Podcast: Download (Duration: 51:56 — 47.5MB)
Brian Fleming is a combat wounded veteran and Purple Heart Recipient, who was seriously injured by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, resulting in 14 months of hospitalization enduring painful burn treatments, reconstructive surgery, and brain injury rehabilitation.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:03:09 — 57.8MB)
Jason Perry is a former Navy Seal, Swat Officer, Executive Protection Specialist, Corporate Security Expert, podcast host, farmer, dad of 3 children under 5 years old, and pastor who specializes in blending Faith and Preparedness in Safety Training.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 49:55 — 45.7MB)
Jayson Downing is a former Marine Corps Captain and combat veteran with multiple overseas deployments. He holds multiple graduate degrees with honors and has worked as a college professor and business consultant.
I not only host my own podcast, but I am frequently invited to appear on other shows as well. And I have been on a lot of them. But none quite compared to my most recent appearance on The Wellness Driven Life Show. The host, April Chavez, was not only charming and beautiful, but she was warm and engaging as well. She was also a lot of fun to talk to and we had a great conversation.
Imagine my surprise when she referred to me as “the real Princess of Power.” I didn’t even know there was such a thing until I looked it up. Apparently it’s an animated story about an orphaned princess who discovered a magic sword which transforms her into a legendary warrior princess. Who knew?
Anyway, we had a great time together, and I thought you might find it interesting to hear me on the other side of the microphone as a podcast guest instead of a host for a change. So, here is the link to the episode along with a graphic April used to promote the episode. April produces a fabulous show with high quality guests, and I’m not saying that just because I was one of them.
Check it out: The Real Princess of Power
https://www.ctrmedianetwork.com/show/the-wellness-driven-life-show/an-interview-w-the-real-princess-of-power-cheryl-ilov-on-health-healing-martial-arts/
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!
I have been musing over my recent podcast episode with the amazing Joy Johnson titled Bold, Brash, and Beautiful. Although I have “known” Joy for several years, I really didn’t get to know her until we had a vibrant conversation during her interview. Joy was full of surprises. She even left me speechless, which has only happened a handful of times in my lifetime.
For example, Joy explains that she had a fascination with engines at a very young age, and began tinkering with them. She discovered that she was a mathematical genius in high school. Who knew? She has a self-proclaimed violent streak. I would like to dispute that last point, since she used that “violence” to protect her younger siblings, as well as other kids who couldn’t protect themselves. I call her a mama bear. Or a warrior.
Regardless of how you label it, this passion for protecting those who can’t protect themselves led her to pursue training in Krav Maga. If you aren’t familiar with Krav Maga, it is totally bad-ass fighting system, which Joy now shares with other women through her self-defense classes.
She earned a degree in engineering from The Colorado School of Mines, and then decided it was time to tap into her feminine side. So, she began pole dancing. She loved the strength and power of pole, as well as the sexy side of the sport. She became so passionate about it that she enrolled in the teacher training program at a lovely studio called Studio 3sixT.
Joy shares her passion with the many women she teaches and is a role model and inspiration for all of them, including me. The definition of a Renaissance woman is one who is a highly cultivated. One who is skilled and well-versed in many fields of knowledge. You might call Joy a Renaissance woman. But I call her a warrior.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 46:51 — 42.9MB)
Connie Jones is a coach, therapist, and motivational speaker at Arise Counseling and Coaching. She is also the author of the book “Warrior Arise! Live Bravely, Freely, and Au
thentically You.” She is passionate about connecting with people’s hearts while engaging the unique stories they have fulfilled in their personal and professional lives.
I got a fantastic text message from one of my Delicate Dojo students a few days ago. If you’ve been following me, you already know that I am a black belt in the ancient Japanese martial art of Ninpo Tai Jutsu, and I recently began teaching self defense classes for women only. I knew that eventually I would hear stories about how the classes came in handy in a real life situation, but I didn’t expect them so soon. Here is her story.
She and her 3 children (two girls aged 7 and 9 and a son aged 5) were sitting together outside an ice cream store enjoying their treats when a strange man suddenly approached them. He came right up to them, and without a word began picking lint off of her son’s shirt. She was in a corner with her son sitting on her lap and her daughters on each side. He literally had them backed into a corner. Instead of panicking, she looked him directly in the eye. Calmly but firmly, she said, “Don’t touch him.”
Incredibly, the stranger began to argue with her, and the situation became more threatening. Without taking her eyes off of his, she said, “Give him his space.” She continued to look directly at him and kept her focus on his eyes. He immediately changed his demeanor, backed off, then turned and walked away.
How creepy. And what a creep! My student referred to him as “deranged.” I’d have to agree with her, because I can think of no situation where it would be appropriate for a perfect stranger to approach a woman with her children and starting touching one of them. I don’t know what his intention was, but I’m guessing it wasn’t good. However, she was able to clearly communicate that she was the one in charge and in control of the situation.
My student is very petite and looks like a kid herself. Maybe he figured she would be an easy target. She wasn’t. She told me that during the encounter she was as calm as could be, and admitted that she would have gone into full blown panic mode prior to taking the classes. By the way, she’s only taken two classes. So far. My petite student was able to react calmly from a position of power and strength. She also taught her children a valuable lesson. If she had responded with fear, they would have as well. The entire family would have been traumatized. She would have lost her power, and the “deranged man” may have become emboldened. Instead, she effectively defused the situation and empowered herself.
I love stories like this. I love hearing about positive outcomes. Most of all, I love hearing about women being able to find their power, strength, grace and confidence. I especially love it when the bullies lose. And that is why I started The Delicate Dojo, and began teaching women the art of self defense.
Be healthy! Cheryl Ilov, PT, GCFP
