Meet Janell Mellish of Arena Training Institute in Cheyenne

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janell Mellish.

Janell, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My background is in the Air Force. I was stationed in Cheyenne at 18 as a Security Policeman. Several years later, I transitioned into being a Drill Sergeant in San Antonio, Texas and the amount of character I built during that time is hard to explain, but I learned the importance of the fundamentals of discipline, character and dedication. Those fundamental skills have led me to boxing and believing wholeheartedly in the importance of them is not only the ring but also in life. I started boxing while being stationed in Montana and then when relocated to Cheyenne, I decided it was something I wanted to teach as many women as possible, This foundation has now expanded into a co-ed boxing and jiu-jitsu program.

May 12 of 2007 was the day that my life changed and ultimately pointed my life in the direction of helping people. At the time, I had a five-week-old baby and had recently separated from the Air Force. I was on my way to take my college finals and a man ran out into the interstate in front of me. It destroyed my life and at the same time, saved it. Walking through my worst nightmare helped me find the person that I am and planted in me the reality that people are struggling. Every day people give up on life and are so deeply desperate that they find the courage to end their own lives, and it affects everyone. As I found the healing I so desperately searched for that following year, someone asked me, “Instead of giving up on your own dreams, why don’t you live them that much more for that man?”. That question was the part that saves me. It would have been in my selfishness to give up on my life. It was the selfless path to fight through to live in honor of the man that I hit. My goals changed to not just living for myself, but to be a better person, to bring hope to people, to fight for people, and to look them in the eye and tell them, “You can do this”.

My life’s motto became “You have nothing to lose”. I found a lot of comfort in the Old Testament of the bible and wrote my story following the same lines of how they fought for their own lives in the bible. May of 2017, I published that book and shared my story with the world. I continue to write my second fictional story based on the same timeline. Whether public speaking or pushing someone in the gym, my life is about the same message I found out myself and that is we are capable of doing so much more than we could ever imagine.

Great, 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 same exact way that basic training pushes people to be brave and courageous, boxing has the same effect. As most people know, basic training is hard. It’s hard mentally and it’s hard physically, but that’s what breaks the bonds that hold people back to a new freedom of being the stronger and braver version of themselves. Boxing does the same thing. It forces you to look in the mirror and examine the person you are, flaws and all. It takes a brave person to do that and to do it willingly. What it has built though, is a group of people, mostly women who are not trying to be better than anyone, but the best version of themselves that’s possible. It’s a safe place to grow and learn and we have had to fight for that by never sacrificing our values. Boxing doesn’t come easy and everyone has to do the work to get good. It’s a level playing field, but so is life.

Arena Training Institute – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Arena Training Institute just hit it’s five year anniversary. In that time, we have added a gym in Laramie as well and hope that it can grow to influence the women of Laramie the way it has in Cheyenne. We have also added a teen program and are working towards getting some teens into a competition. The jiu jitsu program is the newest addition and adding a co-ed piece has been phenomenal to witness what the impact of a clearly defined culture that can translate into any other sport. The foundation of this gym has also allowed me to start a non-profit called Ringside sports to support kids within the community to provide equal opportunity for all to play sports. Sports of all kinds are what help kids learn fundamental skills and we hope to eliminate any obstacle that prevents a kid from participating in a sport.

I am proud of not just the skills we instill in our members, but also the values behind them. We witness people becoming stronger mentally and physically, humble, determined, and better at whatever their jobs or roles in life are. They stare at their weaknesses in the face every time they walk in the gym and learn how to find the determination it takes to overcome those weaknesses.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My book is the reflection of the journey and my proudest moment. The ten year anniversary from my accident, I was surrounded by family, friends and my boxers at my book signing party. Putting my story in the hands of those that stood my side and cheered me on to fight through that terrible day culminated in a sweet moment of handing my story into their hands. Telling my boxers on a daily basis to fight for themselves resonated deeply in my soul, and I knew I couldn’t believe in them without believing in my own story. It was that confidence that pushed me into publishing it. Handing my story of survival to not only people who love me but people that respected me was the most humbling and yet proud moment of my life. My book is dedicated to my daughter who was five weeks old when the accident happened. To be able to look at her and tell her that she was my strength through it all while showing her how to fight through life brings it all full circle.

Pricing:

• Book- “Dearly Loved Exile” $12.99 found on Amazon

Contact Info:

• Address: 1906 Thomes Ave
  Cheyenne WY
• Website: arenatraininginstitute.com; janellmellish.com; all4courage.com
• Phone: 307-421-9583
• Email: janell@arenatraininginstitute.com
• Instagram: Janellmellishauthor; Arenatraininginstitute
• Facebook: Janellmellishauthor; Arenatraininginstitute
• Other: Arena Training Institute

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