The Bumpy Road

I've been looking at how my life has changed so drastically within the last year. About a year ago, I left my previous job as a personal trainer. The money wasn't bad, and I enjoyed being able to train people and get paid for it. But, something was missing for me. I felt as if I was working more on selling than I was actually training people, and thus, I felt that I needed a change. After a lot of thought, I then decided to leave the job behind and attempt to pursue teaching Filipino martial arts professionally.

Unfortunately at the time, things couldn't have been any more difficult. After I left my job at the gym, I realized I pretty much had no client base. I was pretty much empty on clientele and I had to start off fresh. Admittedly, for the first few months, money was scarce. Luckily, I saved enough money from my previous job to be somewhat comfortable, but I knew I couldn't live off of it forever. I decided to push myself to the limit and focus all of my time transforming Bayani Warrior from a rag-tag group of former college kids who sparred in a garage all day into a legitimate operation.

Again, I was faced with challenges. First, there were the external pressures. People all around me were doubting if I could do it. People kept saying how no one would want to pay me to train them, and how the recession would screw me over. Surprisingly, I actually listened to them, and I ended up doubting myself. For several months, I felt like I was driving a car with one foot on the gas pedal and another foot on the brake pedal at the same time. I'd move forward, stop, pull in reverse, stop, and go forward again. At the time, the few students I had either quit or were facing financial hardships themselves, and as a result, couldn't train despite their desire to do so. I didn't know what to do. I would pray to God everyday to help me figure out what to do, and it seemed like no matter how hard I prayed, I was still stuck in the same spot.

However, I kept pressing on. I made a new You Tube channel and tried to brainstorm ways to get more students to actually make a living off of this. But, I kept running into obstacle after obstacle.

As the Spring passed and Summer began, I found an advertisement online asking for a martial arts instructor to teach at a center in Morristown, NJ. I remember my first two paychecks. One had twenty dollars on it, and the other had nine dollars on it. That was it. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough students to teach and as a result, I was making NO money teaching. In fact, even if I combined both checks, I still wouldn't have enough money to fill up my gas tank to make the 45 minute drive from Edison to Morristown. During this time, I was still trying to brainstorm ways to actually get a client base. At this time, I had about 2 or 3 students who were training off and on. That was it. Anyone who was around during those days with me knows how small the group was. I could count the members of the organization on one hand, literally, and as a result, I was still frustrated and broke.

Somewhere around this time, I had an epiphany of sorts. I was focusing so much on the pain and the struggles I was going through that I ended up forgetting about the GOAL. The goal was simple: Get a solid client base of at least 10 students that were consistent and loyal. I ended up seeking ways to develop myself spiritually. I read the Bible, Tony Robbins, and began meditating and praying regularly again. I knew if I could get stronger spiritually, then I could muster up the strength to move forward. However, personal battles arose with people around me at the time, and I was once again, frustrated and lost. I debated continuing my pursuit of teaching FMA and began looking at other options in the Education and Law Enforcement field. I even considered quitting altogether at one point and simply enroll in Graduate School simply because I didn't know what else to do. I felt like I was just wandering aimlessly.

Then came Atienza Kali 505. It consisted of four days of training the Atienza Kali way in the Poconos. I did a lot at that 505 camp. I did things I thought I'd never be able to do. I was put through challenges and was able to work through them. It was as if that training totally came in just at the right time. It was like pressing a reset button. I knew that nothing was impossible after that 505. I came back ready to work and improve my life.

But then, the week I came back, I was given some bad news: My godfather, Joey Navarro, died. This guy was one of the few people I really trusted, and after all I've been through, knowing he was gone, I was mad. I felt alone. I didn't feel like I lost an uncle. I felt like I lost a trusted ally. However, I wasn't alone in this. My girlfriend, family, and even my instructor Tuhon Carl Atienza (who I credit with helping me assess my situation properly) helped get me through it. Their words helped me see things in a completely different light.

Summer was almost over, and Fall was right around the corner. While I was not as frustrated as before, I was still struggling financially. But this time, I had the spiritual and mental tools to work through the obstacles in front of me. I was more determined than ever to succeed.

I decided to rent out the space in Morristown by the month, and in time I had a group of 3 students with me. I became acquainted with more people who had the desire to train in FMA. These people became very consistent and loyal students. While I wasn't making that much money at the time, I was definitely able to say that I was making money teaching FMA, even if it wasn't that much at the time.

By November, I had people coming up to me with the desire to train. I decided to save up the money I had and I invested in making a website sometime in early December. It took a while, but by mid-January, I was getting calls and emails from more and more people who wanted to train. By February, I had the amount of students I needed. Some left, but it seemed that there were people more than willing to take their place.

Now, I am looking back on events in the last year and I realize that while it wasn't the easiest, I realize that I am light years ahead of where I was. It reinforces my belief that with any goal, no matter how big, it's important just get STARTED and begin. Granted, it took a while, but now, I am finally seeing things come together for me. Bayani Warrior is growing everyday, and while I only started really doing this successfully these last six months or so, I realize that it just took time for God to drill it into my head that if I really want something, I need to know exactly what it is I want, I need to work my ass off for it, and I need to have the faith and courage that I can do it. But, most of all, it's important to just take that first step and just keep on moving. The road may be bumpy, but you need to travel it intelligently with a focused mind and a faith-filled spirit. The more you tell yourself how much things suck and how broke you are...the more broke and frustrated you will be. However, if you do the opposite and focus on the things you do want, the more successful you will be. If you want to succeed, you need to think and speak like a successful person.

I am still getting used to this phase of my life. It hasn't been until recently that things really started coming together for me. I am NOT where I want to be just yet...but I know in time, things will get better and better. I have more and more goals. I know the only way I can go is UP.

Things can only get better from here.