At this point in my life, I don’t feel that I have yet made any great achievements. I have always tried my best in school and worked hard at playing many different sports, but I don’t think those are the things that as I grow older will be remember. 

However, how does it sound to you to tell your children and grandchildren that at one time in your life you trained in martial arts and ACHIEVED your BLACK BELT!  You will leave them with their mouth opened in awe! I bet they will ask questions like:  what was like to be a martial artist? How hard was the training?  Who was the best student in the class? Did anyone ever tried to bully you - and what did you do? etc.. Then you stand up from your chair and answer:  “Once you are a BLACK BELT you are always a BLACK BELT!”

You tell them that this is an experience that last a lifetime. Then you show them a little bit of how everything starts with discipline, integrity, perseverance, focus, self-confidence and self-esteem.  And your story never ends and neither the journey because your mind, body and soul are always striving to reach new levels of understanding of who you are, where you are, and where are you going.  You will tell your child that this is not just another sport – but that achieving Black Belt in Martial Arts is something that will have a strong impact the rest of your life.

When they think of something impossible, they will remember their Black Belt training remembering not to quit, to stand for what they believe is right, to improve themselves, and start all over again as many times as necessary.  You will be so proud that you are, was, and continue to be your children and grandchildren inspiration in their yet toughest time.  They will remember YOU and will talk about yours and their achievements generations after generation.   Master Santiago