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At 14, Justin Yee Shui is stepping into high school while juggling a surprising lineup: a freshly published novel, a newly earned black belt and a summer filled with TV interviews and book signings. His story matters now because it shows how young people are blending creative ambition, community service and disciplined training into real-world accomplishments.
Morning interviews and a book festival
Before most teenagers are awake, Justin was already speaking on camera outside The Mall at Wellington Green, promoting his debut novel at the Read It, Write It Book Festival. As the youngest author at the event, he handled live television with a calm that belied his age.
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His book, titled Requiem of Flesh, follows a boy’s inner quest to save the world — a story Justin says grew out of his interest in action and visual storytelling.
How karate anchors his life
Karate is more than a sport to Justin; it’s the routine that keeps him centered. After training for years at Topflight Martial Arts in Wellington, he recently advanced from brown to black belt and is already working toward a second-degree promotion planned for 2027.
He tried other disciplines — Taekwondo and Jiu-Jitsu — but says the atmosphere at Topflight felt different: more space to move, energetic instructors and a mixed-age class that encouraged conversation and camaraderie. Those elements helped him break out of the social shyness he felt early on.
More than kicks and forms
Beyond physical technique, Justin credits martial arts with practical life lessons: consistency, focus and the willingness to push through fatigue. He connects the discipline of daily training with the habit that got him through his manuscript — writing a little every day until the draft was finished.
- Age: 14
- Incoming school: Palm Beach Central High School
- Book: Requiem of Flesh (debut novel)
- Dojo: Topflight Martial Arts (instructor Shihan Scott Rusnak, 5th-degree)
- Current rank: Black belt; training for 2nd degree
- Other interests: piano, sketching comics, volunteering
Community, mentorship and small victories
Justin speaks warmly about his senseis and the effort they invest behind the scenes. Watching his instructors inspired him to pursue activities he truly enjoys — whether that’s teaching himself to draw comics or practicing the piano.
The dojo also gave him a peer group. What began as hesitation to talk to people outside the home gradually shifted into confidence to start conversations and form friendships. That social growth, he says, is as valuable as any belt rank.
Summer on a different track
While many rising freshmen used the break to prepare for classes, Justin split his time between media obligations, signings and sparring drills. He describes the summer as a balancing act: public appearances on top of the steady work needed to advance in karate and to expand his creative projects.
His immediate creative aim is to continue developing Requiem of Flesh into a broader saga and to grow his comics work. On the martial-arts side, he hopes that as he climbs ranks, he will eventually be eligible to teach.
Why this matters to readers
Justin’s story is a snapshot of how young people today combine structured training, creative output and civic engagement. It underscores two clear takeaways: disciplined routines can bolster artistic goals, and local community spaces — like a dojo or a festival — still play a crucial role in helping teenagers find purpose and confidence.
He heads into ninth grade with realistic nerves about longer school days but with specific goals: finish the next book installment, keep building his comics portfolio and continue his martial-arts progression. For now, he’s handling the transition one disciplined step at a time.
