10/24/2026
Let’s talk about Emma for a moment.
She hurt her elbow at the park doing normal kid stuff. She still came to class and mentioned that her elbow was bothering her. Her mom and I kept an eye on her, and she kept working. By the end of class, she had outworked everyone in the room. She probably knew something wasn’t right, but she didn’t want to quit. So what did she do? She turned it up and worked even harder. Tears in her eyes, she threw her brother during randori harder than I had ever seen her do—yet still kept control and protected her big brother.
The next day she shows up with a stabilizer on her elbow. I come out of the office and she’s trying to put her gi jacket on over the stabilizer while asking her sister to help tie her belt.
I asked if she wanted to sit and watch—she’d still get credit for coming to class—and she looked at me and said, “I want to participate.” And she did. She completed every warm‑up she could, worked with instructors on drills she was able to do, grabbed bands and focused on exercises. Fifty‑five minutes of class, and she didn’t take a single break.
Let’s recognize this young lady for her hard work and the example she sets for everyone around her. This is what leadership looks like. This is what effort looks like. Quiet, unassuming, polite, and an absolute driver for all her teammates on the mat.
We are so proud of you, Emma! Thank you for setting an example to all those around you and making us ask, "What is our excuse." Let's do the work.
