Meet Kidisthenics' COO: Ryan Bigelow
- Ryan Bigelow
- Sep 18
- 3 min read
When Ryan Bigelow became Chief Operating Officer of Kidisthenics Fitness Company in 2024, he was just 22 years old. His journey to the role began in an unlikely place: the martial arts studio.
Ryan first met CEO and founder, Arlene Lopez Martinez, as her jiu-jitsu instructor. As talk about Kidisthenics naturally came up during their sessions, Ryan – then studying business and commercial music at Point Loma Nazarene University while balancing his own work as a trainer – was drawn to Kidisthenics’ individualized approach to fitness. It mirrored his own belief that growth should never be one-size-fits-all. Inspired, he offered to help Arlene with small operational tasks, using his business background to streamline processes and support the growing company. What began as informal consulting quickly evolved into something much bigger.
“What stood out to me about Ryan from the beginning is that he’s truly a jack of all trades,” said Arlene. “His mindset was always, ‘If I don’t know something, I’ll figure it out.’ In many ways, he was like a whole team in one person. He’s trustworthy, ethical, always eager to help, and takes initiative naturally.”
Ryan’s role evolved from there. What began as small projects turned into a part-time position where he supported Kidisthenics’ day-to-day work while Arlene focused on training and quality.
“I was at a fork in the road,” Ryan recalled. “I could pursue a career in government security, or I could commit to helping Arlene expand Kidisthenics. I chose this because I wanted to impact as many people as possible.”
Ryan brought with him a diverse background in fitness and leadership. He spent over five years as a martial arts instructor, CrossFit coach, and self-defense trainer, while also managing sales teams in the nutrition industry, at one point leading 40 people across multiple regions. At PLNU, he supervised the media services department, coordinating university events and further honing his organizational skills.
“What excites me is seeing people grow as individuals,” said Ryan. “I’ve never believed in a one-size-fits-all approach to learning. Every person deserves to be developed as an individual.”
Ryan said his strengths complement Arlene’s, forming a balanced leadership team. She brings deep expertise and experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities; Ryan drives operations, expansion, and partnerships.
“Arlene ensures the quality of our training always meets the highest standards,” Ryan explained. “She brings the field expertise, and I bring the business strategy and vision. It’s a strong balance.”
For Ryan, the most rewarding part of his role is seeing how Kidisthenics helps families achieve goals they once thought out of reach.
“Parents often come to us saying they just want to be able to take their child to a ballgame or enjoy a meal at a restaurant together,” said Ryan. “Through our training sessions and social outings, we work toward those goals and help make them possible. Experiences that neurotypical people often take for granted can be life-changing for our clients, and seeing parents get the chance to share those moments is a blessing.”
Looking ahead, Ryan envisions expanding Kidisthenics across California and eventually nationwide and beyond – making movement-based learning and individualized support accessible to every family who needs it.
“Independence, confidence, resilience – those are the things we’re working toward every day,” said Ryan. “If we can bring that to more families, that’s the real goal.”
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