Media Kit - RMAX International · Coach by Men’s Health Magazine, and one of Black Belt ... innovative Clubbell resistance training tool, invented by Coach Scott Sonnon, and TACFIT

Media Kit“A Mountain Stands: Confessions of a Suppressed Genius”

Book

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2014©RMAX.tv ProductionsAll Rights Reserved

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bruce McLaughlan (248) 249-2118

His Most Noble Fight: Martial Arts World Champ Takes On DyslexiaBELLINGHAM, WA: Five-time martial arts World Champion Scott Sonnon, whose recent TEDx talk on learning disabilities reached more than 50million people, has launched his new autobiography and a freespeaking tour designed to inspire young people who are strugglingwith what he calls the “gift” of dyslexia.

Locked Away For Being DifferentIn “A Mountain Stands: Confessions of a Suppressed Genius,”Sonnon for the first time recounts publicly how he overcamedyslexia so severe that he was forcibly hospitalized in a children’spsychiatric institution.“My fellow dyslexics are ignored, neglected, and in many cases,abused and shamed for our unique neurological wiring, yet areamong the greatest contributors to our world,” Sonnon said. “Dyslexia is our genetic advantage – our suppressed genius.”

Turning Creative Genius Into SuccessIn addition to earning world championships in five differentmartial arts disciplines, the man known as the “Flow Coach” is aHall of Fame athletics trainer, award-winning video producer,professor, author, inventor and fitness industry leader, with hisbooks, DVDs and equipment in 68 countries worldwide. Sonnon, who challenges the notion of “learning disabilities,”used his own “unique neurological wiring” to create programsthat earned him recognition as one of the Top 25 Trainers in theworld by Men’s Fitness Magazine, “World’s Smartest Workout”Coach by Men’s Health Magazine, and one of Black BeltMagazine’s most influential martial artists of the 21st century.Sharing Painful Lessons So That Others May ThriveSonnon advocates for children and adults facing labels oflearning disabilities, as well as the ravages of obesity, the trials ofpost-traumatic stress, the dangers of bullyism and the challengesof accelerated aging in joints. He writes about these issues daily for his tens of thousands

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The book cover depicts Scott Sonnon with the sacred mountain, Kailash, that inspired the name bestowed by his yoga teacher. At a pivotal moment in his life, Sonnon drew on the mountain imagery to save a life.

Scott will tell your audience:› Why his own mother felt she had to have him locked up› Why suicide is frighteningly common among those, like Robin Williams, suffering from dyslexia› The link between dyslexia and genius› How the education system fails our children› How he handles the challenge of having a child with dyslexia› How bullies single out victims› The connection between movement and thought› Simple daily techniques to defusestress, including PTSD› Why first responders, police and firemen die young› Why the stronger he gets as a fighter, the gentler he becomes

of Facebook and Twitter followers.The speaking tour continues nationwide and even globally in conjunction with Sonnon’s extensive travels. Sonnon works with local chapters of the advocacy group Decoding Dyslexia and other non-profits to bring his message of hope to children with dyslexia, their parents and supporters.

Resources for your listeners:To Arrange For Scott To Speak To Your Group: Contact RMAX International at 678-867-7629, or email [email protected]. The RMAX mission is to develop a global peak performance community daring to “know, grow and flow.” Among its health and fitness systems are Circular Strength Training, which makes extensive use of the innovative Clubbell resistance training tool, invented by Coach Scott Sonnon, and TACFIT Tactical Fitness, which he designed for first-responders and warriors and now shares with the general public.

To Order “A Mountain Stands”: Scott Sonnon’s book is available online at Amazon.com or at AMountainStands.com.

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For more information: For a review copy (PDF) of Scott Sonnon’s autobiography, “A Mountain Stands: Confessions of a Suppressed Genius,” contact Bruce McLaughlan, [email protected], 248-249-2118. For downloadable images, visit AMountainStands.com.

