Jonathan Ross

Nanadan Candidate of 2024

BUTOKUKAN - Fifty-Two years young - Thirty-Two years of training

What an honor it is to be training, testing, and celebrating this year with Uechi-Ryu Legends, Mentors, Friends, and Family! I love to experience the challenges of training and attempting to make myself a little bit better each day.

Recently I spent a few weeks away from the dojo and when I made it back to class to work out and talk to everyone it made me realize how valuable those relationships are to me. I really had missed everyone more than I realized and got an emotional boost just being around them, and of course from hitting them.

I visited another dojo with students I don’t know very well. Observing them joke amongst themselves and with their Sensei after class was one of my favorite parts of the experience. They were all making fun of each other and laughing! Nobody was offended. Nobody felt left out. There was a palpable bond of mutual support amongst them all. As I drove away it occurred to me; “They love him”. They love their teacher, and they love each other.

I am eagerly looking forward to that same feeling with a larger group this year at Uechicon! Thanks to everyone for being there and for putting your best foot forward.