09/04/2026
🥋 25 Years
September 4th marks a pretty special anniversary for me.
Twenty-five years ago, on September 4, 2001, I became a Head Instructor and began running my own martial arts school locations. In many ways, that's the day martial arts went from being something I did to becoming my profession.
I still remember that day.
I left early from a family vacation with my parents. My dad drove me to the airport and I flew back to Atlanta before the sun had risen. I went to class at Georgia State and then drove straight to teach my first class as a Head Instructor.
I had wanted that opportunity for a long time.
When I was about 9 years old, I already knew that I wanted to become a Karate instructor when I grew up. September 4, 2001 was the first big step toward actually making that childhood dream my life.
Four years later, in September 2005, I took another big step and opened a martial arts school here in Barrow County.
Over the past 25 years, I've taught thousands upon thousands of classes. Five days a week, usually three or four classes a night, year after year.
But when I think about those 25 years, I don't really think about the number of classes I've taught—or even the number of belts I've awarded.
I think about the people.
I've watched children grow up in front of me. I've seen students graduate, get married, build careers, and start families of their own. I've attended students' weddings. I've had students that grew up on the mat and former students bring their own children to my classes. And over enough years, I've also experienced the harder side of long relationships—saying goodbye and attending funerals.
The belts are important. The techniques are important. But after 25 years, I've come to realize that they're only the surface of what it means to spend your life teaching martial arts.
I've grown and changed along the way, too. I've made mistakes. I've faced plenty of challenges. I've changed the way I teach. I've continued training and learning myself. And hopefully, I've become a better instructor along the way.
The locations have changed. The curriculum has evolved. Eventually, the journey led to Master Pattillo Martial Arts and the school we have today.
But after 25 years, the part I enjoy most is still pretty simple:
Doing martial arts. Helping people learn. Watching students succeed.
There have certainly been challenges along the way, but I can't imagine doing anything else.
To everyone who has ever stepped onto the mat and trusted me to be part of your martial arts journey—thank you.
Twenty-five years later, I'm incredibly fortunate that the thing I dreamed about doing when I was a kid is still what I get to do every day.
And I'm not finished learning yet. 🥋