Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Nik Myers of Fort Dodge instructs his students during a recent class at the new home of Southside Martial Arts, located at 1028 S. 22nd St.

Nik Myers just wanted to hold himself accountable at first, proving he could handle structure and personal responsibility in his own life.

Five years later, Myers’ Southside Martial Arts stands as both a safe haven and motivational breeding ground for Fort Dodge residents young and old. The business — which Myers considers more like a family — is succeeding beyond his wildest dreams in ways he never could have imagined when this journey first began.

There seems to be no stopping Myers now. Not because he’s being driven by fame, fortune or even credit. The 42-year-old has found both inner peace and creative drive through the growth of others.

Myers’ happiness and fulfillment is now in the hands of a collective community, rather than the pursuit of individual gain.

“I’m not taking credit for all the success stories,” Myers said. “I’m just blessed to be the coach. I get a front-row seat to it all now.”

Myers’ redemption story isn’t a linear one. He grew up on the south side of Fort Dodge and attended Butler Elementary School, where he became an active — yet troubled — student.

“I was in pretty much every sport as a kid,” Myers said. “Wrestling, baseball, football…even volleyball in middle school. I also couldn’t ever seem to keep myself out of trouble, though. I got into a lot of fights, I was disrespectful to teachers, and I didn’t listen to my parents.

“I have amazing parents and an amazing family. It wasn’t their fault. I always had a very low self image, and I tried to hide it by acting out.”

His demons “followed me into adulthood,” Myers admitted.

“That low self image and acting out became drinking and using drugs,” Myers said. “I got in more trouble. I was on probation. I got sent away.”

The one area of Myers’ life that offered both inspiration and refuge was martial arts.

“I started my MMA career in my early 20s (locally),” Myers said. “I could always get a pretty clear head when I was training for a fight. So I guess basically my point is every time I’m not involved with something competitive, I lose myself.

“For me, martial arts is the only thing I have found that not only improves my self image, but the way I perceive the world around me. That’s why I still compete at (age) 42. It keeps me grounded.”

Myers has a 17-year-old son, Kale. A fateful conversation with Kale’s mother in 2018 changed the trajectory of Myers’ personal and professional life for the better.

“I got a call from Kale’s mom saying that he was struggling and needed his dad,” Myers said. “Of course I agreed and she sent him to live with me full-time.

“Kale was 12. I had just gotten sober, and honestly, had no idea how to be a full-time dad. I had only been a dad every other weekend.”

Myers’ passion for martial arts came to good use — and created an instant bond — between father and son.

“The only two things I really knew were to go to work and do martial arts, so that’s what Kale and I did,” Myers said. “I had some wrestling mats in the garage, and we started training in the house and in the backyard.”

Through their work together and commitment to the sport, Myers saw an opportunity to follow through on a long-standing — and unfulfilled — personal vision.

“I’ve always dreamed of owning my own (martial arts) school, so two years ago, Kale and I rented a garage about a mile from our house and opened the doors (to the community),” Myers said. “We started with just a few kids and a wrestling program. In a short time we added youth kickboxing.

“I think we had nine students after like three months, and then the dad of one of the students asked if I had considered teaching adults. I said that I would love to.”

That’s when Myers started to notice the real impact these weeknight classes — youth and adult Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing and wrestling — were having on a rapidly-growing roster of participants.

“Within a few months, we started seeing pretty big changes in our students — kids and adults,” Myers said. “We had parents telling us how much better the kids were at home, and that their grades were going up. We had adults telling us their relationships were better, and they felt better as people.

“After about seven months, we had too many students for the garage and had to decide if we should stop taking new students or find a bigger building. We talked about it and agreed that if we could help this many people in a garage, it would be neat to see what would happen in a (larger facility), so we moved.”

Myers and his son found a small building on 9 1/2 Ave. South — not far from Community Christian Schools. The increase in physical space helped with sheer numbers, of course, but word of mouth also helped Southside Martial Arts become a home for kids who were struggling in their daily lives.

“We doubled (the class sizes) almost immediately,” Myers said. “Within a few months, I started getting messages from parents telling me horrific stories about things that were happening to their children from (bullying situations). No one was helping them. I got messages from young kids telling me they were even considering suicide.”

That’s when Myers’ ramped up his anti-bullying campaign.

“My heart was broken for them, so I started a class just for them and called it ‘Bullied No More,'” Myers said. “I realized that their confidence grew much faster in a group setting than in private lessons, so I ended the ‘special’ class and just started putting them in the regular classes with all of the other kids.”

Myers partnered with Tom DeBlass, a New Jersey native and world-renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach, to become affiliated with DeBlass’ “Buddies Over Bullies” program.

“It’s a non-profit that gets children who are victims of bullying into a Jiu-Jitsu program near them all over the world,” Myers said. “Since then we have helped dozens of bullied children. I can’t even describe to you in words the feeling you get when you see a child walk through the doors, staring at their feet too scared to even play games with other kids or look you in the eyes and within a few months, they are competing in big Jiu Jitsu tournaments in Des Moines against a lot of aggressive kids — and winning medals.

“I’m honestly a little emotional just talking about it. We have also had adults, struggling with addiction and alcoholism, who come in and start learning martial arts. It completely changes their lives. It gives them a purpose again.”

As his students began to find their way, so — in turn — did their coach.

“I’m just inspired by the changes I have seen in the people who walk through our doors,” Myers said. “I want every single person who comes to our gym to know they are worth it. They matter. I want every single child to know there are people who love them, and there is a place where they are safe.

“I want to build a family in this community out of complete strangers with one common goal: Personal growth.”

Myers welcomes people from all backgrounds and walks of life. Preconceived notions and judgments are checked at the door.

Today, nearly 40 adults and 40 more kids are enrolled in classes.

“I have sets of parents that take adult classes and their children take youth classes,” Myers said. “I have a dad who is a full-time student that helps coach the youth classes that his daughters are in. A single mom with an autistic son who loves Jiu-Jitsu, and so does she. It helps them bond.

“I started this business with my son, but since then, my two daughters, my wife, a couple cousins and some of my nieces and nephews have taken classes.”

Knowing the kind of impact Southside Martial Arts is having on others, Myers doesn’t want to slow down anytime soon. The goal is to keep adding to the family tree.

“Professionally, we just got a new 4,000 square-foot building (last month) with a huge matted area for grappling and a boxing ring (located at 1028 South 22nd St. in Fort Dodge),” Myers said, “I’m going to start hosting youth kickboxing competitions, youth and adult Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, and (training) seminars.

“I would absolutely love to start training the men and women of law enforcement as well, because I know Jiu-Jitsu will help them when it comes to protecting themselves and others.”

This all began as a way for Myers to find something in common with his son. Kale is now working side-by-side with his dad as Southside Martial Arts continues to gain traction, respect and notoriety.

“I’m happy to say that my plan of working and doing martial arts with Kale was successful,” Myers said. “He’s had a job since he was 14, graduated high school a year early, and is currently working full-time and has his own place.”

Myers believes the sport saved him in more ways than one. Now he’s passing these lessons along to countless others in the region.

“I haven’t gotten this far on my own,” Myers said. “Professor Charles Heller of Des Moines basically raised us from day one and taught us how to be a martial arts school. I have multiple adults — including my children — who volunteer and help coach youth classes. We’ve had fundraisers, and the community came together to help us raise money for the new building. I have an amazing wife who jumps in and helps every chance she gets. The list goes on.

“I’ve found self-worth, human connection and a deep sense of belonging in helping others.”