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Biography of Scott Sonnon

Scott Sonnon grew up in eastern Pennsylvania, where he faced the challenges of dyslexia as well as physical disabilities, including severe joint pain. Meanwhile, his mother was forced to work multiple jobs – including becoming the first female steelworker – to raise a family that was torn apart by the effects of post-traumatic stress. Ironically, Sonnon – advised by a counselor to set his expectations low due to lagging achievement in school – as an adult became a member and keynote speaker for the genius organization Mensa. His acclaimed TEDx talk

challenges the notion of “learning disabilities” through the creative genius of alternative learning styles.Sonnon sought martial arts as a path to escape the physical abuse of bullying, and rose to become a five-time World Champion and to coach Team USA. The health and fitness systems he created to conquer his own challenges transformed the industry and earned

him induction into the National  Fitness  Hall  of  Fame  Museum,  the  International  

Martial  Arts  Hall  of  Fame  and  the  Personal  Trainer  Hall  of  Fame. His TACFIT Tactical Fitness training, which Men’s Health Magazine declared is “the world’s smartest workout,” has been used by more than 50,000 military Special Forces and other elite units, including the U.S. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Customs and Border Protection Advanced Training Center, U.S. Marshals Service Training Academy and U.S. Army 3/160 Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). Sonnon has been a featured speaker at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sport Festival, the National Strength Conditioning Association, and more. Black Belt Magazine named him one of the six most influential martial artists of the 21st century. Men’s Fitness Magazine

named him one of the “Top  25  Fitness  Trainers  in  the  World.”He now lives in the Bellingham, Wash., area with his wife, Jodie, and their two children.

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Q&A  With  Scott  Sonnon

Q.  Why  did  you  write  “A  Mountain  Stands:  Confessions  of  a  Suppressed  

Genius”?

A. Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s most fascinating dyslexics, once wrote, “If, at first, your idea isn’t absurd, there is no hope for it.” Five years ago, I had an absurd idea: Each morning, I would write a story about my life. In that story, I would find the positive benefit it had brought, even if I didn’t understand it at the time. Beginning with my darkest moments, the most traumatically piercing events, I exhumed a life of suppressed damage to determine the positive coping skills I adapted as a result.The stories would eventually form a book that even someone like myself - a dyslexic - could read and absorb. The concept of “micro-chapters” evolved: Short stories (some lessthan a page), but each of which unfolding a “Hero’s Journey” as Joseph Campbell describes: an obstacle, a failure to overcome it, the finding of a higher purpose, the collection of allies and assets, a successful but surprising reattempted victory, and the sharing of the decoded discoveries previously locked within them.

Q.  In  simple  terms,  what  is  dyslexia  and  how  common  is  it?

A. Dyslexia is often perceived as a language disability, and this is accurate: When forced into most traditional educational approaches, a “dyslexic” has difficulty with language. But this is because of a specific way that a dyslexic’s brain is organized. A simple explanation is that they have more “grid cells” (on the hypothalamus) and so their brains interpret two-dimensional language into three-dimensional shapes, causing reading, writing and even speaking challenges. But that same 3D nature of their brain allows them to see the world from incredible faceted perspectives and gives rise to their innovative, entrepreneurial, creative mind. It isa gift with trade-offs, like anything. We must make our goal to help dyslexics realize theirgifts, and provide them with strategies and support to mitigate the trade-offs.As much as 20 percent of the population has it: that’s over 60 million Americans, and 1.4 billion people worldwide.

Q.  Who  are  some  famous  dyslexics  in  history?

A. Some of our greatest contributors had dyslexia: from both Edison and Tesla in electricity, from both Wright brothers to Richard Branson in the power of flight, from Alexander Graham Bell to Steve Jobs in telecommunications, from Sir Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking in physics, from Da Vinci to Disney in art, and Washington to Kennedy

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in politics.

Q.  Your  book  describes  how  your  mother  was  your  greatest  advocate  and  

defender,  yet  you  felt  betrayed  when  she  allowed  you  to  be  institutionalized.  

How  did  that  happen?

