The PMA-Life Philosophy & Mission Statement Print
For as long as I can remember I have been intrigued by how people are able to overcome adversity. Growing up my life was tough. I was bullied daily both physically and mentally by the neighborhood kids and those at my school (Not forgetting the teachers too). I grew up hating school, hating my life and at the age of 16 hating my alcoholic mother for kicking me out of the house. I carried a lot of anger around with me for many years. I fought hard physically sometimes in the ring, sometimes on the streets. But in spite of all of this I seemed to always come out on tops.

I survived, but not just survived, in spite of everything I made something positive of my life.

Several years ago I sat down and asked myself, how in spite of everything I succeeded? I am reminded here by the words of Victor Frankl,

“The last of human freedoms-to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way”.

Unknowingly at the time I was choosing my own way. Even when people told me I would never succeed, even when that 7th grade teacher told me I would never amount to anything, I chose my own attitude.

In the years that have followed I have relentlessly pursued the study of human excellence. I have integrated diverse fields into my coaching from Positive and Strength Based Psychology to as far a field as Complexity Theory. I have looked closely at my martial arts and I have distilled the most important lessons that create champions not only on the mat but in life as well.

Looking back martial arts literally saved my life. It helped me rediscover who I truly was. Not what society defined me as or wanted me to be, but rather who I had always been in spite of everything I had struggled with in my life. Today the martial arts life program I offer is a culmination of over 15 years of coaching and 25 years of practice, learning and the search for meaning.

I am not a martial arts coach, rather I am a life-performance coach that uses martial arts as the vehicle to coach my clients the necessary lessons to become champions in their life and career.

Every Session:

robert_testimonialIn every training session at our studio- from training in CMD, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or MA-Life- is grounded in, without exception in the following coaching and teaching philosophy:

  • Building Cooperation- Working together, so that my success is linked to yours.
  • Creating Social Support- Ability to exchange ideas, make mistakes without repercussion or ridicule and collaborate effectively with others in training.
  • Championing Independent Effort And Personal Challenge- Doing well, instead of winning or self-worth attached to dominance.
  • Driven From a Play Ethic- How training makes you positively feel, is far more important than what you do.
  • Developing a Sense of Competence- Feeling confident in doing what one is doing. A focus on the process and not the destination.

 What We Don't Offer: 

We do not encourage or coach hyper-competitiveness, individualistic gain over the collective, extrinsic goals that mean little to the growth of our clients in the end, ego and dominance driven sessions. 

 What We Do Offer:
Our classes and sessions are for highly intelligent, self actualized people with healthy minds, who fully understand,

Cooperation -Instead Of-  Hyper-competitiveness

Social Support - Instead Of- Focusing on Individualistic/It is all about me gain!

Independent Effort - Instead Of- Focusing on external factors (Whom you can beat, what belt you wear or will get, your title)

Play - Instead Of- Fighting for control (Dominance)

A Focus on Competence - Instead Of- Creating stress and fear as a means to motivate you to train.