Key Points
- After making a move from New Zealand, Tamayo set up his career as a certified fitness coach in Australia.
- It was a challenge to find clients since most Australians would work out on their own, which made it a strategic move for Tamayo to teach kids jiu-jitsu.
- Without the burden of having to pay rent, Coach Marco converted his garage into a gym.
Now more than ever, Australians are mindful about their health.
It’s also an industry former pageant king and fitness coach Marco Antonio Tamayo found appealing to join upon moving to Australia from New Zealand.
Given that Australians are relatively physically active, it was a challenge to find clients.
“I've been a certified trainer in Philippines by trainer in Dubai, and in New Zealand; but then here, you need to be certified again, you have to take it all over again.
"I accepted the challenge for growth; but because as we all know people here can exercise on their own, people can opt to pay less for personal training.”
Teaching jiu-jitsu to kids became a strategy to find his niche
In 2020, Tamayo and his family relocated to Gold Coast from New South Wales.
Due to lockdowns, he continued online workout sessions with some clients.
Guided by practicality, Tamayo converted his garage into a gym. The initial goal was to train his two children, aged 6 and 7 in jiu-jitsu.
Being a fitness coach, I have ingrained it in my system to make my kids grow stronger and healthier. I also learned that there’s no handbook to be father or a family man.Marco Antonio Tamayo, Fitness and jiu-jitsu coach
"I am grateful that I put my time for my kids and I was able to train them."
Word got out that Tamayo or ‘Coach Marco,’ as he is mostly known, was giving jiu-jitsu lessons to his children.
Soon, parents brought their kids to his garage for sessions which helped them compete in local and national jiu-jitsu events.
To date, he has 12 students who regularly train with him.
From a financial standpoint, Tamayo knows that being a fitness coach will only be viable if you do in full-time.
He also knows that now is the time to take it slow and find balance in his life, particularly in managing his family and his children.
“Now it changed up. I'm a full-time dad and a part-time fitness coach. But just the same, we need to be stay healthy mentally healthy and we have to be productive and because life is short.
"Let's enjoy life. Stay happy and healthy."
