Education Activist & Master Martial Arts' Educator
Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Educator and STUDENT.
Peter Liciaga is an Education Activist, Master Martial Arts Educator, Self-Defense Expert and Key Note Speaker working with youth, parents, educators and community leaders.
Peter's Mission is to bring substantive educational solutions, curriculum, awareness and resources to communities involving peace education, at-risk youth, bully prevention, self-defense, dietary self-defense, anger management, community building, innovative black belt testing, leadership and character development.
Peter Liciaga is a martial arts educator, personal development coach, and an educational activist working within the education, martial arts and performing arts communities. In the 1980’s and 90’s he performed internationally on stage, TV and film. He started teaching martial arts in the late 90's. He currently a 5th degree master instructor at Dinoto Karate Center in Mount Laurel NJ.
His teaching methods and style gained him an audience -and the opportunity to work with thousands of individuals and dozens of organizations in the field of personal growth and development.
Peter took his first martial arts lesson in 1970 in the Bronx when a friend invited him to train karate at a community center. He began the formal study of taekwondo, earning his black belt under Grandmaster Tiger Kim in 1978. Peter trained in several other systems over the years earning a total of 5 black belts. In 1999 he became a student of Master Michael Dinoto – and joined the DKC Team in 2001. As a member of the DKC team, Peter teaches as a full-time professional master martial arts teacher. Peter is currently training for his 6th degree black belt.
Peter is still active as an actor and can be seen in Paramount Pictures/M. Night Shayamalan's film, "The Last Airbender", which opened in theaters July 2010.
Peter lives with his wife, Renee Chambers-Liciaga in Mount Laurel, NJ. They have 2 children. They also, occasionally, run performing arts workshops and seminars in the performing arts community.
Peter Liciaga is dedicated to one thing: entertaining, inspiring, and empowering those around him. He's performed in front of tens of thousands, appeared on stage, TV and in the movies. And he's already established a reputation as an inspiring martial arts educator and keynote speaker with a simple and entertaining, yet challenging message.
Abused as a child and growing up in the street gangs of New York, Peter was able to triumph over the tragedy and violence. Peter he continues to encourage everyone to overcome struggles and live life to the fullest. And he does so through the power of prayer and the power of choice.
Peter has spoken to thousands of people about how his obstacles in life make him who he is today.
"Peter's ability to connect with the audience is a rare gift and is one you don't want to miss." - Principal J. Walsh (Sequia Transitional High School)
"As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another." Prv 27:17
Peter Liciaga is a proud member of The 100 and The Ultimate Black Belt Test. Both programs were created by instructor, mentor and friend, Tom Callos, who has over 40 years experience teaching and training in the martial arts.
Simply meaning, the clearer you are on your goals and primary objectives, the better your chances of success and achievement. It’s easy to figure out how to achieve something, once you’ve decided what it is that you truly want. That’s call CLARITY.
Most people tend to have very foggy goals or wander through life day after day dreaming with no real direction. This is why we encourage you to develop S.M.A.R.T. goals in all areas.
Martial Arts training, and life, is a lot more fun and exciting when you have exciting and specific goals that you are aiming for.
Climbing the ranks and progressing in your journey to becoming a great Black Belt Champion is an extremely motivating process.
Learning and practicing your skills, training hard and getting yourself into your best shape ever, has a very positive impact on all areas of your life.
Once you have clarity with your goals and you have very specific targets to aim for, you must keep your goals in the forefront of your mind. It helps to review your goals daily.
You must eat, live and breathe your goals until you’re doing everything possible to move in direction of your dreams. Imagine everytime you enter the dojo, you’re highly motivated and focused to train…ready to take action toward improving your mind, body and spirit.
CLARITY IS POWER! Think about your goals as a Black belt Champion, develop and create a clear vision of your short term goals, set some targets for the next 30-60-90 days…then use them as stepping stones to your longer term goals and objectives.
Train and condition yourself to be your best until you become… the Ultimate Black Belt Champion.
One of the primary purposes that our organization has held true to form since the very beginning is the constant desire to better educate, motivate and demonstrate the values and benefits of leading life as a Black Belt Champion and becoming a successful achiever in life.We also reviewed Power #3: The Power of Positive Progress from Kyoshi Steve LaVallee's 12 Powers of a Successful Sensei.
Since our humble beginnings in 1975, we have always done our best to raise the standards of the Martial Arts and to develop our instructors to be positive and powerful Models of Excellence.
Martial Arts begins and ends with RESPECT. By treating others in a FRIENDLY and COURTEOUS manner, we set the tone for great long-term relationships that will ultimately bring out the best in everyone.
