Connie is a highly skilled martial artist with extensive training under 10th Dan and style head Hanshi Herb Johnson, mastering self-defense techniques including common escapes, throws, immobilization, and defense against knife and club attacks. She has trained in a variety of traditional karate weapons, holds certification with the tonfa, and has expanded her expertise through seminars on pressure points and advanced techniques. A former PKC International Champion in Women’s Sparring, Connie’s competition career began as an orange belt and was shaped through dedicated coaching from Hanshi Johnson, earning her numerous awards in forms, weapons, and sparring, as well as experience judging matches. As a black belt in Shorei Goju Ryu Karate, Connie has demonstrated strong leadership by assisting in classes, refereeing sparring matches, and serving as a back-up instructor for intermediate classes at a nearby karate school. More recently, she has taught and coached in beginner sparring classes.

With a strong foundation in martial arts, Ellie began training at Lee’s Taekwondo for three years before transferring as a brown belt to Victory Martial Arts under Master Hye Haramillo. Through the ATA organization, she tested for and earned her 1st Degree Black Belt. Her training includes weapons experience, specializing in bo staff, nunchaku, and katana. In addition to her own training, she has taught an adult Taekwondo sparring class, coached young students, and led kickboxing classes for a year at Titanium Fitness. As a competitor, she specialized in poomsae (forms) and competed in sparring for Victory Martial Arts, later serving as a sparring coach and acting as a corner judge within her own sparring class. With over two years of teaching experience, she has led beginner to intermediate Taekwondo classes, bringing technical expertise, competition experience, and a passion for helping students grow in skill and confidence.