If you know anything about my past, you will see that growing up, I was a sickly, weak and defenseless young boy. Of course, it will be difficult to imagine such a version of me today but it is the truth. Just ask any of my family members, relatives or close friends, and they will tell you what kind of a child and teenager I was growing up. I was often ill, physically weak and never could do any of the sports I loved properly — much less martial arts.

This void of inadequacy, inferiority and inability haunted and tormented me for more than a decade.

Then, very slowly and very gradually but significantly, this void turned out to be an unending source of resilience and inspiration for me. Through martial arts training in my late teens, I was able to refine my personality and character and cultivate myself into becoming a focused, disciplined and self-sufficient thinker. Bit by bit, I overcame my physical, mental and emotional limitations and conquered them altogether.

I look at my starting point, I look at my change and I look at my present and to all of those who say “I’m not talented”, “I don’t have potential” or “I don’t have a chance”, I will tell you that you are wrong. We all have a chance. If I could get from where I was — an impossible negative start — to overcoming my seemingly overwhelming boundaries within and without, for sure I know that you can, too.