I just filled out 15 birthday cards this morning for my students and I loved it!  Each card I fill out I try and do something personal to remind them how much I appreciate and love them.  Today I did a little doodle of a stick person doing karate and told them they are awesome.  I traced my hand the other day to give a student a high five via the card.  I wrote a students name 50 times on a card so when they got to the end I made sure I had their attention.  I also make check lists, tell jokes and I always remind them how grateful I am that they allow me to be a part of their life.  Yes they allow me to be a part of their life is the correct verbiage.  They can always be a part of mine but I have to earn the right to stay in theirs.  I take that very seriously and maintain that level of humility in all that I can and will do for them.  They decide to be my students and for that I am grateful.  I tell them I love them all the time and they look at me weird like the word love is exclusive to parents and grandparents.  I try and make them aware that love is why I do what I do.  Love is the answer to all the worlds problems and most importantly it's the reason I get to write them a birthday card.  I'll keep saying it until they believe it when I am no longer able to say it anymore.  The best gift I can give them on their special day is for them to know that I think they are pretty amazing and that I am so very proud to be a part of their lives.

I have a very male energy about me and that can be a bit intimidating at times. On the inside I am just a big soft hearted guy. I love what I do and love the people that appreciate my efforts. I struggle in non martial arts settings to connect with people and thats alright. Most people never pull back the curtain understand that it took a lifetime to do what I am able to do today. I truly do mean a lifetime and that's not just an expression. I have spent the last 40 years learning and applying my craft, I have traveled thousands of miles to learn and compete, I have slept in my car and on the floors of strangers to learn, I have spent more money than I care to remember to educate myself to become a better teacher, I have broken many bones and bled to learn from some of the greats, I have been taken advantage of financially and intellectually by others, I have taken countless notes, spent money on programs and things I never used, I have spent 15- 20 hours a day training to learn new material to pass on, I have been up all night to help grow my school and provide the best lessons possible, I have had students pass away, I have spent holidays away from my family, I have worked two and sometimes three full-time jobs to get by, I have had to start over many times to be where I am today. You see I believe in you. I don't teach an "activity" or ancient mystic art. I teach faith. All the lessons I have learned have been about faith. Faith in myself is the deepest lesson I have been given through martial arts. I have give up so much to give the lesson of faith to you. Sometimes I have gone with out just so I could give to you. Faith and time is all I have ever had and is all I can ever give. The vehicle is martial arts of course but the values and the lessons took a lifetime to learn. In life we are lucky to meet people that believe in us. When we find those people we need to learn as much as we can while we can. Things change and people change. Faith in yourself should never change. I hope ego and pride won't steal your faith. I will keep trying to teach my lessons learned. I hope you do too.