Today we’d like to introduce you to Lamonte Tyler.
Hi Lamonte, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Baltimore City. I graduated from Northwestern Senior High School. While there, I played football, wrestled, and lacrosse. I was also in JROTC and was a member of FBLA. I joined the Army 2 weeks after graduating high school and became a paratrooper. I wrestled for Fort Bragg’s post-wrestling team. I did a tour in Desert Storm and a tour in Somalia during Black Hawk Down. After leaving the military, I dedicated myself to going to college. I have nine college degrees; I have an associate’s, two bachelor’s, five master’s, and doctoral degrees. I am an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., a Mason, and a member of Mu Beta Phi Military Fraternity, Inc. Every single holiday, I can be seen downtown feeding the homeless. In February 2000, I was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Western Boxing, and Vale Tudo. In January 2004, I started training in Judo. Usually, I am humble and do not speak of my accolades. I have competed in a combined total of over 400 matches. I have nine MMA fights with a record of 8-1.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?
The original location of my school was a struggle because I was not generating traffic, so enrollment was low. Starting a business can be rough, but my landlords worked with me for the first six months until I began enrolling students. I did not have to pay bills in the beginning. I was ready to call it quits then the pandemic happened. I thought that was my way out, but I had students tell me to continue to charge them while the school was closed because they understood that the bills still had to be paid. I also had students ask me to teach classes via Zoom, and a few students came to my home with their uniforms in hand, and we trained in my basement.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
In November 2017, I established Gracie Randallstown Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Randallstown, MD. As of 2022, I incorporated Muay Thai Kickboxing, Judo, a Kid’s Jiu-Jitsu program, and No-GI Jiu-Jitsu. My goal is not to run my school as a business but to run it as a place where you can feel like you are in the presence of family. We take students aged two and up. I currently have four instructors on the payroll, so I like to say that I created jobs. I teach pure self-defense. I am not knocking other Jiu-Jitsu schools in the area because I am friends with all the instructors, but my school’s primary focus is not competition. I am not against competition and will support all my students who compete. I am a cybersecurity professional during the day. I am also a freelance photographer and a Baltimore City Community College adjunct professor.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The COVID-19 crisis has brought me close to many people in Baltimore and the surrounding areas. Many look at me as a father figure. I built a gym in my basement, and I now have a core group of people who comes to me for strength and conditioning. My greatest success story is a gentleman who started training with me, weighing around 316 pounds and now walking around in the 260s. I gave him a weight goal, and he said he would not let me down. We are looking at the 240s before the year ends. We call each other best friends because he said I cared more about his health than he did.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gracierandallstown.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracierandallstown/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracierandallstownLLC
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