Adriana Isayan

Since First Degree

"Two years have passed since I got my first degree, and since then I have grown physically and mentally. Physically I have gotten stronger and have improved on a couple of techniques. Mentally I have grown in school and understanding things I didn't quite before.

I have gotten better at my side kicks, sparring, endurance and strength. My side kicks have gotten straighter and stronger. Before, they were a little unaligned and not as strong. Sparring, I used to be scared and didn't move around, but now I have gotten a lot more comfortable with sparring. I started going to teens classes, which helps prepare me for what would happen in the world. Out in the world, big people try to harm you, so working with the teens has helped me prepare. I have gotten better at teaching and leading. I can teach material to others and help improve their technique. I helped someone improve their front and back roll.

I have gotten more patient when things don't turn out the way I want the first time. I try different things and ask for help. I have become more aware of the people and things around me and treat scenarios more seriously. When walking in public, I look around. When going into some place, I look for exits, like the kitchen. When we do scenarios, I imagine what it would actually look like and what I would do if it happened to me outside. And I have become more confident in my work, like when turning in a test or when knowing that I can protect myself outside or at school.

Since doing Krav, I have understood that there are many bad people. Shootings, knife attacks, robbery and many more. My dad has shown me videos of these happening to people. These can happen anywhere. Krav has given me the chance to learn how to protect myself if any of these were to happen to me at school, the mall, or on my street near my home. It also teaches me how to help protect others. Krav pushes me to stay physically fit. It's better than going to the gym, because Krav gives you that chance plus teaches you how to protect yourself and others.

I have learned that I can control myself. For example, I can control my temper towards my siblings even though they make it hard (sometimes on purpose). I have also learned that I am more capable than I think. The thing that is holding me back is my fear. There are certain things that I am too scared to try. I have also learned that I am mentally strong. I can set boundaries, try again and again without giving up, and stay calm under pressure.

The past two years have shown me how much I am capable of when I don't give up. Krav has given me physical strength, the reason to be aware, and confidence that I can handle difficult situations in everyday life. Knowing that I have come this far gives me motivation to keep learning, face my fears, and continue growing as both a martial artist and a leader."

The People Who Got Me Here

"Martial arts looks cool when you see someone who has mastered the techniques. However, many don't seem interested in how that person got there, how long it took, or who was there to support and train them. In reality, no one can do all of it alone. You need feedback from other people. You can't practice sparring on a dummy all the time, and you need a real-life partner to be able to test your abilities under pressure. There have been many people who have led me through my Krav Maga journey.

Throughout my years of doing Krav Maga, there have been many helpful people that have led me through my Krav journey, including my instructors, my parents, and my training partners. Without my instructors, where else would I have gone, or would I have even started a martial art? They look out for me so that I don't hurt myself when doing a technique. My parents drive me to practice and always push me and help me when I feel like quitting. Finally, I am grateful for my training partners who have trained with me and helped me get better at my techniques.

My dad has been the one to push me the most when I've wanted to quit. Krav Maga is about pushing yourself over your limit and enduring it. There have been many times where I was so tired from class and wanted to quit because of the pressure, but my dad wouldn't let me. He would push me and make me continue because he knew if he let me quit, I was going to regret it. He has never let me out the easy way or just given me the answers. He always made me work for everything.

At first I would get mad that my dad wouldn't let me quit, but now that I look back, I'm glad, because he knew that it was the right thing. I don't know what I would have done if my dad let me quit, or if my mom didn't talk to me and change my mind about quitting.

If my dad had let me quit, then I would not have anything to do after school. I wouldn't have any other way of exercising. Exercise is very important. It gets your blood running, improves mental health, lowers the risk of disease, improves mood, increases energy and endurance, and has a lot of other benefits. I would have just come home, done homework, and been bored.

I play the same role as my dad for family and friends. For Arman, I could help him in Krav and in Jiu Jitsu. I could give him tips, make him work hard, and help him practice techniques. For Anna, I can help her persevere in violin and Krav. I can help her practice playing the violin by keeping the beat so that she doesn't speed up or slow down (stay in tempo). I can also help her improve her techniques in Krav. I can also be supportive of family and friends. For example, if my friend is playing volleyball at lunch or has a game, I could go and cheer her on or practice with her.

As you can see, there have been many people that have helped me on my Krav Maga Black Belt journey: instructors, family, and partners. I changed my mind about quitting Krav, or else all of my time, energy, and effort would have gone to waste. Thank you, Ms. Nat and Mr. Crouch, for helping me along this journey."