04/12/2026
From a hospital bed after multiple spinal surgeries — barely able to put on my own socks — to standing here tonight as an Inductee into the Cleveland Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Class of 2026.
Martial arts saved my life twice. First, as a teenager, it pulled me away from a troubled path and led me to serve 20 years as a police officer and in the U.S. Army. Second, after on-duty injuries forced early retirement in 2019, it gave me purpose and discipline to fight back — through pain, surgeries, and recovery — until I could step up and take over the very dojo where I began training as a kid.
None of this would have been possible without the support of my family, students, and mentors. Thank you to Master John K. Thomas for the decades of training that got me here. A special thank you to Master Danny Lane for the nomination and belief in my story — your words (“inspirational… character more than skills… overcoming adversity is the key to survival”) carried me here.
This honor isn’t just mine — it belongs to everyone who’s ever refused to quit. Oss to the journey, and to the next generation who will keep the arts alive. The Cleveland Martial Arts Hall of Fame