A. I was disruptive in my classrooms. I didn't try to be. As Albert Einstein cautioned, “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, you will always be frustrated, and that fish will always feel stupid.” I had assumed I was stupid, especially when called so, and my teachers always felt frustrated, especially since their teaching and testing methods fixated on approaches which amplified my “trade-offs” as “learning disabilities.” I objected and attempted to self-advocate. I rebelled. I felt the world was against me. This neither excuses nor indicts my behavior. It was what it was ... a socially manufactured psychological environment that was preventable.My mother was my strongest advocate, and she did a superhuman job of rearing me in a time and in circumstances where it should have been impossible for me to survive and thrive. She did that, despite my inability to recognize that I was worsening the situation with my rebellion. It’s taken half a lifetime to unpack that experience, and feel neither blame nor guilt.

Q.  How  does  your  childhood  experience  affect  you  as  a  parent?

A. My children suffer from a condition known as “childhood.” They get into arguments. They make blunders. They say and do inappropriate things. Like every human who ever endured “childhood” does. The negative effects that my children experience involve me reading into those natural experiences of growing, and seeing something other than it is. Sometimes, I have to step back and let my wife teach me what “normal” is.So, I let myself just be a big kid with them. Within that age-appropriate sphere, we play together. I make mistakes, and I try to forgive myself and realize that I will not break them with a parenting error. And I try to exhale and step back, as they grow out of one sphere, and are ready - all too soon - for the next larger one. Someone please write a book!

Q.  We  recently  lost  the  great  comedian  Robin  Williams  to  suicide.  He  described

himself  as  having  severe  dyslexia.  Is  there  a  possible  link  between  dyslexia  and

suicide?

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A.  There’s  no  physical  link  between  dyslexia  and  suicide.  There  may  be  a  link  

between  abusive  shaming  of  those  who  are  different,  and  the  lifetime  burden  of  

estrangement  this  forges.  

When  I  was  much  younger,  I  attempted  suicide,  but  a  friend  intervened  and  help  

arrived,  thank  God.  The  thought  went  through  my  mind,  “If  I  am  alone,  truly  alone,  

then  what  does  it  matter,  especially  if  it  hurts  so  much?”  My  mother,  my  mentors,  my

dear  friends  helped  me  realize,  despite  the  story  I  had  accepted  as  a  true  self-­‐

identity,  I  was  not  separate.  

I  am  “alone,  together”  with  everyone  in  the  neurodiverse  world.  When  I  lacked  

courage,  they  helped  me  turn  around  and  encourage  others.  And  that  has  made  all  of

the  difference.

Q.  Your  book  mentions  that  your  son  seems  to  have  dyslexia,  but  not  your  

daughter.  How  can  a  parent  tell  if  their  child  has  dyslexia,  and  what  can  they  do

about  it?

A.  My  daughter  has  her  own  unique  brilliance,  equal  but  different  than  my  son.  She's  

an  interpersonal,  auditory  and  musical/rhythmic  learner,  so  she  repeats  everything  

she  hears,  thinks  and  reads  in  order  to  “latch  it  in,”  and  all  the  while  she  twirls,  Ulits  

and  taps.  It’s  like  a  cacophony  to  a  kinesthetic,  intrapersonal,  spatial  thinker  –  like  

her  Dad.  So,  we  have  an  interesting  family  dynamic.

For  the  parents  listening,  especially  those  whose  children  may  be  struggling  in  the  

school  environment,  there  are  deUinitive  tests  for  dyslexia  that  will  offer  conclusive  

evaluation.  I  highly  recommend  contacting  the  local  chapter  of  the  advocacy  group  

Decoding  Dyslexia  for  support  and  guidance.  

Q.  One  of  your  quests  has  been  to  help  battle  the  kind  of  stress  that  killed  your  

father  and  continues  to  kill  our  police  and  NireNighters  in  their  mid-­50s  on  

average.  What  techniques  did  you  develop,  and  how  can  our  listeners  use  

them?

A.  The  exhale  portion  of  breathing  is  tied  to  the  “relax  and  recover  reUlex,”  just  like  

the  inhale  is  tied  to  the  “Uight  or  Ulight  reUlex.”  So,  the  obvious  tool  to  use  is  our  

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exhalation  when  facing  stressors.  

However,  it  sounds  easy  to  think  “just  exhale”  until  a  sudden,  new,  different  type  of  

stressor  hits  us,  and  instead  we  inhale  and  brace  in  response.  This  dumps  a  chemical

cocktail  into  our  bloodstream,  embedding  into  our  fatty  tissues  and  causing  

cumulative  damage.  

