Episode 161
Championing Excellence: William Silva and Emily Burris Share Their Stories
William Silva, a distinguished first-degree black belt from Oregon, shares his inspiring journey into the realm of martial arts, highlighting the pivotal influence of the YouTube channel "Ninja Kids." This episode delves into the vibrant world of competition, wherein William expresses his affinity for forms and outlines his aspirations for the upcoming district and world championships. As a burgeoning athlete, he articulates his ambition to secure another district title to further his pursuit of excellence at the world level. Emily Burris, a newly appointed brand ambassador, recounts her experiences at the world championships, emphasizing her desire to inspire others and contribute positively to the ATA community. Together, they exemplify the ethos of going beyond the belt, demonstrating that martial arts is not merely about titles, but also about personal growth and community engagement.
Takeaways:
- William Silva shared that his journey into martial arts began with inspiration from watching the Ninja Kids and Ethan Fineshriber's YouTube channel.
- Emily Burris discussed how her experiences within the ATA community have motivated her to become a brand ambassador to inspire others.
- Both William and Emily emphasized the importance of setting goals in martial arts, highlighting their aspirations for district and world titles.
- William expressed his passion for forms due to the creative expression it allows, while identifying combat sparring as a less favored event.
- Emily is working towards opening her own ATA school while also capturing her journey as a brand ambassador to motivate her peers.
- The discussion underscored the significance of embodying the principles of being a black belt beyond the mat, focusing on integrity and honesty.
Transcript
We're back from Worlds and on to a new season.
Speaker A:Let's get started.
Speaker A:Welcome to the ATA Nation podcast.
Speaker A:Parents, students, athletes, masters, instructors, like ATA Nation, we have another amazing athlete that these junior brand ambassadors just keep picking these awesome people.
Speaker A:Hey, sir, first tell us who you are and where you're from.
Speaker B:Is William Silva.
Speaker B:I am from Creswell, Oregon.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker A:What'S your, who's your instructor and what rank are you?
Speaker B:My instructor is Mr. Thompson Rogers and my rank is I'm a first degree black belt.
Speaker A:Excellent.
Speaker A:Fantastic.
Speaker A:And how old are you?
Speaker B:I'm 11 year old.
Speaker A:Okay, 11.
Speaker A:So what got you started with martial arts?
Speaker A:How did you get into martial arts?
Speaker B:So I started watching these kids called the Ninja Kids and they were doing like these Power Rangers skits and then they would bring this certain person on and his name is Ethan Feinstreiber.
Speaker B:And I started watching his channel, going around the nation to tournaments, giving him people like his medals and being kind of.
Speaker B:And I just watched him compete and stuff and that inspired me to join.
Speaker A:Really?
Speaker A:So you hadn't done martial arts before watching that?
Speaker B:No.
Speaker A:And you saw that he's an ATA guy, obviously a former brand ambassador, and you saw him and you.
Speaker A:Did you have an ATA school in your community that you were able to go to then?
Speaker B:Yes, we looked up for the, for ATA schools a little ways away and then we saw one in Kaju, Oregon.
Speaker A:That is fantastic.
Speaker A:What a great story, sir.
Speaker A:That is really neat.
Speaker A:Okay, so you are an athlete.
Speaker A:You've been out, you know, doing the tournaments, doing all the, the training and whatnot.
Speaker A:What's your favorite event to compete in?
Speaker B:My favorite event is forms, because I like how I can put together the moves and make it flow, but I can also make it look like I'm fighting someone.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:I love forms.
Speaker A:Forms are such a great event.
Speaker A:If I, if I had to say, like, you could not compete in one event, you had to pick one event that I was just not going to let you do.
Speaker A:What event would that be?
Speaker B:That would be combat sporting.
Speaker A:Really?
Speaker A:Okay, very cool.
Speaker A:I just love, you know, I've done a lot of these interviews with athletes of the week and it's so neat to see that everybody is just so unique.
Speaker A:Everybody has things they like that are different things that they are like, hey, if I didn't have to do one, this was what.
Speaker A:And it's so interesting to see everybody's difference and I think that's so great for others out there in 80 Nation to see because sometimes we think like people are just all like the people we see online, like the, the brand ambassadors or those kind of people, you always see like how awesome they are at things and you don't ever see like sometimes they're not that good at this other thing.
Speaker A:And I think that's really good.
Speaker A:Get to see sometimes that like they have, they struggle with things as well.
Speaker A:Okay, so what we're, we're in that like end of the season stuff.
Speaker A:We got district championships coming up, we've got world championships coming up.
Speaker A:What kind of goals are you shooting for at the end of this season for?
