Students and/or parents should not compare themselves or one student with another in this school. Leave that to me. There are many unique students that participate in this martial arts school. Some are natural athletes, while others are not. Yet each student has the potential to be great. Some struggle, while others learn more quickly, no different than with their text book schooling, and I have found that some students that try harder in class are the ones that most often make the most mistakes. This only tells me that this student is very eager to learn. Although many may fail to make the grade or win each time they are put to the test or compete, each has the same opportunity as any others.

Most of the spectators in this school may not be aware of the many challenges that a good number of my students face. I have many students with different disabilities, including Dyslexia, Autism, Aspergers, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disorder (CMT); still others suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or are Hyperactive (ADHD), or are learning disabled, or have some form of physical disability and are fundamentally challenged in some way or another in this school. Believe it or not I also have students that speaks little or no english, but this is not the first time for this either.

Most people don’t realize that a junior black belt in this school is just that a JUNIOR BLACK BELT. You cannot compare a junior with a teen or adult in this school as the curriculum is age based and gets considerably more complex and difficult with age. A junior black belt or any belt for that matter, moving to teens class is a huge deal. A junior only knows what he or she has been taught to their individual levels. When I hear an individual compare the accomplishments of one student over another in this school it does no one any good. Again leave this to me. Motivate yes! But do not compare in a negative way or put down another student’s accomplishments by comparing them with that of your own.

You cannot compare an apple with and orange. Yes they are both fruit. They are round, grow on trees, taste and smell great, yet they are uniquely different. Sure students may be the same belt rank, but they are each uniquely different. This school is like a giant fruit bowl and each person in this school is a different piece of fruit. No two are the same. Each student will reach black belt rank in their own good time with a proper go to attitude and a supportive group of instructors and parents. Some will be exceptionally athletic black belts that will wow everyone, where as others may not be, but each will have earned their rank with pride and dedication as long as they try hard, don’t give up, and have an un-yielding indomitable spirit!