How  we  breathe  under  stress  is  determined  by  how  we  have  trained  ourselves  to  

breathe.  Therefore,  I  interweave  breathing  techniques  into  exercise.  Unfortunately,  

most  exercise  programs  unwittingly  reinforce  distress,  adding  to  the  problem.  

Q.  You  have  invented  several  unique  Nitness  programs  and  earned  the  

nickname  “The  Flow  Coach”  based  on  the  links  you  discovered  between  

movement  and  brain  function.  How  do  they  work?

A.  Movement  is  an  “idea”  in  your  mind.  How  you  think  you  can  move  determines  

how  you  actually  can  move.  The  corollary  is  that  if  you  improve  your  movement,  you  

expand  your  neural  network.  

Like  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  said,  “A  mind  once  stretched  by  a  new  idea  cannot  

return  to  its  original  dimensions.”  This  is  because  the  brain  is  plastic.  It’s  actually  the

scientiUic  term  -­‐  neuroplasticity.  The  brain  isn’t  like  a  rubber-­‐band  where  you  stretch

it  with  a  notion,  and  then  it  rebounds  when  you  stop  thinking  about  it.  It’s  like  a  

plastic  bag,  where  once  you  stretch  it,  it  stays  that  way.  Once  you  see  things  from  a  

different  vantage  point,  you  can’t  unsee  them.  Your  brain  always  has  that  alternate  

viewpoint  available.  

Movement  allows  us  to  expand  our  mind’s  eye,  so  the  more  we  play,  the  more  our  

brain  bolsters  its  function.  

The  goal  is  to  get  underneath  the  reUlex  of  fear,  of  disbelief.  If  you  don’t  believe  you  

can  move  a  certain  way,  and  you’re  afraid  to  do  it,  not  only  can  you  not  move  that  

way,  but  your  body  defensively  braces  against  it,  causing  pain  and  injury  if  you  

attempt  to  do  so.  

I  had  very  strong  beliefs  as  to  my  potential,  but  great  aspirations  as  to  what  I  wanted

to  achieve,  so  I  had  to  create  escalators  of  baby  steps,  micro-­‐advancements  that  

would  stay  underneath  the  radar  of  my  fear  and  disbelief,  stretching  my  mind  one  

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micro-­‐movement  at  a  time.  It  is  the  steps  forward,  and  the  recovery  steps  when  our  

pain  and  injury  cause  us  to  back-­‐pedal,  that  are  the  truly  revolutionary  strategies  in  

body-­‐mind  integrative  development.

Q.  Do  your  programs  help  with  weight  loss?

A.  Yep,  and  abs  too!  Weight  loss  and  muscle  gain  are  natural  byproducts  of  

expanding  your  movement  potential,  and  expanding  your  mind’s  eye  of  your  

potential.  

Q.  How  many  previous  books  have  you  written?

A.  I  have  written  7  books,  and  11  manuals.

Q.  What  is  the  target  audience  for  this  book?  Who  can  apply  these  lessons  and  

stories  to  their  own  lives?

A.  My  book  is  for  anyone  who  faces  challenges  and  seeks  support,  inspiration  and  

strategies  for  transforming  obstacles  into  opportunities.  And  face  it,  we  all  need  help

from  time  to  time.

Q.  Are  all  of  these  stories  based  on  Nirst  hand,  real-­life  experiences?

A.  There  are  a  few  stories  told  to  me  by  others,  but  primarily  they’re  my  personal  

experiences,  from  which  I've  sought  to  glean  insights,  through  the  lens  of  the  great  

thinkers  and  philosophers  referenced  throughout  the  book.  (Some  names  and  

details  have  obviously  been  Uictionalized  out  of  respect  for  their  privacy.)  

