We had the good fortune of connecting with Damien Cordova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Damien, what do you attribute your success to?
I would say that planning ahead has been the most important factor in our success at Chroma. We did a lot of research and built a really solid business plan before embarking on anything. That business plan has been a major guiding force in all aspects of running things. We consult it often.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Chroma Jiu-Jitsu is a different from most martial arts facilities in that we are always open and accommodating to everyones needs. From gender neutral restrooms to the snacks we provide for free up front. Our goal is inclusion, and removal of barriers that would stop most people from starting.
We managed to attract like minded people to our community over the last two years and not only do they all understand what we are trying to build, they want to actively contribute.
Opening a business has been a whirlwind of emotions but on the whole I have had a really positive experience that makes me often sit back in awe of the students, parents and community members who we have encountered along the way.
My main goal was to expose more people to the world of grappling, and make it so everyone can train if they want to.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh man there are some really prime restaurants in the Lafayette area! For breakfast I like the Huckleberry, for lunch I recommend a slice of pizza at Cosmo’s and you can’t beat dinner at Ras Kassa’s Ethiopian . My wife and I are vegetarian so we like to support places that are friendly to our kind.
For a night cap William Oliver’s Public House is perfect.
I would take visitors up flagstaff mountain in Boulder, or better yet Chautauqua Park to get a taste of the mountains and views.
but my all time favorite place in the area is Boulder Bookstore. Its built in an old ballroom and has a huge selection of books.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Two people stand out as major contributors to my success.
First is my friend who sat down with me to run the financial elements, he won’t be named but I want him to get some credit for all his hard work.
Secondly my wife Kismet who is the anchor to all of my craziness. With all the things I have accomplished in life she has always been there to help structure and support me. I get a lot of weird ideas but she never says “No” and always finds a way to help me realize them.

Website: https://chromajiujitsu.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chromajiujitsu/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damien-cordova-205121131/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Chroma-Jiu-Jitsu-100090419151331/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chroma-jiu-jitsu-lafayette

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6g3vBuFfmsI9PzfVVaehZQ

Other: https://bjjgym.com/gym/Chroma-Jiu-Jitsu-adb628f7

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.