This is the story of a martial artist who broke through cultural stereotypes and personal challenges to achieve her dreams. From humble beginnings in Pasadena, California, she has risen to become a 6th Degree black belt in Kenpo 5.0, inspiring others along the way.
The Early Years: A Tomboy in Pasadena
Growing up in a traditional Armenian family in Pasadena, the path wasn't always clear. The cultural stereotype took a stronger hold when she turned 18 years old and was asked by her paternal grandmother if she would be stopping “this karate thing” now that she is a woman. After all, she needed to focus on getting married and having children……because what else was she as a woman made for?
Her brother had begun training in October of 1998 in a small Armenian community center right here in Pasadena, where they lived and grew up. Everyday, he’d come home from training, take off his karate uniform, and before it had the chance to hit the floor she’d grab it and put it on. She would start doing “karate moves” and act like she was fighting off imaginary bad guys… like her idol, Xena! Yes, the warrior princess!
She was always a tomboy, no girlie anything about her, absolutely detested the color pink, girlie dresses, playing with girls or dolls, etc. A good time to her was running around barefoot outside, riding bikes, playing basketball or football with the guys, climbing trees and the roof of their house. She’d wrestle with her dad and brother and at times, when things got too rough, her dad would sit her out because she was “a girl”. She didn’t care for that! She wanted in. She wanted to fight. She wanted to roughhouse! She was always a very physically active child.
In December of 1998, her parents gave in and let her go to karate with her brother. It was the beginning of her journey in a life of martial arts.
Stive MOGEOT WORLD CHAMPION KENPO 5.0 "ReturningWing" self defense
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Her answer to her grandmother and to everyone who asked her such questions was “No, I won’t stop. I am not put on this earth to solely marry and have kids, I have a passion and a talent and I’m going to keep doing it until I can’t do it any longer”. It wasn’t the answer they’d hoped for, in fact to answer them back at all was in and of itself breaking the glass ceiling. But she had, without realizing, gained a confidence and a sense of strong self through the martial arts that she never thought she would. To speak out against her cultural norms and go against the grain of what a woman can and should do, never in a million years did she think she’d be the one to set that precedent amongst the generation gap of her family.
A World of Opportunities
After a few years into starting her training, she began helping run the Pasadena studio, teaching classes and learning the administrative side. The journey has been nothing short of amazing, having traveled the world teaching and learning martial arts and getting to do what she loves. Meeting people from all types of cultures and backgrounds is incredible, and to be able to share the martial arts with all of them, and get to see a world beyond her own little bubble here in Pasadena completely opened her eyes and she was hooked. THIS is how she wanted to live her life!
She is thankful for her parents who, begrudgingly at first, not only allowed her to step into this world but also support her passion for it and advocate for her to continue this as a lifestyle far beyond the intended hobby of a little girl who loved to fight. She would not be here today in this world of Kenpo 5.0 as a 6th Degree black belt in a worldwide organization under Senior Master Jeff Speakman, had it not been for her stubborn pursuit of becoming and doing more in her life than just what was expected of her as an Armenian woman. She hopes her story finds someone who is struggling with similar stereotypes and expectations, so they know they can break the glass ceiling too! She was just a 10-year-old little kid who loved to play with the boys, who didn’t want to take piano lessons or do traditional dance. She is forever grateful she found this organization and this art, or rather that it found her!
Challenges and Lessons Learned
It has not been a very smooth road at times. She found herself struggling to balance the duties of motherhood and a martial artist later in her career. Wanting to be perfect at both, she had to at times, give way to one or the other realizing she is not superwoman. Her children came first for her always, so being a good mom was at the forefront of her responsibilities. But she never let go of the desire to be great at martial arts, so when her kids grew up and she had more time to focus on her passion again, that’s when she really found her stride. She’s thankful they are also training now and understand the commitment it takes to do what we do. They forgive her shortcomings as a mother and hopefully look up to her as a martial artist.
Jeff Speakman's Kenpo 5.0 Pasadena
She is so incredibly proud to be one of the owners of the JSK 5.0 Pasadena studio, with her husband Anto Parseghian. They have built an amazing community of members who represent the Jeff Speakman organization with pride. They teach martial arts to ages 4+ and have been a staple in the Pasadena community since 1997! They are part of a franchise organization, with Master Jeff Speakman at the helm, where there are over 50 schools worldwide in 15 countries. The amount of people our martial arts family gets to meet, influence, and help is outstanding. She’s never seen an organization that cares more about its school owners and practitioners. The common goal is to inspire and better the lives of everyone we meet through the martial arts. With Master Speakman’s endless wisdom and kind spirit to lead us, we know we are set on a path of making the world a little better than we found it.
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| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 1614 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104 |
| Programs | Youth martial arts, self-defense, fitness classes |
| Styles | Kenpo Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA fighting |
| Benefits | Stress reduction, improved fitness, discipline, confidence |
Kenpo 5.0: A Modern Martial Art
Jeff Speakman’s Kenpo 5.0 is a second-generation evolution of Ed Parker’s American Kenpo - a modern martial arts system built to adapt with the times and evolve alongside the real-world threats we face today. It was created to honor Parker’s vision that martial arts should never become “traditionalized,” and continues to grow through the contributions of Jeff Speakman and a global network of black belts and school owners.
Kenpo 5.0 combines explosive striking, situational self-defense, and 5.0 Ground - a unique grappling and ground-fighting element that bridges the gap between stand-up conflict and ground engagement. This makes it one of the most well-rounded, practical systems available for real-life encounters.
What truly sets Kenpo 5.0 apart is its unity and consistency. Instructors across more than 18 countries teach a cohesive, age-appropriate curriculum, ensuring students receive the same high-level training no matter where they are. As a student of our online martial arts school, you can access this global program from home - without sacrificing quality, connection, or advancement.
But beyond technique, Kenpo 5.0 is a path of personal growth. It fosters qualities like confidence, respect, compassion, awareness, and critical thinking - life skills that ripple into families, communities, and beyond. Our business is family owned and operated. She has taken 20 years of Boy Scouts and Martial arts and fused them together into a amazing program. We are not just another martial arts studio, but a close knit community who cares about every single student.
"Mr. Parseghian has created a school of great challenge and skill, while offering welcome to all students and visitors. He embodies the spirit of a true martial artist.
The services they provide at Jeff Speakmans kenpo karate and also ilovekickboxing Pasadena help reduce stress levels. Time to clear your mind and put your body to work! We offer martial arts or fitness classes! Free online classes available at both locations.