Q.  Where  does  the  inspiration  to  write  a  particular  story  come  from?

A.  Inspiration  is  a  Uickle  muse:  you  either  wait  for  it,  or  you  systematically  create  the  

environment  for  it  to  happen,  and  then  practice  it  until  it  does.  When  you’re  beset  

with  negativity,  inspiration  might  never  come,  so  I  learned  -­‐  through  my  teachers’  

guidance  -­‐  to  set  a  clock  every  day,  and  begin  writing  an  answer  to  a  question:  Take  

this  negative  experience,  and  reUlect  upon  the  wisdom  of  the  great  minds  and  hearts;

how  then  would  you  re-­‐frame  the  experience  into  a  positive  one?  

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After  13  years  of  practicing  this  process  every  day,  there  are  now  few  times  that  I  

cannot  realign  the  value  of  a  difUicult  moment.  They  still  happen,  of  course,  but  

they're  manageable,  and  I  am  not  long  from  recovering  to  a  positive  perspective.  

I  captured  the  best  stories  over  this  decade  plus  of  reUinement,  and  compiled  them  

into  a  chronological  anthology.  This  is  the  value  of  the  book,  more  so  even  than  the  

adventures  of  the  stories:  the  PROCESS  of  each  story  offers  the  reader  an  alternative  

approach  to  facing  their  own  challenges.

Q.  What  is  your  message?  Is  it  only  limited  to  one  thing  or  group  of  people?

A.  My  message  is  simple  (but  not  easy):  You  either  succeed,  or  you  learn.  And  I've  

learned  much  more  than  I've  succeeded.  

Although  many  people  will  advise  you  to  celebrate  successes,  and  to  a  degree  I  

agree,  I've  learned  to  be  error-­‐focused,  to  become  enamored  with  my  mistakes,  and  

to  revel  in  my  shortcomings,  for  hidden  within  them  is  our  capacity  for  growth.  

Often,  hidden  in  our  misperceived  Ulaws,  we  Uind  our  true  genius.  Only  our  skewed  

perspective  keeps  us  blind  to  our  innate  gifts.  

My  book  is  an  allegorical  mirror  to  reUlect  to  my  readers  not  my  story,  but  their  

own  ...  and  inside  of  their  story  ...  their  own  suppressed  genius.    

Unearthing  that  brilliance  will  take  courage,  patience  and  persistence,  not  because  

of  the  difUiculty  of  sharing  it,  but  in  the  internal  and  external  resistance  to  believe  

you’re  not  brilliant.  We  are  taught  to  be  “normal”  -­‐  a  term  used  in  sociology  for  the  

median,  the  average  ...  the  mediocre.  Shining  is  discouraged  because  it  makes  you  an  

outlier.  

You  weren't  meant  to  Uit  in,  though.  You  were  meant  to  stand  out...  to  Stand  like  a  

Mountain.  My  book  is  meant  for  anyone  who  wants  to  stand  up  for  themselves  and  

for  others.

Q.  What  is  the  greatest  challenge  you  have  overcome  as  a  dyslexic  in  order  to  

become  a  published  author?

A.  The  most  difUicult  part  of  that  self-­‐acceptance  came  in  knowing  the  difference  

between  my  language  difUiculties  -­‐  the  “trade-­‐offs”  of  being  a  dyslexic  -­‐  and  my  

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neurological  innovations  in  thought  and  expression  -­‐  the  advantages  of  being  

dyslexic.  

What  I  do  to  editors  should  be  classiUied  as  torture.  Joking  aside,  writing  style  has  

been  deUined  by  rigorous  guidelines  of  accepted  grammar  and  story  development  

format  ...  despite  the  radical  dyslexic  genius  of  writers  such  as  William  Shakespeare,  

Agatha  Christie,  WB  Yeats,  F.  Scott  Fitzgerald,  Jules  Verne  and  George  Bernard  Shaw.  

It’s  simple  to  think  that  when  you  have  these  literary  giants  as  examples,  you  must  

immediately  feel  conUident  in  your  own  innate  style.  But  that  simple  rationality  isn't  

easy  to  embrace.  

Growing  up  being  labeled  as  “stupid  and  slow”  carries  generational  weight:  it  not  

only  lasts  your  entire  lifetime,  but  it  can  be  passed  on  to  the  next.  At  some  point,  you  

have  to  muster  lifetimes  of  courage  and  just...  own  who  you  are  and  how  you  express

it.  

