Still Standing Still Growing - Presence over Rank

What if the highest rank you ever achieved was presence?

This isn’t a story of trophies or titles. It’s a journey into the quiet, relentless work of returning to the mat—and to yourself—over and over again.

In Still Standing, Still Growing: Presence Over Rank, Keith Thorn invites readers into a lifetime of training in Ki-Aikido, where every fall, every bow, every breath becomes a practice in honesty, humility, and connection. Whether he was chasing belts, walking through divorce, aging, or returning after long absences, one truth remained: the mat doesn’t lie. It reflects.

From early struggles mimicking Hollywood movements to hard-won glimpses of true Ki, this book traces the transformation of ego-driven effort into heart-led presence. Not every promotion came. Not every goal was met. But the real achievement was never the certificate—it was the quiet grace of showing up.

This book is for anyone who’s ever questioned their path, wrestled with their own expectations, or wondered if they’re still growing. You are. And you’re not alone.