I turned 56 yesterday.

That number feels different than the ones before it. Not heavier, but more textured. It carries decades of sweat, bruises, blood, breakthroughs, and quiet moments of clarity. It reminds me that I’ve spent most of my life in the martial arts and that the path I walk today looks different than the one I started on, but it’s still the same path.

It began with Hung Gar. Old-school. Rooted. It taught me how to stand firm, how to move with purpose, and how to respect the lineage behind every technique. There was no shortcut to mastery. Just repetition, grit, and perseverence. That foundation shaped me.

Later, I added Taekwondo. Not because I needed something new, but because I saw how it could bring kids in, how the dynamic kicks and structured forms could open doors for families and help grow the school. It was a strategic shift, but also a heartfelt one. I wanted young people to feel the pride and discipline I felt when I first bowed in.

Then came 2002. I joined Chuck Norris’ Kickstart Kids, and everything changed. Suddenly, martial arts weren’t just about technique. They are about character. I found myself teaching respect, responsibility, and resilience through movement. It was the most meaningful pivot of my career. I wasn’t just shaping martial artists, I was helping save and change children’s lives.

But time has its own rhythm. These days, I can’t demonstrate the Taekwondo kata the way I used to. My body has limits now. So I’ve adapted. I teach the Shito-ryu version of the Pinan kata; more grounded, more accessible, and still rich with meaning. It’s not a compromise. It’s a continuation.

Aging in the martial arts isn’t about stepping aside. It’s about stepping differently. The kicks may not be as high, the stances not as deep, but the wisdom runs deeper. I’ve learned that the path forward isn’t found in stopping. It’s found in evolving. In finding new ways to teach, to connect, and to inspire.

I’m still here. Still teaching. Still learning. Still believing.

And if you’re wondering whether the journey is worth it,whether it’s still possible to make an impact as the years go by, let me say this: the martial arts gave me movement. Now, they give me meaning.