XMA's Mike Chat: Martial Arts Expert Who Trained Actors Jaden Smith and Taylor Lautner Inspires as Motivational Speaker
Pam Vetter
February 03, 2011
Chat is the rare motivational speaker who has the ability to make you feel as though you can achieve your dreams. Listening to his impromptu, energetic style, makes you feel alive, motivated and productive. His message is real, honest and from the heart. It's not scripted word-for-word and maybe that's why he's finding great success both inside and outside of the martial arts industry.
While many motivational speakers have to undergo extensive training for years to reach even the smallest level of success, Chat's spirit comes naturally and his message gains action. For Fortune 500 companies, he is a godsend.
Chat has been active in the martial arts industry since he was eight-years-old. "I was a student and transitioned into a competitor and then teacher, ran my own teams, ran some training camps, and then we decided to start the Xtreme Martial Arts performance training program. It's been a long time. Let's see, that would be, 27 years," Chat noted. "27 years in the martial arts, and clearly, the value in martial arts training for me has been the life skills and leadership training aspects that has allowed me to develop my self-confidence and the ability to go out and perform as well as empower people and create a positive impact in communities and people's lives for the better."
Chat's Xtreme Martial Arts Performance Training Program is located in the heart of North Hollywood, California. A big part of its success is its accessibility to a wide age group.
"We launched XMA nine years ago and the intent was to one, hit a demographic of people that wouldn't normally be interested in traditional martial arts programs and attract them to martial arts. Help schools boost their teen market, where many schools were losing kids at 11-12 years old because karate wasn't cool anymore wearing white robe looking uniforms walking around town, getting in and out cars, just wasn't the thing to do. So most schools were at 80/20 ratio, about 80% kids, 20% adults, and very few teens. So that was another reason, but most importantly, XMA was what people were seeing in the media. Video games, movies, television, and cartoons. People were seeing Hong Kong style action, chop Saki action. Jet Li, the Matrix, Jackie Chan. But they would go to martial arts schools and they would get Karate Kid. White uniforms, traditional stances. There was a disconnect, and people didn't see the correlation. Kids would get excited and then deflated when they would go to a traditional martial arts school and so our approach was to create a direct link. They saw Matrix and they got black uniforms from day one, not white uniforms. They saw people flying through the air and in XMA, there is loud music, energetic music, great energy, lots of yelling, and the same kind of martial arts moves they saw on film," Chat explained. "So, that way there would be a direct correlation, and it would help spark the interest of those who were not motivated by regular traditional programs."
Chat has found success with a wide range of students, especially students who went on to use their skills on film. "I am very excited about the success of Jaden Smith and Taylor Lautner, my students, Boo Stewart; Noah Ringer is another one of our XMA students from a Texas ATA school. We're delighted to see them do so well. Taylor just rated # 3 of the top actors under 40. Jaden came in at #4. Very, very impressive; were still proud. And it's a true testament to the life skills and leadership program we have in XMA and the martial arts. These guys are martial artists first. Xtreme Martial Artists second. They've taken the skills they've developed, not just the punching and the kicking, but the confidence, the self-discipline, the work ethic, the goal setting approach. They've got the foundation and they've been able to apply it in everything that they do, so that is the key to their success. It's not what you do; it's how well you do it. Not everyone can stand in front of Jackie Chan you know and the top actors in the world and produce. Whether it's long days, whether it's being sick, being hurt and getting out there and doing it and stepping up and not having that breaking point. That's definitely the reason why they are so successful and in the end, you know everybody is always saying the same thing. 'Wow, those guys have incredible work ethic but they're so nice.' They're so genuine, they're helpful and they don't have the big egos, and attitudes that sometimes you run into with actors. So it's all of those things. It's not any one thing. It's the life skills, not any one skill; it's the leadership training that they've gone through that really helps to make them stand out."
Chat has an incredible energy and positive attitude that is simply infectious. When he speaks, he energizes.
