The internet and YouTube have been a huge innovation for hundreds of millions of people around the world. It has presented new ways of expressing one’s self, communicating with others world-wide, and a unique way of teaching. No one understands that last part as well as Shane Fazen, and his company: FightTips.
Fazen was first introduced to the world of martial arts at the age of 9 via Taekwondo. As he progressed through the art, Fazen began to look at other martial arts, eventually turning to Muay Thai at age 15. At 19, Shane had his very first pro-fight in Thailand, winning by 4th round KO. Due to a foot injury, Fazen began to explore Western Boxing. Upon attending a Gym Coaches Clinic by Coach Kirian Fitzgibbons, Shane realized his calling was not to be a fighter, but rather teacher. Over the coming years, Fazen dedicated himself to not only improving his own skills, but the striking abilities of those he taught.
With the advent of YouTube, there came a new landscape fully ready for innovation and capitalization. Fazen began uploading tutorial and How To videos on his YouTube channel late 2011. However, it was not until late 2012 Fazen truly started uploading on a regular basis. As the years went, Shane’s fan base and following grow, as well as the quality in content. Fazen’s channel began to move away from a “How to win in any street-fight” channel, to primarily focusing on striking techniques and how to’s. As the years passed, Shane’s channel “FightTips”, grew, pulling more and more views and having appearances of professional MMA and martial arts fighters/coaches. In the spring of 2018, the FightTips team began to grow, with the introduction of Vince “The Anomaly” Cachero, a professional MMA fighter, followed by PJ Shirdan, and Erin Herle. This influx of new talent and coaches took Shane’s brand and channel to a new level, providing even more in-depth break downs and material. At the same time the FightTips channel was growing, so were the FightTips products, with the release of numerous quality martial arts equipment (speed bags, double-end bags, gloves, etc.) and apparel.
Fazen and FightTips have ushered in a whole new opportunity for learning and teaching through the internet. As of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, the FightTips channel has uploaded numerous quarantine-workout videos, offering those who cannot leave their houses/access a gym an opportunity to grow and perfect their striking. Shane has truly pioneered and innovated the market for online coaching, and in the coming years, I for one am excited to see where it leads.
This is the epitome of turning a childhood passion into a marketable business through exploring which platforms are most effective. While many hobbies or passions stay simply that, there is always a way to implement these into business ideas as they present a previously established skill set and a predetermined market. Through his exploration of different martial arts, Fazen was able to discover who his target market was and how to reach them with relevant information.
I love the way that someone was able to turn something that they were good at into a profitable YouTube channel. I have always wanted to create a YouTube channel and to see someone make one out of their passions is awesome. I loved this blog post great job.