09/18/2026
To my students,
As we get ready for this weekend’s tournament, I think we all know this is not the same as any other tournament. It does not matter if you have been to hundreds of tournaments or just a handful. This one will be different. This one will be hard.
For those of you who have decided to do the hard thing this weekend and get out there and compete, we are all here with you. We are doing this together as a team.
This weekend is not about what we win. It is about pushing ourselves past what life has thrown at us. We are going to walk into that tournament one step at a time, complete our forms one move at a time, and finish our matches one round at a time.
Some moments we may feel strong. Other moments, we may be crawling, falling, crying, or simply doing everything we can to take the next step. All of that is acceptable. Quitting is not.
Success is found in what we choose to do with today.
So help each other. Cheer each other on. Be there through both the victories and the defeats, because this weekend’s greatest victory will be found in lifting each other up.
Keep pushing forward!
