Heather Botsford –
I began studying Kenpo at Covington Karate Studio with Danny Sullivan nine years ago when my son Ian was nine. I started because Ian loved karate and wanted to be the best. I began classes so I could learn the material to help him practice at home. Practicing and going to classes with my son has been fun and gives us something to share. We attend classes together, practice at home, and travel to karate camps together, and help each other where we struggle (me with sparring and he with forms).
It took me seven happy years to earn my black belt. I love training with my son, but Kenpo has benefited me in so many other ways: I have more confidence, less fear, and a better relationship with my aging body. I am still training, slowly learning Form 5 and even more techniques and teaching my own women’s self-defense classes.
My goal is to write a book about the women who practice Kenpo to show who we are and to encourage other women to come onto the mat. I teach English at Southeastern Louisiana University and worked with Lee Wedlake on his last Kenpo book The Kenpo Companion. This Kenpo women book project combines my two passions in life: Kenpo and writing