ZEN'S STORY: A MULTIFACETED JOURNEY

GRAPPLING AND RESILIENCE

In 2021, while assisting BJJ Brown Belt Coach Mario in Sweden 🇸🇪, Zen helped lead beginner and advanced classes over a 3-week period, working with more than 60 students. During this time, he developed the “7 P's Principles” to assist white belts struggling to mix wrestling with BJJ effectively. The principles proved so impactful that after Zen left Sweden, Coach Mario proudly displayed them on a board at the Fit 4 Fight gym in Gothenburg.

Upon returning to Montreal in 2022, Zen transformed these principles into an online course and authored The 7 P's Principles of the Dagestani Grappler Mindset, now available on Amazon. Inspired by grappling legends like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, the book and course provided a structured approach to grappling and top control, reflecting Zen’s passion for sharing practical, high-level techniques.

In July 2024, Zen underwent ACL surgery after years of struggling with a non-functional knee that had sidelined him from competition since 2020. The post-surgery journey was grueling—initially walking with a single crutch and unable to fully flex or extend his knee, he committed to months of intense rehabilitation. Spending 3 hours daily on physiotherapy, he gradually regained full functionality. Now, just 5 months (December) post-surgery, Zen is rebuilding his strength and preparing to compete in BJJ again by mid-2025.

Zen’s resilience and dedication exemplify his approach to life—whether in martial arts, business, or personal growth—showing that with the right mindset, altitude is always achievable.

BUSINESS GROWTH: FROM STRUGGLES TO SUCCESS

In June of 2020, while in Sweden with his ex-wife and during Covid, Zen discovered that people were making money on Facebook by leveraging groups, cold-pitching members, and providing value upfront through online courses they had the rights to promote. He was introduced to the power of online business by his mentor, Winston Ye from Singapore. Within 24 hours, Winston helped Zen earn his first $500 through high-ticket affiliate marketing, marking the beginning of his journey in online entrepreneurship.

By November of that, he transitioned into sales coaching to gain full control of his margins and achieve 100% profit. Zen began teaching affiliate marketers how to increase their sales and overcome objections. His coaching business generated $10,000 in its first month and continued to generate income in the months that followed.

Speaking of Singapore, in 2018, Zen spent 3 months living in the vibrant city of Geylang. During this time, he intended with his cousin's multifaceted e-commerce startup and gained hands-on experience working at a marketing agency specializin in assisting real estate agents, under the leadership of Kerry. He even traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia, for three days to meet the co-founder of the business, Jumpstartindonesia.com. This period provided Zen with invaluable insights into entrepreneurship and marketing, further enriching his diverse skill set in the market.

This success was fueled by his passion for closing deals, cultivated from a lifetime of sales experience. Zen worked in door-to-door sales, knocking on doors across Quebec and asking people if they had anything that needed sharpening—be it knives, gardening tools, or lawn equipment—and inviting them to the mobile workshop happening outside. He worked as an inbound sales advisor for self-storage companies, booking units for customers downsizing or moving. He even took on cold-calling roles, employing techniques inspired by Jordan Belfort’s iconic strategies. For over 10 years, Zen immersed himself in the art of sales, learning the nuances of client relationships, and honing skills that would later empower others to succeed. However, due to personal reasons and a difficult breakup, Zen stopped working with clients in May 2021, relocated back to Canada, and ended his online sales coaching career.

However, something happened that led him to plunge back into this venture. The idea for Zen's 2025 business consultation relaunch came after a meeting with a producer and writer, Koutroubis, over dinner at a Greek 🇬🇷 restaurant in Montreal. As they discussed business, Zen shared how he had always prioritized getting video testimonials—whether in self-defense, martial arts, sales, or marketing. Testimonials are so underrated and have been the key to building trust and credibility across every niche he has worked in.

That conversation reignited a spark. Why not relaunch his consultation business but focus locally, working directly with Montreal 🇨🇦 business owners this time? He figured he preferred to meet and network with people in his city, leveraging his Meetup.com group, where he hosts events twice a week to connect with entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and service-based providers face-to-face, helping them scale their success with powerful, authentic video testimonials.

SOCIAL CONNECTION: COMBATING LONELINESS

In 2024, at age 31, Zen recognized the importance of fostering meaningful connections. In 2024, he created a Meetup.com group to combat loneliness and bring people together through social events. Hosting these gatherings not only helped others but also reinforced Zen’s commitment to community and connection, proving that meaningful relationships are the antidote to isolation.

MOTIVATION: THE CHILL GUY THEME

Overcoming personal challenges inspired Zen to embrace the Chill Guy mindset long before he knew it existed—or before the creator, artist Phillip Banks, documented it. You might ask, how is that possible? After you heal, take care of your body, eat well, and start looking in the mirror and liking what you see, everything begins to shift.

In May 2023, after returning from a transformative trip to Mexico with his brother in law, Zen felt compelled to share his passion for grappling with the world. He created an Instagram account to document his lifestyle, gym routines, and most importantly, Dagestani grappling—a style that was gaining massive popularity at the time and hence why he wrote his book the 7 p's principles which is available on Amazon which were the same principles that were proudly displayed on a board  at Fit 4 Fight gym in Gothenburg.

A MULTIFACETED LIFE

From grappling and resilience to business growth, community building, and motivational living, Zen’s journey is a testament to the power of embracing life’s challenges head-on. Whether you’re here to learn how to master self-defensive living, scaling your business, building connections, or finding your motivation, Zen’s multifaceted approach ensures there’s always a way forward.