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. Sadly, oftentimes the remainder of the world has but to evolve as shortly. “[Growing up,] you at all times had these ‘courageous’ boys who would tease and say you kick like a woman,” she says. “And now that I’m 20, nothing’s actually modified. As a black belt, you’re at all times taught that you just’re solely supposed to make use of your martial arts and self-defense. So I might simply stand there. But it surely’s unhappy that individuals really feel the necessity to try this.”
Vallandingham spends about two hours per day working towards martial arts; as well as, she logs a number of power 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 TikTok. (For those who 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, significantly 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 Lengthy.
“I’m doing one thing that’s not likely been completed earlier than, within the sense of taking martial arts and adapting into content material creation,” Vallandingham says. “That’s the place some the hate comes from. And I’ve simply determined to decide to that and feed into it and be true to myself and who I need to be. Hopefully that may encourage lots of people to be genuine to themselves as nicely and never care about what different individuals say.”
Nevertheless, 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 bought the chance to work with the household representing the worldwide icon after they bought 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 an enormous blessing, and only a cultivation of every part I’ve dreamt of, as a result of I at all times noticed that for myself— to make an analogous impression that he’s had on the world ever since his profession flourished, even it was for a brief period of time,” she says. “His impression goes to encourage generations and generations to return and, and he impressed me and so I might love to try this for all these little ladies on the market who’re instructed that they’re not sturdy sufficient to dominate a sport like martial arts.”
Her mission assertion, she says, is to be the feminine Bruce Lee. Her Profitable Technique 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 “newbie.”
1. FIND YOUR PURPOSE, THEN STAY TRUE TO IT
My recommendation to somebody who’s introduced with a chance that they don’t actually know learn how to navigate is to take a seat 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 can it get me to the place I’m going?” If it doesn’t , then I’m an enormous believer that every part is supposed for you and can by no means move you by. That may at all times resonate with you.
So if you happen to’re introduced a chance, and you’ve got a foul feeling in your intestine otherwise you really feel one thing adverse brewing inside you, I’d attempt to keep away from that, even when it guarantees you fame, cash, something like that. In the long run, it’s simply not price it—imagine me, every part will work out for the higher. And shortly, you’ll see that you just’ll begin attracting issues that actually align with who you might be and what you want.
As soon as I used to be as soon as provided 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 could possibly be into rewriting the story of what it takes to be a feminine martial artist, however the unique is just not aligned with who I’m and who I need to signify. So despite the fact that it had the potential to be big, I needed to flip it down.
I additionally bought provided a contract to be with WWE, and though it’s to not say that I might 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 need 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 essential to me and what I need to signify on this trade earlier than transferring 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 extremely very long time, as a result of as a 7-year-old black belt, no person was actually on my degree. However as I grew up, and I took a while from martial arts to give attention to faculty and determine what I wished.
Once I went again [to taekwondo], I wasn’t on the high anymore. It was actually tough being in that atmosphere as a result of it was new to me and one thing I had by no means skilled. You don’t keep in mind having to work up from the underside. In order that was probably the most defining moments in my life, as a result of I may’ve mentioned, You realize what, time handed, it’s simply not for me anymore and left it there.
But it surely turned motivation for me to work even more durable to get again to the place the place I used to be profitable once more. However 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 prepare exhausting sufficient.
And I went to World Championships. And the shape was nice. I used to be nailing every part.
After which I went to do the final flip, I slipped and fell. Issues like that occur. I bought up. I used to be at all times instructed, 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. Simply motivation to work more durable. However I bought up, you understand, I used to be like, okay, that occurred. Let’s simply guarantee 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 saved profitable, it will have been too simple for me. By now I might have slacked off and develop into 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 exhausting. 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 develop themselves outdoors of martial arts. I’ve at all times been blessed with unimaginable mentors who’ve instructed me that I must be good in entrance of and behind the cameras.
It’s essential to 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, instructing, appearing, doing stunts, and each single a type of falls underneath 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 develop your arsenal, particularly in such aggressive industries. And on the identical time, simply to really feel fulfilled for your self.
Earlier than I may simply stroll right into a conference middle the place a event is going on 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.
Assembly those who I’ve regarded as much as my whole life working with individuals I’ve regarded as much as my whole life doing issues which can be fulfilling for me with the ability to make my very own schedule, calling individuals having individuals come to me and little ladies 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 learn 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 transferring. And I’m persevering with to have these little glimpses every day.
4. …BUT STILL HAS FUN BEING A ‘BEGINNER’
I thrive off of the adrenaline of making an attempt one thing new and turning into nice at it. But it surely’s additionally the belief of you don’t must be nice at every part. You possibly can have one factor that’s your function and fervour and purpose for all times. However you may produce other issues which can be simply your hobbies that you’ve got enjoyable with. You should be in contact along with your inside baby 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 truly a terrific talent to have to simply be a newbie at one thing and study from there. Whether or not you’re 30, 40 , 50, it doesn’t matter.
Take pleasure in not having the strain of getting to be excellent. I believe that if you happen to’re an athlete, or no matter you could do if you happen to’re nice at one thing, you understand what that looks like of getting to be excellent on a regular basis. So I might say that it’s extra essential 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 would find yourself turning into one thing you’re nice at, or it’d simply find yourself being one thing such as you falling off a skateboard each 10 minutes. But it surely’s so enjoyable—it’s actually essential in life to to have the ability to snicker 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 every part {that a} girl is.
However I utterly perceive that it could possibly be tough to really feel whether or not health is for you in what actually nonetheless is a male dominated trade. It’s not at all times simple to go to a fitness center for the primary time and have all these guys lifting heavy weights and going by their bro speak. Generally everybody trying and watching you, particularly if you happen to’re the one girl there. It may be actually exhausting.
For those who want a spot to start out, I might 100% suggest simply beginning out in your individual residence.
Placed on some music and dance, attempt a Zumba class. Something that you just like and genuinely take pleasure in, give it a attempt.
It doesn’t must be weightlifting. There’s so many various avenues on the market. You possibly 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. Something you actually take pleasure in, it’s essential to capitalize on on your health. And be inventive too.
You possibly can even purchase some nunchucks and swing them round. I used to be working with an MMA athlete, and he began enjoying with nunchucks, and was like, Oh, my God, that is gonna be my new exercise. Simply getting within the fitness center and preventing can develop into so monotonous at instances. There are such a lot of totally different alternatives so that you can develop your self. You’re worthy of investing in your self and actually discovering that as a result of it’s price it.
