Cindy Hales knew she couldn’t fight forever.
A career as a martial arts competitor left her with a body that was unable to continue and a heart that wouldn’t let her walk away. But after already trying her hand in the corporate world, Hales knew she couldn’t go back to sitting at a desk.
“I’m super active,” Hales said. “Jiu Jitsu changed my life.”
Before beginning her career as a fighter, Hales earned a degree in social sciences and also had a background working with at-risk youth during college. She eventually found her way into the nine-to-five world, but soon discovered it was an imperfect marriage, leaving her longing for a physical challenge.
“I just started training casually,” Hales said of her introduction to martial arts. “Eventually I quit my corporate job. I would compete then get another job when I needed to.”
Hales climbed the women’s ranks, crossing the globe to fight some of the fiercest competitors the world of female martial arts had to offer. But when her days in the ring ended, Hales was left searching for a way to bring her two worlds together. The result was Sleeper Athletics.
Sleeper Athletics began in 2009 in Seattle’s old Rainier brewing building with some of the clientele Hales built while working in various gyms in the area. It quickly proved to be exactly what its founder, and many area youths, desperately needed. Currently, Hales serves around 35 clients, 20 of which are kids. Most come from around the Greater Eastside, but some travel from as far as Lake City and West Seattle.
“I want to run a team that’s like a family,” Hales said. “My ultimate goal is to have them come through my program and send them to college.”
While her own background was in elite level training and competition, Hales isn’t out to find the next great UFC sensation. Instead, she hopes Sleeper Athletics can become a place where young people can succeed while building confidence in both their physical abilities and coping mechanisms.
“I want to give kids the idea that we work hard, train hard, build good relationships with people and we take that to oater aspects of our lives,” Hales said. “I had people do that for me when I was a kid and now I can give something back.”
The training is tailored to match age and experience, with kids as young as four training under the same roof as youngsters who have captured world championships. Sleeper Athletics’ students have the opportunity to compete in various grappling tournaments around the Pacific Northwest and Hales herself works with other gyms to coordinate less formal tournaments to keep kids interested and excited about competing.
Many parents, like Kim Thome of Medina, come into the process apprehensive of the violent nature of the sport as it is seen on television but quickly realize with Hales’ expertise and compassion for young people, there is nothing to worry about.
“At first, I was like ‘arm bars and chokes, I don’t know about this!,” Thome said. “I’m really impressed with how technical the sport is and how Cindy teaches the kids. We haven’t had any injuries and it just really surprised me how safe it can be.”
Aside from the physical benefits she has seen in her children, Thome said watching their confidence and self esteem build have been eye-opening.
“There’s this confidence, this self-discipline,” Thome said. “I think it’s a lot for a young kid and even young men to go out on a mat and be out there with 100 people looking at you. There’s no hiding.”
While those looking to hone more specific skill set are referred to one of Hales’ numerous contacts throughout the area, (including basically every Jiu Jitsu coach in the Pacific Northwest) children who are looking for a new outlet to make friends or simply find a safe haven for a few hours each day have a place in Sleeper Athletics. “A kid that maybe won’t fit into football or soccer, or a kid who is too big and doesn’t fit into the model of what an athlete should be, there’s a place for that kid in Jiu Jitsu,” Hales said. “There are so many moves but everyone has their own style. You can see their personalities come out in how they grapple.” Hales remembers fondly how one of her students came into the gym with a furtive, unsure demeanor and has since built confidence and begun to express his character freely. “He was getting bullied, he was super shy, a tiny little kid,” Hales recalled. “He’s been with me almost a year and he’s seven years old and has a six pack. Now you can see this life in this kid and that’s what you really want.”
Hales will be hosting an open house for prospective students and their families on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 1-4 p.m. Sleeper Athletics is located at 1555 127th Pl NE.
