The Martial Arts Woman Podcast

Alena Turley understands the power of Hapkido training.  As just a white belt, she fended off two attackers and later overcame a brief imprisonment at home by knife. With her own experience of trauma and abuse behind her, she is uniquely qualified to work with women to develop strength and confidence on the mats with warmth and determination. Today, she is the founder of one of Australia's first women's only Hapkido classes. She is a blogger, an award-winning educator, a content creator and a mother of three. She also founded an ethical lifestyle & soulful parenting hub. 

Links & Info: 

Read more about Alena Turley here:  http://themartialartswoman.com/alena-turley-insights-and-inspiration-from-a-hapkido-perspective/

https://hapkidomartialarts.com.au/

SoulMammaBlog.com - Ethical lifestyle and parenting hub 

Andrea's motivational books: 

The Martial Arts Woman book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman.../dp/1544916213

Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations.../dp/150297830X

Listen to Kung Fu practitioner Megan Westerman's  insights on why sometimes losing is winning and why she thinks more women should learn a martial art. Megan overcame anxiety, depression and an eating disorder in her teens by going to martial art classes where she did not have to worry about anything but training. Martial arts push her to reach her goals. As result, she says, "I want every woman to do some form of martial arts." Today, she is a Kung Fu instructor and competitor. She lived, worked, and practiced Kung Fu in China for a period of time in the past. 

See her bio below or at www.themartialartswoman.com. 

Bio:

Studied traditional martial arts since 1995 at the age of 9. Earned Shodan in Okinawan Shorin-ryu karate in 2004. Assistant instructor from 2000-2005 at the Okinawan karate-do school in Orlando before moving to Tampa in 2006.

Trained in Shaolin Kung fu, Tai ji, and Sanda under Shifu Mario Salazar at Mt Song Martial Arts since 2007, currently is Mt Song Academy's youth program leader and adult kung fu/sanda instructor.

Lived/worked in China from 2010 to 2011. Studied kung fu and mandarin while living in China. Given honorary title of "Coach" at Grandmaster ShiDe Yang school in Deng Feng while training there.

Multiple-time Gold-medallist in the ICMAC kung fu circuit, and ICMAC Grand Champion in traditional Northern forms and weapons in 2011 and 2012, 2013, 2019.

Qualified for the US traditional kung fu team in 2019 through IWKF. (Previously scheduled to have World Competition in 2021, pre-COVID)

Demo team member and leader since 2011 of Mt Song Academy's traditional Lion dance and Kung fu demo team.

Group leader and coordinator of Mt Song Academy's Cultural Trips to China, during which students travel to China, tour famous sites, and also experience immersive study at a kung fu or tai ji training school.

Links & Info:

Megan's school: https://www.facebook.com/MtSongAcademy

Andrea's Motivational books:

The Martial Arts Woman book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman.../dp/1544916213

Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations.../dp/150297830X

Terri Green began practicing martial arts as a teenager in the 1970's. She decided to forego the traditional, expected lessons back then of sewing and cooking in exchange for semi-contact street fighting and earning a black belt. Terri was a teenager, about 14 years old, when she started. Her parents signed her brother up for lessons to help toughen him up. After watching him take the classes she asked her parents if she could take the class and they felt it was a waste of time for her. She convinced them that she needed to be able to defend herself and they eventually agreed. She began learning semi-contact and street fighting then and it was the best exercise she ever had. There were not a lot of women in the classes, so every time she worked out with a man, she had to prove herself and show that she was tough. She says, “I had to literally beat them up to make them work out with me.” She also learned weapons, like knives and chains, and guns.  She even went on the bus to class with a huge machete knife on her.

Yes, times were different in the 1970’s. I know you will find this podcast well…pretty groovy.

Check out more of Terri's story here: www.themartialartswoman.com 

Andrea's motivational books: 

The Martial Arts Woman book:  https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman.../dp/1544916213

Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone:  https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations.../dp/150297830X

Practicing a sword form in the park during COVID times, Maca Navas is known to the locals as "The Sword Lady." They don't know her name but they see her grace and commitment to her practice. Maca practices Kung Fu and Tai Chi.  In this Podcast, she shares how she struggled for many years of her life with an eating disorder, anorexia. She describes it as a "disease of her soul" where she did not feel comfortable in her own skin. Martial arts helped her overcome and cope with her personal challenges and allows her to be the person she feels she was always meant to be. She hopes that her story inspires others...and it will. 

