Meet Michael Ma | Volleyball Coach & Private Trainer

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

Hi Michael, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

Outside of coaching, I had a few volleyball players or their parents in the local area reach out to me about wanting extra reps, and providing more individual attention to improve on certain skills. Initially, I would only do this for a couple hours a week, just to help with having extra food and gas money.

Once clientele started to rise, I knew there was a chance to turn this into a business and really take things to the next level.

Providing a name and brand to my business, I was able to look more appealing to a larger community. I was able to identify and legitimize to my customers the various service streams I can provide other than just private training, such as recruiting seminars, informational workshops, group clinics, and more.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I think what sets me apart from others would be the genuine relationships I have with all my clients. I care a lot about their success on and off the court. Most of them are not just like family to me, they ARE family that mean a lot to me.

What makes me most proud is when players reach out to tell me they received their first college letter and say that they want them to play for their program. Or when they have announced that they have signed their letter of intent with a university.

There’s no better feeling knowing the impact made on a player who wants to further their education and play at the next level.

And I think the strong relationships I have made with so many people is how I got to where I am today. That strength is built on trust and it goes both ways.

One thing I have learned along the way is that honesty really is the best policy. Also, how you communicate can determine how the message comes across. Mental health is a hot topic in the sports world and I want to help my players improve in that aspect, what I say and how I say it is a big factor.

What I would like the world to know about me and my brand is that I am fortunate to work with like-minded individuals who have the same passion as me for the game of volleyball, the sport that has given me so much. I will continue to look for these kinds of athletes and be the best mentor I can be for them. Not only do I strive to push them to improve on the court, but to be better versions of themselves off the court as well. I think I am able to do that because I try to challenge myself everyday and enjoy every bit of it.

I am extremely happy and lucky to be doing something I love, and It really does not feel like work to me. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

For breakfast, I would take them to Aloha Stacks (Cerritos), Offstreet Cafe (Cerritos), and this hole in the wall spot, Uncle Bud’s Kitchen (Bellfower)

I am an active guy so I would definitely take them to some beaches: Rosie’s Dog Beach, Huntington Beach Pier, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach.

For lunch, some good dim sum at Great Seafood House (Artesia), or some shrimp at Claws (Cerritos). If they want meat, all you can eat Korean bbq is always great, Gen KBBQ in Cerritos is a good spot.

Dinner time, there’s plenty of options. If they want to explore Los Angeles we can go to Sugarfish for sushi and check out Angel City Brewey or Arts District Brewery. Tastu Ramen in Sawtelle is a good option also. If they want to go to Orange County, Rodeo 39 has plenty of food booths with amazing food. Anaheim Packing House is a great option as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

There are plenty to shoutout. To start off, my first volleyball coach from middle school, Alicia Contreras. She introduced me to the game of volleyball, the sport I love, and got me into coaching initially as well.

Next, Tony Rodriguez and Maria Fattal, directors of Seal Beach Volleyball Club. Their trust in me to work with their players allowed the push to start this.

Billy Hilliard, a mentor and big-brains type of guy. He provided the spark to legitimize my brand and guided me to create a proper business plan. He vocalized to me to think big, have grand ideas and be three to four steps ahead in whatever I do by preparing properly.

Lastly, I want to shoutout my family for believing in me and letting me follow my passion at an early age.

Website: https://instagram.com/mmetavolley?igshid=YTY2NzY3YTc=

Instagram: @mmetavolley

Facebook: Michael Ma’s Elite Training Academy

Image Credits
Ryan Redira Olivia Duval