We’re looking back on the wise words shared by our students when they were awarded their black belts. Today, we share the essay written by Miles Green who received his black belt on March 16, 2024. His journey was full of questions. That doesn’t mean that he was questioning himself or his abilities, but that he found that he could use questions to drive himself and explore his passions more deeply with a balance of ambition and pragmatism.

“I’ve spent a lot of my time asking questions like: How far can I go with my potential? Am I capable of rising to my potential? Can I become the best? What do I want to accomplish? Maybe the biggest of these questions was: Is it physically possible to fulfill my potential given my circumstances?”

 His full essay is below.

Good morning, my name is Miles Green. I am an 11th grader at HB-Woodlawn. I have been doing martial arts for four years and nine months. My journey with martial arts started with the classic Kung Fu Panda movies. When I saw them, I immediately fell in love with the cool tricks and moves they showed. Other movies like Karate Kid, Spy Next Door, and IP Man also increased my interest in the world of martial arts. My experience as a martial artist has been an enlightening journey, filled with twists and turns that have changed my life.

As I went through my journey, my instructors played  a major role in helping me create a path of success. Once I had the path, I had to figure out how to be patient, knowing that fulfilling my potential would take both time and effort. Waiting is a shockingly large aspect of life. If you want that part of your life to be bearable, it’s good to be patient. From waiting for summer break, to finding your passion, waiting is an inevitable part of life. I’ve had to learn the hard way to be patient with my schedule. With commitments like school, church, and other personal obligations, it can be hard to leave room for things I want to do. Over the past summer, I had the privilege of helping teach the youth martial arts classes. It was a blast, and I learned so much about teaching and martial arts. While I was having one of the best summers of my life, I knew it wouldn’t last forever. I would eventually have to go back to school, which would be the start of one of the most stressful academic years of my life. This would mean I would have to cut down on the amount of teaching I was doing, which was a hard pill for me to swallow. It was, and still is hard not being at the studio nearly as much as I want to. Although this wasn’t my ideal situation, I had to learn to adapt to my circumstances. I realized I had to make the most of my time at the studio. I’m starting to see what my parents mean when they say, “Life isn’t fair.” I think patience is a vital skill to get through whatever hardships come your way. While I can’t say I’m a master at patience, I am proud to say that my patience has elevated in the past few months. I am now capable of overcoming and moving past the frustration that comes with my situation. Although, I want to make it clear that this statement would not be truthful if it weren’t for my parents, friends, and instructors.

This journey to black belt has sparked personal development in my life that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I’ve spent a lot of my time asking questions like: How far can I go with my potential? Am I capable of rising to my potential? Can I become the best? What do I want to accomplish? Maybe the biggest of these questions was: Is it physically possible to fulfill my potential given my circumstances? These questions led me to developing a sense of patience, awareness, confidence and discipline when it comes to on and off the mat. These traits I’ve learned helped me ask the most valuable questions of my journey: How badly do I want it? Do I have that burning desire to become the best version of myself? Do I have a passion for what I do? I think most people hit a cap on their progression until they can figure out these questions. Now, I am sure that I want to rise through this theoretical barrier. I confirmed with myself that I am committed to my progress. This means any physical milestone of my improvement is an affirmation that the effort and dedication I’m putting in is working. That’s how I want to look at this black belt: an acknowledgement that I am devoted to my role as a student, instructor, and teammate. It is in these roles that I am always striving for improvement.

I am proud of the improvements that I have made, and the symbol of my commitment that this black belt represents, but it wouldn’t have been possible without all the people who are a part of the EvolveAll community. All of you have made these past couple of years life-changing. Words cannot express the amount of gratitude I have for everybody here. There have been ups and downs throughout my martial arts career, but without the constant encouragement and affirmation my classmates give me, there’s no way I would be standing here today. I owe so much to the instructing staff. Ms. Caroline, thank you for standing by my side, listening, critiquing, teaching, and always telling me the truth. I am so grateful for the person you are and what you have done for this place and me. Mr. Owen, you have always been such a great friend, brother, and partner to me. Your awareness and insightfulness with training has helped me grow in several ways. I will never forget the kindness and love you have shown me in the past years. Mr. Christian, I owe so much of what I’ve learned to you. Thank you for always having faith in me. You are the reason I am motivated to keep coming back here. Mr. Brian, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for being so reliable and supportive of EvolveAll. You have always inspired me to show people respect and hospitality. Master Emerson, while I don’t have as much experience being taught by you, I am taught by your students, and I know that none of this would exist without you. Thank you for the countless hours you’ve spent to make this place so powerful and life-changing. Than you to my mentor, Mr. Elisha. Thank you for always pushing me to be better and for sharing your level headed approach to martial arts with me. Congratulations to Noah, I’m so happy we can take this next step together. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better. You are such a good person and have always been a good friend to me. Kendrick, thank you for always being your genuine self. All the red and black belts, thank you for being the rock of this foundation. To all the students, thank you for being good kids, and willing to learn. Thank you to my friends who came out here to support me. It means a lot that you guys are here. Thank you to all my family. Mom, thank you for always understanding and supporting me no matter what. Dad, thank you for being patient with my stubbornness. Tess, thank you for joining me at EvolveAll; it makes it much more enjoyable with you here. Lastly, I have to thank God. Without him, none of this would be possible. I will never forget the good times I’ve had here, and I promise to take the virtues I’ve learned here wherever I go. Thank you, and God bless you all.

Confidence: Confidence is the foundation of success in all aspects of life. Our program is designed to instill unwavering self-assurance in our young members. Through mastering martial arts techniques, setting and achieving goals, and engaging in positive peer interactions, our students develop a sense of confidence that radiates through every facet of their lives.

Discipline: Martial arts demand discipline, and at EvolveAll, we make it fun and engaging. Our skilled instructors guide students through structured classes that teach the importance of discipline, focus, and dedication. These invaluable traits translate into improved academic performance and better decision-making skills.

Physical Fitness: We believe that a strong mind resides in a strong body. Our youth martial arts classes offer a fantastic opportunity for children and teenagers to stay active, improve their coordination, flexibility, and overall physical fitness in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Self-Defense: Safety is paramount in today’s world. Our program equips students with effective self-defense techniques, empowering them to protect themselves and others should the need arise. We foster a sense of awareness and teach practical skills that bolster confidence in challenging situations.

Community: At EvolveAll, we are more than just a martial arts studio; we are a community. We foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie among our members, encouraging teamwork and mutual support. Lifelong friendships are forged here, and our inclusive atmosphere ensures that everyone feels welcome and valued.