My name is Pedro Font and I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I was raised in a modest home by my mother and grandmother along with two brothers. My brothers and I shared a room until we were basically teenagers and started to leave the nest.
I have enjoyed sports since I was a child. While growing up, I recall spending countless hours outside of the house playing hide and seek, climbing trees and as I got older I started playing basketball, street football and would even put on a pair of gloves to box my oldest brother. At times, if we were upset enough, we would even box without gloves. Both of my brothers were gifted athletes and athletics appeared to come naturally to them. They worked very hard at their sport but they were natural at it and had much success. We were all very competitive but they had that slight physical edge over me. They were trim and muscular while I carried that husky physique. The result was that I had to work twice as hard not only to maintain the quality of athleticism that the Font name carried (my dad was also a multiple collegiate champion in table tennis and very successful as a track and field athlete) but to compete with the other gifted and highly skilled athletes in my particular sports. I maintained a high level of intensity in every practice, was the first one to arrive and the last one to leave and even work out during the off seasons just be noticed and considered a viable athlete.
I channeled all my energy and desire to compete (and follow my brothers footsteps) into organized sports. I tried to compete in cross country, basketball, track and field, football and wrestling. I mean I wanted to compete badly and I wanted to win badly!!!! I found some success in wresting where I competed for two years in high school and earned MVP honors during my Senior year but I found the most success / satisfaction in football I played 5 seasons (2 High School and 3 in the Pee Wee Divisions) and was team captain the last 3 of the 5 seasons. Football afforded me the opportunity to win championships, earn all star / all conference status and multiple awards. What I enjoyed the most about it, however, was my understanding of the game. As a player I did enjoy success but as a student of the game I benefited the most. I took that knowledge and returned after I graduated to be an Assistant Coach for the high school team (I was only 17 years old) that I played for. That experience allowed me to venture into a more demanding role and I accepted the position of head football coach (still 17 years old) for a Pee Wee division football team. I did manage to lose every single game but I learned a lot about myself and the kids that I coached. Sports allowed me to excel and provided me with a sense of purpose, satisfaction and accomplishment. More importantly, it allowed me to display the leadership skills that I possessed (and wasnt aware of) which to this day I incorporate into my daily life. Without sports I am certain that I wouldnt be where I am today.
I left Puerto Rico at 18 where my journey to adulthood began. I spent two years in Jacksonville, FL. while attending (or shall I say, pretending) college. I joined the Army and while in the Army I applied the same concepts that I used in athletics. I earned honor graduate status while in my basic training class. I started leading troops within 2 years of joining and I also earned the rank of Sergeant E-5 in less than 3 years. I spent 1 year in Korea and 3 in TX. The Army provided me with awareness of my leadership skills (skills that I would need later in life) and allowed to fine tune them.
After the Army I moved to Florida where I have lived since 1990. I have worked in healthcare since then and I currently am responsible for the sales department for a company that places nurses in travel assignments at different hospitals throughout the country. In addition I mange / own two businesses. One of them I prepare Financial Needs Analyses for families. The other business is promotional merchandise.
I have been married for 13 years and have an 8 year old daughter.
My first introduction to martial arts (as I assume was for most kids my age) was in the 70s with Bruce Lee. I recall coming out of every movie wanting to be just like him. It never materialized but the desire never really left. I made previous attempts to join the martial arts world while in college and the Army but never really pursuit it with any true commitment.
I was introduced t Team Martial Arts Centers by Sense Pineda and I havent looked back. I have approached my life in the same manner in which I approach martial arts. I take it very seriously, I work very hard at it and Im constantly trying to improve. I enjoy the physical nature of the art, the teaching aspects and the camaraderie that is developed. Martial Arts has allowed me to continue to exercise both my body and mind. It has brought youth back into my life and provided me with the opportunity to meet some life long friendships.