Perseverance
26 articles by Sensei Willy Strohmeier, from his monthly Brighton Buzz column.
2026
Ounces Now or Tons Later
Jim Rohn said discipline weighs ounces and regret weighs tons. How small, daily rules at home and in the dojo turned a screen-bound nine-year-old around.
More Than a Belt
After failing evaluation after evaluation, a younger brother found his work ethic, fought through doubt, and earned his brown belt.
2025
The Dojo - A Classroom for Life
Respect, structure, resilience, and teamwork: how the karate dojo works like a classroom that prepares kids for life on and off the mat.
From White Belts to Role Models: The Story of Two Brothers Who Never Gave Up
Two brothers who started karate in tears at ages 4 and 5 kept showing up for 13 years, earning black belts and becoming instructors.
Congratulations, You're Starting Over!
Why a promotion can feel like a setback, and how pushing through the discomfort of starting over builds stronger, more confident kids.
2024
Mom, You Are My Champion!
She started karate in her mid-fifties and at 76 earns her third-degree black belt. A Mother's Day tribute to Sensei Willy's mom, and his student.
A Person With a Purpose Never Despairs
Viktor Frankl survived the Holocaust by holding on to purpose. Despair is suffering without meaning. What gives your life meaning this new year?
2023
Break the Chains of Negative Thinking
"I'm not good at pushups." Self-limiting beliefs crumble the moment we prove them wrong once. Everything is hard before it becomes easy.
God Does Not Help the Lazy Man!
Handed a shovel at age seven, entrepreneur Eddie Wilson learned his dad's lesson: a little bit at a time, so get going. God won't help a lazy man.
Shifting Your Life Focus
Born without legs and with one arm, Nick Santonastasso asks: do you focus on what you have or what you don't? What we focus on, we get more of.
2022
Three Lessons from Cobra Kai
Setting aside instant black belts and endless brawls, Cobra Kai offers three good lessons: don't judge too fast, redemption is possible, and nothing is guaranteed.
My Job Sucked, and I’m Thankful for It
A telemarketing job with broken English taught Sensei Willy sales, grit and gratitude. Hard seasons are often preparation for something better.
You Graduated, Time to Start Over
Graduation, like a karate promotion, puts you back at the bottom of a new hill. Learning to embrace starting over is how we keep growing.
Confidence Is a Skill, Not a Trait
A shy 12-year-old's journey shows that confidence isn't something you're born with. It's a skill built through practice, repetition and facing challenges.
2021
Seek Perfection of Character
The Dojo Kun opens with 'Seek Perfection of Character.' A class conversation with new students on what character is, and why growth never stops.
The Bumblebee Shouldn't Fly… and Yet It Does
A chubby kid who never made the sports teams found karate. Like the bumblebee, success comes from working harder, not natural gifts.
I Quit
At ten, Sensei Willy skipped karate to watch the Flintstones. His father's tough love kept him training, and changed the course of his life.
2020
Paralyzed by Fear or Driven by Courage
A crushed cheekbone at the 2008 Nationals taught Sensei Willy that fear must be understood, not obeyed. Weigh the risks, then move forward with courage.
Sorry, But You Can't Change the World!
A bullied 9-year-old couldn't change the world around her, so she changed herself. It's not the blowing of the wind, but the setting of the sails.
Recharge - Reassess - Redouble
After months in the pandemic washing machine, don't just survive. Rest to recharge, reassess where you're headed, then redouble your effort.
2019
2018
That Didn’t Go Quite As I Had Planned
Every martial artist has hit the mat after an over-ambitious kick. Getting up and trying again is how we grow: failure is an event, not a person.
Show Me Some (Tough) Love
At ten I wanted to quit karate and watch cartoons. My father said no. That tough love led to national teams and a life's calling. I'm forever grateful.
The Power of Failure and the Cost of Success
A six-year-old fails his yellow belt test, then trains harder and earns it. Why letting children fail teaches them the true value of success.
2017
The Best Teacher I Ever Had
Told at eight she'd never be more than average, she chose to turn criticism into fuel. You can let criticism define you, or rise above it.
Quitting Is Not an Option
Why do we quit when the going gets tough? Picture yourself at the finish line instead, and believe in the potential others already see in you.