“What If They’re Taken?”
How Taekwondo Gives Kids the Tools to Protect Themselves—and Escape
“I don’t care about trophies.
I want my child to come home.”
“I don’t care about trophies.
I want my child to come home.”
The Parental Fear We Don’t Talk About
Most of us don’t say it out loud—but it’s there.
That sharp, cold thought in the back of your mind when your child walks home from school…
When they go to the bathroom alone at the park…
When they stay late at a friend's house…
What if something happens?
What if someone tries to take them?
What if they freeze?
It’s the fear of ICE vans in the neighborhood.
It’s the memory of Amber Alerts.
It’s the weight of being a parent in a world that doesn’t always play fair.
And it’s why more and more families—especially immigrant, low-income, and vulnerable families—are turning to Taekwondo.
Not for medals.
For survival.
Taekwondo Isn’t Just About Fighting—It’s About Getting Away
Martial arts trains kids in the most valuable skill no school teaches:
How to respond to danger.
How to break free from a grab
How to run with focus, not panic
How to yell, breathe, and move under pressure
How to trust their body to do what needs to be done
Even better? They don’t have to think.
Because Taekwondo builds muscle memory—the kind that activates even when your brain freezes.
Autonomy Starts Early
When a 7-year-old knows how to pivot out of a wrist grab, something clicks.
When a 10-year-old knows how to break their fall and land on their feet, something shifts.
They realize: I can do something. I’m not helpless.
That realization—that tiny flicker of agency—is what keeps fear from taking root.
Why I Photograph Little Warriors
Through my lens, I don’t just capture kicks and punches.
I capture ownership.
A child in their body. A child in their power. A child in motion—prepared.
That’s why I started the Fight Like a Girl™ photo series (and yes, boys are welcome too).
To visually honor the kids whose parents said: “Not mine. Not today.”
And to remind those kids: “You matter. You’re capable. You’re not alone.”
Why This Matters (Especially Now)
In a time when:
Immigration raids still terrify communities
Children walk to and from school alone
Abuse can happen inside families, not just out in the world
“Stranger danger” is now joined by “familiar threats” and “systems that fail us”
Teaching a child to defend themselves isn’t dramatic—it’s practical.
We teach swimming lessons in case they fall in the pool.
We teach fire drills in case there’s smoke.
Why wouldn’t we teach them how to get away from a person who means them harm?
Final Thought: Safety Isn’t a Guarantee—But It Can Be Taught
You can’t watch them every second.
You can’t always protect them.
But you can prepare them.
And sometimes, knowing how to move, breathe, and strike is the very thing that gets them home.
Let’s raise a generation of kids who walk like they know they’re worth protecting.
And let’s show them that the first protector—the first fighter—they can count on…
Is themselves.
Want to nominate your child for a free cinematic photo session as part of the Fight Like a Girl™ empowerment project?
Sign up at top, I'll send you email with all the information.
Let’s raise kids who are hard to harm—and impossible to ignore.
Most of us don’t say it out loud—but it’s there.
That sharp, cold thought in the back of your mind when your child walks home from school…
When they go to the bathroom alone at the park…
When they stay late at a friend's house…
What if something happens?
What if someone tries to take them?
What if they freeze?
It’s the fear of ICE vans in the neighborhood.
It’s the memory of Amber Alerts.
It’s the weight of being a parent in a world that doesn’t always play fair.
And it’s why more and more families—especially immigrant, low-income, and vulnerable families—are turning to Taekwondo.
Not for medals.
For survival.
Taekwondo Isn’t Just About Fighting—It’s About Getting Away
Martial arts trains kids in the most valuable skill no school teaches:
How to respond to danger.
How to break free from a grab
How to run with focus, not panic
How to yell, breathe, and move under pressure
How to trust their body to do what needs to be done
Even better? They don’t have to think.
Because Taekwondo builds muscle memory—the kind that activates even when your brain freezes.
Autonomy Starts Early
When a 7-year-old knows how to pivot out of a wrist grab, something clicks.
When a 10-year-old knows how to break their fall and land on their feet, something shifts.
They realize: I can do something. I’m not helpless.
That realization—that tiny flicker of agency—is what keeps fear from taking root.
Why I Photograph Little Warriors
Through my lens, I don’t just capture kicks and punches.
I capture ownership.
A child in their body. A child in their power. A child in motion—prepared.
That’s why I started the Fight Like a Girl™ photo series (and yes, boys are welcome too).
To visually honor the kids whose parents said: “Not mine. Not today.”
And to remind those kids: “You matter. You’re capable. You’re not alone.”
Why This Matters (Especially Now)
In a time when:
Immigration raids still terrify communities
Children walk to and from school alone
Abuse can happen inside families, not just out in the world
“Stranger danger” is now joined by “familiar threats” and “systems that fail us”
Teaching a child to defend themselves isn’t dramatic—it’s practical.
We teach swimming lessons in case they fall in the pool.
We teach fire drills in case there’s smoke.
Why wouldn’t we teach them how to get away from a person who means them harm?
Final Thought: Safety Isn’t a Guarantee—But It Can Be Taught
You can’t watch them every second.
You can’t always protect them.
But you can prepare them.
And sometimes, knowing how to move, breathe, and strike is the very thing that gets them home.
Let’s raise a generation of kids who walk like they know they’re worth protecting.
And let’s show them that the first protector—the first fighter—they can count on…
Is themselves.
Want to nominate your child for a free cinematic photo session as part of the Fight Like a Girl™ empowerment project?
Sign up at top, I'll send you email with all the information.
Let’s raise kids who are hard to harm—and impossible to ignore.