"Well that's what we call the 'Xtreme' Attitude or better known as black belt attitude, black excellence. Again, it's all about goal setting. You know, the goal is to achieve black belt, but you know; now we have all of these goal markers. So we set goal markers at white belts. There are three stripes and then you get your orange belt and there are three stripes and then the yellow belt and all the way up to black belt. And so the goal setting process is established and mastered over time because you set goals, you wind up falling short, you have to re-evaluate, and then you move on. And so once you accomplish that goal, once you accomplish any level, there is always another level to go to, but you got to have a clear path. Otherwise you wind up wasting time, you stall in life, you flounder around, and you hope you come across something that peaks your interest. In Martial Arts, it's all about goal setting. That's why we break boards in martial arts, that's why we have the belt ranking system. And beyond black belt, there is first degree, second degree, third degree, but in the beginning it's really is all about, as white belt, how can you have a black belt attitude? Again, it's keeping your eye on the ball, focusing on the goal and the end result. 5% on the problem, 95% on the solutions. The solutions and the goal for Martial Arts is get that black belt so even though you're a white belt or a no belt and you walk in on your first day and try your first class, it's all about black belt attitude, black belt excellence and that's where that attitude comes from and then it just goes from there, starting from day one, all the way to black belt."
With motivation in mind, Chat offers employees at big corporations the same energy he offers his students. "What's interesting is that, there are people who motivate, and people who truly engage and I believe that after doing 800 seminars worldwide, you see patterns in people, patterns in kids, teens, adults, instructors, leaders and you see what people do, you see the types of patterns they fall into as they react to one another. It really is about getting people on their feet and getting them to clear the way. Focus on the goals, not the problems, but have a method in which they can do that. So it's very simple. For us, when the energy gets stuck and you're hesitant, when you're unsure, when you need something to give you that jolt or motivation to move forward and move ahead, it's all about not what you do, it's how well you do it, but it's all about taking that first step. Physically engaging the body and the mind. There are two things you can do. You can move and you can yell. When that energy gets stuck, what happens? People get shocked and they freeze, they internally shut down. You know or they laugh because they don't know what else to do. And it's really important that you have some tools in which you can use to overcome these obstacles, just to get started. That's not even doing the work. This is just taking that first step," Chat emphasized. "Many people get paralyzed by the thought or the fear of jumping into something. So in the terms of working with companies, it really is all about getting people to work together. Getting them to take that first step, being creative, wanting to share and not be afraid of exploring opportunities and their ideas in front of others or within a group."
Chat's message is one of empowerment. "You know you hear this all the time. 'Peak mental state.' Peak mental performance. It really is this simple. It's not about what you do, but how well you do it. It's about starting strong, ending strong, and having a method to go about it. Knowledge is not power. The ability to apply that knowledge is power. So it's up to you, how far do you want to go? Goals without action plan are worthless as well. It really is all about focusing, starting strong, ending strong. Committing, following through, and not settling. Once you reach that highest level, there is always another level to go to. Setting standards. How high are your standards? It's not about being the best in the world; it's about being the best that ever lived. The best that anyone has ever seen. So, you roll all that into one. You've got setting the standards at the highest level and knowing that there is always another level to go to, and having an action plan to carry it out and using tools, positive anchoring tools to make that happen, and set yourself up for success. That's the starting strong, the ending strong and really, when I work with groups; it's really getting them on their feet. It's not talking to them or talking about them. It's about getting them on their feet, engaging, giving them the tools to where they're acting it; they're using their physicality to anchor it into their bodies."
Listening to Mike Chat is a treat as he inspires you to take a leap of faith and do more with your life. Chat was clearly influenced at a young age.
"It really started with my parents and their work ethic. Moving from Thailand, grandparents had moved from China, started rubber plantations, built communities. They came over to the United States. I grew up in a middle class neighborhood. They had incredible work ethic but they always instilled in my siblings and me the thought that you can do anything. You know dream big, go for your goals. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something. That really started it. Then along came my martial arts instructor, Sensei Sharkey of Sharkey Karate Studios in Napierville, Illinois. He was the one who took me under his wing. My parents couldn't afford to travel me to tournaments, so I taught for him and he sponsored my way and he really laid the path out for me in terms of opening the door of opportunity, and giving me encouragement and support to walk through those doors, seize the moment, and take advantage of the resources that were out there and available to me. It really blossomed once I started my martial arts training and now Sensei Sharkey is like a second father to me. I am very lucky to have that family support and also my martial arts family as well."
