Shotokan Karate, Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, 25,
Bartender at Bari Ristorante e Enoteca
1
My last competition was in May at the USA Karate Spring Classic Tournament. I won 1st place in traditional forms and 2nd place in sparring in my co-ed division!
2
Traditional karate and kickboxing tournaments are my favorite form of competition, but I’ve also started looking into some jiu-jitsu tournaments for early 2019. I would love to be as well-rounded of a martial artist as possible, both in sports and self-defense.
3
My favorite part of martial arts is that I am never truly competing against my opponent; I am competing against who I was the last time I stepped into the ring. I’m blown away at what years of hard days on the mats have done to change my sense of confidence, fitness, and just overall sense of self-worth.
4
Teaching karate, especially to kids, will keep you honest! I can’t ask one of my students to break a board at their black belt test with a jump-spin-side kick if I can’t do the same.
5
I will be competing in a Shotokan karate tournament this fall. I’m also very excited to run the Cooper Young 4-miler this year after a couple of years of being injured!
6
I spent the majority of 2017 with a broken foot, and in January of this year, I tore a tendon in my right ankle. It took me about four months of physical therapy to go back to stand-up Karate or Krav Maga.
7
Pho Binh, for sure is my favorite, an order of tofu in curry sauce and lemongrass tofu with a Fireside.
8
I would love to have dinner with Barack Obama to discuss his fabulous taste in books. If he decided to sprinkle in some life advice, I wouldn’t say no.
9
My vices are cheese boards and nice wine.
10
“Losing is nothing more than an opportunity to learn.”
INTERVIEW BY HAILEY THOMAS. PHOTO BY PHILIP MURPHY.
