Trading was never meant to be emotional—but for many beginners, it often is. For John V. Luna, a pastor and Certified Technical Analyst, the early years of forex trading were defined not by confidence or consistency, but by losses that forced a hard reckoning with discipline, structure, and personal accountability.
His journey into technical analysis began in 2017, when he first started trading forex. At the time, formal resources were limited. “I studied through babypips.com during that time and practice it on my own,” he says, recalling how few video tutorials or structured learning options existed back then. Learning required self-study, experimentation, and a willingness to make mistakes.
Those mistakes came quickly—and painfully.
When trading became survival, not just interest
In 2020, everything changed. After closing all of his businesses due to the pandemic, trading was no longer a side interest. It became his primary source of income. “Since I decided to become a full-time trader since 2020, I pursue deeper understanding of price charts, indicators, and market behavior since trading become my source of income,” he says.
That shift raised the stakes. Losses were no longer theoretical—they were personal. Accounts were burned. Capital disappeared. And each loss exposed the same pattern.
“The losses I made, especially burned accounts, when I started trading made me realize the power of technical analysis,” he explains. Those experiences taught him a lesson that would shape his entire approach going forward: trades made from emotion rarely survive.
“They taught me to enter trades not based on emotions or feelings but based on the charts and technical indicators.”
Discipline learned the hard way
Instead of walking away, he leaned deeper into structure. Technical analysis became less about finding perfect entries and more about removing subjectivity. Over time, his approach shifted toward consistency and confirmation.
“Technical analysis has shaped the way I approach trading by doing it systematically and with multiple confirmation before entering the trade,” he says.
That process-oriented mindset helped him rebuild—not just financially, but psychologically. Losses became feedback. Charts replaced gut feel. Discipline replaced impulse.
And that discipline eventually led him into teaching.
Learning more to give more
As his trading stabilized, he took on the role of educator. From September 2022 to August 2024, he served as a Forex Coach with Future Innovation Management Academy (FINMAC). In January 2025, he began coaching with Legendary Trading Academy (LTA).
Teaching added a new responsibility. “I need to learn more to give more to my students,” he says.
That meant constant refinement. His learning process did not stop with one system or indicator. “Constant practice and application of what I have learned,” he explains, along with “trying to develop or personalize the settings of the indicators based on my trading style and preference.”
The goal was not rigidity—but alignment. What worked had to be repeatable. What failed had to be understood.
Why community and credibility mattered
His technical journey eventually led him to the Society of Technical Analysts of the Philippines (STA). He was introduced to the organization by Coach Melvin Jason De Vera, someone he credits as a significant influence in his trading development.
Joining STA was not just about credentials. “I was motivated to join STA because of the knowledge that I can add on my arsenal as a Forex coach,” he says. What made him stay was the environment. “The community and the other webinars they offer… were very beneficial to me, again as a trader and as a forex coach.”
As trading education became more crowded, credibility mattered more. “With many people now who are saying that they are a good forex trader and wants to be a coach, having a CTA Certification gives me an edge on top of my own personal experiences,” he explains.
That edge showed up in practice. “CTA Certification gives me an edge whenever I am introduced as Forex coach in LTA,” he says, adding that it also strengthened his role as a regular instructor and speaker with Land Prime FX Broker.
Faith, discipline, and consistency
While his professional life revolves around charts and analysis, his background as a pastor quietly informs how he approaches trading. Losses demanded humility. Discipline required self-control. And consistency became a daily practice rather than a goal.
Trading without emotion did not mean trading without conviction. It meant understanding that discipline protects both capital and character.
Losses did not disqualify him from success. They refined it.
By replacing emotional decisions with structured analysis—and by committing to continuous learning—this pastor built a trading approach rooted in accountability, discipline, and clarity. The charts did not change. But the trader did.
And that made all the difference.