Speaker B:To get another district title so I can go to worlds and hopefully get a world title.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker A:And what is that in forms?
Speaker A:Is that the one you're, you're shooting for, for sparring?
Speaker B:Because last year I got sparring and I just really hope I get it again this year so I can go to Worlds for it.
Speaker A:Nice, good, good, good.
Speaker A:And so you went to worlds last year.
Speaker A:You've been to Worlds before?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Excellent.
Speaker A:What's your favorite thing about World Championships?
Speaker B:Favorite thing is you get to meet a whole different, a whole bunch of people from around the world that you like never met before.
Speaker B:And it's just really fun seeing how they like do their stuff.
Speaker A:I agree.
Speaker A:I think it's so neat to be able to see, I mean we're all big, one big family, but you get to see all the people from all over the world and all over the place at world championships.
Speaker A:So great, great insight there.
Speaker A:Now what about your martial arts career?
Speaker A:You said you were a first degree.
Speaker A:What are you looking at?
Speaker A:Some maybe midterm long term goals for the future in your martial arts?
Speaker B:The long term goals is to become an instructor at my ATA school and to get master.
Speaker A:Love that.
Speaker A:Well, how fantastic.
Speaker A:Those are excellent goals and most certainly some very smart goals to be setting for your future.
Speaker A:That's excellent.
Speaker A:So hey, what does it mean to you to go beyond the belt?
Speaker B:It means to me to go beyond the belt is to be a black belt on and off the mat, live by our life skills and be straight up and honest.
Speaker B:If you've like done something wrong in that type of.
Speaker A:That's yeah, excellent.
Speaker A:I, I just to me it's so cool to get to see athletes from all over the country.
Speaker A:You know, we, we get to see these brand ambassadors, but they've picked you guys as these other athletes to highlight and it's just a neat thing to be able to see people from all over.
Speaker A:We've done international ones and other kids get to see you guys and adults as other little ambassadors, other guys and girls that are out there showing what it's like, you know, wanting to get these titles, working really hard, but understanding that it's about more than just going for that title.
Speaker A:It's about the.
Speaker A:That be going beyond the belt and how you behave in other areas and the life skills that you're learning.
Speaker A:So I love it.
Speaker A:That's fantastic.
Speaker A:And I am super.
Speaker A:I'm super excited that you, like, got started because of a YouTube channel that an ATA guy was on that's so cool these days.
Speaker A:Are you.
Speaker A:Are you watching any other, like, martial arts YouTube channels these days?
Speaker A:I don't know any good.
Speaker A:I don't know any good ones out there other than the ATA YouTube page, which everybody should go and subscribe to because we want them to get more.
Speaker A:More views.
Speaker A:And you're.
Speaker A:You.
Speaker A:This.
Speaker A:This episode is.
Speaker A:Is going to be on the ATAs YouTube page.
Speaker A:So obviously people should go and subscribe.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:That's good advice.
Speaker A:Hey, sir, we really appreciate your time.
Speaker A:We really appreciate you just going out there and being an athlete that goes beyond the belt, being a good role model and an inspiration to those out there.
Speaker A:So thank you so much for your time today and good luck at districts and world championships.
Speaker A:Super cool to talk to another great athlete of the week.
Speaker A:These brand investors, I'm telling you, they just keep picking.
Speaker A:You know what?
Speaker C:I keep.
Speaker A:I keep saying what a great job the brand ambassadors are doing.
Speaker A:But let me tell you what's awesome.
Speaker A:You guys, you guys out there.
Speaker A:The reason the brand ambassadors can pick all these awesome athletes of the week is because you, you guys are awesome athletes out there.
Speaker A:Keep training hard.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:Hey, at world championships, they introduced the new class of ATA brand ambassadors, and I just happened to sit down with one at world championships.
Speaker A:So let's get to that interview.
Speaker A:ATA Nation.
Speaker A:We have with us a brand new brand ambassador.
Speaker A:How's it going, ma'?
Speaker C:Am?
Speaker C:Great, sir.
Speaker A:Ms. Burris, we had you on in the past talking about Sangam University.
Speaker A:Now you are a brand ambassador.
Speaker A:What made you think, like, I might want to try this brand ambassador thing?
Speaker C:Well, the ACA has really helped me grow as a person since I was 11 years old.
Speaker C:So I thought that maybe I should take the opportunity to give back to the rest of the ACA nation, inspire the younger generation as well as some of my own generation.
Speaker C:Crowd, see what I can do to open everybody, figure out what the ATA has to offer them.
Speaker A:That's awesome.
