08/14/2026
Last night I had the honor of promoting Mr. Joseph Ellner to decided black belt. I felt all the feels. He started as a little kid who would literally hurl himself at you for a hug. No impulse control. Like, none! But he never gave up. He never let anything dim his light. Was it always easy? No. Far from it. He fell apart during testings because he didn’t believe in himself. He struggled writing the essays that went along with testings. But he never gave up. Fast forward to yesterday. He was amazing. He was confident and strong and all the things you expect from a black belt. Thank you for the privilege of being your instructor. It takes a village and you will always have a home at DBBA. Thank you all students who have helped him along the way. We wish you nothing but the best as you embark on your college career. He never gave up.