“I’ve been doing martial arts for 35 years. My parents put me in it because they wanted my brother to do it, because he was a little more wild. I wanted to. I got super into it. I was 7 when I started. The studio was right next to our house. I could ride my bike there everyday. I basically lived at the studio. I loved it. The guy who was teaching at the time was really good. I would ride my bike right from school and stay there all night. When I was 16, I knew that’s what I wanted to do for a career. I started to help teach when I was 12. I was thinking I was going to graduate high school and go to college or go to the military, but when I graduated, that teacher offered me a job, so I started teaching full time. He told me we would open up my own studio, so I didn’t go to the military. I stayed, and after a couple of years, I opened up my first studio and I’ve been doing it ever since. It’s done everything for me. Aside from keeping me in shape, it’s such a massive stress reliever. Martial arts keeps you focused and centered. I was really shy when I was younger. I wasn’t really a go-getter. Martial arts really built my confidence. Now, I don’t mind talking in front of people and giving lectures. That’s what I love about teaching. I love that I can take someone and help make them into something better. The most rewarding part about my job is watching somebody that comes in that is shy, or scared or doesn’t know if they really want to do it, and then taking them and working with them over the years and building their confidence. Three months ago, I had a 4 year old start. She didn’t want to do it. She was nervous and scared. Now, 3 months later, she’s in front of the class leading it. Leading the stretching. She just got her gold belt. She’s already transformed from hardly going out there, to now being out in front of the class, leading the stretch. She’s building confidence. It’s a little thing, but not being afraid to go out and be in the front, could help her for the rest of her life. That’s what this is all about. That to me, is more rewarding than winning any tournament I’ve ever won.”