Martial Arts Goal Setting: How Carly Turned Persistence Into Confidence
Martial Arts Goal Setting: How Carly Turned Persistence Into Confidence
Editor’s Note: October is goal-setting month at AAMA! Every student is choosing a personal goal to pursue. No one embodies the power of martial arts goal setting better than Carly, one of our newest youth instructors.
A cat named Tory Nichols, another named Kreese, and a third called Samantha Kai Ann might be the first clues to an outsider that Carly isn’t your average pre-teen girl.
But to those who know her, it’s no surprise.
Carly has been taking Kung Fu classes since the age of three. She began in our on-site Apple Tree Orchard daycare program before joining our Little Dragons class.
After earning her black belt in Little Dragons, she advanced to the youth program and achieved her black sash at just 10 years old.
Now cruising through middle school, Carly has stepped into a new role as one of our youth instructors. She’s also one of the friendly faces at the AAMA booth at the Bellevue Farmer’s Market during the summer.
How the Instructor Program Builds Confidence
Going through the martial arts instructor program changes everyone who participates, and Carly is no exception. She’s become visibly stronger, noticeably louder, and far more assertive, developing into a confident leader who could rival even her cat’s namesake, Tory Nichols, or perhaps Sensei John Kreese himself.
When she first started, sparring, grappling, and front rolls were intimidating. But through repetition and persistence, she conquered those fears, proving that martial arts goal setting is about more than belts and tips. It’s about resilience.
Her mom, Robin, said Carly’s journey has transformed her confidence:
“She learned what it feels like to be scared and keep going anyway. That’s something she’ll carry with her forever.”
Confidence Beyond the Mat
Carly still loves practicing her fan forms, and remains loyal to Team Cobra Kai, despite Mr. G.’s unwavering allegiance to Miyagi-Do.
With her growing strength, focus, and leadership, Carly shows what happens when kids set goals and stick with them. Whether it’s in the classroom, on the mat, or behind the booth at the market, she’s proof that martial arts goal setting builds lifelong confidence.
Want to help your child discover their own version of Carly’s journey?
Learn how we teach goal-setting and persistence in our latest post, How to Help Kids Set and Achieve Goals That Build Confidence for Life.
