Save you the FRAT-
I was a drugged out construction worker and now I'm a professional fighter traveling the world and making money doing what I love thanks to Gracie Jiu Jitsu! How have Martial Arts changed your life?
Now the FRAT-
My interest in MA started early, watching TMNT every Saturday morning and seeing "The Karate Kid" left me wishing for a Miagi or a Splinter to turn me into a lethal killing machine. I had seen the early UFC events on VHS at my uncle's house but was too young to understand what the hell this skinny guy was doing rolling around choking people and trying to break their arms.
I had been involved in karate when I was really young and started boxing when I was a teenager but was never really passionate about either, and eventually stopped training in boxing when I started experimenting with drugs and alcohol...
I found myself at 21 struggling with a drug and alcohol problem and the harsh reality that no college education meant I would be breaking my back working construction for the rest of my life.
That was when I found a gym less than a mile away form my house - tucked into an alley behind a pawn shop- that offered Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu and MMA classes. The first 3 classes were free so I jumped into the Muay Thai class and started owning everyone on the mats, well not really, I thought thats how it would go but after over exerting myself and puking my guts out three times I was feeling pretty low and not really interested in doing another class. The instructor recommended I stay for the Jiu Jitsu class and I reluctantly agreed...
That very first class was when I fell in love with Jiu Jitsu. After being tossed around and nearly choked unconscious by someone much smaller than me I decide I had to learn this crazy shit!
It turns out that the small town where I grew up had a Royce Gracie affiliate school, and the owner had trained under Royce for over 10 years (at that time - 17 years now) and also held BB in 2 other martial arts! I had found my Mr. Miagi...
I signed up for more classes at the school and immediately went home and started cleaning out my house, threw away my drug paraphernalia, threw out all my alcohol, even tossed all the junk food and soda pop. I totally changed my entire life that day and started training as much as I possibly could.
After years of dedication I have formed the best relationships with my coach and my teammates, became an instructor at my school and also a mentor to some great young people, and I'm a professional athlete making money doing what I love and am passionate about.
Now I'm the head MMA coach at a gym in Ireland, am traveling the world learning and teaching and meeting some amazing people along the way!
I'm so thankful for the life I live now and also extremely thankful that I've found a way to make a living doing what I love and its all thanks to Gracie Jiu Jitsu!!
I'd love to hear how martial arts have helped change or improve your lives also?
I was a bill collector now I am a professional fighter and a bill collector.
All jokes aside I am truly a healthier and more responsible person thanks to MMA.
I used to like to booze it up and I am very thankful that I was able to get out of that life style with out any legal problems. Mainly killing some one while drinking and driving. 
Left me with a few injuries and a few less brain cells, but it has made me really appreciate other things in life that I used to view as difficult.