06/16/2026
Who are the people in your life who truly changed the course of it?
For me, two men sit at the very top of that list: Edward Hernandez and Master Phil Velazquez.
These men allowed me to stand on their shoulders when I wasn’t yet tall enough to see the path for myself. They saw potential in me long before I saw it in myself, and they helped shape not only the martial artist I became, but the instructor and man I am today.
I met my first instructor Edward Hernandez when I was six years old and began training with him at twelve.His instructor Master Velazquez gave me something that has stayed with me for a lifetime: discipline. The standards he held me to, the accountability he demanded, and the lessons he taught continue to influence every class I teach and every student I mentor.
The older I get, the more I realize that none of us achieve anything alone. We are all carrying lessons, values, and wisdom that were passed down by those who came before us.
I am grateful every day for the instructors who invested their time, patience, and belief in me. Their impact continues to live on through every student I have the privilege to teach.
Thank you, gentlemen. Your influence reaches farther than you will ever know.
