Turning a Passion Into a Profession with Akaya Robey

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Akaya Robey, founder of Kyber Kai Academy, a combat and fight choreography school based in Charleston, West Virginia. Akaya shares how a hobby that started years ago became a business that is quickly growing from a side project into a full time pursuit. What began as a passion for lightsaber choreography in New York eventually led him to build a community here in West Virginia that blends stage combat, choreography, and competitive saber combat.

I learn that Kyber Kai has been operating in West Virginia for about eight years and recently made the transition into an LLC. Akaya explains that students come for different reasons. Some are interested in choreography while others want full contact combat. Over time many participants end up enjoying both. The academy hosts free weekly practices and welcomes people from a wide range of backgrounds.

We also talk about the realities of entrepreneurship. Akaya admits he underestimated how quickly the business would grow and invested heavily in equipment before having enough students to support it. Later, as the academy expanded into combat sports, he found himself needing a different type of equipment altogether. Those lessons helped shape how he approaches growth today.

Our conversation covers the challenges of finding space, building connections, and creating opportunities through networking. Akaya credits relationships with helping the organization expand into conventions, events, and performances across multiple states. He also stresses the importance of being able to work with all kinds of people, handling criticism without getting distracted, and staying focused on the mission.

One theme stands out throughout the discussion: persistence. Akaya has been part of the saber community since 2004 and has heard every criticism imaginable. His philosophy is simple. Keep going. Whether people support you or doubt you, the work only moves forward if you do. It is a lesson that applies far beyond combat sports and into any business or passion worth pursuing.