05/27/2025
Today marks the 4th year of training Goju-Ryu with the Oshawa Budo Club/Oshawa Karate. 4 years of training, hard work, memorizing movements and forms, going to class even when you've had next to no sleep, mentally exhausted or sometimes just feeling unmotivated. Today marks the day I earned/ received 5th Kyu (Green Belt), and I am proud that I've stuck with it this long.
Makes me happy that my kids can look up to me as someone that perseveres despite everything life throws my way. Staying strong through tough times, getting knocked down but getting right back up again. Never giving up. I'm hoping the next 4+ years is more of the same.
Thanks to Spenser Gibbons & Tiffany Wright for coming and supporting me today, as well as the awesome pics/videos you took for the occasion. It means the world to me, to have SOMEONE in my corner while my wife Crystal G Giddings is in the hospital dealing with her chemo treatment 🙏
Lastly (but not leastly), thank you to Sensei Dave Shaw for granting me the opportunity to continue my Martial Arts journey, as well as understanding my situation (looking past my minor short comings during the test). You not only teach me how to kick and punch things, but also acceptance, patience, and humility.
Domo arigato gozaimasu 🙏🙏🙏
- Jessie Morgan.