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 Mr. Pranav who received his black belt on March 12, 2022.

Pranav’s essay shares about how setbacks can drive us forward. Pranav writes about the times that he didn’t advance in belt rank at growth ceremonies as moments of reflection that pushed him to a more focused approach to his training. He recognizes that the journey of a martial artist is about learning and sharing one’s knowledge with generosity. He writes:

“Everyone is a student. No one is a “Master”, and no human being is “perfect” at one thing. They might know all the aspects of that topic, but I am definitely sure that they wouldn’t have mastered the technique 100%. Once I become a Black Belt I will continue learning, practicing, and revising my techniques. I will and would never degrade someone about a technique just because I know it and they don’t. Instead, I would help them learn that technique to the best of my ability.”

His full essay is below.

Hello everyone, my name is Pranav. I am 13 years old and have been doing martial arts for the past six years. Martial arts has taught me a lot. From teaching me to be resilient, to never give up, to always treat others the way you want to be treated, and to always try to stop a fight the nice way and not to retaliate back. I first started martial arts when EvolveAll was offering its one-week free trial. My parents told me to sign up to see how it goes. So then I accepted and joined my first class. I can still remember when I first stepped foot to the mat I felt like all of the parents were just staring at me. I started getting scared and nervous but I broke through it and went to circle up. And so the one week trial passed, and I felt comfortable continuing class so I did. In the beginning, I didn’t really care about getting stripes and moving up to the next belt but then suddenly one class I did my meditation really focused and well, so Mr. Sydney told me to come to the middle of the circle and he gave me my first ever stripe. I looked back at my mom and saw her smiling. I don’t know why but I really liked the feeling of that moment so I got into it. Soon enough I started putting in more focus and effort into martial arts and I moved up to Yellow Stripe and so on and so forth.

I had this streak going where I moved up every single growth period until I hit Green Solid. At that time, Mr. Christian had to give you tiny little invitation cards to tell whether or not you were moving up to the next belt. And I didn’t get my invitation during the first growth period which made me feel upset because I was really unhappy that my streak was broken because I was fooling around during class, not paying attention to what the instructors were teaching. Also that was the first time in my entire journey that I got held back for one growth period. So then I tried even harder by focusing, being attentive, and learning the techniques well. So during the next growth period I got the invitation I was looking for.

Then I was held back a growth ceremony when I was a Blue Solid and the reason was that I wasn’t paying attention in class and wasn’t trying my best to show that I had mastered the techniques the instructors were teaching. So then at that moment was when it clicked for me that I should start focusing and stop fooling around in class. So then I tried really hard by focusing and showing that I was ready to move up to the next belt by learning and mastering all of the techniques taught by the instructors and proving to them that I have changed into a newer and more mature person. So then because I was displaying such excellence, Mr. Christian gave me my invitation to move up to Purple Solid.

Once I became a Red Solid, I would like to say that my life completely changed in a very positive way. In the beginning, it was challenging getting used to the environment of doing martial arts with people older than me. Because before, there was an age group for the classes you took. For example, 5-7 year olds, 8-10 year olds, 10 and up. But in the Red Solid and Black Belt class, there were people who were 15 or 16 or even older than that. So it took a bit of time to get used to the setting. But once I did, it felt great. It actually felt like you were part of something special.

My mindset completely changed when I became a Red Solid. This was because before, when I was younger, the only thing that ran in my mind was the objective to get all of my stripes, get my black stripe, and move up to the next belt. That same goal went through my mind until I because a Red Solid. In Red Solid class, I learned that it’s not about getting from one place to another, it’s about how you get from one place to another and what sorts of things you have done to reach that place. Putting that statement to martial arts, in Red Solid/Black Belt class it’s not about going from Red Solid to Black Belt, but it’s about mastering all of the techniques and improving on your weaknesses to turn those into your strengths.

The Red Solid and Black Belt classes were going amazing until the COVID-19 pandemic took over the world. But it terms of martial arts, it not only affected me but the whole EvolveAll community. We couldn’t go anywhere and we were all stuck at home. That was when Master Emerson and the crew started virtual martial arts lessons via Zoom. That decision made me sad and happy. It made me sad because I wouldn’t be able to see the people I loved and cared about on a daily real life basis. But it made me happy because seeing the class online is better than not having class at all. But during this time was when I used all of the traits and characteristics I had learned over the years in martial arts. Not just me but the whole community persevered through the very challenging times and never gave up. Because of this group effort, we were able to transition back from virtual to in-person classes. Overall the virtual classes made me learn that there is always hope and that you should keep thinking positively and you will definitely succeed.

During my time in the Red Solid/Black Belt class, my look on life completely changed. I went from the hyper, enthusiastic kid I was back in my previous years of martials arts to a much more mature person. To be completely honest, the Red Solid and Black Belt class has made me look at life in a much different perspective. This was because of all the wonderful people in this class and Master Emerson. They made me realize that life is wonderful. And that whatever challenges you’re going through, someone else is probably going through the same type of thing. And to share the things you’re going through with someone you feel comfortable with because they will give you a great solution. These types of things are the reason I am the person I am today.

I do martial arts because I want to learn how to defend myself in situations where I have to. But I want to do martial arts mostly because I want to learn. I want to learn not only how to protect myself but I want to learn how to be mentally healthy. I want to learn how to be mentally invincible. What I mean by that is if the people in your life are treating you like garbage and spreading hate about you, how do I make myself stay happy and healthy. Because when this type of situation happens to others they don’t tell anyone about what they are going through, they start getting into bad habits (drugs, alcohol), and they get into depression. I want to learn how to stay out of that and lead a happy life. But most of all I want to teach everything I have learned to the next generation of martial artists. I want the whole world to know about EvolveAll and its rich history. That is my main goal. That is the reason I do martial arts.

Once I become a Black Belt, I will definitely continue martial arts. But I will especially respect everyone and anyone who tells me to fix my mistakes and I will fix them. Everyone is a student. No one is a “Master” and no human being is “perfect” at one thing. They might know all the aspects of that topic, but I am definitely sure that they wouldn’t have mastered the technique 100%. Once I become a Black Belt I will continue learning, practicing, and revising my techniques. I will and would never degrade someone about a technique just because I know it and they don’t. Instead, I would help them learn that technique to the best of my ability. These are all of the things I plan to do in my future martial arts life. I thank all of the instructors, friends, and the whole community in general for supporting me and encouraging me saying that I can do it. I especially want to thank my parents. If it wasn’t for them I would’ve never been able to be part of such a beautiful, welcoming, awesome community.

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.