Meet Michelle Freddolino | Coach/Teacher/Learner/Owner

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

Hi Michelle, how do you think about risk?

I am, and have always been a calculating risk taker. Although I often overthink everything, that “thinking” has always helped me prepare for the unexpected. One can say that I have been lucky, but I like to think that I prepared and positioned myself to take advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves to me. Were there risks or uncertainties? Absolutely! But I’ve always felt empowered to forge my own path. I’ve taken small, stupid risks and I’ve put myself out there when I really wasn’t sure what I was doing. In the end, though, I was successful because I learned from my mistakes and because I was prepared enough to recognize the strengths in the people around me and to rely on them to help me do more than I could on my own. (It takes a village!) I’ve had the opportunity to do so many amazing things; experiences and accomplishments that I was only able to do because I first took the risk.

I am a firm believer in the power of mistakes and I believe that failure is a mindset, but I have to chuckle as I write that because my small business (an obstacle-based training gym) is all about challenging my customers and clients to make mistakes and fail. “You never fail until you stop trying.” More importantly, you have to take the chance to make something happen. For me, a little risk goes a long way.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Altitude Ninja Gym is an obstacle-based training gym where beginners and elite athletes alike train their body and mind to overcome an ever-changing assortment of challenges and obstacles using skills from Ninja, Parkour, and Obstacle Course Racing. We create a safe space for kids and adults to take risks, to push themselves outside of their comfort zones, and, most importantly, to be willing to fail.

Prior to opening our doors, we had to overcome challenges, one of which was the flooding of our location and subsequent remediation. Then, right after our Grand Opening on March 1, 2020, we had to close our doors due to COVID. I like to say that we “walk the walk, not just talk the talk,” when it comes to overcoming obstacles. Don’t get me wrong, the past 2 years were really challenging. We had to pivot our business model to survive COVID. We’ve had to rehire and new staff several times already. We just resolved legal challenges with our landlord and I feel like we are back were we started financially. However, I am most proud of the fact that not only are our doors still open, but our programs are growing. I truly believe that we are doing many things right.

I’m not sure that running a small business is ever really easy, but I’ve learned that it is important to be flexible and open to opportunities…to have a plan, yet be willing to adjust that plan. It is also crucial to surround yourself with the right people and be willing to ask for help. I’ve never owned a business before nor run a gym. I’ve been a lawyer and a coach and a learner and problem solver. So, I’ve had to find and collaborate with others, including other small businesses, whose strengths or expertise were in areas where I was “weak.”

The sports of Ninja, Parkour, and Obstacle Course Racing are three sides of the same coin. In my opinion, they are also future Olympic sports. So, we are still pivoting our business model because I believe that Altitude Ninja Gym can become the training facility (and possibly training model) for beginners, weekend warriors, and athletes with Olympic dreams. (We are located in Colorado Springs, Olympic City, USA, after all.)

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are so many things to see and do in Colorado Springs!

I would schedule a different outdoor activity for every morning. We would hike Garden of the Gods, Red Rock Canyon, Section 16, and of course, the Incline and Barr Trail, or we would bike Stratton Open Space, Red Rock Canyon, Cheyenne Canyon, and the Santa Fe Trail.

I’d reserve one morning to take the Cog Railroad to the top of Pikes Peak and we’d spend the rest of the day in Manitou Springs, ending our day at the SunWater Spa and dinner at Adams Mountain Cafe, Mona Lisa, the Manitou Brewing Company, or any of the other amazing restaurants in Manitou Springs.

For the rest of the afternoons, we’d explore the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Olympic Training Center, the new U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, downtown Colorado Springs, and Old Colorado City.

We’d go for drinks at The Golden Bee and wander around The Broadmoor. We’d see a show at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs Conservatory, or Pikes Peak Center … depending on what was happening that week! When wandering around downtown Colorado Springs or Old Colorado City, we’d stop and eat (and maybe have a drink) at any of the cafes, restaurants, and bars … I’d definitely want to try places that are new to me and go to some tried and true places. There are several hidden gems in Colorado Springs.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I absolutely need to dedicate my shoutout to my family…Greg, Kian, and Reilly! Without their support, patience, and sometimes forgiveness, I would not have been able to invest time and energy into building Altitude Ninja Gym.

Website: AltitudeNinja.com

Instagram: @altitudeninjagym

Facebook: AltitudeNinja