MARTIAL ARTS

Master Alyssa Watson

 

Master Alyssa Watson began training in taekwondo at age 8. Her brother had first

started after he thought he was a power ranger, and she soon found herself wanting to jump into class! She immediately found a passion for taekwondo and

a natural talent as well. She began working her way up the belts, taking classes six days a week. At age 9, she began competing in Olympic style taekwondo (forms & sparring). She spent the next 5 years training hard, earning medals and learning the ancient art. At age 14, Master Watson competed in the US Black Belt Festival (national) and the US Junior Olympics (national). She ranked #2 in the country for her age/weight division at black belt. At age 15, Master Watson shifted her entire focus from competing to teaching. She traveled to various seminars around the country that helped her learn more about human behavior, child psychology and how to run an empowering martial arts program. By age 18 she went to get her first business license and began teaching preschool satellite programs around the Charlotte area. She spent the next 10 years teaching over 1,000 students at Charlotte martial schools, preschools, and CMS schools. She has also had the privilege to teach at Camp Horizon (a camp for children with Down Syndrome), Camp Shalom (a camp for children with autism), Camp Mindy and Camp Katan. 

 

Alyssa founded Strong Girls Club in 2010 after seeing a strong need in her classes for girls to become more empowered. Many of her students often wouldn't put in 100% because they felt uncomfortable sweating, or trying hard around boys, or even worrying about judgement by other girls. Strong Girls Club was created to "arm" a girl with confidence and personal power, which then leads to not being a victim of bullying, and lowers chances of random attacks. She also created the program with community service in mind, to teach the girls generosity and empathy (something that is lacking in society these days). She looks forward to Strong Girls Club at Metro51.

 

Master Watson earned her 4th degree black belt (master) in taekwondo in November 2006. She hopes to earn her 5th degree black belt in the next couple of years. 

 

Alyssa is the proud mom of two (5 year old daughter and 2 year old son) and wife of a local music teacher. Her passion is children, empowering young girls, and spreading positivity to everyone she meets.