For Maca's full bio go here: www.themartialartswoman.com

Links & Info for Maca:

www.macanavas.com

Kung Fu Instagram @macarenita_navas

Andrea's Motivational Books:

The Martial Arts Women Book:https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman-Motivational-Stories/dp/1544916213 (or contact me for signed copies)

Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone Book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations-Everyone-Andrea-Harkins/dp/150297830X

COMING SOON: How to Start Your Own Martial Art Program

A year out of nursing school, Gwendolyn volunteered to be a COVID nurse when the floor in the hospital where she worked became the COVID unit. Her years of martial art practice taught her very valuable lessons - fearlessness and confident commitment- and she vigorously uses them in life and in nursing. Gwendolyn shares her insights on being a woman in martial arts, overcoming and understanding societal expectations, giving yourself permission to find your voice, and more. She is a creative and eclectic woman who was formerly a Birth Doula and who enjoys a variety of creative endeavors such as a Star Trek project, her crafting business, being a graphic artist, and a blogger. She is a wife and a caregiver of her 13-year-old niece.

Gwendolyn's Links & Info

“Dancer’s Dream Boutique”: https://dancers-dream.com/?v=920f83e594a1

“Gwen’s World Blog” http://gwensworlds.blogspot.com/

Andrea's Motivational Books: 

The Martial Arts Woman book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman-Motivational-Stories/dp/1544916213

Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations-Everyone-Andrea-Harkins/dp/150297830X

Overcoming a religious cult for the first ten years of her life, Rebecca Knight found a promising future in martial arts. Read Rebecca's full bio here: www.themartialartswoman.com 

Rebecca's Story: My childhood was difficult at best. I grew up in a religious cult (in Mexico) and endured physical, mental/emotional and sexual abuse for the first 10 years of my life. After moving back to the states when I was 10 years old, I found that it was nearly impossible for me to trust anyone, including myself. I struggled with self esteem, and confidence in every situation and doubted that I could ever recover from the trauma that I had gone through. I attended my first Kenpo lesson in 1996, and immediately felt something that I had never felt before - a small and delicate sense of worth, which grew over they years to an overwhelming feeling of confidence and strength. That feeling that was cultivated in me is why I train, and why I teach…to see that bloom in the hearts of the student that I teach, to show each and every one of them what they are truly capable of - and that is ANYTHING they put their mind and heart into!!!

Rebecca Knight, the martial art instructor:  I teach because……I have the ability to encourage positive change; I have room for creativity; I am challenged; I can see improvement in myself and others; I can encourage respect and discipline; I can share my passion for the martial arts with others.

I am proud to have been included on the Kenpo Compendium (by Amy Long) on 2008, I was featured on the Kenpo Women Website (http://www.kenpowomen.com/2012/08/06/rebecca-knight/) in 2012, and am most humbled by my inclusion as an honoree in Tom Bleecker’s The Journey - Book 3 2019.

My husband and I own and Operate the American Institute of Kenpo in Tucson Arizona, and will be celebrating our school’s 20th Anniversary next September!!! We are grateful for our Master Council Members that guide us in the martial arts, business and in our daily lives; Sigung Stephen LaBounty, Bob White, John Sepulveda, Lee Wedlake and Mike Winkeljohn along with our business partner and fellow AIK School owner Mr. Andrew Pilch. 

Links & Info: 

http://www.kenpowomen.com/2012/08/06/rebecca-knight/

https://www.americaninstituteofkenpo.com/

Andrea's motivational books: 

The Martial Arts Women Book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman-Motivational-Stories/dp/1544916213 (or contact me for signed copies)

Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone Book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations-Everyone-Andrea-Harkins/dp/150297830X

"Own your space. Powerfully embrace who you are. Don't apologize for what you know. Continually strive to become more than who you are." -Michelle Manu.

