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Rayna Vallandingham started her journey in martial arts on the age of two. At 6, she earned her first black belt. And two years later, she gained her first world championship — her first of 13 world taekwondo titles.
Now 20, the Indian American taekwondo grasp has continued to mature each out and in of the dojo. Sadly, oftentimes the remainder of the world has but to evolve as rapidly. “[Growing up,] you at all times had these ‘courageous’ boys who would tease and say you kick like a woman,” she says. “And now that I’m 20, nothing’s actually modified. As a black belt, you’re at all times taught that you simply’re solely supposed to make use of your martial arts and self-defense. So I’d simply stand there. Nevertheless it’s unhappy that individuals really feel the necessity to do this.”
Vallandingham spends about two hours per day practising martial arts; as well as, she logs a number of energy coaching classes. She’s additionally parlayed her success into a number of jobs: a martial arts teacher, combat choreographer, and content material creator with greater than a million followers on TikTok. (For those who haven’t seen her whip a pair of nunchucks or backflip in a swimsuit or night robe, you’re lacking out.)
Like anybody who ventures onto the web, with followers come trolls and anger, notably from old-school martial arts traditionalists who disapprove of her Gen. Z method.
Unsurprisingly, she’s unapologetic about the way in which she expresses her artwork and makes use of her podcast, The A THREAT League, to vent frustrations and speak store with co-host and choreographer Samantha Lengthy.
“I’m doing one thing that’s not likely been achieved earlier than, within the sense of taking martial arts and adapting into content material creation,” Vallandingham says. “That’s the place some the hate comes from. And I’ve simply determined to decide to that and feed into it and be true to myself and who I wish to be. Hopefully that may encourage lots of people to be genuine to themselves as nicely and never care about what different folks say.”
Nonetheless, there’s a wonderful line to Vallangham’s finesse with the spoken phrase, particularly as an envoy to the immortal icon of martial arts: Bruce Lee himself. She says she obtained the chance to work with the household representing the worldwide icon after they obtained a glimpse of a few of her viral martial arts social media exhibitions. Now representing her childhood idol, she is aware of the accountability of being of the feminine artists to be honored with this partnership.
“It was such an enormous blessing, and only a cultivation of every little thing I’ve dreamt of, as a result of I at all times noticed that for myself— to make the same influence that he’s had on the world ever since his profession flourished, even it was for a brief period of time,” she says. “His influence goes to encourage generations and generations to return and, and he impressed me and so I’d love to do this for all these little women on the market who’re advised that they’re not sturdy sufficient to dominate a sport like martial arts.”
Her mission assertion, she says, is to be the feminine Bruce Lee. Her Profitable Technique to realize that features staying true to that mission—even when means saying no to alternative, whereas persevering with to unfold out her skillset, studying losses, and nonetheless having enjoyable as a “newbie.”
1. FIND YOUR PURPOSE, THEN STAY TRUE TO IT
My recommendation to somebody who’s offered with a chance that they don’t actually know easy methods to navigate is to sit down down and write precisely what you imagine your functions and targets are. Take this chance that you simply’ve been given and assume, “Does this align with this and this and can it get me to the place I’m going?” If it doesn’t , then I’m an enormous believer that every little thing is supposed for you and can by no means move you by. That may at all times resonate with you.
So if you happen to’re offered a chance, and you’ve got a foul feeling in your intestine otherwise you really feel one thing unfavorable brewing within you, I’d try to avoid that, even when it guarantees you fame, cash, something like that. In the long run, it’s simply not value it—imagine me, every little thing will work out for the higher. And shortly, you’ll see that you simply’ll begin attracting issues that actually align with who you’re and what you want.
As soon as I used to be as soon as provided to do a voiceover for a personality on a present, that it didn’t align with my values. To me it appeared like sort of a racist tackle a martial arts spin off. I used to be like, I may very well be into rewriting the story of what it takes to be a feminine martial artist, however the unique just isn’t aligned with who I’m and who I wish to characterize. So although it had the potential to be enormous, I needed to flip it down.
I additionally obtained provided a contract to be with WWE, and though it’s to not say that I’d by no means do it, it simply didn’t align with who I used to be on the time. I’m going to construct my profession.
First, I wish to be an motion movies. I’m going to proceed doing what I’m doing with content material creation and paving that path after which return and perhaps write my very own story there. So there’s been so many instances the place I’ve needed to reevaluate what’s necessary to me and what I wish to characterize on this business earlier than shifting ahead with these alternatives that clearly would catapult me.
2. RAYNA VALLANDINGHAM KNOWS HOW TO FIND VICTORY IN DEFEAT
I used to be conditioned to profitable for a very very long time, as a result of as a 7-year-old black belt, no person was actually on my stage. However as I grew up, and I took a while from martial arts to give attention to faculty and determine what I needed.
Once I went again [to taekwondo], I wasn’t on the high anymore. It was actually tough being in that surroundings as a result of it was new to me and one thing I had by no means skilled. You don’t keep in mind having to work up from the underside. In order that was one of the vital defining moments in my life, as a result of I might’ve stated, what, time handed, it’s simply not for me anymore and left it there.
Nevertheless it turned motivation for me to work even more durable to get again to the place the place I used to be profitable once more. However even then, I imply, after a few years of tirelessly working and realizing that I deserved that when politics nonetheless comes into play, errors do occur, I didn’t practice onerous sufficient.
