July 27, 2021
It’s been a couple of days since my promotion to Black Belt and the idea that I have finally achieved this goal is starting to really sink in. This has been a long (much longer than expected) and arduous journey, but one that has been well worth it.
July 22nd thru July 25th 2021 will be four days that I will never forget. Sylvia, Elana, Mike, Peter, David, and Mark it was an honor to test and train with all of you. Thank you for the encouragement, the honesty, and the commitment to making this weekend amazing. Pete, Armando, Henry, and Daniel; thank you for all of the critiques, the assistance, tips, and just for being amazing people. Thank you for pushing us beyond our perceived limits, thank you for the knowledge. From the actual physical and mental trials of the weekend, to the memory of my wife putting the belt around me; this week will forever leave an imprint on my soul.
My pursuit of this has changed my life in more ways that I could have ever imagined. I have met and trained with people from all over the globe. I have been pushed beyond all limits that I thought I had. I have been injured, I have been enlightened. I have many highs, and many lows. I have found my mission in life.
There are so many people that I have to acknowledge and I’m sure I’ll miss one or two of you, I apologize in advance.
To everyone that I have ever trained with, THANK YOU for making me a better practitioner.
To my students, past and present, I will never be able to adequately express how much you all mean to me. You are the reason I strive to be the best Instructor I can. You are the reason why I push and demand as much as I do. The trust that you have put in me is never forgotten, or taken for granted.
To my fellow instructors, those with whom I have trained with during Phases or Expert Series, those whom I use to train with at KMD, you have all left a mark on me and made me better than I was before I met you. To Troy your journey is just starting and I am super excited for you.
Some people need some extra recognition:
Pawel: thank you for helping me with the critical first steps of this journey, from Phase A through Expert 1, your knowledge, passion, and dedication will never be forgotten.
Bruce: Man I miss training with you, but I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t help out in so many unique and “Bruce” ways. Bun, meat, and fire. Words I still use when teaching.
John: This is all your fault!! Seriously, thank you for the constant phone calls and dragging me to my first class. Thank you for being Yellow and Orange Belt testing partner. You were right.
Hunter: Valhalla is not what it is without your unending help in getting it off the ground. Valhalla isn’t what it is without your creativity and drive.
Shiela: My Krav sister!! I miss teaching and training with you more than you’ll ever know. You are a true badass!!
Rob: For all you do for our community, for holding the line, for the encouragement, for being an intense but smart training partner, thank you.
Mike: For all the Mondays that we worked together, for the knowledge, the different ways of looking at techniques that I thought I knew, for the unselfishness with your time, I am truly grateful.
Jamie: You thought I forgot about you!! Never and no fucking way. No one else I’d have shared this with. You made this weekend fun(ish). You are an amazing Instructor and an inspiration to your students. After all you have been through, your tenacity astounds me. There is simply no quit anywhere in you.
Wayne: I simply wish you were here so that you could have seen what we did, and the huge part you had in that. I thought about you more than once during the test. I hope you have found peace.
John (Jr): I often tell the time during my Phase B when you showed me just how hard it is to defend a dedicated attacker. You have been and still are one of my biggest influences. From the weekend you spent getting me ready for Brown Belt, to the actual Brown Belt test that you put us through, you have never given anything easy. I thank you for that. Your integrity as an Instructor is second to none.
Kelly: I don’t even know where to begin. You have been a part of every Phase, Expert Series, and finally the test. You have pushed, yelled, encouraged, taught, lead, with more energy and passion and commitment and drive and talent than anyone I know. You have answered emails, calls, you always seem to find time for us, even if you don’t have any. You have meant more to me as a person than you know. I can’t imagine how hard it was to be as honest and forthcoming as you have always been, even if the news wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I respect you for that more than anything.
Jeff: What’s to say that hasn’t already been said? Except this: No way this weekend goes the way it did without your influence and guidance. No way. No way that I am able to handle all the curveballs that were thrown my way without your mentorship. You have been an inspiration and an example of the type of leader I want to be for a long time now. You have always been there to answer a question (or 10) you have always been honest and sincere. I know that if you had seen the test, you’d have been proud of us all. Like John and Kelly; your integrity is without question or contestation. Your passion to help others succeed is limitless and that is a rare thing my brother. A rare thing indeed.
Maria: I have no shame in calling you my protege. Watching you become the Instructor, leader, and powerful person that you are had been a great joy. You are make Valhalla a better place. You make our people better. You reach people in ways that I don’t even think you understand yet. You inspire me daily to be better.
SAMANTHA: None of this is possible without you. None of it. Valhalla does not exist without you. You are my rock. You are the one person who knows me better than anyone else. You refuse to let me quit, you refuse to let me wallow in self-pity. You refuse to accept anything less than my best. You are my MUCH MUCH better half. I would not be half the man I am today without your love, guidance, and support. So many people’s lives have changed for the better, because you would not let me not open Valhalla. You have helped more people become stronger, safer, and healthier than you’ll ever know. I am so happy that you were in Texas to put the belt around my waist. There is no one else I’d rather have do that than you. In many ways this accomplishment is as much yours, probably more, than it is mine. I love you more than I am capable of expressing.