Iron's Fitness

            My story starts as early as age 5. I am the daughter of two Martial arts instructors that inspired me to be the person I am today. I received my black belt in 2005 at age 12. In the years to follow I continued to come into my own not only as a martial artist but eventually as an instructor. I became the National Champion in Women’s fighting in 2007 for the first time. I won the National title a few more times in the years to follow. In 2012 I also won the title for the International Women’s Fighting as well. In the last 7 years I went to college to earn my degree in Kinesiology to better understand the functionalities of the body in relations to sports (more specifically martial arts). I also currently hold my certification as an ACE Personal Trainer and as a Group Fitness Instructor. If I can do martial arts then I could teach others and inspire the art in others. In my college years my focus took me in multiple different directions. I was spending less time in the dojo and more time starting a family while finishing school. My self-esteem plummeted as I kept putting on the weight. I knew all the right things to do to stay in shape and eat right but lost faith in myself that it was too late to get back into shape. I overheard some other adults talking about their weight loss programs and all the “hacks” they were trying to diet with. The hard truth that I can help these people get back into the desired health they wanted to have. 

              First, I needed to set the example so my family and I started a contest to see who could lose the most weight in 15 weeks. We set our S.M.A.R.T. goals and made our strategies. In the first 8 weeks alone I went from 209 lbs to 188. WOW! 20 lbs in 8 weeks with no chemicals, no gimmicks, just the raw knowledge I had earned with my degree. It was time to turn my life around and reclaim a new life for myself. 

               I have continued to teach but this time pass on the knowledge I have gained and methods I have used to reclaim my life. I still compete and train as well, winning my most recent title in the 2019 National Championship as well as my 2017 induction into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. My desire is to help my students and clients reach their fitness goals. There is nothing more empowering about realising there is hope and that you have control over your own health.

 

                For anyone one wondering, “Why Iron?” I always hated it when fighters would give themselves a nickname instead of earning one. So I waited for years, and yes I mean years, to earn a nickname. One tournament I was competing at I had just finished my kata (or also known as a form) and one of the other competitors told me that my kata was intense and solid. I thanked him and then proceeded  to compete in sparring. He came up to me afterward and said “What’s your name again”. I said “Erin Williams” to which he replied “NO I think you mean IRON WILLiams” and it stuck. My reputation became more and more recognized  within my abilities in the ring.