WildStyle Gym Member Story: Allan Mwangi Finds His Tribe

When Allan Mwangi first walked through the doors of WildStyle, he wasn’t just looking for a workout. He was looking for connection, purpose, and a place to belong.

Originally from Kenya and later living in New York, Allan had just moved to a small town in Washington to be closer to family. The move came with a cost: leaving behind friends, familiarity, and a sense of community he once had. Starting over wasn’t easy.

WildStyle entered his life almost by accident.

Two years earlier, during a visit from New York, Allan’s sister had grown curious about martial arts. Together, they checked out local gyms in the area. At WildStyle, Coach Maggie invited them to jump into a free trial class. The energy in the room was undeniable. The people were welcoming. The coaching was passionate and intentional. Allan could immediately tell that this place was different—especially watching Coach Jason teach with clarity, care, and intensity.

He loved it. His sister loved it. She signed up that day.

A year later, when Allan officially made the move from New York to Washington, there was no question where he’d train. He joined WildStyle—and this time, it was for him.

More Than Training

Allan primarily trains in kickboxing, but what he gained went far beyond learning how to throw punches and kicks.

“When I joined, I didn’t have friends or a sense of community,” he shares. “I was starting over.”

Over time, that changed. Through consistent training, shared struggle, and countless rounds on the mats, Allan found his people. A tribe rooted in growth, resilience, and mutual support.

The biggest transformation? Confidence.

“I’ve gained a lot more confidence in my everyday life—feeling more comfortable speaking my mind,” Allan says.

That confidence wasn’t handed to him. It was earned—round by round, breath by breath.

Built in the Hard Rounds

One of the most defining aspects of Allan’s journey has been sparring—specifically, learning how to push through exhaustion.

“I struggle with gassing out during sparring,” he admits. “But Coach Jason never lets me quit the round.”

Instead of stopping, Allan learned to adapt.

“If you’re tired, it’s time to focus on defense,” Coach Jason tells him. “If you can’t throw a cross, throw a leg kick. It’s never time to give up—you pivot and focus on what you can do.”

That lesson stuck.

It taught Allan resilience—not just in the gym, but in life. When things feel overwhelming, he doesn’t shut down. He adjusts, refocuses, and keeps moving forward.

“If I can endure my sparring rounds,” he says, “I know I’ll eventually find a solution to whatever I’m facing.”

A Childhood Dream, Reignited

What most people don’t know is that Allan’s kickboxing journey started long before WildStyle.

Growing up in Kenya, he always wanted to learn martial arts—but it wasn’t financially possible. Instead, he improvised. He watched and rewatched training montages from movies like Kickboxer, practicing movements in his front yard, imagining what it would feel like to train for real.

“When I found WildStyle,” Allan says, “I figured this was my opportunity to finally have my own training montage—and become a real kickboxer.”

Now, that childhood dream is no longer imaginary. It’s real, structured, and backed by a team that believes in him.

Redefining Fitness

Before WildStyle, Allan spent a lot of time lifting weights to stay in shape. While strength and aesthetics mattered, kickboxing changed his perspective entirely.

“Learning to kickbox showed me that fitness and health are multi-dimensional,” he explains. “Muscles are cool—but function is better.”

Today, fitness means performance, adaptability, mental toughness, and real-world capability. It’s not just about how you look—it’s about what your body and mind can do when pushed.

Eyes on Gold

Allan isn’t just training for today. He’s training for something bigger.

His goal: to compete and bring home gold at the WKA US National Tournament in 2026.

It’s an ambitious goal—and he knows it. But he also knows he’s surrounded by the right coaches, teammates, and environment to make it possible.

At WildStyle, competition doesn’t come at the expense of community. Even in a sport as intense as kickboxing, the culture remains supportive, collaborative, and uplifting.

“Everyone cares for everyone,” Allan says. “We’re always building each other up.”

For Anyone on the Fence

If someone is nervous about joining WildStyle, Allan’s message is simple:

“Whatever level you’re at, there’s a spot for you here. Everyone is already rooting for you.”

Today, when Allan walks into the gym, he doesn’t feel like an outsider. He feels at home.

“I’ve found my tribe—people with the same growth mindset.”

And if he’s learned anything about himself along the way, it’s this:

“Your body is capable of much more than your mind leads you to believe. Push past the mental barrier, and you’ll discover your true capacity.”

In one sentence, WildStyle means this to Allan:

A community where we improve ourselves every day—together.

SHOT BY SVANNA ANDRADA PHOTOGRAPHY