We recently had the chance to connect with Nathan Hallford and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Nathan, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
The culture of the bringing the next person up under your wing behind you. It was something I had done for me when I first started training and they became a mentor to me on how to teach that next person who starts after you. I wouldn’t have kept training without the first guy that really took me under his wing and worked with me 1 on 1.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Nathan Hallford and I’m the Owner of Sloth Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Euless Texas. We are a small family martial arts gym that has organically grown slowly for the last 9 years and we are expanding to a new facility later this year. What makes us different is not only do we want you to do well on the mats at practice and tournaments, but we focus on making you better off the mat too with life balance and positive encouragement.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think unclear expectations and break down of communication tends to damage relationships. If you expect a person to do something but they fail are you sure they had the same understanding or expectation prior to whatever it was? People don’t like to have difficult conversations at times so we sometimes don’t clearly line up expectations with another person. But if you have the difficult conversations FIRST it helps both know what they are supposed to do and it keeps resentment out.
As far as what restores them is honest communication and feedback from both parties. It hopefully will land somewhere in the middle and you can get back on the same page and communicate more efficiently going forward.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Sometimes it’s ok to NOT be ok. There are times when you can’t function, you got knocked down and just need a minute to be in that state. That’s ok to be there but it’s not ok to stay there. So sometimes you have to give yourself a little break in order to catch a breath in order to pick yourself back up, and dig out of the hole.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Treat people like people. I have always tried to run my business as a people business where I invest into them with time and energy to see them grow. It’s not a transactional you pay me X and I teach you Y move in BJJ. It’s let me teach you how to learn, how my coaching and feedback helps you personally, and other ways to improve. That investment in you hopefully pays dividends in your BJJ journey but also in other parts of life just by you feeling more confident, empowered, etc.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That he gave back to his family and friends everything they deserved when he was able. I wouldn’t be here without some amazing support over the years that I feel like I didn’t deserve at the time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.slothbjjtx.com/
- Instagram: slothbjjeuless
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SlothBJJ
