What it has shown me. “The best thing about karate is that nobody can ever take it away from you.” Those are the words I heard time and time again doing karate as a kid. Now, reflecting back on what seems like eons ago, all the way from my very first day as a white belt, to the very day that I earned my black belt, I’ve realized all of the ways martial arts have impacted me, causing me a period of personal growth and understanding of myself and others that I would never have thought possible. But it wasn’t always this way. As a kid, karate taught me things like how to punch, to kick, to follow directions. It was a place where I made friends, connections and had a fun time a few times a week. It built on my respect, character, commitment,
