Today we’d like to introduce you to James Pierce.
Hi James, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a martial arts instructor and a 6th-degree black belt in Isshogai Ryu Karate-Do. I have been studying martial arts since 1979 and teaching since 2000.
Originally, from New Orleans, La. In 2006 we opened Peacekeeper Martial Arts a family martial arts school in San Antonio after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Our school has now been open for 15 years and we have been teaching people as young as 2 years old up into their 70s how to be confident, disciplined, and protect themselves.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been smooth sailing. There have been many, many downs. but it is just things you learn when you start your own business and put yourself out there in any kind of way. I remember times when we didn’t know how we were going to make rent or bad business deals. Parents who wanted their children to come to one month of classes and be fixed not understanding it takes small changes in daily thought and habits before you can see any major changes in yourself or someone else.
But, when students who were children grow up and bring their children to you, or a parent says, “My child would paint the sky for you” or a student stands up to a bully or a child fights off a stranger; those tough times don’t seem all that tough.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Peacekeeper Martial Arts is focused on the personal growth of each student. We are a Christian-based martial art school, however, everyone is welcome. We have people of all faiths training with us. Our faith as a powerful foundation, we apply physical martial arts training to develop well-rounded human beings that also become leaders of today and the future.
What were you like growing up?
I was a funny-looking child and I was bullied a lot because I looked kind of different and children can be kind of mean. So, I wanted a way to protect myself from bullies and martial arts was a way to learn to protect myself, have fun learning something cool, and make friends.
We were a military family so we bounced from country to country. I would always earn a few belts, around blue or green but nowhere near a black belt.
Upon returning home to the U.S., My Father’s last duty station was Ft. Meade, MD, where I had a horrible experience from an instructor that made me walk away from the martial arts for several years
After my dad’s retirement, we moved back to our family home in New Orleans. My younger sister Kiani started learning Karate at the Baptist Theological Seminary from a student there named Carl Scroggs a 3rd Degree black belt. Kiani begged me to join her karate class and being a young man in his 20s at the time thought karate didn’t work and that all instructors were complete jerks like the one from my teenage years. After watching her yellow belt test, I thought I would try a class for a few weeks and fell in love with the martial arts over again. Within three weeks, I was competing and loving the martial arts journey again.
Pricing:
- $99 one month no-obligation trial
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.peacekeeperkarate.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeaceKeeperMartialArts
