Today we’d like to introduce you to Larry St Clair.
Hi Larry, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When my mom and I moved to Austin from Galveston, I was overweight and uncoordinated, with no extracurricular physical activities. I received a pass for martial arts training, and that started the 41-year journey to where we are now. Martial arts, as my instructor puts it, is the one activity that accepts everyone. My first school took me in and gave me father figures, an additional family, and a place to belong. It also gave me the coordination, fitness, and confidence to do anything. Over the years, I sought out leading instructors and professionals to train with physically and mentally. Over 30 years ago, I started a small group of training partners and students that slowly grew each year as we built our school. At one point, we grew to 275 students in our 4000-square-foot, two-story facility, offering 3 classes every hour on the hour, six days per week. After some time, I noticed I wasn’t on the floor as much as I wanted to be teaching and felt it was time to make a change. We changed locations and expanded to 1500 square feet, eliminated the office, and created a schedule that offered small-group training sessions for 6-10 people and private lessons. Now our school, Martial Way Legacy, sits perfectly at a 75-person roster, where I want to be, on the floor sharing martial arts, fitness, and goal-crushing advice. I have had the pleasure of traveling to share, coach, and train individuals all over the world, and I’ve made friendships that last a lifetime. Over the years, martial arts has given me the confidence to show my artwork at ComicCons and, by 18, receive offers to become a professional comic book artist. It taught me to always have backup plans: go to college to study commercial art, find a job as a production artist, and eventually start my own advertising agency and graphic artist network. It helped me learn how to use my body for language and storytelling in film and motion capture on multiple projects, and most importantly, it taught me how important it is to have goals. Still to this day, I hunt for things I want to accomplish, like paddling in the Texas Water Safari, the world’s toughest canoe race, or doing other ultra-marathon events like rucking with a weighted backpack across 50-75 miles. It’s kept me hungry and guides me through life to stay in the best possible shape and seek adventures in many different areas.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As Bruce Lee would say, “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”
There have definitely been plenty of challenges along the way. Early on, my mother had to work two jobs to take care of us and missed pretty much every training and test. It wasn’t until about seven years in that she came to a self-defense workshop I offered, saw what I could do, and learned how to help others. But the martial arts community supported me at every training session and competition. That drove me to develop that kind of environment and bond with my students later in life.
Because of the economics of the time, we moved a lot, which made me the new kid at most schools. It was a blessing and a curse: I always had to make new friends, but it also taught me how to be social and choose the right kind of friends.
During my few years in the comic book industry, I learned the challenges of managing deadlines and that it’s great to work in one of your passions, but it’s not always everything it’s cracked up to be.
Moving into advertising at age 20, I learned a lot about time management and wearing multiple hats; moving from account executive, art director, designer, networker, accountant, etc. Plus, it wasn’t always about creating something nice-looking. It was about creating a campaign and material that would last for the client and drive the most awareness and calls to action.
Teaching and training in martial arts was always in the background, but learning when to shift from advertising to full-time martial arts was a big step. It was the right one for me and still has been for decades, but it can be scary at first. Once you do, like many paths to our goals, you either sink or swim. I dove into deep waters and was fortunate to work with world-class industry professionals who guided me. However, not every idea you have, or what you find exciting, is what’s best for your student body. I had some ideas that were complete infernos and everyone showed up for; where as others completely bombed. I learned a lot about my audience, and what they wanted came before what I wanted, which led me to my philosophy of, “I always put everyone’s goals first, and when I do, I get everything I need, and sometimes I even get a few things I want.”
Like in any competition, I’ve taken myself and fighters to events; sometimes we win, but we always learn. One of the most powerful things I learned was the “stick and stay no matter what they say mentality.” If I keep stepping up and keep applying myself, I will chew my way to the top. Life isn’t a one-and-done, I have arrived kind of thing. It’s a complete war of attrition. Be the first person to step up and be the last person to go home every day. Eventually, the line of people thins, and you are still there pushing. If you keep doing this over and over again, you will get good at anything you pick up. You will excel and reach the top of whatever you pursue, achieving your goals.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Many people I say I have so much energy that if I could bottle it up and sell it I would be a millionare! I don’t give in or give up. Some call it tenacity. I believe I am just driven. Whatever I want to do, I do, and I keep doing it until it’s done. Then, when it’s done, I try to figure out how I can do it better. I apply the same mentality to those I have the privilege of working with. I tell them that they will give up on themselves before I give up on them. I offer them a chance to keep going, knowing that I always have their back and will be there to support them. I want to make a difference in the world. I know that there are only a few things I can do that can make that difference. They are right here, right now, in my small circle of influence. So every day I wake up, I toss a stone into the water and watch the ripples of change take effect, hoping that if I make a difference in your life, you will pay it forward to the next person you cross paths with.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
As humans, we don’t like to be uncomfortable. Make it your mission to be mentally, physically, and spiritually uncomfortable. When you are uncomfortable, you are learning and growing. Just when you don’t want to do something, do it anyway. When you are sore, do it again. Keep going! So many people start something and stop in less than a month. Be the person who keeps going, and you will be destined for many great things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.martialwaylegacy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martialwaylegacy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/martailwaylegacy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/martialwaylegacy
