IKF-ALBERTVILLE KARATE

In 1989, I walked into my very first karate class searching for strength during one of the most difficult times in my life. Trapped in a violent marriage, I thought if I could just learn enough to defend myself, maybe I could find a way out. What I didn’t realize was that karate would become far more than self-defense — it would become the path that saved my life.

I began training under Rod Lowery and Jerry Cox, working hard through the kyu ranks and entering tournaments, where I earned the title of #1 Women’s Tournament Fighter in 1991 and 1992. In 1992, I achieved my first-degree black belt and began teaching classes. For the first time, I experienced the joy of helping others grow through martial arts.

In 1993, I continued my journey under Sensei Ray Nichols at the IKF dojo in Birmingham, where I earned my second-degree black belt and became an IKF instructor. I started teaching children in after-school programs and later brought karate back to my hometown of Albertville.

As both my training and teaching grew, I felt called to do more. In 2001, I opened my first adult karate class at Powerhouse Gym. Soon after, I expanded into my own space, and in 2007, I built my very first dojo. By 2016, my students and programs had outgrown that space, and I moved into my current, larger facility where I continue to teach year-round.

Today, I lead classes for children, teens, and adults, as well as after-school programs, summer camps, and community workshops. I am especially passionate about using karate as a tool for empowerment and healing. Over the years, I’ve partnered with churches, schools, and organizations such as the Christian Women’s Job Corps and Ogden House, offering self-defense clinics, safety awareness programs, and domestic violence education.

Karate has been more than a career — it has been my calling. It gave me the strength to leave an abusive past behind, raise my daughters in a safe and supportive home, and build a life centered on teaching and serving others.

As I approach more than 40 years as a martial artist and instructor, I continue to believe what my teacher once shared:
“If you choose a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Confucius

For me, that truth lives on every time I step onto the dojo floor.