World Championships 2025 — In the Books

Well, I did it. It’s come and gone — World Championships 2025 are officially in the books.

My experience? A bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, I had an amazing time — on the other, there were definitely some disappointments and a few “WTF” moments along the way. But overall, it was an incredible event, and I was honored to represent the United States in a sport I love more than anything. 🇺🇸

Professionalism and Sportsmanship

Let’s start with how professional this event was.

For most martial arts competitors, we live firmly in the amateur world — no sponsorship money, no prize purses — just passion and perseverance. So to see an event of this caliber, run so smoothly and professionally, was a breath of fresh air.

The division tracking app was top-tier — results updated live, which was fantastic (even if there were a few nerdy glitches with Kata tie-breaking rules on high/low scores).

What really impressed me, though, was the sportsmanship. In a high-stakes environment where accolades and reputations are on the line, emotions can easily boil over. But I can honestly say that I didn’t witness a single competitor behave poorly. Everyone carried themselves with respect and humility — true martial artists through and through.

Favorite Moments

Some of my favorite parts of the event were moments I’ll never forget.

The Parade of Nations was incredible — martial artists from all over the world, flags flying, energy electric. The chats and cheers between national teams were amazing to witness. It created such a powerful sense of unity and pride, not only for my team but for the sport itself.

The Opening Ceremonies were also something special — live musicians, local politicians, and official recognition from beyond our governing body. That was a first for me… and honestly, it felt awesome.

But my single favorite part? The camaraderie. Despite language barriers, I connected with people from all over the globe — shared laughs, encouragement, and respect. I walked away with new friends and memories I’ll carry forever.

The Tough Parts

Now for the personal challenges.

Right out of the gate, I rolled my ankle — an old injury I hadn’t thought about in years. I had planned to tape it for the competition but felt so good that morning, I decided not to. That choice came back to bite me hard.

It was heartbreaking. I had to face the emotions of letting my team — and myself — down, and ultimately made the difficult decision to withdraw from that division. Looking back, it was the right call, but it wasn’t easy.

The next day brought more frustration. In a division I expected to do really well in, my scores came in far lower than usual. A few spectators even expressed surprise. It’s been a long time since I’ve performed that kata and not felt it was solid. But that’s competition — you take your scores, learn from them, and move on. After taking some space, I realized the judges made the right call based on what they saw that day.

Looking Ahead

All in all, it was a great event. I left inspired, humbled, and motivated to keep improving.

I’ve already qualified for a team competing in France next year, and I’m excited to make another run — stronger, smarter, and more determined than ever — to bring home that gold. 🥇