Meet Jenny Chisem | Co-Owner & Coach at Escondido Combat Academy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenny Chisem and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenny, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Escondido Combat Academy was built to be more than just a gym — we wanted to create a place where people from all backgrounds could build confidence, discipline, resilience, and real community through martial arts and fitness.

One of our biggest focuses is accessibility and inclusion. In addition to our adult and youth martial arts programs, we offer women’s-only classes and partner with organizations that support individuals with disabilities through adaptive martial arts programming. Seeing students gain confidence, improve communication skills, and feel genuinely accepted in a team environment has been one of the most meaningful parts of what we do.

We also strive to create a positive outlet for kids, teens, and adults in our community. Many of our members come to us looking for structure, stress relief, self-confidence, or a healthy environment to be part of. We take that responsibility seriously. Our goal is to provide high-level training while also building a culture where people feel supported, challenged, and connected.

Beyond training, we try to stay involved locally through workshops, community events, family activities, and partnerships with other organizations in Escondido. We truly believe martial arts can change lives — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Escondido Combat Academy was built on the belief that martial arts can change lives both on and off the mat. From the beginning, our goal was never just to open another gym — we wanted to create a place rooted in strength, service, and community where people of all ages and backgrounds could build confidence, discipline, resilience, and real-world self-defense skills in a supportive environment.

What sets ECA apart is the culture we’ve worked hard to build. We combine high-level martial arts training with genuine connection and mentorship. Whether someone walks through our doors to compete, get in shape, learn self-defense, help their child gain confidence, or simply find a healthier outlet, we want them to feel welcomed, challenged, and supported. We’re proud to offer a wide range of programs including youth martial arts, women’s-only classes, strength and conditioning, and adaptive martial arts programming for individuals with disabilities.

Our story has definitely not been easy. Like many small business owners, we’ve faced financial stress, long hours, uncertainty, and the pressure of building something from the ground up while balancing family and careers outside the gym. There were many moments where we had to simply keep showing up, stay consistent, and trust the vision even when growth felt slow. One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that consistency and community matter more than perfection. Real relationships, authenticity, and genuinely caring about people have carried us further than any marketing strategy ever could.

I’m especially proud of the environment we’ve created alongside my husband and business partner, Dominique. Every lesson at ECA is rooted in our story — overcoming challenges, serving our community, and helping people become stronger mentally and physically. We’ve built a team of coaches and members who truly support one another, and seeing students grow in confidence both on and off the mats has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives.

We also take a lot of pride in the fact that ECA is proudly black-owned, female-owned, and veteran-owned. We hope people see our gym as proof that martial arts spaces can be both elite and welcoming — a place where serious training and compassion can exist together.

At the end of the day, we want the world to know that Escondido Combat Academy is about more than fighting. It’s about helping people discover strength they didn’t know they had and creating a community where people feel empowered, connected, and capable of overcoming challenges in every area of life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Honestly, one of the best things about Escondido is that it still feels like a real community. There’s a mix of local family-owned spots, outdoor spaces, arts, and hidden gems that make it feel welcoming and lived in rather than overly commercial.

For a perfect local day, we’d probably start at Jesmond Dene Park. Our family loves the open grassy spaces, hiking trail, playground, and the feeling of community with baseball games happening in the background. It’s one of those places that feels very “Escondido” to us.

After that, we’d head over to Mesa Agricola right near our gym on South Escondido Boulevard. It’s farm-to-table Mexican food owned by friends of ours, and the guisados are incredible. It has a small family atmosphere that really reflects the spirit of the city. If we’re downtown instead, we love Burger Bench on Grand Avenue for burgers, fries, and a relaxed local vibe.

One of our favorite things to do is simply walk down Grand Avenue afterward. Downtown Escondido has a lot of personality and some really unique locally owned shops. We love browsing through The Prism and Pendulum for gifts and interesting finds, stopping into Escondido Antique Mall, and checking out all the little storefronts that make the area feel creative and authentic.

For visitors, I’d also recommend spending time at the California Center for the Arts and the surrounding downtown area. It brings a lot of culture and events into Escondido and gives the city a really unique energy.

Another must-visit spot is Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens. Even beyond the brewery itself, the gardens and outdoor atmosphere are beautiful and very “North County.”

If we were planning a full week for friends visiting from out of town, we’d probably mix together:

* Downtown Grand Avenue strolling and shopping
* Parks and outdoor time
* Local food spots
* The San Diego Zoo Safari Park
* Brewery gardens and live music
* Community events downtown
* A martial arts class at ECA, of course

What I love most about Escondido is that it still feels grounded. There’s creativity, culture, family-owned businesses, and a strong sense of community here that’s hard to find in a lot of places now.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d definitely dedicate my shoutout to my husband and business partner, Dominique Chisem. Building Escondido Combat Academy has truly been a team effort from day one. Dom is not only an incredible coach and professional fighter, but also someone who genuinely pours into our students and community every single day. His work ethic, belief in our vision, and commitment to our members have been a huge part of ECA becoming what it is today.

I also want to recognize our coaching staff, staff members, and students. A martial arts gym is built by the people inside of it. Our coaches care deeply about helping people grow both on and off the mats, and our members have created a culture that is supportive, hardworking, and welcoming. Watching people encourage each other, celebrate progress together, and become more confident has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.

I’d also give a special shoutout to the families and organizations we’ve partnered with through our adaptive martial arts programs and community outreach efforts. Those experiences have reminded us that martial arts can have a real impact far beyond competition or fitness.

And honestly, a lot of credit goes to the Escondido community itself. Small businesses rely heavily on community support, and we’ve been fortunate to meet so many people who believed in what we were building and helped us grow through word of mouth, encouragement, and simply showing up consistently.

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