Speaker A:Now we're at world championships and they Put you to work right away as a brand ambassador.
Speaker C:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:So what have you done so far?
Speaker A:What are you looking forward to as a brand ambassador?
Speaker C:So I've got to greet everybody at the door.
Speaker C:I've got to help Senior Master Rosa go around, capture some awesome footage of everybody competing trying to get those world titles.
Speaker C:I'm looking forward to seeing everybody else the rest of the weekend.
Speaker C:And our kickoff party tonight where we get to be officially announced.
Speaker C:That's brand ambassadors.
Speaker A:That's exciting.
Speaker A:So what about your world championship?
Speaker A:Like a personal for your training?
Speaker A:How.
Speaker A:What have you done this week here at Worlds?
Speaker C:So personally, I was actually out most of this season for an injury, so I was not a part of the TOC this year.
Speaker C:But I am going to compete on Sunday in the Super 20 and get a jump start for the new season.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker A:Did you do any, any of the training at the world conference?
Speaker C:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:I did the Empower Verse seminar.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker C:Got to work out with some amazing ladies.
Speaker C:It was a great time.
Speaker A:Very good.
Speaker A:That was, I heard a huge, like 200.
Speaker A:Over 200 people, I think I heard.
Speaker C:I. I think we hit 200, sir.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker A:I was out here during that and I was like, there were just some other guys milling around and we're like, the girls are all having fun and we're all just standing around.
Speaker A:What are you looking forward to as we go into the new tournament season?
Speaker A:Just new things for you, maybe goals as an ambassador, as just a regular instructor working hard at elevate.
Speaker A:What do you got going on?
Speaker C:Well, I'm looking forward to getting back into competition this year and then I am working towards opening my own school this year.
Speaker C:So my instructors are helping me with that process.
Speaker C:I hope I'll get to kind of capture those moments for as a brand ambassador and encourage others that they can do the same thing too.
Speaker A:Oh, that's awesome.
Speaker A:Well, we might have to stay in touch.
Speaker A:I would love to see and kind of like keep track of how your journey as a licensee goes.
Speaker A:You've got great mentors with your instructors.
Speaker A:The Pavlicks are amazing.
Speaker A:You're a fifth degree.
Speaker C:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:How do you like the fifth degree form?
Speaker C:It's.
Speaker C:I think it's my favorite one so far, sir.
Speaker A:I agree.
Speaker A:I keep telling you, fifth degree form is the best form.
Speaker C:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:Every once in a while I run.
Speaker A:I ran into somebody, we were working at Camp Jiangsu and they were like, no fifth degrees, no fun.
Speaker A:I'm like, you're wrong.
Speaker A:You are wrong.
Speaker A:What?
Speaker A:How many Years.
Speaker A:You get till six.
Speaker C:So I actually just earned my fifth degree.
Speaker C:Tested at spring Nationals.
Speaker A:Okay, so you're brand new with the fifth degree?
Speaker C:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:Oh, man.
Speaker A:Such a fun form.
Speaker A:Good event you're doing.
Speaker A:What do you have specialized in a weapon.
Speaker C:So normally song knots, but I'm kind of moving towards gumdo.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker C:Trying something out.
Speaker A:Trying something new.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Very good.
Speaker A:Okay, well, I'm excited to watch you everybody.
Speaker A:Make sure you go follow the new brand ambassador.
Speaker A:Instagram, you know, all the place, all the socials, right?
Speaker C:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:We'll put some links in the.
Speaker A:In the notes or something for you guys on there.
Speaker A:So congratulations.
Speaker A:Thank you, sir.
Speaker A:I'll let you go and get some lunch.
Speaker A:Thanks so much for your time.
Speaker C:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:We're looking forward to following along with Ms. Burris Journey as a future licensee.
Speaker A:That's super cool.
Speaker A:Now, guys, this was a jam packed episode.
Speaker A:I was super excited.
Speaker A:I've got more interviews from people we did at world championships.
Speaker A:We're going to be dropping in the show over the next couple of weeks.
Speaker A:Let me know if there's some buddy that you would love to hear from on the show.
Speaker A:And hey, do not forget to get over to YouTube and hit the subscribe button.
Speaker A:And do me a favor, share with a friend ATA Nation.
Speaker A:We have so many members.
Speaker A:You need to get over there and share the YouTube links with them, share the podcast feed, get them over there and listening and watching the ATA Nation podcast so we can reach all of ATNation.
Speaker A:That's going to wrap it up for us today.
Speaker A:Make sure that you guys are out there going beyond the Belt ATA Nation podcast.
Speaker A:Be sure to subscribe and share with your ATA family.
