Rayna Vallandingham started her journey in martial arts on the age of two. At 6, she earned her first black belt. And two years later, she received her first world championship — her first of 13 world taekwondo titles.
Now 20, the Indian American taekwondo grasp has continued to mature each out and in of the dojo. Unfortunately, oftentimes the remainder of the world has but to evolve as rapidly. “[Growing up,] you always had those ‘brave’ boys who would tease and say you kick like a girl,” she says. “And now that I’m 20, nothing’s really changed. As a black belt, you’re always taught that you’re only supposed to use your martial arts and self-defense. So I would just stand there. But it’s sad that people feel the need to do that.”
Vallandingham spends about two hours per day training martial arts; as well as, she logs a number of energy coaching classes. She’s additionally parlayed her success into a number of jobs: a martial arts teacher, struggle choreographer, and content material creator with greater than a million followers on TikTookay. (If you haven’t seen her whip a pair of nunchucks or backflip in a swimsuit or night robe, you’re lacking out.)
Like anybody who ventures onto the web, with followers come trolls and anger, notably from old-school martial arts traditionalists who disapprove of her Gen. Z strategy.
Unsurprisingly, she’s unapologetic about the way in which she expresses her artwork and makes use of her podcast, The A THREAT League, to vent frustrations and speak store with co-host and choreographer Samantha Long.
“I’m doing something that’s not really been done before, in the sense of taking martial arts and adapting into content creation,” Vallandingham says. “That’s where some the hate comes from. And I’ve just decided to commit to that and feed into it and be true to myself and who I want to be. Hopefully that can inspire a lot of people to be authentic to themselves as well and not care about what other people say.”
However, there’s a tremendous line to Vallangham’s finesse with the spoken phrase, particularly as an envoy to the immortal icon of martial arts: Bruce Lee himself. She says she received the chance to work with the household representing the worldwide icon after they received a glimpse of a few of her viral martial arts social media exhibitions. Now representing her childhood idol, she is aware of the duty of being of the feminine artists to be honored with this partnership.
“It was such a huge blessing, and just a cultivation of everything I have dreamt of, because I always saw that for myself— to make a similar impact that he’s had on the world ever since his career flourished, even it was for a short amount of time,” she says. “His impact is going to inspire generations and generations to come and, and he inspired me and so I would love to do that for all those little girls out there who are told that they’re not strong enough to dominate a sport like martial arts.”
Her mission assertion, she says, is to be the feminine Bruce Lee. Her Winning Strategy to attain that features staying true to that mission—even when means saying no to alternative, whereas persevering with to unfold out her skillset, studying losses, and nonetheless having enjoyable as a “beginner.”
1. FIND YOUR PURPOSE, THEN STAY TRUE TO IT
My recommendation to somebody who’s offered with a possibility that they don’t actually know find out how to navigate is to sit down down and write precisely what you imagine your functions and objectives are. Take this chance that you just’ve been given and suppose, “Does this align with this and this and will it get me to where I’m going?” If it doesn’t , then I’m an enormous believer that all the pieces is supposed for you and can by no means go you by. That will at all times resonate with you.
So for those who’re offered a possibility, and you’ve got a nasty feeling in your intestine otherwise you really feel one thing adverse brewing within you, I’d attempt to keep away from that, even when it guarantees you fame, cash, something like that. In the tip, it’s simply not value it—imagine me, all the pieces will work out for the higher. And quickly, you’ll see that you just’ll begin attracting issues that actually align with who you’re and what you need.
Once I used to be as soon as supplied to do a voiceover for a personality on a present, that it didn’t align with my values. To me it appeared like form of a racist tackle a martial arts spin off. I used to be like, I may very well be into rewriting the story of what it takes to be a feminine martial artist, however the authentic just isn’t aligned with who I’m and who I wish to symbolize. So despite the fact that it had the potential to be enormous, I needed to flip it down.
I additionally received supplied a contract to be with WWE, and though it’s to not say that I’d by no means do it, it simply didn’t align with who I used to be on the time. I’m going to construct my profession.
First, I wish to be an motion movies. I’m going to proceed doing what I’m doing with content material creation and paving that path after which return and perhaps write my very own story there. So there’s been so many instances the place I’ve needed to reevaluate what’s necessary to me and what I wish to symbolize on this business earlier than shifting ahead with these alternatives that clearly would catapult me.
2. RAYNA VALLANDINGHAM KNOWS HOW TO FIND VICTORY IN DEFEAT
I used to be conditioned to profitable for a very very long time, as a result of as a 7-year-old black belt, no person was actually on my degree. But as I grew up, and I took a while from martial arts to give attention to college and determine what I wished.
When I went again [to taekwondo], I wasn’t on the prime anymore. It was actually troublesome being in that surroundings as a result of it was new to me and one thing I had by no means skilled. You don’t bear in mind having to work up from the underside. So that was some of the defining moments in my life, as a result of I might’ve mentioned, You know what, time handed, it’s simply not for me anymore and left it there.
But it grew to become motivation for me to work even more durable to get again to the place the place I used to be profitable once more. But even then, I imply, after a few years of tirelessly working and figuring out that I deserved that when politics nonetheless comes into play, errors do occur, I didn’t practice laborious sufficient.
