• Working with Children Check

• Achieving 1st Degree black belt in teens program
• Achieving 1st Degree adults black belt

From the beginning I fell in love with the idea of getting promoted to a Black Belt. Now we’re here again for the second time. Martial Arts has played a pivotal role in my development as a person from the interactions I have with others, to the way I approach my goals and daily endeavours. In my pursuit for excellence in the Martial Arts I have become twice the man I would’ve become without it. The road to this Black Belt Grading has been a bumpy one to say the least loaded with injuries and well mostly just injuries. However, I finally made it time to become a big boy Black Belt. 

My mum enrolled me in Wilkes which at the time was called Cobra when I was 8, I am now 20 which marks 12 years of hard work and dedication to the sport. I was god awful at anything that involved a ball and teams, soccer, footy you name it I sucked. But the one thing I had the drive and passion to get better at was Martial Arts. The feeling I get from landing a perfectly thrown cross on a thai pad or the thrill of a challenge in the form of a tuff sparring day cannot be compared to anything else I do in my life. I am eternally grateful to my mum for getting me out of my shell and putting me into this lifestyle.

Martial arts has given me the most happiness I have ever experienced from tough times to chill times. This gym has always been my safe place. I can’t really put in words what this sport has done for me but I know I wouldn’t have achieved my goals without it.

I’ve made many friends throughout my journey, many of which have moulded me into the person I am now. In time I realised that Martial Arts was not only about learning how to defend yourself and deescalate volatile situations but to be a good martial artist you have to be a good person, understanding and patient in all aspects of life.

Throughout my teens I struggled with my self-confidence, but as I got better at my Martial Arts my confidence in general life bolstered. I truly hope that other people find that sort of confidence through Martial Arts as well which serves as part of the reason why I became a coach.

For the last 4 or so years I have worked as a coach here at Wilkes Martial Arts, an experience I have gained so much from. I have developed my ability to communicate with people, honed my patience and most importantly learnt how to be a leader.

Thank you everyone for coming to see me grade today, I have a lot of love for all of you. This gym has become my home and the people in it have become my family. I owe an insurmountable debt to this place. Thank you Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Wilkes, Mr. Cranny for coaching me through this. Thank you to my training partners Luke, Jimboy, Jack, Leo, Rob, Matt and many more for pushing me past my limits.