
Reflecting on a lifetime of Martial Arts
Posted: August 07, 2025
I'm sitting in 24C on the last leg of my flight home trying to stop myself from tearing up in a metal tube full of strangers while I reflect on my life. This past week I accomplished something that for a long time I thought would be impossible. I became a Master of Taekwondo.
What got me here was determination, a 110% attitude that I learned from my father Gary, empathy that I learned from my brother William, and the willingness to admit my mistakes, move past them, and make myself better because of them. A quality that my mother Laurie helped instill in me. And I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. Each one of those mistakes and obstacles I faced, whether self inflicted or not was an opportunity for me to grow into the person I am today. Lying to my father about stepping on his newly stained wood floors. Losing in tournament after tournament. Getting my first job teaching with Master Eddie Lott. Crashing cars. Going to college based partially on the fact that I was offered a job teaching martial arts with Cole and Sean Borders. Them telling me I was a great teacher. Doing graffiti. Dropping out of college. Moving back home. Trying and failing to start martial arts school with a friend. Moving back home again. Being a terrible house sitter for my Aunt Melanie Mirande. The opportunity to teach martial arts again with Mike Robinson. Living in the poorest area of Savannah. Working three jobs. Drinking too much. Finding new friends. Meeting my future wife Frances C. Colón who told me to follow this dream. Giving my time and energy to charity. Being there for my wife as she was in the hospital. Working two jobs. Having my record expunged. Earning a 5th degree. Managing the martial arts school. Taking care of my home and family. Working late hours. Getting married. Buying the martial arts school. COVID. Building the school back up. Hiring my first employee, Aiden Arnott. Finding and then firing my third employee. Being blessed with two amazing brothers, Jake and Zach Brower, to replace him. Testing for 6th degree beside the best Mentor I could ask for Chief Master Jim Richard. Opening up a second school. Watching my three teenage employees become responsible young men and great martial artists on and off the mat. Watching those young men try so hard only to come up a little short this week. Consoling them. Getting my lip stitched at the ER in Little Rock because I didn't block quite fast enough. This journey, my life, I wouldn't change a thing because I wouldn't be the person I am today without all of the ups and the downs.
Globals is always a whirlwind. We train and compete all year to make it to this one tournament. Wanting to win medals and titles can drive us to be great, it's the fun part of what we do. But at some point those accomplishments will be long forgotten. In 30 years that Gold medal won't shine as bright and the ribbon will be frayed. But the impact that we make in a person's life never diminishes. The things that will stay with me in my heart and mind about this week is hugging my students when they come off the mat. Watching Mr.Arnott score on Chief Master Ken Reynolds. Building my relationship with Sr.Master Jere Mason , Master Kim Bantum, and all of the GTMA Global Demo team. Presenting Mrs.Shelly Green Zohbon with her fifth degree black belt. Colonel Doctor Master Mark Shirley shaking my hand and treating me as a peer. Ill remember the lower ranks who sought me out to ask for my advice on the Jee Pahng Ee. My night out with Rudy Longoria at the piano bar. Mrs.Susan Droege giving me a hug as we left the airport in Atlanta. And I will never forget that one black belt teenager who asked me to sign his belt and told me that of all the masters he has met this weekend he respects me the most. These interactions and connections mean so much to me. GTMA means so much to me. Taekwondo means so much to me.
-Master Dylan Cantell