Alissa Avila
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Instructor Alissa Avila began training in the art of Kenpo Karate at age five. Under Master Jody Mulaney of Master’s Self-Defense Center she achieved the rank of purple belt and then discontinued her studies for a brief period of time. Instead, her training expanded to include the Chinese art of Kung Fu as she began to study under Master James Rath. When the Academy of Health and Martial Arts opened in 2001, she resumed her training in Kenpo under Instructor Tess Rath while maintaining her studies in Kung-Fu. She was awarded her first degree black belt in Kenpo Karate by Professor Robert Nohelty in the fall of 2003 when she was 13 years old. A year later, she proceeded to test for and achieve the rank of first degree black belt in Kung-Fu under Master Rath. Her latest belt ranking took place in 2006, when she achieved the rank of second degree black belt in Kenpo, again under Professor Nohelty.
Although she began assisting with class warm-ups at age 12, it was not until age 14 that she was given her own junior kenpo classes to run. Since then she has continued to evolve and develop her teaching methods, and is now in charge of adult, junior, and children classes at the Academy. Instructor Alissa strongly believes in the positive benefits that training in the martial arts provides for one who practices diligently. “If it were not for my martial arts training,” she comments, “I would not be recognizable, physically or mentally. The martial arts has made my body strong and fit, has introduced me to career opportunities and friendships that will last a lifetime, and has taught me to respect myself and everything around me. I honestly cannot picture the person I would be without their influence on my life.”