Words do no justice, yet here are a few that describe what transpired between the hours of 2:00 pm and 8:30 pm Sunday August 11, 2019 and the emotions that came with. We begin with a run…a bit more than two miles to warm up, and the day was nice. Afterwards more than an hour of intensive PT then material for hours on end. All of it. By the time we get to fight, no one knows which end is up. Minds are numb. Hearts and heads are pounding. For the hundredth time each of the candidates asks themselves why. Why am I doing this? When will it end?

The pain and the exhaustion is fleeting in the grand scheme of things, the anguish of your failures are temporary and most importantly; they are necessary. They are the building blocks of our character, that which defines us. The bruises and the blood are a badge of honor. A reminder that you are not only human and fallible, but you are resilient. You are a survivor. You are:

Warriors….every one.

There are only a few people in this world who can dedicate themselves to what we do. To the lifestyle that we choose. To the brotherhood /sisterhood that we embrace. A family that sweats and bleeds for and with each other. And there are even less people who will be able to understand why we do what we do day in and day out. Until they need us.

Because the warrior’s purpose in life, although we immerse ourselves in defending against the threat of violence, is to instill and keep peace. Peace within our hearts, peace within our minds, peace in our daily interactions. But if war comes our way, and our inner and outer peace cannot quell the rising tide;

We shall be prepared.

It is my honor to be your guide on this journey. It is our mission to continue to build on the foundation of integrity and honor, failure and success, honesty and the removal of ego, confidence, discipline, work ethic, and community. All these things that are needed for success, but are being forgotten by so many. Spread the Kempo love.

With great pleasure and the utmost pride and honor, on this day; Sunday August 11, 2019, I have gladly promoted the following warriors to the rank of Shodan…the first step.

Shodan Michael Gagliardi – Time in training 10 Years, 1 month

Shodan Anne Cavanaugh – Time in training 10 Years

Shodan Alex Mulhall – Time in training 10 Years, 8 months

Shodan Bradley Altman – Time in training 12 Years, 4 months

Shodan Abhinav Yadav – Time in training 6 Years, 11 months

Honor your rank, associates, fellow rank holding brothers and sisters, as well as yourself. May your rank forever uphold the standards set forth by Cutting Edge Kempo Karate as we continue to strive for unity and proficiency in the arts.

A special thank you to Grandmaster Rich Fescina for proctoring our exam, without you, we would not be doing what we are doing, at the level you have always demanded. We will never fold to the ideology that some things are ‘just too hard’ for the people of today. We will always uphold the standards and practices that you demanded of me. If necessary we will be the last bastion of hope in a society that seems to be losing it’s way.

We will keep the flame alive.

So here we are. Another group of dedicated brothers and sisters. Another generation of hope. Another bunch of bumps and bruises and broken bodies. Another band of folks who have earned something that not everyone can. Another pile of bodies that need to;

Get back on the mat.