Photo Essay: Low income, true passion

A life message of becoming rich through knowledge instead of big bucks and world titles

Photo essay by Taras McCurdie

Tuhon Martin Gonzalez’s journey to Bellingham, Washington, was not a one-two knockout punch. Before finding his passion for teaching martial arts and becoming the owner and instructor of Fight Lab, Gonzalez spent most of his life in the fifth-largest area in the world, Mexico City. Growing up in a low-income family of five and spending his childhood in “the heart of the city” in a neighborhood called Moctezuma, Gonzalez already faced his share of challenges and quickly figured out as the eldest child what it meant to set the example. // Photo by Taras McCurdie

Throughout his youth, Gonzalez found himself in some negative environments. “Being in middle school, I had to deal with a lot of situations where my brother and I [would be] running because we could be chased by a gang or [see] a gang fighting against [a] gang,” Gonzalez said. “Sometimes, that was the typical, everyday activity just watching this. So growing up with that kind of stuff, I wanted to protect my brother, my sister [and] my parents. And [that started] the dream of becoming a martial artist.” He is pictured with just a few of many martial arts certificates hung around his gym. // Photo by Taras McCurdie

At 13, Gonzalez started lifting weights and watching movies, aspiring to be strong and knowing how to defend him and his family. At 17, he started boxing in Mexico City, which he said is known for producing world champions in the sport. Gonzalez said boxing was an affordable sport at the time, so he enjoyed not competing but rather sparring and strengthening his body. He is pictured demonstrating a punch during the beginning boxing class. // Photo by Taras McCurdie

“My father was all about, ‘As long as you are doing it in self-defense and you are not becoming a bully, make sure that they don’t hurt you. And if it’s possible, try not to hurt them, just try to defend yourself,’” Gonzalez said. Now, he’s sharing his stories and knowledge with his many students. // Photo by Taras McCurdie

After graduating from National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) around 1990, Gonzalez and his then ex-wife were planning on moving out of the country to start a new journey in the U.S., but it was hard for Gonzalez to leave home. “Unfortunately in Mexico, you have to have connections to get into good places. Or, you have to have money to buy connections to get into good places,” he said. “I didn’t have any: no money to buy connections or connections to get a good job.” He is pictured demonstrating a Muay Thai kick during the kickboxing/Muay Thai class. // Photo by Taras McCurdie

After moving to Nevada and staying there for a few weeks, he and his ex-wife packed up and “followed their destiny” to Washington in 1992. Going from Custer to Birch Bay to Bellingham, Gonzalez searched for ways to afford martial arts. By this time, he already had a steady background in bodybuilding and boxing, so he joined local Aikido and Kajukenbo schools because he enjoyed doing “martial art after martial art after martial art.” Pictured from left to right are various martial arts equipment. // Photo by Taras McCurdie

Gonzalez’s dedication would present the opportunity to open his own gym in 1998, which was out of his garage. Ending this gig in 2000, he then moved to a commercial warehouse on Lincoln Street. He wouldn’t stay there very long because he would move his school to a building on Iowa Street where the gym, known as Fight Lab, is being used today. // Photo by Taras McCurdie

Gonzalez also opened a tattoo shop called Old School Tattoo in 2000, which he would sell in 2003 because since guests were demanding much of his time, he had to choose which profession he wanted to continue putting more time toward. “The tattoo shop definitely was making double the money of what I was making in martial arts,” he said. “But martial arts were where my passion was, so I was OK making less money.” He is pictured assisting some of his students during the kickboxing/Muay Thai class. // Photo by Taras McCurdie

Fast-forward to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gonzalez closed the martial arts school and taught on Zoom. He said back in the day, martial arts schools struggled financially because they would only teach one art, meaning if it was a karate school, karate was the only art taught; if it was a kung fu school, kung fu was the only art taught. What’s unique with Gonzalez’s school is that he teaches traditional Western boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Wing Chun Kung Fu (as seen in the photo), Filipino weaponry arts, cross training fitness classes as well as mma for kids. // Photo by Taras McCurdie

“Because I put so much time and effort in different arts, I’ve been able to manage different arts in my gym,” Gonzalez said. “Being the main instructor and owner, I’ve been able to satisfy the needs of the population around me. They keep coming back. So financially talking, I’ve been fine the whole time.” Bowing at the end of a training session showcases the student-teacher relationship, as seen in this photo at the end of the Wing Chun Kung Fu class. // Photo by Taras McCurdie

In the photo, one of Gonzalez’s students, Charlynn Andrews, 47, throws a knife during the blade concepts and Filipino weaponry class. Andrews has trained in mma for 20 years and weapons for five years. From learning and teaching various arts, coaching professional fighters who compete in world-wide promotions has never been of interest for Gonzalez. “It fulfills my life more sharing my knowledge at an amateur level where I’m teaching people how to defend themselves,” he said. “I see more smiling faces all the way around.” // Photo by Taras McCurdie

Gonzalez said his young and adult students are willing to learn just as much as he is willing to teach. “That’s one of the things that makes me come back every day with a smile on my face every time I open the door because I found my gift from God,” Gonzalez said. “And I found people who have the same kind of interests and passions and dreams. They share with me, and I share with them.” // Photo by Taras McCurdie