Corny, I know

Without sounding too hokey... this post is for Ernie Reyes, Jr.

A response to a response-

You inspired me when I was a teenager. This is going to sound so stupid, but I was in high school when TMNT and Surf Ninjas came out. I decided that I wanted to be a ninja (at 35, I roll my eyes at that statement, lol). I never had an opportunity as a teen to do martial arts. As an adult, I fell in love, got married, had kids, and never had an opportunity to do martial arts. Until we looked into it for our son, who at the time was 8 and diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and we had already discovered that "team" sports, wasn't working out.

The owners of our TKD school are absolutely, without a doubt, the BEST people in the world! They encouraged me to join my kids in TKD. I was hesitant, believing that both my age and my extra-large size to be an excuse for me not to. But, they were persistent and so I joined. I became the first adult in the history of their school (6 years), to become a member of the Elite Split's Club and became a spokesperson of sorts for bigger women and moms to join the classes with their kids.

Would I have still put my kids in TKD without "Surf Ninjas"? Probably.

Would I have joined? I don't think so. Because my desire to join wouldn't have been such a long-held secret that I held so guardedly in my heart. And now I am proud to say that my kids are grading next week for their black belts and have both decided to go on to 2nd dan. And in March, I will join them as a black belt. I'm excited and nervous and fulfilled.

Martial Arts IS a way of life and has become OUR way of life. Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, Indomitable Spirit. Life lessons that my children will carry with them forever. Never giving up. Working hard has it's rewards. I love martial arts.

And now I'm babbling. Sorry.

I got a tattoo last February. It's the profile picture on my twitter. My martial artist and the kanji "spirit". You helped give me that spirit and love of martial arts a long time before I ever even tried it myself. Maybe it means nothing- you don't even know me. But it's meant something to me. So thanks! Thanks for being a positive role model and inspiration for me.

:)