The Persistent Path: A Reflection on 2025

December 31, 2025 by C. Michial Jones

As I look back at the year 2025, the primary emotion I feel is gratitude. I am, quite simply, glad to have made it another year. After three years of relentless health battles and a cancer that seems determined to return, the toll on my body is undeniable. Yet, here I am—still standing, still training, and still moving forward.

The Foundation of the Fight

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my wife, Amber. She has taken such good care of me that I’ve joked she must be questioning the “in sickness” clause of our vows. But more than just caring for me, she pushed me. On the days when the radiation made me weak or the hormone therapy made me “puny,” she was the one insisting I go to the dojo. I am convinced that her refusal to let me sit on the sidelines is what kept my body strong enough to fight.

A Year of Staggering Output

Despite the internal war, 2025 was a year of immense productivity. Looking at the list, it seems impossible for someone in recovery:

• The Global Connection: Helped Ganaha Sensei with the USA Gasshuku and made quarterly trips to train with Sensei Tucker.
• The Professional Shield: Completed the 120 hours required to renew my Law Enforcement and Defensive Tactics Instructor licenses.
• The Legacy: Helped Curtis build his DT program and worked the road alongside him. Seeing his growth and dedication in his law enforcement career has been one of the greatest highlights of my life.
• The Mat: Earned new stripes and a Purple Belt in BJJ—proving that perhaps I “sucked a little less” than my internal critic suggested.
• The Mind: Saw significant growth and success in my academic career.

The Conflict of Mind and Body

I will be honest: as I age and my body becomes less cooperative, the thought of “hanging it up” crosses my mind. There are moments when I think combat sports are for the young and that I should retreat into the quiet world of Kata. But then Amber pushes me back onto the mat. She knows what I know deep down: the training is the medicine.

No New Year, Just the Next Round

I have no interest in the “New Year, New Me” clichés. I don’t need a new version of myself; the current one has already survived 49 years of training and a radical battle with cancer.

I am not looking for a fresh start. I am simply going to keep going. I will keep teaching, I will keep rolling, and I will keep standing. The monster may be persistent, but so am I.