Rivalry Jiu-Jitsu in Fresno opened its new location last November and has seen a steady increase in membership since then. Photo provided
By Frank Lopez
It's been a year since Fresno's once highly regarded Bitwise Industries filed for bankruptcy, leaving 900 employees in Fresno and other offices across the country without a job.
Bitwise co-founders Jake Soberal and Irma Holguin Jr. have since been indicted on charges of defrauding investors out of $100 million and are widely expected to accept plea deals.
Bitwise's former employees and partners have found other ways to make a living, some even starting their own businesses.
Natalie Cervantes, a former Bitwise human resources employee, co-founded Rivalry Jiu Jitsu with her husband, Victor, in November 2023 at 761 E. Barstow Ave. in Fresno's Headliner Shopping Center.
Cervantes said that while Bitwise's bankruptcy and the layoffs came as a surprise, it turned out to be a positive thing for her.
“I was shocked, like everyone else,” Cervantes said. “It was a blessing in disguise. Now I can focus on my family, my children and my work.”
She said since the martial arts studio opened, it has seen steady growth, with members referring their friends.
Cervantes said many of Rivalry's members are business owners and young professionals who apply the lessons they learn on the mat to their own lives and work.
What separates MMA gyms from other MMA gyms is the culture: That “student mindset” of continuous learning and growth is one of the reasons so many business owners and entrepreneurs get into MMA, she says.
“Sometimes people have a hard time losing or trying new things,” Cervantes says. “They're afraid of rejection or failure. If they have that problem at work, it's the same on the mat. A coach can point that out and teach them how to deal with it.”
There are several young members among the group, second-generation owners of their family businesses, who use jiu-jitsu as a way to relieve stress and plan strategies.
Rivalry Jiu Jitsu has partnered with the We Defy Foundation, which provides veterans living with military-related disabilities with long-term solutions to overcome their challenges through jiu jitsu and fitness training.
Social media, word of mouth, family and friends have helped promote Rivalry Jiu-Jitsu, Cervantes said.
She may be shocked by the collapse of Bitwise and the loss of her job, but she's working with Victor to figure out the next move in the fight.
