Marine Parseghian –
I come from a very traditional culture and family where girls have their place in the home and are expected to act within typical societal expectations of the “female norm”. So you can imagine my family’s displeasure when at age 10 I expressed an obsessive interest in karate and begged my mother to join martial arts. My brother had begun training in October of 1998 in a small Armenian community center right here in Pasadena, where we lived and grew up.
Everyday, he’d come home from training, take off his karate uniform, and before it had the chance to hit the floor I’d grab it and put it on. I would start doing “karate moves” and act like I was fighting off imaginary bad guys… like my idol, Xena! Yes, the warrior princess! I was always a tomboy, no girlie anything about me, absolutely detested the color pink, girlie dresses, playing with girls or dolls, gossiping etc. a good time to me was running around barefoot outside, riding bikes, playing basketball or football with the guys, climbing trees and the roof of our house. I’d wrestle with my dad and brother and at times when things got too rough my dad would sit me out because I was “a girl”. I didn’t care for that! I wanted in. I wanted to fight. I wanted to roughhouse! I was always a very physically active child.
In December of 1998, my parents gave in and let me go to karate with my brother. It was the beginning of my journey in a life of martial arts. Since starting 26 years ago, my younger brother and I have been training together and tested for every belt together as training partners and currently being the two highest ranking black belts in the Pasadena studio under the direct training of Antranig Anto Parseghian
The cultural stereotype took a stronger hold when I turned 18 years old and was asked by my paternal grandmother if I would be stopping “this karate thing” now that I am a woman. After all, I need to focus on getting married and having children……because what else am I as a woman made for? My answer to her and to everyone who asked me such questions was “No, I won’t stop. I am not put on this earth to solely marry and have kids, I have a passion and a talent and I’m going to keep doing it until I can’t do it any longer”. It wasn’t the answer they’d hoped for, in fact to answer them back at all was in and of itself breaking the glass ceiling. But I had, without realizing, gain a confidence and sense of self through the martial arts that I never thought I would. To speak out against my cultural norms and go against the grain of what a woman can and should do, never in a million years did I think I’d be the one to set that precedent amongst the generation gap of my family.
After a few years into starting my training, I began helping run the Pasadena studio, teaching classes, and becoming the admin running the business side of the things. The journey has been nothing short of amazing, having traveled the world teaching and learning martial arts and getting to do what I love.
Meeting people from all types of cultures and backgrounds was incredible, and to be able to share the martial arts with all of them and get to see a world beyond my own little bubble here in Pasadena completely opened my eyes and I was hooked.
THIS is how I wanted to live my life! I am thankful for my parents who, begrudgingly at first, not only allowed me to step into this world but also supported my passion for it and advocate for me to continue this as a lifestyle far beyond the intended hobby of a little girl who loved to fight.
I would not be here today in this world of Kenpo 5.0 as a 6th Degree black belt in a worldwide organization under Senior Master Jeff Speakman, had it not been for my stubborn pursuit of becoming and doing more in my life than just what was expected of me as an Armenian woman.
I hope my story finds someone who is struggling with similar stereotypes and expectations, so they know they can break the glass ceiling too! I was just a 10-year-old little kid who loved to play with the boys, who didn’t want to take piano lessons or do traditional dance. I am forever grateful I found this origination and this art, or rather that it found me! My life has forever changed because of it and I’m eternally grateful that I get to live out the rest of it doing what I love “Marine See less