12/14/2025
Wow—how have eight years gone by so fast? It’s hard to believe this all began when Todd hosted his very first tournament, the Emma J. Patterson Taekwondo Invitational. At the time, I was honestly burned out on tournaments. Then I got a flyer from Todd. We met, talked it through, and I brought my team out. Not long after that, Brian hosted the next tournament, and when it wrapped up, I asked everyone to hang back for a few minutes. That’s when I floated the idea of starting the Western New York Combat League.
And here we are today—at the finale of the League.
It’s bittersweet. Through this League, I’ve made lifelong friends, countless acquaintances through all of your students, and together we truly expanded our martial arts family. I wish I could say my hair was a lot darker back then—we were all younger—but you’ve known me way too long for that excuse to work. 😄
Along the way, we had our hiccups and growing pains. But those weren’t failures—they were lessons. Through thick and thin, we stayed together. Now this chapter is closing, but as one door closes, another opens. Life pulls us in different directions, yet somehow we keep finding ourselves meeting again at those familiar crossroads.
If I had to point to the single most defining moment of what we built together, it would be when Rob became seriously ill—when we honestly weren’t even sure if he was going to survive. Without hesitation, members of this group—people who had their own schools—came together to keep his school open. That wasn’t about rank, trophies, or business. That was about family. If that doesn’t define what we created together, I don’t know what does.
Todd is stepping into a career to better support his family, being the responsible father and husband we all respect. My seminars have really taken off, with more travel as I work to fulfill a promise I made to my teacher—to make sure this art doesn’t die. Tom and Kayla now have a new little one to care for, and hopefully one day, that child will be part of a future generation of our martial arts family.
And for those who are still competing, we now have the MA-Tour. Just think about that—a large portion of the MA-Tour competitors are former Western New York Combat League members. That alone speaks volumes about how much we’ve grown and how strong this community has become. These tournaments and seminars may very well be the crossroads that continue to bring us back together.
And if I haven’t said it enough, let me say it clearly—if you ever need me, I’m only a phone call away. No matter where life takes us, I hope we stay connected. I truly consider you all friends.
Actually… we’re more than that. We’re family.
And I love my family.
But we don’t always have to like each other. 😄
In closing, Todd, thank you for having the courage to start that first tournament. I brought my team to you in 2017 and competed alongside them, and I finished the League the exact same way—bringing my students and competing with them in your final tournament. Thank you, my friend, for everything you started and for allowing all of us to be part of it.
Respectfully,
Datu Tim Hartman
Horizon Martial Arts
World Modern Arnis Alliance
