Community Highlights: Meet Barb Ciesnolevicz of Cies MMA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Barb Ciesnolevicz . 

Hi Barb, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started doing martial arts at the age of 19, to fill a void from dropping out of college and no longer being a part of an athletic team. This was 10 years ago, and ever since starting I knew I wanted to own or co-own my own academy while trying to get to the professional level in mixed martial arts. I was in a dark space when I started and without jiu-jitsu, I would not be where I am at today. Finally, as of 2 year ago I now run our gym full time and train full time. This has been a dream of mine for a decade and now after hard work, we made it happen. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been the most rocky road you can imagine. One year after joining a martial arts gym I decided to take a leap of faith and join the United States Air Force. I enlisted for 6 years, and during this time I had a hard time ever believing I would love my dreams. I would eventually make it through a very abusive marriage, get out of active duty and enter the Colorado Air National Guard, re-marry to the love of my life, and eventually take over the bulk of running Cies MMA in Colorado Springs. Before getting to that point, I worked odd jobs such as being a FedEx delivery driver, and an insurance agent. I struggled mentally during those times, trying to work multiple jobs, train, and help run the business so being a full-time entrepreneur has been a blessing to me. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Cies MMA is the premier mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu facility in Colorado Springs. We specialize in teaching all skill levels how to do kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and mixed martial arts. I run the administrative side of the house, and operations of the business and teach a few classes, my specialty being fitness and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. My husband is the lead instructor being a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and someone who fought in the UFC twice. We work amazing together, and what sets us apart from other businesses in the area are a couple of things: our facility is state of the art, there simple is not another gym like ours in the area, and we have a great culture. Our people really do simulate a second family, everyone is incredible to be around. 

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is not about how much money you make but how many people’s lives you positively affect. Daily people tell me our gym has changed their life. This was me 10 years ago, so this warms my heart and helps me realize that all the struggles were worth it. 

Contact Info:

• Email: Ciesmma@yahoo.com
• Website: www.ciesmma.com
• Instagram: @ciesmma
• Facebook: @ciesmma

Image Credits:
Natalie Hamilton Photography