Daily Inspiration: Meet Conor Heun

Today we’d like to introduce you to Conor Heun

Hi Conor, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I always knew I wanted to be a coach I just didn’t know it would mean opening my own gym and coaching Jiu Jitsu. My dad was a high school wrestling coach and math teacher and I always dreamed of following in his footsteps after seeing the tremendous positive impact he was able to have on so many young people. I graduated college as an English major but wasn’t excited about the idea of teaching English. I moved to Los Angeles where I was working selling dental equipment when I discovered 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. I wasn’t happy in my sales job and was seeking community outside the office when I was introduced to 10th Planet Founder, Eddie Bravo. I started training 4 hours a day 6 or 7 days a week and took my first professional MMA fight with Eddie’s encouragement. After winning the fight by submission, I asked for a leave of absence to train for my next bout. When my request was denied I quit. I started working security at night so I could train all day. Even at this time I didn’t have a big picture outlook or the understanding that I would eventually own my own gym. At the time there was only one 10th Planet academy and it was Eddie’s. I continued to train hard and make my way up through the MMA ranks, fighting in the premier organizations of the time. When I eventually retired from fighting in 2012, Jiu Jitsu had become so popular that the idea of starting my own academy seemed much more realistic but I wanted to gain a greater understanding of running a business in the fitness space. I applied for a position as a membership sales manager at 24 Hour Fitness. During the initial interview the GM learned of my background as a professional athlete he suggested that I work to become a personal trainer instead. I took his advice, studied for and passed my personal training exam and began my work as a trainer. I continued to work at 24 Hour Fitness for the next six years moving from trainer to master trainer, to assistant fitness manager, to fitness manager, learning as much about the business as I could all while continuing to train Jiu Jitsu, eventually earning my 10th Planet Black Belt from Eddie Bravo. At this point I knew it was time to take the leap and with a little encouragement from my girlfriend at the time I started the Facebook page for the business, formed the LLC, found a location to teach classes and opened the doors for business on November 1st, 2018

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?
The biggest struggle I faced along the way has been finding locations and navigating the pandemic. Luckily I was already in talks with our current landlord when the lockdowns hit and was able to negotiate a significant reduction in rent due to the uncertainty at that time. We opened for business in our current location in August of 2020 and never looked back.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a martial artist and a coach the most rewarding thing for me is watching my students take my teachings and allow them to become their own. Seeing how each individual modifies the techniques to fit their own personal style, body type, and attributes is just so beautiful. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the look on a students face when things click and they gain a new skill that allows them to become a more confident and authentic version of themselves. Martial arts are so powerfully transformative and being able to witness firsthand the growth and evolution in my students is a dream come true. Watching a shy or timid person gain confidence and understanding that allows them to come out of their shell and begin to move through the world as a more fully embodied version of themselves is why I do what I do.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to work with me and my team is to simply sign up for a free trial using this link: https://10thplanetdenver.sites.zenplanner.com/freeTrial.cfm and see if 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is something that will have a positive impact on your life.

Pricing:

• 1 year membership $200 a month
• 6 month membership $220 a month
• 1 month membership $240 a month
• Kids membership $200 a month
• Family membership $450 a month

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.10thplanetdenver.com
• Instagram: @10thplanetdenver
• Facebook: https://Www.facebook.com/10thplanetdenver
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@10thplanetdenverjiujitsu81