Q.  What  would  you  say  today  to  your  teachers  and  doctors  who  encouraged  you

to  aim  low  when  you  were  just  a  child?

A.  I  would  apologize  to  my  teachers  and  doctors  for  not  being  self-­‐conUident  enough  

to  show  them  a  new  reality,  to  provide  them  with  the  cognitive  dissonance  strong  

enough  to  wake  them  from  their  dogmatic  slumber.  

They  only  suffered  from  the  ignorance  of  that  generation.  We  now  know  differently.  

NOW  there  is  NO  excuse  for  what  they  did  then.  Now,  it  should  be  considered  

criminal,  knowing  what  we  know  of  neurology.  But  then,  it  was  just  the  highest  

expectation  of  education.  Those  rare  few  who  advocated  for  me  were  outcast  as  

heretics,  and  would  be  now  considered  our  innovative  educators  reforming  our  

educational  system.  

I  would  also  thank  them,  for  they  became  motivation  for  me,  to  prove  them  wrong.  

Rebellion  isn't  always  helpful,  but  sometimes  ...  especially  against  wrongdoing,  it  is  a  

necessity.  Unfortunately,  I  made  many  mistakes  in  ill-­‐focused  rebellion,  which  

further  imprisoned  my  freedom  to  express  myself.  

Teachers  and  doctors  have  a  much  broader  and  deeper  educational  experience  

now  ...  and  can  understand  the  nature  of  childhood  rebellion:  we  are  not  attempting  

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to  be  disruptive;  we  just  can't  Uigure  out,  in  our  young  minds,  how  to  Uit  our  round  

peg  into  the  square  hole.  Today’s  professionals  are  helping  us  Uind  holes  that  Uit  us  as

individuals.  We  should  help  them  as  much  as  humanly  possible!

Q.  How  do  you  choose  what  you  write  about  each  day?  And,  how  do  you  Nind  

time  to  write  with  your  busy  schedule?

A.  Life  chooses  what  I  write  about,  because  there  is  never  a  day  that  passes  without  

a  wealth  of  lessons,  even  in  the  most  seemingly  mundane  domestic  task,  like  

weeding  the  garden.  

One  of  my  most  impacting  teachers,  whom  I  write  of  in  my  book,  Dr.  Jonathan  

Ellsworth  Winter,  talked  often  about  the  dyslexic  Vincent  Van  Gogh’s  preoccupation  

with  one  of  his  masterpieces  –  “A  Pair  of  [Peasant]  Shoes.”  Dr.  Winter  explained  that  

these  simple,  dirty,  battered  shoes  represent  more  art  and  life  than  the  most  opulent

cathedral.  He  taught  me  the  elegance  of  the  simple  things.  So,  I  look  for  them,  and  

see  lessons  everywhere,  even  in  the  simple,  dirty,  battered  shoes  of  my  children.  

What  joy  looking  at  them  brings  me!  Time  is  another  illusion  which  writing  has  

allowed  me  to  dispel.  The  more  that  we  practice  on  a  regular  schedule  any  skill,  the  

more  efUicient  it  becomes,  and  the  more  time  we  GAIN.  So,  with  any  skill,  you  have  

the  appearance  of  the  least  amount  of  time  at  the  beginning  because  we  are  the  least

efUicient  at  that  -­‐  and  many  other  -­‐  skills.  

Setting  a  time,  beginning  to  write,  stopping  when  the  set  duration  is  complete,  trains

you  to  become  more  efUicient.  Over  a  decade  of  practice  at  this  method  has  allowed  

me  to  choose  any  moment  to  tap  into  the  inspiring  body  of  ever-­‐present  simple  

beauty  of  life,  especially  the  misperceived  negative  moments,  and  reUlect  the  lessons  

with  which  they  are  saturated.  

Q.  Does  your  family  support  your  publication  of  these  personal  stories?

A.  My  poor  wife  endures  a  thousand  retellings  of  the  same  story.  She  does  so  with  a  

patient  smile  (and  an  occasional  eye-­‐roll).  

