member spotlight
think I’d be who I am today without it, and I
don’t think I’d be alive, either.”
SAVED HER LIFE
Four years ago, Ashley was hit by a drunk
driver. The impact knocked her out of her
sneakers and ripped her body from her
car. She suffered a severe concussion, tore
every ligament in her back, and tore her
rotator cuff. Her doctors told her that based
on the severity of the impact she sustained,
they couldn’t believe she didn’t break a
bone. Witnesses to the accident said they’d
never seen someone move as Ashley did.
“It’s because of my training in martial
arts, “she says. “It saved me.” When you’re a
student of Kenpo, you’re taught how to fall
and how to anticipate. A normal reaction to
an oncoming car is to tense up, but Ashley’s
training kicked in on instinct. “It was going
to hit me one way or another, so I just went
into it and took it.” Though her reaction
saved her from further injury, those she
suffered still bore a toll.
Ashley was in physical therapy for ten
months. It was devastating going from
one extreme to another. Everyday things
like standing and walking took time to
accomplish. The concussion impacted her
memory of new material, making college
harder. But the worst news was the lasting
limitations. “I was told never to do
martial arts again,” she recalls.
The words sat heavy in
Ashley’s stomach. “After
20 years, that’s a part of
your life. It killed me not
doing it. It was horrible.”
Kenpo had brought
passion into her life,
and the thought of
quitting felt foreign. She
decided not to accept
that answer. “I didn’t
listen, I found a new doctor,”
Ashley smiles.
When she was feeling better
and ready to start again, Ashley
came to HAC with her doctor’s blessing.
She followed long-time friend, Anthony
Parkinson, who had begun teaching at
HAC as a Martial Arts Instructor. Anthony
introduced Ashley to Martial Arts Director,
Lidia DelSignore. “Lidia was really awesome,”
Ashley remembers. “She encouraged me to
try and see what I liked. She listened to me
when I said I couldn’t do something.” It was
a tough process, but Ashley appreciated the
patience she received from Anthony and
Lidia. They made the process as adaptable
as possible and helped her get back to
where she needed to be. Within a year,
Ashley began teaching martial arts at HAC.
I was told
never to do
martial arts
again. . . .
I didn’t listen.
BECAME
HER LIFE
It was teaching martial
arts, which she started at
age 16, that made her fall
in love with kids and become
a preschool teacher. She’s
taught at Tutor Time on Harmony Road
for 10 years now. Tutor
Time funded Ashley’s
higher education, and she
received her Bachelor’s
in January 2017. We are
so thankful she still makes
time to teach our kids
karate classes here, as is
the Martial Arts Mom who
suggested we feature her.
Christina Waddel said it
best – “Ashley is a great
role model, instructor, and truly cares about
her students.”
Ashley’s classes provide an all-
encompassing experience for “her kids,” as
she calls them. She provides the rigidity of
the techniques but inclusiveness with things
like birthday songs. She’s one to give 10
push-ups to those who forget their mouth
guard but also a high-five to those who do a
great job. She encourages the Kenpo-legal
kicking and punching
of sparring in her Elite
Dragons class, but she
requires a hug between
opponents at the end.
“The best part of our
specialty programs is ‘the
hug,’” she smiles. After my
kids spar, I always have
them hug afterwards. This
is an unusual concept to
most, but when they hug
afterwards, they feel silly and it makes the
situation less competitive. I love that they
use the time to tell their partner a little piece
Ashley is a great
role model,
instructor, and
truly cares about
her students.