Today we’d like to introduce you to Mario Salazar.
Hi Mario , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started studying Chinese martial arts in 1992 at the age of 12, and I have never stopped since. I knew it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I began learning Tai chi and Kung fu at a school in Tampa and later ended up traveling around the US and China to further my education focusing on Chinese kickboxing (Sanda), Shaolin kung fu and Chen style Tai Chi. Throughout this time, I earned the title of national champion in kung fu six times and fought on the US Sanda team in both the US and China. From 2001-2004, I was a live-in student at the Shaolin Institute in Mobile under my teacher, Master Shawn Liu, eventually becoming the head instructor at this campus. In 2005, I made the decision to return to where the journey began and open up my own martial arts school in Tampa.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been times when it has seemed like nothing but struggles, actually, which maybe should be expected when you are following a path that is not the norm for our society. However, I was doing something I really love and believe in, and that is what has kept me motivated despite the struggles. One of the main things that I am sure there are many people that can relate to is that my parents were immigrants, and my family didn’t have a lot growing up. So much of the time, I had to find a way to be able to keep training with limited recourses. I would usually work at the schools where I practiced to pay my tuition. What’s more, when I studied with my Shaolin teacher, I lived in basically a storage room at the kung fu school during that time to save on living expenses so that I could dedicate my time to training. I didn’t mind so much this very bare-bones simple living because I got to do focus on my goals, but I’ve also learned through the years there are not many people that are willing to sacrifice so many comforts for such a long time.
One of the other most difficult things I remember is that when I finally opened my school in Tampa, the economy was not doing so well. There were several years at the beginning that I worked second and third jobs to keep the doors open for the school, and during that time, I often considered shutting down and trying again when things were better. What kept me going, though, was the students I had who I realized were benefiting from the things I was teaching and who shared my passion for martial arts. Seeing even the small difference I could make in a few people helped me to stay motivated until the business was able to support itself, and I have not regretted it since.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a traditional martial arts school specializing in Chinese martial arts, specifically: Shaolin Kung fu Tai chi Chinese kickboxing (sanda/ sanshou). This in itself sets us apart, as we are one of the very few Chinese martial arts schools in the Tampa area. We are the only school in Tampa that offers all components of Chinese martial arts, including internal, external, self-defense and sport fighting. In addition, we offer cultural performances in traditional lion and dragon dance. We pride ourselves on being a school where students feel like they belong to a community of people who share a passion for martial arts, health, and self-improvement. There are many people who have a misconception that martial arts is only for children. This couldn’t be more wrong. Martial arts benefits all ages and we offer classes for all ages as well.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
There is a very old martial arts philosophy made famous by Bruce Lee that teaches us we should always be ready to adapt and change to our situation or environment, similar to water conforming to the shape of its container. We’ve realized that this philosophy is truer now than it ever was.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@mtsong.com
- Website: www.mtsong.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtsong_martialarts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MtSongAcademy
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