Today I am in Fort Walton Beach celebrating a lifetime achievement for my aunt, Amanda Olson. Aunt Mandy has been a martial artist since she was a young girl, and she, her husband, and her children run a wonderfully successful martial arts studio in Johnson City, TN. Today is the national tournament of the American Martial Arts Institute that my aunt and uncle co-founded with her dad and brother, Chick and Kevin Mathis. But what makes this particular event so special, is that both Amanda and Kevin will be testing for their eighth degree black belts!
The eighth degree black belt is the highest rank awarded to a martial artist. There is a ninth degree, but that rank is awarded not earned, and it is a lifetime rank to be held by only one person at a time. Therefore, for most martial artists the eighth degree marks marks the pinnacle of their career and hard work, and today a brother and sister get to accomplish that amazing feat together.
But this is not just a celebration of my aunt's physical and techincal accomplishments, but it also a great testament to the teacher she has been to hundreds, if not thousands, of students. I have witnessed this first hand as I was a student in their school for several years (many years and pounds ago I was a 2nd degree black belt). For her, it is not only about teaching how to kick and punch, but it is about teaching her students how respect other people, live healthily, build self control, and believe in yourself. Her students have been living proof of these values and have shown her to truly be a master teacher.
This day is also a day where my aunt gets to tell everyone who knows her that you can still press on and fight to reach your goals even when life gets hard. Last year my uncle, Mandy's husband, was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease. This was a life altering time for them that was, understandably, very difficult. And though in many way they are still working through all the implications of this diagnosis, she has been able to stand back up and keep fighting for this day. It has been so inspiring for me to see this family work together to face both of these giants in their lives.
I am so grateful to have role models like these in my life! While this is not my field of expertise, there is much I can apply to my life. I pray that I'll continue to work all my life to reach the highest level of my craft possible. I pray that I'll see my students as people, not projects, and teach them more about life than just music and technique. And I pray that I will continue in all this even when life gets hard, as it surely will at some point.
Congratulations, Aunt Mandy! I'm proud of you and I'm so glad I could be here to celebrate with you!