06/09/2026
The longer I'm in the martial arts, the more I realize that belts, titles, trophies, and certificates are only part of the story.
What really matters is the impact you have on people.
GM Paul Mills is one of those individuals whose impact reaches far beyond his own school or organization. His influence can be seen in the instructors he's helped shape, the students he's inspired, and the respect he's earned throughout the Kenpo community.
As someone who has spent a lifetime training, teaching, fighting, and trying to pass on what I've learned, I have a deep appreciation for those who dedicate themselves to preserving the art while continuing to grow within it. That's not always an easy balance to find. Some people become trapped in tradition. Others abandon it altogether. The best instructors find a way to honor both the roots and the evolution of the art.
GM Mills has done that.
One thing I've always respected in martial arts is authenticity. Not the ability to talk about it, but the ability to live it. The willingness to keep learning, keep teaching, and keep helping others become better than they were yesterday. That mindset is something I see in GM Mills and why he is so highly regarded by so many people.
In a world where everybody wants to be heard, there is something special about those who have earned the right to be listened to.
Thank you, Mr Mills, for your years of dedication, your contributions to Kenpo, and for helping ensure that future generations inherit an art worth preserving.
The martial arts world needs more people who build bridges instead of walls, who share knowledge instead of guarding it, and who understand that our job is not just to learn the art, but to leave it stronger than we found it.
Much respect, sir.
