NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
What’s going on dream chasers fans?! The holidays are over and we are already halfway through a new year with most of us working on those Q1 goals and starting 2022 off right. If you are new to the series we highlight people who have taken aim at a goal and are well on the way to making it happen and, they are also sometimes bringing light to an industry not talked about a lot. There are tons of different genres of movies out there but it’s safe to say one of the most popular is action movies. Who doesn’t love a great fight scene or timely explosion all key elements to making an awesome movie. A big part of that is martial arts and the amazing athletes who have trained for years and now are some of the most sought after in Hollywood. I had the pleasure of getting to know a young lady who is bursting onto the scene and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Her accomplishments are off the charts being a 13x World Champion in Tae Kwon Do and, a 4th-degree black belt to go along with a growing number of movie appearances and brand partnerships. Coming to us from California I have a quick chat with Rayna Vallandingham!
Joe Cardoso: You started martial arts at a SUPER young age. What was it about it that made you fall in love with it?
Rayna Vallandingham: I fell in love with martial arts at a young age even though I had no perception of the world. I knew it would be my purpose and lifelong passion. Nothing ever compared to the feeling martial arts gave me.
JC: Take us back to those early years. Did learning the different techniques and moves come easy to you?
RV: I always seemed to understand martial arts, and learning different techniques through hard work and training was so exhilarating for me. Of course, it was difficult at times, but I’ve always felt as though my comprehension of it flowed.
JC: Once you moved into competition what is THAT atmosphere like?
RV: The competition atmosphere is what transformed martial arts from a fun after-school hobby into a full-fledged burning passion. It added pressure, which is what influenced me to train relentlessly and develop into the martial artist I am today.
JC: You’ve been bit by the acting bug. What about it do you love?
RV: I love acting because it gives me the same feeling martial arts does. It’s the creation of art that sets my heart on fire; I love seeing ideas and concepts come to life through action and creativity.
JC: How do you hope to inspire other women and also introduce martial arts to new people?
RV: Through my content endeavors, I always make sure to include a sense of community through women’s empowerment. It’s one of the main goals I’ve set my sights on since I began martial arts; to redefine the meaning of “Kick like a girl.” From what was once a belittling insult into an empowering battle cry. I want women to know that our passion and creativity knows no bounds and that we can break the confines that society has placed on us. I also love spreading my passion to new people through my content and introducing them to the realm of martial arts. When people tell me that they started martial arts because of me and that it changed their lives, it re-establishes my purpose and touches me in a way that is indescribable.
Is she not a real-life badass? Such a great outlook on life and what it is she wants to do with it, can’t thank Rayna enough for making the time for me as she is super busy. I have no doubt you want to follow her along this journey and also her latest projects. Her social networks:
–instagram.com/
-Tiktok.com/raynavallandingham