My  children  are  still  young,  so  not  all  of  the  stories  are  appropriate  for  their  ears.  I  

strive  to  learn-­‐on-­‐the-­‐job  how  to  parent  in  a  way  that  assumes  my  own  childhood  

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experience  is  not  necessary  for  them  to  thrive.  My  growth  has  not  been  as  a  

compensation  for  how  difUicult  my  childhood  was,  but  rather  my  growth  has  been  

because  of  embracing  the  innate  gifts  I  (and  we  each)  have  to  offer,  and  dedicating  

my  life  to  sharing  them.  

That  has  not  been  an  errorless  journey,  even  as  a  husband  and  parent.  They  have  

suffered  my  growing  pains...  and  yet,  they  still  love  me.  How  amazing  is  that?!

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Endorsements

“Scott is an inspiration to all he teaches with body, mind and spirit approach to fitness and life through his story.” Donna Karan, Founder and Chief Designer of Donna Karan, DKNY and Urban Zen

“I  have  known  Scott  for  over  15  years.  When  I  Uirst  read  his  work  I  realized  its  

uniqueness.  What  grabbed  my  attention  was  fact  that  he  was  a  gifted  teacher  far  

beyond  what  you  see  in  the  Uitness  industry.  He  walks  a  different  path.

Recently  I  received  his  latest  book,  A  Mountain  Stands.  I  thought  I  knew  everything  

about  him,  until  I  Uinished  the  book.  Scott  had  become  a  member  of  Mensa  and  had  

been  labeled  a  genius.  Mensa  got  it  all  wrong.  Scott  is  not  a  genius.  ...  He  is  brilliant!  

Genius  has  a  dark  side.  ...  Brilliance  has  no  dark  side.  It's  illuminating.

Reading  his  body  of  work  will  make  you  a  lot  smarter,  and  after  you  do  so  you  will  

know  the  difference  between  genius  and  brilliance.”

Fairfax  Hackley,  International  Sports  Hall  of  Fame,  Global  Advisory  Board

“The book is a fascinating account of Master Scott Sonnon’s rise from childhood disability to martial arts super star and fitness expert, championing the cause of self-reliance and belief in oneself to overcome the flaws of society’s disdain for those who do not fit the norm. … Truly one of the gems in this world of fitness and martial arts.”GM Frank E. Sanchez, Founder/ Executive Director, International World Head of Family Sokeship Council http://www.WHFSC.com

“Scott Sonnon is an original: athlete, warrior, scholar, champion, family man, businessman, inventor ... and more. It is estimated that only 1,000 human beings participated in the original Renaissance. Here, one suspects, we are hearing the inspiringand challenging story of one of the most important voices in our own.”Steven Barnes, N.Y. Times bestselling author, life coachwww.diamondhour.com

“Scott Sonnon is an amazing individual. … I would recommend his story to anyone interested in a true testament of discipline, spiritual and physical dedication for human character potential and development.”

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Ron Van Clief, UFC veteran, actor, Grandmaster, and author of “The Hanged Man” “When people meet Scott Sonnon, they might figure he was born as that impeccably fit and sharp intellect trainer who has helped so many people build vibrant lives. It is important to learn that Scott struggled to earn his way to all he is today. Read and enjoy Scott's story, and let his journey inspire your own.”Stephen K. Hayes, Black Belt Hall of FameStephenKHayes.com

“After reading Scott Sonnon’s new work, my heart is open and my soul refreshed. I have been on a journey from the pain of past trauma to the thrill of reclaimed authenticity and empowerment. My guide, as if a composite of Einstein, Hercules and Yoda, has nurtured my mind, body and soul though his personal stories and parables. Thank you Scott for doing what you do so well, questioning the status quo and modeling real solutions for mysteries of the human condition. I am inspired!” Cindy Brooks, Wellness Coach, Director: Lifestyle Program at thealinker.com

“Scott Sonnon delivers a series of powerful messages, both heart and gut wrenching, which will remain with you long after you turn the page. His collection of 1-4 page ‘confessions’ clearly show the love and respect he has for humanity, and will leave the reader breathless and reflective upon their own past, present, and future. “A Mountain Stands: Confessions Of A Suppressed Genius” is a must-read for everybody and anybody whose potential has ever been placed in doubt.”Christina Keppie, Associate Professor, Western Washington University