And I went to World Championships. And the shape was nice. I used to be nailing all the pieces.
And then I went to do the final flip, I slipped and fell. Things like that occur. I received up. I used to be at all times advised, and I at all times did lose with grace. It was by no means like a query for me is like, you understand what, that’s, that’s completely tremendous. Just motivation to work more durable. But I received up, you understand, I used to be like, okay, that occurred. Let’s simply be sure that doesn’t occur once more. So simply getting again within the dojo working even more durable.
I wouldn’t be who I’m at the moment with out dropping as a result of by stored profitable, it will have been too straightforward for me. By now I’d have slacked off and turn out to be lazy. So I’m grateful for these moments, as a result of it’s provided that starvation and actually reignited that spark inside me to maintain working laborious. And it’s not as a result of I’m competing with anyone else. It’s as a result of I’m competing with myself. And I do know the usual I’ve for myself as nicely.
3. RAYNA VALLANDINGHAM DIVERSIFIES HER SKILLSET…
Some martial artists give attention to their craft a lot that they oftentimes overlook to broaden themselves exterior of martial arts. I’ve at all times been blessed with unimaginable mentors who’ve advised me that I should be good in entrance of and behind the cameras.
You should be a price in each single room you stroll in. Even ranging from a younger age, I used to be at all times investing in these totally different elements and proceed to take action. I really like choreographing, educating, performing, doing stunts, and each single a type of falls below the umbrella of my ardour—martial arts. It’s enjoyable to have the ability to have all these totally different shops to go to. It’s additionally important now to broaden your arsenal, particularly in such aggressive industries. And on the similar time, simply to really feel fulfilled for your self.
Before I might simply stroll right into a conference middle the place a event is occurring and really feel very assured. Now I really feel as if that I can stroll right into a room with producers and administrators and really feel simply as assured.
Meeting people who I’ve regarded as much as my complete life working with individuals I’ve regarded as much as my complete life doing issues which might be fulfilling for me having the ability to make my very own schedule, calling individuals having individuals come to me and little women come to me and ask me Rayna, how did you do that, or Reina you impressed me a lot, is it’s unimaginable, it’s, it’s, I don’t know find out how to clarify it, when you might have a ardour for one thing and different individuals will start to acknowledge that inside you. It’s actually particular and it’s actually shifting. And I’m persevering with to have these little glimpses each day.
4. …BUT STILL HAS FUN BEING A ‘BEGINNER’
I thrive off of the adrenaline of attempting one thing new and changing into nice at it. But it’s additionally the belief of you don’t should be nice at all the pieces. You can have one factor that’s your function and keenness and purpose for all times. But you possibly can produce other issues which might be simply your hobbies that you’ve enjoyable with. You should be in contact together with your interior youngster to have the ability to have enjoyable with various things.
And I’m actually studying that myself. I took dance up this 12 months to have that outlet of simply having enjoyable and to even be a newbie once more at one thing. To me it’s really a terrific ability to have to only be a newbie at one thing and study from there. Whether you’re 30, 40 , 50, it doesn’t matter.
Enjoy not having the strain of getting to be good. I feel that for those who’re an athlete, or no matter you might do for those who’re nice at one thing, you understand what that looks like of getting to be good on a regular basis. So I’d say that it’s extra necessary than you suppose simply to have the ability to get on the market and take a look at one thing new. And simply be OK with no matter occurs. It may find yourself changing into one thing you’re nice at, or it would simply find yourself being one thing such as you falling off a skateboard each 10 minutes. But it’s so enjoyable—it’s actually necessary in life to to have the ability to chortle at your self as nicely.
5. RAYNA VALLANDINGHAM WANTS TO BRING OUT THE BADASS IN EVERY GIRL
There’s nothing extra womanly than simply being badass—that encapsulates all the pieces {that a} girl is.
But I fully perceive that it may very well be troublesome to really feel whether or not health is for you in what actually nonetheless is a male dominated business. It’s not at all times straightforward to go to a gymnasium for the primary time and have all these guys lifting heavy weights and going by way of their bro speak. Sometimes everybody trying and gazing you, particularly for those who’re the one girl there. It may be actually laborious.
If you want a spot to start out, I’d 100% suggest simply beginning out in your individual residence.
Put on some music and dance, attempt a Zumba class. Anything that you just like and genuinely get pleasure from, give it a attempt.
It doesn’t should be weightlifting. There’s so many alternative avenues on the market. You can take self protection, jiujitsu, martial arts—I like to recommend these! Dance, run, stroll, even go to Disney and stroll to twenty totally different rides, that’s going to be a exercise. Anything you actually get pleasure from, it’s necessary to capitalize on on your health. And be inventive too.
You may even purchase some nunchucks and swing them round. I used to be working with an MMA athlete, and he began taking part in with nunchucks, and was like, Oh, my God, that is gonna be my new exercise. Just getting within the gymnasium and combating can turn out to be so monotonous at instances. There are so many alternative alternatives so that you can broaden your self. You’re worthy of investing in your self and actually discovering that as a result of it’s value it.
