23 Aug 2015

At 29, Advent Monyatsiwa has achieved what most people his age can only dream of.

He is a well-traveled author of three motivational books, self-made entrepreneur, having established Advent Wellness Arts Gymnasium; a martial arts centre where he teaches various physical fitness activities such as yoga, judo, self-defense and martial arts.

But over and above his many achievements, he is an artist of life who wants to teach people tricks of  rising up after facing difficult times.   

“I was born in Maun and raised without a silver spoon by a single mother and because of my artistic talent and love for martial arts, I managed to attend private schools where my ability to express myself vividly through art, won me numerous awards in some of the most prestigious competitions in the region,” he said. 

Art, he said was his natural talent, but he also had other talents in education, athletics and sports.

“I was always one of the top soccer and rugby player in the school teams and was at one point chosen to play for the country’s under-20 rugby team. Beyond all that, I developed a strong passion for martial arts and motivational speaking.”

Being brought up by a single mother and growing up surrounded by females, he said has made him the man he is today, for it forced him; the little boy, to become a responsible man at a young age.

“After completing my secondary education, I went on to continue with college education in America where I had a series of ups and downs, and adventures that led me to an acting role as a stunt man in a low budget American movie and also acting in a major role in one of the American Television shows.”

He said because of his talent, artistic ability and martial arts prowess, he got sponsored by one of the reputable sports companies in America Gatorade.

“However, with only one year left to complete my university studies and a life of money and fame in America awaiting me, I felt driven by a strong feeling of patriotism, so I put my education on hold, pushed everything else aside and flew to Japan in pursuit of my dream to represent Botswana during the 2012 London Olympic Games. 

 Unfortunately, he said things did not go his way due to lack of sufficient time, proper preparation and insufficient finances.

 “My dream did not materialise. And by the way, this was not the first time I had attempted to participate in the Olympics Games. 

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I also failed due to the same reasons, lack of time, resources, finances and moral support. Fate repeated itself, he said.  

Instead of dwelling on his adversities as his kismet and crumple down in distress and devastation, he said he was inspired to gather all the knowledge he accumulated over the years in his travels around the world studying the martial arts, learning many religions, learning about people, their cultures and languages. 

“My intention was to discover why when people strive so hard to walk straight in the journey of life but still keep falling no matter how hard they try? Why the failures, poverty and suffering in our personal lives, yet we have so much talent and potential?”

His journey led the publication of his books. 

“My mother then advised and encouraged me to turn my writings into a book that would not only motivate me, but also motivate and inspire many people in the world going through similar circumstances and life challenges.”

 Advent considers himself a go-giver not a go-getter and describes himself as “an artist of Life.

“I am an artist of life by the way of things, an altruist by purpose, but a martial artist by choice.”

He said everything else that he does in life is as a result of those three things.

 “Before the age of 26, I had been to over 20 countries worldwide, studied four major world religions comprehensively, two of which I hold a diploma in and practiced four martial arts genres intensely, two of which I also hold a black belt in,” he said. 

He said he speaks fluent Japanese in addition to three other international languages. 

Advent holds an Associate Degree in Exercise Science from San Jacinto College in Houston Texas acquired in 2007.

He also has a certificate of Gratitude from Texas Bible Institute, Diploma in Bible School from the USA, Diploma in Tenrikyo Studies, a famous Japanese religious sect based in Tenri City Japan.

When he was living in Japan, he also trained in Kodokan Judo at the Judo Institute in Tokyo and trained at the African Judo Training Center in Algeria.

“I have also worked at Nikki’s Gymnastics in Los Angeles Gymnastics couch where I was yoga instructor and martial arts, fitness instructor.”

 “I also have a black belt in judo and a black belt in karate,  a few years ago I was Botswana under 66kg Judo National Champion and currently, I coach  judo for the Botswana National judo team, he said.  

Advent also coaches martial arts in primary schools and is in the process of establishing community centres around the country to help people with health and wellness facilities.

His martial arts business is based at Phakalane where he teaches yoga, self defence, mixed martial arts and his version of martial arts named Yoganastics, which he teaches mostly to youngsters.

Also, he said he rents space at Jack’s Gym at iTowers where he conducts private classes in self-defense and martial arts for free to members of the public.

His books, he said are about truths that may be difficult to swallow but easy to digest.

“In my books, I talk about the artistic mindset of arising within defeat, death and the intimidations if death creating one’s destiny of victory, prosperity and the abundance in the art of life.”

“Always remember, your down moments are your best possibilities  for growth, your greatest pains are a way to develop your greatest resistance, your worst failures indeed highlight your success, your loses, your best motivation to achieve. Suffering is the best time to gain true wisdom and one’s worst struggles in life indeed is a door way to greatness, closed doors is but an opportunity to seek fresh ideas, your troubles, create your legacy.”

In future, he plans to build Advent university of sports, agriculture  and talents for the sake of adding to the inadequate sports facilities and the country’s small agricultural sector which is dependent on foreign support.

He still hopes and plans to continue his education and pursue his Olympic dream again, but this time with a renewed energy, focus, inspirited spirit and a new outlook on life.  It seems, not old age or finances will stop him. Ends