And I went to World Championships. And the shape was nice. I used to be nailing every little thing.
After which I went to do the final flip, I slipped and fell. Issues like that occur. I obtained up. I used to be at all times advised, and I at all times did lose with grace. It was by no means like a query for me is like, what, that’s, that’s completely wonderful. Simply motivation to work more durable. However I obtained up, , I used to be like, okay, that occurred. Let’s simply make it possible for doesn’t occur once more. So simply getting again within the dojo working even more durable.
I wouldn’t be who I’m as we speak with out shedding as a result of by saved profitable, it will have been too straightforward for me. By now I’d have slacked off and turn into lazy. So I’m grateful for these moments, as a result of it’s provided that starvation and actually reignited that spark inside me to maintain working onerous. And it’s not as a result of I’m competing with anyone else. It’s as a result of I’m competing with myself. And I do know the usual I’ve for myself as nicely.
3. RAYNA VALLANDINGHAM DIVERSIFIES HER SKILLSET…
Some martial artists give attention to their craft a lot that they oftentimes overlook to broaden themselves outdoors of martial arts. I’ve at all times been blessed with unbelievable mentors who’ve advised me that I should be good in entrance of and behind the cameras.
You have to be a price in each single room you stroll in. Even ranging from a younger age, I used to be at all times investing in these totally different elements and proceed to take action. I like choreographing, instructing, appearing, doing stunts, and each single a kind of falls underneath the umbrella of my ardour—martial arts. It’s enjoyable to have the ability to have all these totally different retailers to go to. It’s additionally important now to broaden your arsenal, particularly in such aggressive industries. And on the similar time, simply to really feel fulfilled for your self.
Earlier than I might simply stroll right into a conference heart the place a event is occurring and really feel very assured. Now I really feel as if that I can stroll right into a room with producers and administrators and really feel simply as assured.
Assembly those that I’ve appeared as much as my whole life working with folks I’ve appeared as much as my whole life doing issues which can be fulfilling for me having the ability to make my very own schedule, calling folks having folks come to me and little women come to me and ask me Rayna, how did you do that, or Reina you impressed me a lot, is it’s unbelievable, it’s, it’s, I don’t know easy methods to clarify it, when you have got a ardour for one thing and different folks will start to acknowledge that inside you. It’s actually particular and it’s actually shifting. And I’m persevering with to have these little glimpses every day.
4. …BUT STILL HAS FUN BEING A ‘BEGINNER’
I thrive off of the adrenaline of making an attempt one thing new and turning into nice at it. Nevertheless it’s additionally the belief of you don’t need to be nice at every little thing. You possibly can have one factor that’s your goal and fervour and purpose for all times. However you’ll be able to produce other issues which can be simply your hobbies that you’ve got enjoyable with. You need to be in contact along with your internal youngster to have the ability to have enjoyable with various things.
And I’m actually studying that myself. I took dance up this yr to have that outlet of simply having enjoyable and to even be a newbie once more at one thing. To me it’s truly a terrific talent to have to only be a newbie at one thing and study from there. Whether or not you’re 30, 40 , 50, it doesn’t matter.
Take pleasure in not having the strain of getting to be good. I believe that if you happen to’re an athlete, or no matter it’s possible you’ll do if you happen to’re nice at one thing, what that appears like of getting to be good on a regular basis. So I’d say that it’s extra necessary than you assume simply to have the ability to get on the market and check out one thing new. And simply be OK with no matter occurs. It would find yourself turning into one thing you’re nice at, or it’d simply find yourself being one thing such as you falling off a skateboard each 10 minutes. Nevertheless it’s so enjoyable—it’s actually necessary in life to to have the ability to chuckle at your self as nicely.
5. RAYNA VALLANDINGHAM WANTS TO BRING OUT THE BADASS IN EVERY GIRL
There’s nothing extra womanly than simply being badass—that encapsulates every little thing {that a} girl is.
However I fully perceive that it may very well be tough to really feel whether or not health is for you in what actually nonetheless is a male dominated business. It’s not at all times straightforward to go to a gymnasium for the primary time and have all these guys lifting heavy weights and going by their bro speak. Typically everybody wanting and looking at you, particularly if you happen to’re the one girl there. It may be actually onerous.
For those who want a spot to start out, I’d 100% advocate simply beginning out in your individual residence.
Placed on some music and dance, attempt a Zumba class. Something that you simply like and genuinely get pleasure from, give it a attempt.
It doesn’t need to be weightlifting. There’s so many alternative avenues on the market. You possibly can take self protection, jiujitsu, martial arts—I like to recommend these! Dance, run, stroll, even go to Disney and stroll to twenty totally different rides, that’s going to be a exercise. Something you actually get pleasure from, it’s necessary to capitalize on on your health. And be inventive too.
You possibly can even purchase some nunchucks and swing them round. I used to be working with an MMA athlete, and he began taking part in with nunchucks, and was like, Oh, my God, that is gonna be my new exercise. Simply getting within the gymnasium and combating can turn into so monotonous at instances. There are such a lot of totally different alternatives so that you can broaden your self. You’re worthy of investing in your self and actually discovering that as a result of it’s value it.
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