Get to know me…

When I was five years old I joined a martial art called Okinawa Shuri-Te. Never heard of Shuri-Te Karate before? I'm not surprised; few have. Shuri-te is the name of a martial art that developed around Shuri village, the ancient capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom (Okinawa). Shuri was the historical location of the Okinawan King and Castle. Te means hands. Shuri-te means the "Hands of Shuri." Shuri-te is a striking art characterized by fast, linear movements, nerve manipulation, and natural breathing. Self-defense techniques, known as waza, are traditionally passed down from generation to generation by studying empty-handed forms, or kata. I was lucky enough to have my Sensi be my father. As I got older, I would assist him with teaching kids class. He bumped me up to the adult class as a teen. In the adult class, I was the only female and very petite. As I honed my skills, I earned my black belt at 18 before leaving for college.

In college, I was a Park Ranger. During ranger training, it became apparent that I had some training. I ended up being called on as a demonstrator. We were learning Krav Maga techniques. Krav Maga is based on natural human instincts. The main goal is to disengage from violence, not to have a prolonged and 'fair' fight. They wanted to teach us, those who had no training, something easy to understand and that we could retain it should we need it.

With my martial arts background and hearing my female friends, relatives, and coworkers' complaints, I developed a Women's Self-Defense Seminar. In about two hours, I take the first part to do a presentation, then there's a break, and we start the second portion, the physical self-defense part of the seminar. This endeavor has been enriching for me. I also give free tips to my friends and sometimes will Pro bono a lesson or two.

I train as a hip-hop and contemporary dancer. I have been in two professional companies—Dance Northwest in Eugene, OR, directed by Anita Sanford, and Freshvibe in Portland, OR, directed by Allison Franco. Expressing myself through dance is one of my greatest joys. I have made lifelong friends and been exposed to beautiful art pieces and, of course, the adrenaline and hype that come with hip-hop. I have also coached young girls in cheerleading and dance and taught a children's hip-hop class.

I recently adopted a rescue puppy. She is a small breed terrier mix named Barbara. She is the love of my life. I'm an avid cross stitcher; my grandmother taught me when I was seven. If I'm not cozied up with a good book, you'll catch me cross-stitching while most likely listening to an audiobook or catching up on a good show. And, of course, getting all the Barbara puppy cuddles I can!