The Martial Arts Woman Podcast

Vicky Green has been involved in martial arts for nearly 40 years! She shares why she began martial arts, what it was like competing against men, and why her goal is to simply change one life through her teaching. Of course, she has changed many lives over the span of her career. Listen in to how she uses a martial art mindset in life, especially fairly recently with the loss of her husband of 48...

Christy Anne Padigimus has had her share of life's difficulties. Her first marriage ended partly because her husband forbade her to learn martial arts. Even more heart-wrenching, her son took his own life nearly three years ago. Martial arts helped her overcome all and move forward in a positive direction. Christy recently earned her black belt at age 50. Christy says that she did not choose karat...

We all have fears. Fear of rejection, the unknown, or even strange nightmares that wake us up in the middle of the night. I am right there with you!. Time and time again in my life I allow fear to rule my direction. Fear ironically kept me safe from failure. Then again, I never quite felt fulfilled...until I learned a martial art. Martial arts are physical. However, when you step back and look at...

Author, Melanie Gibson, explains how she found a way to renew herself and cope with her mental illness through her Taekwondo practice. She recently published her memoir, Kicking and Screaming, a memoir of madness and martial arts, in which she shares a brutally honest, yet inspirational and witty account of her intimate struggles with multiple mental illnesses, substance abuse, and poor relationsh...

Christine Bannon-Rodrigues and I grew up in the same town in Rhode Island and went to the same high school just couple of years apart. Small world, right? I'm sure she didn't know then that she would be a martial art world champion one day, nor did I know that I would interview her on my martial art podcast, but here we are. Christine is a world champion many times over and runs a school with her...

Pat Williams is a positive martial art warrior. She is a 10th degree black belt who began training in the 1960's. Many know and love her for her  positive daily Facebook posts. Although she has been in a wheelchair for 4 to 5 years because of her knees, she continues to train and teach. She practices martial art techniques from a wheelchair perspective. She says, "This wheelchair does not sto...

Overcoming incapacitating medical issues and a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of her doctor, Bethany June Dillon perseveres through the strength of her Native American heritage and culture. She creates Native American jewelry and weaponry and researches and writes about Native American warfare (she has authored two books on this topic). She is beginning a new magazine that delves into other...

*Some disturbing stories are shared in this episode* Today's show is a little different in that it does not focus on a martial art woman, but rather effective self-defense for women. Tiffany Richards of Peaceful Warrior Women's Self-Defense guides us through the reasons why most women students prefer a woman self-defense instructor; how she overcame her own physically abusive situation in her twen...

Meet Rebecca Durr Moffett, an ambitious Judo practitioner who practices transcendental meditation and has worked in a battered women's shelter for more than 30 years. She also earned a master's degree in Public Administration while working. Rebecca refers to herself as an ordinary martial artist and in many ways, I understand. I, too, am the every day type ordinary martial artist who pushes and pl...

Lynn Varghese was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2003. After three surgeries and a shunt, it was found to be benign. In 2012, she began training martial arts in her basement for a full year before finally joining a martial art class. She is a devoted wife & mother as well as an energetic and determined martial art woman and instructor. Listen in to her inspiring story about overcoming her bra...

Today I have the honor of presenting probably one of the most compelling interviews of a woman whose life is filled with ups and downs but who seems to conquer all, Fran Charlton of Sweden. Fran's interview is compelling. She will capture you with her beautiful story-telling and captivating personality. She was born into a family of creative individuals; however, her childhood was riddled with tra...

Kristy Hitchens talks about how and why she founded the Pink Belt project in Australia, a  martial art scholarship for women in need, especially victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. A journalist and media officer by trade, and a blogger on the side, Kristy has a sprite enthusiasm about martial arts and makes a positive difference as a martial art woman. She is a Taekwondo black be...

This lighthearted and laughter-filled interview matches Lady's personality perfectly. Listen in as she shares about martial arts, movies, holistic health, writing and even belly dancing! She also provides insights about online teaching and what advice she would give to a woman interested in learning martial arts.  Links & Info: Lady's School & Website: https://www.reedsactivemartialar...

Penny Pitassi is a multi- martial art school owner and an active shooter training trainer. She began martial art training in 1989 and holds rank in several different martial art systems. She worked in the Air Force as a B52 crew chief (only 2 of the 400 in this position were women!) then later became an Air Force Historian and part of the Honor Guard. Seven months before retiring from the Air Forc...

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 fi...

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 w...

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...

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 n...

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 soc...

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 sta...

"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...

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 ):&nb...

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 o...

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 pro...

Martial Arts give women permission to be powerful. -Mary Stevens Listen in to my engaging interview with UK martial artist, Mary Stevens. Mary is a dynamic instructor and martial art woman, an author of children's books, a mother, and project manager for FairFight, an Nonprofit Organization that uses martial arts as a vehicle to empower vulnerable women in Zimbabwe and India. Her full bio with the...