Interview with Kelli Little

By Lori Stinson

3/6/07 
 
 L: Tell me a little bit about yourself. 

K: I’m heavily music-oriented.  When I’m not listening to music, I’m writing, thinking or dreaming music.  I also love to read, mostly books on anthropology, history, archaeology, psychology, and science, although I also like the occasional novel or sci-fi book.  I like watching movies when time permits, comedies and such, although my favorite movies are “B” sci-fi horror films, especially zombie films.  My main focus in life is to cultivate the soul – to feed the positive and the truth in me so I can in turn share it with others. I firmly believe that every single action and emotion has an impact on the world around us, so it is doubly important to live healthy in attitude and spirit, as well as in body and mind. Currently I am working towards managing stress and having a work/life balance, which is a struggle I’ve been working through for a few years now. 
 

L: How did you become interested in studying martial arts? 

K: I became interested in martial arts for two reasons: first, the eastern arts and cultures have always fascinated me, and second because my experiences and the experiences of those around me showed me that it was extremely important to learn how to defend one’s self as well as others.  I first began learning Kenpo from my pastor, and when I attended college, studied Tai Chi Chuan and Aikido. To Shin Do, as it were, has proven the most effective, efficient school of training I have studied in, and I am grateful I found this school. I continue to train in martial arts not only for obvious reasons, but also because I feel there are huge benefits to enhancing physical and emotional abilities that come with the training.  It has also taught me a different sort of self-confidence that sometimes people never learn, which is this: I am my own person. It’s a simple thing to say, but the meaning is intense. I am my own person, and no one can take that away from me.  
 

L: You have been training at the Phoenix Quest Center for over two years.  You are a very committed student who often drives a long way to train.  What is it that you enjoy most about training here? 

K: This is a difficult question because my answer is rather broad: it’s the whole thing.  If training here was just physical, I’d work out at the gym.  If it was just the people, I’d hang out with friends.  If it was just the psychological/spiritual aspect, I could study those things on my own.  It’s the whole package: the community, our growing together, and the connections that we experience and create. And that’s the gist of it all… the art of To-Shin Do includes a broad array of what I want to know, to experience. It isn’t a box or a mathematical equation, where you learn x + y = 10. It’s what you make of it, and for me that means an ongoing development of the self as a whole. 
 

L: What is the most difficult aspect of training for you? 

K: Being light on my feet and subsequently angling from it.  I’m very good at centering my balance, but I’m like a giant, rooted tree sometimes, and that can definitely be a downfall in certain situations if I can’t remain light on my feet. I also find back rolls challenging. 
 

L: Give some examples of how your To-Shin Do training affects your life experiences outside of the dojo.  What skills do you find that you use on a regular basis? 

K: Everything that we talk about in the life skills helps me to focus on various aspects outside of the dojo.   

I also appreciate the discipline that I get from continuing to come to train.  For me, it’s tough when I don’t pick things up right away and have to work on things that are hard or take quite a bit of practice. It’s important to remember that life is not just about “easy.”  It’s about growing, learning and challenging yourself.   
 

L: What are your goals for the future in your training? 

K: My immediate goals are to become lighter on my feet while maintaining the integrity of balance, smoothing out my rolls, and punching effectively and correctly.  My long-term goal is to have the art be so natural that it IS me.  I not only want to effectively defend myself and others, but I also want to draw from my own experience and aid others through awareness, health and protection.  Right now this is a seed that needs to be watered in order to become a fully realized part of me. 
 

L: What advice do you have for someone who is just getting started in their training? 

K: To always remember that no one came out of their mother’s womb perfect (knowing how to do this).  Don’t get discouraged because you’re not ‘there’ or ‘perfect’ right now.  Life is a journey. Part of our existence is about the challenge and the learning. Also, never be afraid to come back, no matter how long you’ve been gone. You should never let anything hold you back from what you want to do.