Michelle Manu's interview is captivating and inspiring, from her practice of a Hawaiian Combat Art to wellness, womanhood, and weaponry. Don't miss her discussion about training airline professionals after the September 11 incident (and she has a funny story on how she became involved in that training!).  Her brief bio is below: 

Michelle Manu is known for her accomplishments as a 10th Black Belt and teacher (Kumu) of the rarely seen ancient Hawaiian Combat Art, Lua. She e is a wood weapons maker and expert. She is also the guardian and keeper of the only Kaihewalu Lua exhibit, located at the Martial Arts History Museum in Burbank, California. Michelle toured the Midwest as a professional Polynesian Hula dancer and choreographer (1990-2004). Michelle has been a vocational leader in the legal profession for twenty-three years. Check out her full bio at the blog page for this podcast: www.themartialartswoman.com 

Links & Info: 

Sensei William Christopher Ford's 52 Masters interview: https://youtu.be/r2W9IgvO71s

SHE Workshop: https://youtu.be/LT3ffTEom6I

Weaponry seminar: https://youtu.be/ccythkquZNs

From her days in journalism, radio and broadcasting, to her martial art movie experiences, heritage, faith, martial arts practice, community service and inspirational writing, this Podcast interview covers the gamut of this "real deal" martial artist! Find out WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW about this empowered and inspirational martial art woman. 

Bio (see full bio at www.themartialartswoman.com): 

Karen Eden Herdman is a 7th degree martial arts master of Tang Soo Do. She is most well known in the industry for her inspirational writing. She has appeared in every major martial arts magazine in the country and world, including six magazine covers of her own. A journalist by trade, Karen has worked for NBC and FOX affiliates, with live broadcasts airing on CNN, and reporting for FOX national and Animal Planet. Her ability to turn everyday occurrences into life lessons started in the martial arts industry over 20 years ago, where she became known as the "Master of Inspiration." In 2000, she joined The Salvation Army and started the largest inner-city martial arts program in the world.

Links & Info:

Karen's links:

"The Eden Assignment Inspirational Series" on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/704028733138288/about

[email protected]

For links to some of Karen's books, see the blog version of her podcast at www.themartialartswoman.com

Andrea's Motivational Books:

The Martial Arts Women Book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman-Motivational-Stories/dp/1544916213 (or contact me for signed copies)

Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone Book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations-Everyone-Andrea-Harkins/dp/150297830X

Stalked by a drug dealer as a teen and young woman, Odette Russell knows a thing or two about the importance of protecting yourself and being a strong woman. Since her early years, she has dedicated much of her life to training in martial arts and teaching self-defense, as well as being a mother, wife, and a professional in the workplace.  Today, she is a Grandmaster with more than 41 years of martial art experience. Her dabbling in martial arts as a youth turned to dedicated committment when she met her husband, Sijo Abdul Mutakabbir, the founder of SWAM Martial Arts Academy. Odette also accomplished huge personal goals outside the martial arts, included earning a Ph.D in Health Psychology in 2018. She is a steadfast advocate of wellness & quality of life.  Find out more about this amazing martial art woman, her extreme training regiments, and her dedication to martial arts in this empowering martial art interview. 

Links & Info: 

Odette Russell's website: drodetterussell.net

Andrea's Motivational Books: 

The Martial Arts Women Book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman-Motivational-Stories/dp/1544916213 (or contact me for signed copies)

Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone Book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations-Everyone-Andrea-Harkins/dp/150297830X

The Martial Arts Woman Podcast Sponsor: The Adventures of Harry & Friends

https://www.amazon.com/Harrys-First-Martial-Arts-Lesson/dp/1733468420

Meet Violet Li, an established Tai Chi practitioner, instructor, and author of hundreds of articles about Tai Chi. Violet shares about her background and experiences, explains Tai Chi principles, theories and techniques, and discusses why martial arts are important for women. Listen to this fun and enlightening podcast. Violet's enthusiasm will make you want to try Tai Chi, too! Tai Chi offers profound benefits and everyone can learn it at any age. I also highlight many of Violet's achievements in martial arts. This interview is fun and engaging! It is a chance to learn more about this mindful martial art, its benefits, and how this passionate Tai Chi martial art woman shares her knowledge with the world.   

Links & Info: 

You can also view this podcast and see Violet's Bio here: www.themartialartswoman.com 

Violet's Websites: 

http://www.VioletLiTaiChi.com

www.violetli.com

Thank you to Sifu German Garcia who recommended that I interview Violet! Check out his Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/tampabayshaolin

Andrea's Motivational books: 

The Martial Arts Women Book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman-Motivational-Stories/dp/1544916213 (or contact me for signed copies)

Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone Book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations-Everyone-Andrea-Harkins/dp/150297830X

The Martial Arts Woman Podcast Sponsor: The Adventures of Harry & Friends

https://www.amazon.com/Harrys-First-Martial-Arts-Lesson/dp/1733468420