Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:04:08 — 58.7MB)
Sifu Rafael Gomez is an entrepreneur, Founder of Speaking Prowess, and the host of six live shows who is passionate about empowering individuals to reach their full potential. He is also the owner and instructor of Max Martial Arts & Fitness, a 10,000 ft facility in New York, where he combines his expertise in martial arts with leadership development.
One of the many perks about having a podcast the opportunity to meet and speak with so many wonderful people who share their inspiring stories of empowerment with all of us. Their stories fill my heart with hope.
Another perk is that I get the chance to be a guest of other shows as well. Full disclosure, it’s a little bit concerting to be on the other side of the mic, but it does give me the chance to (gulp) share my own personal story with the world.
I was recently a guest on The Fire Inside Her podcast with the inspiring and spectacular host, Diane Schroeder. We had a fantastic conversation where I shared many of my ninja secrets, why I began training in the ancient Japanese martial art called Ninpo Tai Jutsu at the tender young age of 47, and how I rose up through the ranks to become my teacher’s first female black belt.
Listen to the episode here:
Diane also called me an inspiration, courageous, and a total bada$$. I disagree. I am a simple woman, and one who found the power of healing from a traumatic event in an unconventional way. In my humble opinion, we’re all bada$$. And we all have an incredible amount of strength and power in each and every one of us.
So I leave you with one final thought. What can you do to unleash yours?
As you probably know by now, The FemiNinja Project is the brain child of Yours Truly. However, what you might not know is that the show is loosely based on my experience as a martial artist. Which is why the focus is on personal empowerment, overcoming obstacles, restoring human dignity and lots of other fun stuff.
Another little tidbit you might not know about me is that I am also an author. My first book is about fitness over fifty and titled “Forever Fit and Flexible: Feeling Fabulous at Fifty and Beyond.” It was published in 2016, and I suppose the title is self explanatory. My second book was released last year in March, 2023 and titled: The Reluctant Ninja: How A Middle-Aged Princess Became A Warrior Queen.”
Immediately after the book was published I suffered a terrible case of writer’s remorse. I’m not even sure if there is such a thing or if I made it up, but I had three really tough weeks. Which means I totally freaked out. There was no way I could get that genie back in the bottle.
The book chronicles my how (and why), I began my journey in the strange new world of men and martial arts at the tender young age of 47, and includes very personal information. Yikes! Eventually I got over it and assured myself that it would be okay, as long as only strangers read it. The following day I walked into the dojo and saw a copy on my Sensei’s desk. Major freak out.
That was a year ago, and he’s still talking to me, so I guess it turned out okay. In the meantime, the book earned two awards and made #1 Amazon Best Seller. Not bad for a middle-aged princess!
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:18:41 — 72.0MB)
Chris Smith is the creator and host of the “Chatty Geek, Hidden Dragon” independent podcast and livestream about mental and social health, as well as embracing all the qualities which make us unique.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:00:19 — 55.2MB)
Terry Oliver is a former police officer with over 28 years’ experience as a first responder who specializes in personal protection. He began his personal protection training over 4 decades ago and has studied and taught numerous realistic Personal Protection systems which include verbal de-escalation strategies and personal protection skills.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 51:45 — 47.4MB)
Sara Deacon is an enthusiastic life coach, faithful believer, energetic martial artist, lifelong artist, and mom of three young sons. She is passionate about martial arts, personal development, and lifelong learning. Sara is also the host of the popular podcast Martial Arts and Crafts.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 37:35 — 34.4MB)
Mindy Ruddock is an Intuitive Women’s Wellness Coach and Healer, Certified Yoga Instructor, dancer, mom, and martial artist. She is an owner-instructor-student and black belt in Kenpo Karate and self-proclaimed witchy woman who loves all things mystical.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 53:09 — 48.7MB)
Sensei Ando Mierzwa is a coach, tutor, teacher, and martial artist extraordinaire. He is also the owner and director of Happy Life Martial Arts. After discovering martial arts as a teenager, Ando realized that martial arts were the key to finding a happy, healthy, balanced life, and well worth fighting for.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 48:38 — 44.5MB)
Susie Kahlich is a Certified Instructor in Ninpo Tai Jutsu, the Art of the Ninja. She is also the founder and owner of Pretty Deadly Self Defense, a program dedicated to teaching women the art of self-defense by finding their inner strength and power through natural movements and self-exploration.
Sometimes you just have to get out of your own way. Or, more specifically, out of your mind. As someone who has been out of my mind more often than I care to admit, I understand how sometimes your mind can mess with your head. And your goals. And especially your dreams.
One of the things I learned as a brand new martial arts student was how to get out of the way of an attack. And I was really, really good at it. My technique of choice was to cover my head with my gi top and run off the mat screaming, “Don’t touch me!” Ah, yes. Those were the good old days.
Eventually I was able to get out of my head and into my body to stay engaged with my attacker and gracefully step out of the way. Soon after that, I was able to step back into my attacker and take him down. It was a slow and tedious process for me, but once I let go of my preconceived conviction that I was going to get beaten to a pulp, magic slowly began to unfold.
Not only did I learn to get out of an attacker’s line of fire, I learned how to get out of my own way as well. Because it’s that negative self-talk, the fear that we are either going to fail, look stupid, be ridiculed, or fall on our face. Huh, been there, done that. All of the above. And yet I survived.
I have to be honest, and I have to confess that I still struggle with getting out of my own way, especially when a remarkable opportunity presents itself. And it recently did, but I’m not quite ready to talk about it quite yet. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it and wonder what I had gotten myself into.
But if we don’t keep reaching for new heights, think of all the incredible experiences we might miss out on. And that would just be sad, don’t you think?