The "Sweet Child O' Mine" video depicts the band rehearsing in an abandoned theater, surrounded by crew members. Several of the band members' girlfriends were shown in the clip. Izzy Stradlin's dog was also featured. The video was extremely successful on MTV, and helped launch the song to success on mainstream radio.
In an effort to make "Sweet Child O' Mine" more marketable to MTV and radio stations, the song was cut from 5:56 minutes to 4:12, with much of Slash's guitar solo removed. This move drew the ire of the band members, including Axl Rose, who commented on it in a 1989 interview with Rolling Stone: "I hate the edit of 'Sweet Child o' Mine.' Radio stations said, "Well, your vocals aren't cut." "My favorite part of the song is Slash's slow solo; it's the heaviest part for me. There's no reason for it to be missing except to create more space for commercials, so the radio-station owners can get more advertising dollars. When you get the chopped version of 'Paradise City' or half of 'Sweet Child' and 'Patience' cut, you're getting screwed."[7]
On an interview on Eddie Trunk's New York radio show in May 2006, Axl Rose stated that his original concept for the video focused on the theme of drug trafficking. According to Rose, the video was to depict an Asian woman carrying a baby into a foreign land, only to discover at the end that the child was dead and filled with heroin. This concept was rejected by Geffen Records.
There is also an alternative video for "Sweet Child O' Mine" with different captures and the footage entirely in black and white.
The Lyrics
She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I stared too long
I'd probably break down and cry
(Woahhhh) Sweet child o' mine
(Woah oh oh oh) Sweet love of mine
She's got eyes of the bluest skies
And if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by
(Woah oh oh oh) Sweet child o' mine
(Woah oh oh oh) Sweet love of mine
(Woah oh oh oh) Sweet child o' mine
(Woah oh oh oh) Sweet love of mine
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
(Confusing parts with Duff and Axl singing)
Sweet child o' mine
I have 15 videos on youtube documenting my Modern Arnis training with Sensie Les Kiersnowski. I recorded these for my 5th degree black belt test in Tang Soo Do with Master Dinoto in Mount Laurel's Dinoto Karate Center.
Thank you Sensie Les! :)
Peter Liciaga is a member of Tom Callos' The Ultimate Black Belt Test (http://www.ultimateblackbelttest.com/), an undertaking of The 100 (http://www.the100.us/), and a part of Dinoto Karate Center's master instructor staff (http://www.mountlaurelmartialarts.com/)
To find out more about Peter Liciaga, visit www.PeterLiciaga.org
My good friend (and fellow team mate in the Ultimate Black Belt Test) S Kai Li (http://elitetrainingsystems.us/instructors/kai-li/), participated in a CBS news piece on self-defense with the founder Wun Hop Kuen Do, Sifu Al Dacascos. Sifu Dacascos' son is Mark Dacascos, the actor on the new Hawaii Five-O.
2 BONUS VIDEOS: Check Out Some Cool Videos at end of this Post
1. Mark Dacascos' action reel video
2. Sifu S Kai Li teaching a quick self defense lesson
"Hi Master Liciaga,This is a very important question, yes?
I was just wondering about the dream100 site. There didn't seem to be much activity. This is the site for the Elite Training info correct?"
"Can you tell me how to encourage our children to get along together? I have two boys and there are days when I feel like a referee! How do we parents cultivate patience and help our children just get along?“
Community Activism Projects
Project Based Leadership Training
Working with At Risk Youth - A Layman's Resource Site
Self-Defense Workshop and Online Resource For Senior Citizens
Parenting Resources
Martial Arts & Self-Defense Resources / Projects / Work
Vacanti Jiu Jitsu (Master Liciaga’s BJJ Instructor)
Modern Arnis – Les Kiersnowski (Master Liciaga’s Arnis Coach)
Other Resources
Peter’s Mentor, Tom Callos (creator of The Ultimate Black Belt Test)
Find me on FACEBOOK HERE.
See some of my most amazing friends and people I consider "living heroes" at these various sites:
Martial Arts Business Today
Martial Arts Business: A Wake Up Call for Staff Members and School Owners
"I get questions from school owners about the issues above --all the time. But I have not yet, not in the last 10 years anyway, fielded one smart or business oriented question from a staff member anywhere on the Planet Earth (I take that back, there is one man, Peter Liciaga, in New Jersey, who does all of the above. That’s one staff member among thousands. Go Peter!)." - Tom Callos
"Guys & Dolls" Write Up: Philly-2-Philly
Interview: Community News
8-Year-Old Tang Soo Do Academy Student Wins National Karate Championship
"Harry has come a long way. He has set a precedence to his school, and he has inspired other students to want to compete,"