To kick off the countdown to our auditions on January 28, we’ll be chatting with previous competitors who have used their experience with Kollaboration Atlanta as a stepping stone to a larger spotlight in the mainstream media. This week, we caught up with Steve Cho of Lost in the Gym (Kollab 3 winner) and how he went from being a dancer to a fighter.
March 2011 - Lost in the Gym guest performing at Kollab ATL 4. Steve Cho, second from right. Photo credit: Johnny Cheng
1. What have you been up to since Lost in the Gym’s most recent performance as a guest performer last March?
I went on study abroad to China in May, then I had an opportunity to start a company in China with an incubator program,Chinaccelerator. The company is called NextGoals. It’s in the fitness tracking space and essentially, we tried developing a special wristband that tracks calories burned, distance, speed, and number of steps. It then syncs up the data to a website in which you can compare and contrast your results with friends to keep each other accountable and motivated to reach fitness goals.
We made it on to TechCrunch Disrupt, which was hosted by the influential tech blog TechCrunch in Beijing, where I presented on a world stage. Unfortunately, we didn’t generate as much interest as I thought, and during the investor-engagement process, I found it to be a waste of time, with a lot of the vibe being something like “Oh, that’s cute, you’re young, run along now.”
I was sick of all that, and decided to take a two month leave of absence to Thailand to train and fight muay Thai. I went back in 2008 after graduating high school and it changed my life tremendously. I find it to be a good place to go and get focused. It’s like a productive vacation. So I stayed in Thailand from November to mid January, where I fought every 3 weeks, which is a pretty impressive rate. I enjoyed seeing myself improve really fast, getting top-of-the-line training from Thai fighters/trainers.
Fighting at Patong Boxing Stadium in Patong, Phuket, Thailand.
Post-fight in Phuket
2. How did you get involved with Lost in the Gym? Were you always a breakdancer?
I started breakdancing when I started college, so right after I got back from Thailand. I was going to UGA at the time, but I had friends at Georgia State and they decided to form a crew. Through training together, that’s how I started to get involved.
3. Why professional fighting?
Fighting is the best way to gauge training. So win or lose, I don’t care, as long as I keep getting better and can keep training. I had to work myself up to be able to train 8 hours every day for fighting. It takes a lot of mental focus and discipline to stick to it.
4. Where do you live now?
I live in both Athens and my parents’ house in Johns Creek.
5. What are your next steps?
I’m going to give this entrepreneurship stuff another go, but do it according to how I see fit. I hate compromising, especially if it’s just to please other people like investors. I just want to help others stay motivated to achieve their potential and in doing so, it helps me achieve mine.
2010 - Kollab ATL 3 winners, Lost in the Gym
6. We’re getting our auditions underway soon. Any advice you have for first-time performers?
Don’t be scared. Deep breaths before you perform. And preparation is key. If you haven’t put in the time to execute on stage, then don’t bother, because the ones who are hungry for success will work for it, and those are the ones who deserve it. Life’s too short to be scared, so just work hard and have fun. Pretty simple.
Lost in the Gym at Center Stage in 2011. Photo credit: Johnny Cheng
Victory!
Since Kollaboration Atlanta began in 2008, Lost in the Gym has placed both 2nd and 1st place and guest performed as a reigning champion. The crew has gone on to perform and compete at various events around the community. Wanna join the movement? Apply to audition for our fifth show! Deadline: January 26. See here for details.
i met steve while training at Tiger.i am almost double his age.never have i seen such a driven and focused indi vid.ual.very disciplined.He sets