Marty Reisman was born in 1930 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a world shaped by the Great Depression. Life was a daily struggle. His family faced constant economic hardship, moving frequently from one cramped apartment to another. This instability created a tense environment at home, leaving a young Marty feeling anxious and unsettled.

He was a restless kid, filled with a nervous energy that he couldn't seem to shake. The city's crowded streets and his own chaotic home life offered little peace. He was searching for an escape, a place where his mind could focus and find some quiet.

He found that escape at a local community center, the University Settlement House on Eldridge Street. One day, he wandered into a room and saw two people playing table tennis. He was instantly captivated by the fast pace, the sharp sounds of the ball, and the intense focus of the players. The game demanded total concentration, a quality that appealed to his overactive mind.

Table tennis became his solace. When he played, the world outside the table melted away. The constant worry about money, the tension at home, and his own internal restlessness all disappeared, replaced by the simple, demanding logic of the game. He had to anticipate his opponent's move, react in a split second, and control the ball with precision. This intense focus was a form of meditation.

He began spending every spare moment at the settlement house, practicing for hours on end. The game gave him an outlet for his energy and a way to manage his anxiety. What started as a simple distraction quickly grew into a passion, one that would define the rest of his life.