I began martial arts reluctantly as a 10 year old. I was scared of trying something new and felt out of place at first. The thing that kept me coming back was my instructor who simply made the classes fun. I soon realized that this was something I was good at as well, which further motivated me to continue my training. I started competing and always placed first in local tournaments. I joined our demonstration team and lived for performing in front of an audience. I began to train in acrobatic martial arts, involving highflying kicks and flips. There was nothing I liked more than showing off in front of people. At 15 I became an instructor and began to teach classes at our studio. It was at this point that my own instructor became more than someone to teach me kicks and flips. He taught me how to become a better person, how to become successful outside of martial arts, and how to use my knowledge to inspire others in the way that he had inspired me. I still continued to practice my flips, and I still do to this day, but my focus became on how to teach my own students. I remember after class one day, one of my student’s parents was telling him to come tell me something. I waited as he reluctantly came up to me and said “Mr. Ryan, you are my hero.” I thanked him and told him how much that meant to me. It was at that point that I realized how much influence I had over my students. It amazes me still to this day that when I go back to visit, people still remember me, whether it is by name or by reputation. The feeling of having the power to inspire others in the way my instructor inspired me is the driving force behind what I do. I do what I do to make a positive difference in those around me, so that hopefully they can do the same to others.
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