Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Paige.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I moved from California, where I was born and raised, to Colorado in 1995. I was 34 and wanted to change career paths. I had been a hairstylist since I was 19 and wanted to do something with a bit more depth and feeling. I wanted to have a different effect on people. So I studied and became certified in therapeutic massage at the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado in Denver. Once I graduated, I set out to build my clientele in Broomfield. At the same time that I was starting my massage business, I also enrolled in a martial arts school offered through the local recreation center. I had always been athletic and a dancer and I knew that this massage career path was going to require strength. I also remember thinking, “a person can only take so much peace and calm!” I wanted to balance out the healing practice I was building with some physical training that would challenge me. I took to the physical forms and kicks in martial arts easily due to my dance training.
Where I was challenged most was with the mental aspects of intense focus, facing fears, not giving up, etc., and much of that came through the practice of sparring, which is essentially ‘fake fighting’ and used for training your reflexes and your understanding of how to think on your feet while attacking and defending. I continued on my career path as a massage therapist for nearly 18 years and I continued to train in the martial arts. My former husband and I married in 1999 and we both loved the martial arts and took classes together. I was also about to have my own child just before turning age 40. My two stepsons were 12 and 14 at the time. My spouse and I trained up through our 2nd degree Black Belt levels and started our own school. My spouse and I divorced in 2016 and I was given the martial arts business as my own. By that time, we were both 5th degree Black Belts.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Developing a business takes time and a martial arts business has some special needs. It can be easy to take on more financial responsibilities and not have the clientele to support business expenses and income needs. Martial Arts became the sole business focus but within that focus, I knew I had to be even more specific. Would I focus on adults? Kids? Families? What was it that I specifically brought to the table as an instructor? I was also recovering from the loss of my marriage and life as I had previously known it. There was a lot of self-growth going on. I never relished the fact that the martial arts industry has always been male-dominated. I contended with that while training and now though….it was about to help me find my superpower!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Full Circle Martial Arts – Colorado’s Premier Kids School – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I started to take inventory of a personal nature. I had had a child later in life. I loved every moment with her and relished each new phase, studied how she learned and what she loved. I had made the decision to homeschool her after kindergarten. I chose a very creative and open ‘Waldorf’ curriculum. I learned right along with her. I wanted her to emulate my love and positivity for learning and creating. I needed to be brave and courageous and show her the confidence I had in living a ‘big life’ and feeling I had every right and reason to be whoever or whatever I wanted. I wanted her to see that I valued myself as I valued others. I wanted her to know that life is fluid and when faced with challenges, we have such resilience that we can take those difficulties and turn them into gifts for ourselves as we manifest our lives.
I began to realize that my ‘specialty’ was with young people; kids and teens. As soon as that became clear to me and I realized my ‘super power’ was empowering kids to embrace their creative nature, love of learning, love of life, respect and love for self and others, and confidence to be uniquely them, my business started to grow almost effortlessly! I was drawing those parents and kids who resonated with my style. I’m using martial arts to teach these important life skills. Often I’m raising my voice as a drill sergeant, the next moment making them laugh, but ALWAYS making sure they know they can reach for their own personal excellence, work harder than they thought, realize their own as well as their fellow classmates potential and live a positive and compassionate life.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, they are learning martial arts too! The level of excellence has actually increased during this pandemic. It seems that my students have utilized their own engagement with our martial arts zoom classes, have helped to create a video library to use aside from our weekly zoom classes, and just truly hunger and enjoy working with each other in ‘break out rooms’ on Zoom. We talk openly about the times we are living in, how to make the best of it, how to cope during the pandemic mental and emotional fatigue and being patient for the right time when we can be together in person, in a studio space.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Having learned so much about reaching and teaching students through Zoom, I am now motivated to reach out further in Colorado areas and even into other states. Along with martial arts instruction, I am working on offering motivational talks to meet specific needs of young people. I love working with girls and young women, helping them feel empowered and addressing life situations that are specific and unique to them. I also love working with adults as they approach me for the same style of teaching and life motivation that they see me use with their children.
The future plan also includes having my amazing team of teenage black belt students teach more classes so that we can reach more young people. Each one of them has had a unique upbringing and has learned so much about teaching and connecting with students as an assistant instructor. My highest teen black belt is about to test for his 2nd degree. He is a cancer survivor and continues to rally for other cancer kids and families, and is often asked to speak at hospitals to doctors and nurses specializing in childhood cancer.
On a personal level, I continue to love the learning process and I challenge myself with studying the guitar and writing songs. I take lessons from one of Colorado’s top musicians of all time, Wendy Woo, who is another strong and creative woman. I take a weekly dance class at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities that feeds my soul and helps me stay in shape for all the martial arts classes I teach each week. Once we can all travel easily again, I plan to revisit Ireland and forge a ‘sister school’ relationship with a martial arts school there.
Pricing:
- White belt – High Gold belt levels; monthly tuition for 2020 is $85.00
- Green belt – Red belt levels; monthly tuition for 2020 is $95.00
- High Red – Black Belts; monthly tuition for 2020 is $110
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fullcirclemartialarts-colorado.com
- Phone: 303-877-9271
- Email: fcmacolorado@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Dana Paige, photographer
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