“I am a Dyslexia specialist and a member of Decoding Dyslexia Michigan. I have workedwith many dyslexic students for the past eight years. Scott Sonnon’s recent talk in Michigan was an inspiration to us all. Everyone there, whether they were dyslexic or not, benefited from hearing his heartfelt words. He was truly engaging and sincere. As a professional who works with dyslexic children every day, I found his message ‘to stay strong and not give up no matter how hard it seems’ to be invaluable. For those audience members who are dyslexic, his experiences and struggles as a child were so relevant and moving. Especially significant was when he talked about his special ‘gifts’ that often accompany dyslexia. It was especially touching to hear about his close relationship with his mother, his one true supporter. The Q&A session at the end was wonderful. But what was most encouraging was how he turned his challenges into strengths and ultimately

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successes.”D. Gasworth, Reading/Dyslexia Specialist/ O-G Tutor

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Excerpt  from  “A  Mountain  Stands:  Confessions  of  a  Suppressed  Genius”

BELIEFS  CAN  BLOT  OUT  POSSIBILITIES  “If you didn’t act like such an imbecile, maybe other kids wouldn’t hate you so much,” my fourth grade teacher said after I returned with recess’ scrapes and bruises. I retorted, “Maybe I’d do better in class, if you stopped the other kids from beating me up.” His face turned red and he pulled out a waffled paddle. Bending me over his desk, in front of the class, he began to hit me with it, yelling, “No child is going to tell ME how torun my classroom, especially the class idiot!”“Grades don’t measure intelligence and age doesn’t determine maturity,” my grandfather told me. He continued, in a way that provided comfort, “Keep learning things your way, even if no one gives you credit. But to survive, learn why they do things their way. So maybe when you’re bigger, you can figure out what belief caused them to do things so wrong. A belief can sometimes be worse than ignorance, because we’re convinced we’re right, and blind that we’re not.” His words validated my own unique, but untapped, learning styles; acknowledged the possibility that even authorities could be wrong; and encouraged me to start down a path of illuminating beliefs which were limiting the growth of others, in addition to myself. That one key event catalyzed the course of my career and empowered me to challenge any injustice I observed or experienced.Without that event: I would not have pursued alternative educational methods through movement, as a dyslexic, kinesthetic learner, and challenged the domination of verbal/linguistic methods in the school systems. I would not have developed my own approach to reading, my own writing style, my own form of public speaking. I would not have begun research on strengthening my connective tissue against joint disease, explored the “myofascial matrix” as a movement model for functional fitness, and traveled the world seeking modalities to make me truly healthy and strong. I would not have revisited beliefs about nutrition and hydration over and over, to challenge the heavily marketed processed synthetics that led to my childhood obesity, norreturned to the simple eating approach of my grandparents, and therein found an abundance of vitality never known throughout my life. I would not have invested decades in training in efficient forms of martial art, and

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debunked the attrition mentality of force against force; for I found in the abuse of my youth, a flaw, and only in absorbing and retranslating the aggression expressed toward mewas I able to create a true solution to it, and be free from fear. I would not have poured myself into the science underpinning stress, to decipher the riddle of my father’s tortured rage after returning from war, how our family disintegrated,and how the disorder not only could have been prevented but could have been transitioned, supported ... even cured before it spalled out of control. I never would have developed the systems, tools and technology to address this spectre ofdistress; tools that now have become incumbent in government agencies across the globe.And I never would have become the things that I feared most: a writer, speaker and teacher. I never would have written a single book, produced a single video nor taught a single course. My grades didn’t predetermine my direction in life. The immaturity of some of my adult authorities couldn’t deter me from following it, no matter how many times I surrendered and submitted in hopeless desperation. If you don’t follow your own path, no matter how frighteningly unexplored, others’ beliefs will conscript you to follow theirs, even if in an unjust, wrong, but popular direction. Find teachers who will help you clear the underbrush on your own path, allies who will walk next to you, friends who will help you up when you pitfall, and the courage to do it alone when you must. The bad news? There is no key to your success. The good news? It isn’t locked, though we’re often distracted by convincing, inaccurate beliefs to look in the wrong direction. Look within. And keep going.

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