A debt of gratitude
My martial arts journey, like many of life’s epic treks, is not embarked upon alone. I have enjoyed a host of support from all angles throughout my training career, especially today in my current role as Taekwondo Dad. Most importantly, my wife, Vanessa, is the person to whom I owe the largest debt of gratitude for her support over the years. She thought I was crazy back in my thirties when I was training in muay thai when I would come home bruised, sometimes broken, and usually limping from an intense sparring session. She might even think I’m still a bit crazy for doing all of the fun and acrobatic kicks in Taekwondo today, but she helps me and my children reach our goals regardless. For that and many other things, I thank her.
My mother was a constant supporter and source of encouragement in my youth during my days in karate. She sat through nearly every class over the 4 years I studied karate, always watching and providing me insights after class. Even as she approaches her 90th birthday, she is in my corner cheering me and the children on. From her, I learned how to have inner strength, endurance, peace, and happiness during all of life’s challenges. This isn’t the venue to share her story, but suffice it say, she is my hero for many, many reasons.
I have had the privilege of an amazing array of martial arts instructors over the years, and to them, I extend a tremendous amount of thanks for they taught me so much, both about martial arts and life. From my first karate instructors, Vicki and Pat, I learned how to take an ass-whooping from a woman. Vicki was a multi-degree, multi-discipline black belt, ex-kickboxer, and rugby player. She was tough as nails, and she politely, gently kicked my ass at sparring more times than I could have counted. Pat was her understudy, and she too put me in my place in sparring until I got better. I could never best Vicki though - a humbling and formative experience for a teenager who thought he was hot stuff.
I studied wrestling in middle school briefly from my first Iranian martial arts instructor, who was an Olympic wrestler. Aikido was another discipline that I studied briefly during an exchange program with my karate dojo - we taught them karate; they taught us aikido. While learning muay thai, one of my gyms also taught other martial arts. I took classes in judo, Brazilian jui-jitsu, Russian sambo, and boxing. I mention this not to impress the reader. I am nobody special; I am just a guy. I mention this to say that my Taekwondo instructors today are the best of all my instructors over the years. To my second and third Iranian martial arts instructors, Master Houman and Ms. Neshat, thank you for all you have taught me and my children.
