As longtime students of our school know, I am bluntly honest.  The simple and blunt truth is that 2007 was a rough year for us, but it also had moments of greatness too.

            Unfortunately in 2007, we suffered some great losses.  The father of one of our youth students passed away of a sudden heart attack, one of our Southern California instructors lost his battle with brain tumors, one of our current students is still fighting lung cancer, a couple students suffered freak injuries, and a few of our students lost their jobs due to downsizing and other corporate messes.

            Fortunately 2007 also had moments of happiness.  Brian McKee was promoted to black belt, along with the promotions of Kevin Taylor, Jonathan Tiu, Kylie McKee and Kegger O’Neal to various ranks of brown belt.  We have a few new students from the year who are progressing nicely at the school, and several people who proved that they are without a doubt future black belts.

            I am looking forward to a bright and prosperous 2008.  We have the very real possibility of seeing several new black belts, and even more brown belt promotions.  I’m also looking forward to the new students who we don’t even know yet.  When we get those new students, they help our school grow.  Without them, we will not grow, and we will not continue to be successful.  It’s really that simple.

            I have always felt that without the students, the dojo is nothing more than four walls and a roof.  YOU make the dojo what it is, so YOU tell me what you want at the dojo, and then together we’ll make it happen!