obviously with that comes specific weight loss goals or someone might more muscle gain goals or another one is improving their cardio because their stamina or their endurance is not high and men hate cardio. We don’t like to do cardio. So we sneak the cardio in. It’s a 30 minute workout and you’re going from nine different stations but we’re sneaking that cardio in for you and it’s a little shock to the heart sometimes but we build that endurance to these consistent workouts.

Dr. Jack Wong: Yeah, I definitely I’m not a cardio guy myself, so that’s that’s where I play basketball and did boxing back in the day to get the cardio in.

Rick Martinez: Yep.

Dr. Jack Wong: So, how would you determine if someone needs 9Round Kickboxing?

Rick Martinez: Um, I would say if someone is ready to get serious about a fitness program and they want structure, they want uh a program that’s there for them daily. It’s new every day. They want trainer guidance, whether it be in person with a trainer or through video monitors that are guiding and explaining. Um, and they want a smaller community style gym versus the big box gyms that are out there. Um, then I think they might be ready for a 9Round. They need to give us a try.

Dr. Jack Wong: Okay. And is there a typical session at 9Round for like someone starting out for the first time?

Rick Martinez: We have an introductory sessions. Absolutely. So, the typical um workout, a member would come in with boxing gloves, hand wraps, and a heart rate monitor. I don’t know if you can see the heart rate monitor, but this allows them to see how they’re doing and performing during the workout. We have video screens that show their performance. It helps us as trainers also know when they need to take breaks, if they’re going too hard or too fast, or conversely, if they’re not going hard enough, and we know they can push themselves a little harder. Uh, so it works both ways, but it helps the trainers and the members see that. Um, if it’s a new member, then we will give them an introduction to the program, introduce kickboxing techniques because there is no experience necessary. Um, so it’s just a great all-around workout and um, expect to have fun, expect to sweat, but we don’t kill anyone, [laughter and clears throat] at least not on the first workout.

Dr. Jack Wong: Yeah, I see a lot of your um your posts on Facebook of your um clients, you know, when they finish a hard workout and their scores and it’s pretty inspiring.

Rick Martinez: Yeah. Yeah. And they have fun, you know. Where else can you go have a a great exhilarating challenging workout and at the end just feel really good about it.

Dr. Jack Wong: For sure. Okay. And what is something most people should know before getting a membership in 9Round Kickboxing?

Rick Martinez: Well, kind of like I said, some people are they hear kickboxing or boxing and they think we have a ring in here and they’re going to be doing some sparring and they’re a little apprehensive. Um, but just think of it as a workout first and foremost. And we throw in kickboxing techniques and boxing techniques to get you through a workout. So, it’s a different way of working out. You still get your resistance training. You still get your cardio training, but you’re you’re um you’re going to get it all in a different way of working out. It’s locally owned and operated. I live here in the Lake Houston area. I often see people in the grocery store. I don’t run and hide. Uh last night I saw a member at a restaurant. U we kind of just chat. But I being in the community and giving back to the community is super important to me and that just means the world to me.

Dr. Jack Wong: That’s awesome. Yeah, we can definitely resonate with that uh statement for sure. So, what’s your thoughts on supplementing physiotherapy with 9Round Kickboxing?

Rick Martinez: I highly recommend it. Um, we have to invest in our bodies and take care of them properly. And sometimes that means going outside and getting some assistance, some techniques informed, whether it’s a major injury or just little tweaks you might have in your body. I think we we need the proper guidance for recovery and to prevent further injury or reinjury. You in fact helped me last year with um some issues I had on my leg on my right leg. Um, but through that you helped me understand different techniques and exercises that I could do at home. And fast forward a year, over a year later, I’m running like I was running back in my 40s. So, awesome. I think it’s important to really invest in that. It’s not just for major injuries.

Dr. Jack Wong: You bring up a good point. I think um investment is the right word, right? Um, you might not see the fruits of your labor right away, but as you put in the time and investment in doing the workout, right? And obviously modifications come with it, you’re going to start seeing some changes, whether it’s weight loss or just more energy, right? Just feeling better overall, right? Awesome. So, what is the process for joining 9Round Kickboxing?

Rick Martinez: Super easy. Um, just call us 832-777-1237. They can call or text. That phone rings to my phone. But what we’ll do is set them up with the one-week trial, actually have a quick five minute chat on the phone, get them scheduled with the trainer so we can do kind of an overall one-on-one assessment, explain the program, make sure they understand how it works, and um give them an introductory workout so they’re not overwhelmed, but they are challenged enough to understand the program. We are closer um to the Lake Houston side of FM1960. Um there’s a big super Walmart there and the shopping strip with the Starbucks. If everybody knows Starbucks, so we’re two doors down. I always joke and tell people they need to earn their Starbucks. So come do the workout first and then they can have their Starbucks.

Dr. Jack Wong: That’s funny. It’s almost like you picked that location on purpose, right?

Rick Martinez: Right. Right. It’s great. It’s great. It’s a great um reference point.

Dr. Jack Wong: For sure. And if there’s one main thing you want to be known for, Rick, what would that be?

Rick Martinez: I think it goes back to helping people. Being known for my passion for giving back to the community. It’s always been something that was a priority for me, even back at my corporate days leading uh the philanthropic efforts there. Um, but I live in the community. It’s I think it’s important to be strong physically and mentally to help the community get to those goals, but also give back to the community that I that I do business in.

Dr. Jack Wong: Awesome. And [snorts] um for our viewers, how can people get in touch with you?

Rick Martinez: that same number that I mentioned earlier, 832-777-1237. Has a little ring to it. I need to do like a little jingle for it. Um, but like I said, it rings on my phone. It’s the club phone number, so it’s in the club and it does receive text messages, so it’s super easy to get a hold of me.

Dr. Jack Wong: Awesome. Thanks so much for your time, Rick.

Rick Martinez: Absolutely. Thanks, Dr. Wong. I appreciate the time and the opportunity to do this interview.

Dr. Jack Wong: For sure.