Today we’d like to introduce you to André Coleman.
Hi André, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’d like to say my story is a simple one, but in life, there is no reason to downplay the falls as long as you keep getting up time and time again. As a son, a brother, a father, a friend, a martial artist, a coach, all hold a connection and a special place in my journey and life. My path has given me the pleasure of being all, but how do you decide which one takes precedence. Being born in the deep South of Louisiana, close to the swamps and bayous, you learn to live off the land and appreciate the soil beneath your feet.
I grew up in a plant community, known as the River Parishes, where both my parents are from and still live today. My dad was a steel mill worker, and my mom was a homemaker raising 4 boys and 1 girl. We had a small farm where we raised cows, goats, chickens, ducks, and my dad rented the barn for a few horse stables. I can remember getting up early to feed the livestock before getting ready for school. We all went to a catholic school in the area where we were all baptized and my older brothers were altar boys. Soon, when I came of age, I would follow suit.
Growing up like that, you learned to appreciate hard work, discipline, and being thankful for your blessings. I can vividly remember getting up early on Saturday morning with my brothers and watching cartoons and being happy having a break from school and chores didn’t start later in the day. Mom would cook a big breakfast, getting us ready for the day of cleaning and listening to her play her 45’s on the stereo. Every day I could remember we would always be outside, whether chores around the farm, tending to the yard, fishing and hunting down the dirt road at the end of our street which lead to miles of canals and marsh area. On rainy days, we would share turns on the Atari or watch tv catching a cowboy show like the “Lone Ranger” or a karate movie. Living on the farm, we were no strangers to cowboy boots, buckles, and hats. But karate movies had me hooked and my parents and Godparents knew it.
That is where my love for martial arts truly started. So, when a Tae Kwon Do school opened in our area, I could remember begging my parents to let me go. Like normal, money was tight, but my Godmother volunteered to pay for me to start as my birthday present, and I had to promise to keep my schoolwork and grades up. All through Junior High, I trained and got to a Brown belt and would assist in coaching the little kids.
My Freshmen year in high school, the steel mill closed down, and tons of jobs were lost in our town. My dad was forced to travel for work and ultimately found a plant job where he would work in Detroit, and finally in the Kansas City, MO area. We moved to Liberty, MO, where I wrestled for the high school. We looked for a great martial arts school in the area but never found one like home. It wasn’t until 10 yrs later, at 27yrs old when training at a boxing gym, I met a guy who also trained in Judo invited me to a practice. I had never heard of Judo at the time but was interested in getting back to a dojo again.
Welcome Mat Judo became a 2nd home, led by Steve Scott, former Olympic Judo Coach, and longtime athlete, coach, and mentor. Training at the dojo was like no other. Practices were hard filled with old school grit, discipline, blood and no tears. We learned to push ourselves past our physical limits, respect the art, legacy and most importantly, respect for our fellow judokas, coaches and dojo.
That mindset is what I brought in the dojo when I opened the 1st Sumo Club in Kansas City. Originally, having self-doubt and feeling like an imposter, I was unsure if I had what it took to be a Head Instructor. I was an athlete at my core and assistant coach, but running a program by myself was a huge endeavor. After having a serious talk with my coaches, Steve Scott and Kenny Brink, Welcome Mat Sumo and a new head coach was born.
Throughout the years, I have been fortunate to be a decorated amateur sumo wrestler, winning several nationals, and representing the USA on the world stage. I have coached many other sumo athletes to reach the national level, hosted countless practices, camps, tournaments and demos to showcase the great martial art of Sumo. And now having retired from competing, I can look back on a legacy seeing former students and camp participants opening their own clubs and teaching some of the same drills and exercises learned from me.
Currently, moved back to my hometown in Louisiana, I had closed my doors in Kansas City, but following in my footsteps, one of my core students, Robert Fuimaono has opened, Red Kingdom Sumo, keeping sumo alive in the Midwest.
Still heavily involved with teaching and mentoring over the years, I decided to bring my club back and re-open my doors with the 1st sumo club in Louisiana. Black Rhino Sumo has been open now for 2 years with steady growth, and we are one of the Southern anchors for Sumo under the USSF (United States Sumo Federation). Getting involved more locally, I currently sit on the Board of the Japan Society of New Orleans and working as a liaison between Japan societies and amateur sumo clubs across the US. Amateur sumo is growing in the United States, and more clubs and athletes are popping up to showcase this ancient martial art.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth, no, not at all. As the old saying goes, if it was easy, everyone would do it. Some of the biggest struggles I had to overcome, was ultimately believing in myself and believing I had something to offer the world. As a strong black man, we are built to overcome obstacles, to stare fear directly in the face and never look away. But one of the things not always taught, is when you stare in the mirror, who’s going to look away first. External fears and struggles are always going to be there, but those are nothing compared to the war raging within. Learning to fight and win the battles inside is the hardest struggle and unfortunately, it is a marathon and not a sprint. I am thankful for my parents instilling a foundation so if the building falls, you can always rebuild. Throughout my life, I have had to rebuild several times, but the best part is, each time I rebuild, I have learned how and where to fortify my structure.
As you know, we’re big fans of A & D Consulting, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I started my financial consulting business over 20 years ago offering my services mainly to medium and large corporations and at times working full-time as a hired employee. Now sitting on several chamber boards, I see my skillset and expertise can be very beneficial to new and small upcoming businesses as fractional accounting work allows for businesses not ready to hire a full-time CFO but need a strategic partner to help navigate these unchartered waters. This fall, I was recently accepted into an Entrepreneur leadership program at Delgado University designed to help small business scale up and take the next step with their business. To provide the best benefits and new age practical solutions to small business, this certification is the next step in my financial services boutique along with obtaining my life and health insurance license. With the combination of these new featured services to my business along with a few other niches, any new or existing small business will be in very capable hands. Rebranding is currently underway with a new and improved website featuring all services offered coming at the beginning of the new year.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Yes, I have not gotten into listening to a lot of podcasts, blogs, or apps, but over the years, there are a few great books that I would suggest for anyone to read to further their knowledge and strengthen their foundations.
The Winning Link
Atomic Habits
Invisible Man
Bushido: The Way of the Warrior
Modern Bushido: Living a life of Excellence
The Way of Salt
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhinosumo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackRhinoSumoClub
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-coleman-9608524/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@RHINOINDASWAMP
