Hometown
Lyons, Colorado
Current Rank
Blue Shirt
What year did you start training?
2017
How did you get started?
I wanted to learn some self-defense and find a workout I enjoyed with a group that held me accountable.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your training, and how did you overcome it?
I struggled, and still struggle, with some self-doubt of my athleticism. It takes ongoing practice and mental discipline (a motivation I learned from training here) in order to make sure I treat myself with care.
What’s your favorite thing about training or teaching, and why?
I love being able to give back to the community that gave so much to me. Especially, my favorite part is helping young girls develop strong tools through martial arts to combat the body image and self-confidence issues they will encounter as they get older. I wish I’d had someone to do that for me at a young age.
What are your personal goals on and off the mat?
On the mat, I’d like to develop my teaching skills and help our youth students compete, in addition to growing my own skills as an athlete. Off the mat, I plan to attend graduate school for a doctorate in neuroscience.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am trained in both classical violin and bluegrass fiddle.