Chat is now taking his message to a much wider audience on the road across America. "After giving 800 different presentations at local elementary schools, communities, businesses, that's actually what I am doing. The most important areas to go to are the rural areas where people get their information from news and TV and they don't have lots of different events to go to and participate in. They are not in a major metropolitan city. It is important. Getting into those areas with the celebrity background, the martial arts background, the tournament background, the training background, the mentoring background that I have. They get to see someone who is in touch with all of these people that are involved with pop culture and they're not going to get Taylor Lautner or a Jaden Smith to come to their town most likely. To be able to bring a positive message along with some valuable tools that they can use to really start engaging in their lives. Whether they are a parent, engaging in their child's life and being 100% supportive and really there for them, physically, mentally, and being able to support them with their words and their body motion to the kids and having hope and being able to see someone who has gone out there and done that and worked with people on a high level. Going into these areas is very, very important and so those are some the areas we would target."
There are three pieces of advice that Chat shares with students and groups alike. "It's very simple. The message is always the same. We've got our philanthropic message, reduce, reuse, and recycle. Number one. Be active, take action. You see something plugged that is not being used, unplug it. You see something on the ground, pick it up, recycle it, throw it away. We are all a part of this community and we need to be responsible citizens and we have to think more globally. That is going to help everybody. Number two. It's all about engaging. You're going to retain the most, you´re going to perform better if you engaging, but you've got to be at 100% peak mental state. 100% energy, 100% intensity. Number three. You've got start strong, and end strong. You've got to commit and follow through. Consistency is key. Consistency over time equals the results that we want, so it's important that we are consistent all the way through."
When asked if he'd like his children to follow in his footsteps, Chat's answer is surprising but falls in line with his own approach to life. "No, I would not like my kids to wear my shoes for a minute. Maybe take a look at the design and the wear and tear. The roads that those shoes have traveled down. But it's really important to me to give my kids all the tools that I can possibly give them, and they go out in the world and they make their own way, and their own path. So that would be my goal for them."
Remember the name Mike Chat, because he will be paving a new roadway of thought, approach and action for people far and wide. In this writer's view, he is unlike anyone you've ever seen or heard. In a heartbeat, he can change the energy in a room.
"My goal is to create positive impact in communities, starting with individuals, one black belt at a time. One person at a time, and really getting them to see something. Something different, to try something new and to just have one thought to say, 'Huh, that was kind of interesting, that was different.' And to get them to try one new thing a day, a week, a month, a year, but just getting people to jump out of their patterns, out of their comfort zones and to really open their eyes to a new approach, a new way of doing things, a new way of living, and taking that first step. Whatever that is for them. Taking action to stop smoking, to lose weight, to get fit. To be a better parent, a better spouse, a better husband. It's really important that we get the message across, but we teach people these tools. So that's the most important thing for me. Do I think I can help people overweight, sluggish, stuck in life? Absolutely! That's our specialty! It's about getting people up on their feet, off the couch, off the bench, off the sidelines. As the saying goes, life is not a spectator sport. Don't be caught watching it go by. It really is about participation. So yes! That is the goal and we've got the exercise, training program to do it actually. So yeah! Childhood obesity, the overweight issue in America, eating right. All of that is part of what we do," Chat reinforces. "Actually we've got a training program that is already in motion. It is being licensed and offered in almost 1,000 martial arts schools across the country. I also have a book in the works. My first book that I am going to publish is a parenting book. I have worked with hundreds of thousands of kids. Probably tens of thousands a year and there are some simple patterns that we see. We have some tools that work as it relates to our life skills and leadership programs and transforming lives is something we do on a daily basis over here. My goal is to help parents across the world implement some simple perimeters that will allow them to have some structure with the way that they parent their kids. But also creativity and flexibility in which they're allowed to grow and mature at their own pace."
Chat's goal for XMA and his legacy is a powerful one. It speaks to his commitment of motivating people to do their best while highlighting that it's not a mission of one, it's a mission of many.
"My goal has always been to create something that withstood the test of time. Certainly, my timeframe here. Long after I'm gone, I hope that I would have created something that continued to support and benefit communities, people, parents and families. So that is what our programming is all about. We plan to take our message to a wider scale and reach more people that can go out there and carry on our mission." With a confident, proud smile, Chat adds, "Having many people carry on our mission is very, very important for us."
For more information on Mike Chaturantabut or XMA visit http://www.xmarevolution.com.
Pictured: XMA's Mike Chaturantabut
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