Welcome.

If you have ever wondered how a childhood moment can grow into a lifelong mission, or how saying yes to something unexpected can lead to decades of meaningful work, I would love to share my story with you. This is a look into how I found my calling in Taekwondo, how I learned to teach in a way that truly connects with each person, and how that journey became what is now Mary’s Mission.

A Spark That Started It All

Many years ago, when I was a Girl Scout, our troop visited a local Judo school. I remember being completely captivated by the experience, but what really stood out to me was the instructor. She was a woman, and that left a lasting impression. I had never seen a woman in that role before, and seeing her up there planted a seed of possibility in my heart.

That moment stayed with me, and years later, when I was in junior college, I finally had the chance to take my first martial arts class. From the very first time I stepped onto the mat and threw a punch, I felt something shift. It was more than just excitement, it was purpose. I knew I had found something that truly spoke to me. That was when I started dreaming about having my own school, a place where I could teach others and share what martial arts had given me.

Today, in 2025, I am celebrating my 47th year as a Taekwondo instructor. It still amazes me to look back and see how that little spark eventually became a full-blown reality. I worked hard, I stayed the course, and over time, I built the program I had imagined all those years ago. Now I can proudly say that I am a Grandmaster Instructor in Taekwondo.

Where My True Path Began

About nineteen years ago, my then husband and I were asked if we would consider teaching Taekwondo to a group of children with autism. He declined and suggested that I take it on instead. It would be my first time ever leading a class by myself.

I was definitely nervous and uncertain, but more than anything, I felt a sense of freedom. This was my chance to create something meaningful, to teach in a way that felt honest and personal.

That first class opened the door to something much bigger than I could have predicted. I made plenty of mistakes in those early days, and to be honest, I still make them. But every misstep has helped shape me into the instructor I am today. One of the most important lessons I have learned is that I need to teach like myself. Not like my mentors or anyone else. My students do not need perfection, they need someone who truly sees them and understands their needs.

Every time I walk into a class, I remind myself that it is not about me. It is about them. What do they need right now? What are they struggling with? How can I show up for them in the best way possible?

A Glimpse Into My School

If you were to walk into my school today, you would see something really special. You would see young children and older adults, brand new beginners and black belts with years of experience. You would see students with disabilities and students without. Maybe a child in a wheelchair working on the bag.  Maybe a teenager on the autism spectrum breaking boards. Maybe a grandmother and her adult daughter learning self defense together.

You would see a community made up of people from all kinds of backgrounds, each bringing their own strengths and stories. And more than anything, you would feel the heart of it all.

That is what I pay attention to the most, the heart. I am always asking myself how I can support the people who walk through my doors. How I can encourage them, help them grow, and be a steady presence in their lives.

Why This Work Matters

It saddens me to see how often people are judged or dismissed because of their skin color, abilities, gender, age, or anything else that makes them the unique person God created them to be. I know in my heart that this is not what I was meant to do with the time I have.

Jesus didn’t come to judge, so who am I to judge others?

He taught me to love people exactly as they are. Even when it is extremely difficult. Even when I do not see things the same way. I truly believe that the world would be a much better place if more of us tried to love like Jesus did.

This is just the beginning of what I hope to share. In future posts, I will tell more stories about my journey, the lessons I have learned and am still learning, the students I work with, and the heart behind Mary’s Mission.

Thank you for being here and taking the time to read. I am truly glad you are part of this journey.

Mary

January

When I was in high school, my honorary grandparents offered to pay my way through college. They didn’t have any children of their own, and we were very close with them.

The kids I went to school with either knew what they wanted to do with their future, or they were going to school to party. I had no idea what I wanted to study and wasn’t a big partier. Because I felt I was wasting their money, I turned down the offer.

After graduation, I got a job working for the local police department. There weren’t any women officers then, so I went along with the men to arrest women, did the parking control, help with traffic control at different events, got to work basketball games etc. It was great fun for an eighteen year old kid. All the men at the precinct treated me like their baby sister and were always looking out for me. But, something was missing. A friend had recommended a counselor she was seeing, so I started going to him (more on that story later). I ended up starting classes at the junior college in town and that’s where I started taking martial art classes.

As I stated before, when I first stepped and punched, it all just clicked. I absolutely fell in love with Taekwondo. After the semester was over, I transferred to the Taekwondo School whose instructors taught at the college. My love for the sport just continued to grow. Any chance I got, I was training. I was in every available class, and working on my own all the time. Finally, I found that missing piece in my life.

At that time, I was working at a local financial institution but quit when the owner and head instructor of the Taekwondo school offered me a job working in the office and teaching. My goal was to have my own school, so this was a perfect fit for me. I was very excited to begin.

It didn’t take long to realize that martial arts was totally male dominated. In our association, I could count the female school owners on one hand. Having worked at the male dominated police department, I believed having my own school one day was still in sight.

The men I worked with before were truly good guys. The male instructors in the martial art world were totally different. These men acted like mini gods and ran the schools like the military. When an order was given, you complied. Don’t ever question what they said or did, just do it. The association was all about money and power.

Many were having affairs with their students. Women groupies were everywhere. There was always partying and drinking going on at tournaments.

I will never forget one of our out of town trips. A large group of us were at a McDonalds when some of the head leaders of the association came in. We were all ordered to the attention position to bow and show respect to these men. These instructors who were adulterers, alcoholics and some abusers, made us spout out the tenets of Taekwondo and worship them and we did because our futures could be cut in half by one of them with a snap of a finger.

Some of these men that are still living, to this day still believe they are mini gods. A few years back, I went to a martial art convention in Las Vegas. In the lobby as I was signing in for the next days activities, one of these (old now) men came up to me and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to him and he put his finger up to his cheek. He wanted me to give him a kiss. Oh, I knew exactly who he was and I looked him directly in the eyes and said “Yeah, that’s not happening” and turned back to the girl who was checking me in. Her eyes were huge. The guy and his entourage were stunned I guess, because it took him a minute to turn and go the other way.

I have so many stories I could tell about the culture of the martial arts during those years. They have helped shape me into the instructor I am today. When I teach, I try to build students up and not tear them down. I have a skill that I like to share, but that skill doesn’t make me anything but what I am, a human like everyone else.

Mary