I've said many a time that if it were not for martial arts, I would not be the awesome fitness teacher and trainer that I am today. The arts gave me such a strong foundation that really put me head and shoulders above the rest of my peers when I stepped up and became certified to teach exercise in 1997.
Even today, I call on some of the lessons and ethics I learned from my teachers of the past in my own classes. I'm a firm, thorough, innovative and demanding teacher. As I teach, I realize that part of who I am as a teacher and instructor came from all the wonderful senseis, fighting coaches and teachers (and a dance instructor from Broadway Dance center named Frank Hatchett) I have had over the years.
They were stern, demanding, they pushed me to beyond my limits, made me believe in my potential, and shaped and trained me to be the best. And I know, without being cocky, that I AM the best. Just ask anyone that has taken a class of mine or been trained by me. My mind constantly thinks, searches, evolves, and spits out what is necessary to give my people the best workouts and fitness experiences of their lives.
I just wanted to take time out today to give thanks to all those who taught me and gave me the incredible foundation that I have in martial arts and fitness. As I look back on the past, I can remember hard as hell training days, and times when I wanted to improve and excel so bad that it made me cry. I remember when I first realized that I was good at fighting. I remember the first time that I won a competition. The first time I lost. It was awful. Hell, ANYTIME I lost a fight, it was awful! lol Losing is always devastating just knowing all the hard work you've put in.
I remember not understanding why my teachers were so hard on me in certain moments. At times I felt they went too far. They are, after all, only human. But out of this fierce New York City piece of coal, they wrought a shining diamond, all of them, and I just want to give thanks to every one of them today.
These are the people who taught me to be the teacher, trainer, instructor, fighter, martial artist and phenom that I am today:
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