FEATURED AUTHOR
ADDY HERNANDEZ

Some might dismiss Addy Hernandez as just another pretty face; buff and bodacious, she sports the hard-earned physique of a woman who takes her training regimen seriously. But make no mistake: the hours she has racked up at the gym are not just for show. Hernandez is all about fitness with function—power with a purpose. Pity the bad guy who approaches this dark-haired beauty with malice on his mind—because he's sure to get a run for his money. This girl packs a powerful punch.

A seasoned martial artist, Hernandez knows how to fight, and in her new video Fight Like a Girl , she establishes herself as a vital force in women's martial arts. Hernandez has trained under the direct tutelage of Joseph Simonet, founder of Wenatchee, Washington-based KI Fighting Concepts, since 1994. From the get-go, Simonet saw a special spark in his new student and encouraged her to enhance her training by making weekly visits to a Flipino stick-training gym in the Seattle area. At the same time, she was training in kenpo karate and following the KI Fighting Concepts curriculum, which included studying Yang-style t'ai chi and meditation in Simonet's mountain dojo. It was a grueling schedule, but the hard work would result in multiple black belts. Today Hernandez is a 4th-degree black belt in Doce Pares under Master Chris Petrilli, a 3rd-degree black belt in KI Fighting Concepts, a 2nd-degree black belt in escrido under Grand Master Cacoy Canete, a 2nd-degree in Tracy 's Kenpo karate, a certified instructor in Yang-style t'ai chi, and a full-time martial arts instructor at the KI Fighting Concepts headquarters.

Following Simonet's lead as a world-renowned innovator and teacher and aspiring to follow in his footsteps, Hernandez continues to expand her knowledge and abilities by stretching her mental, physical, and philosophical boundaries. She promotes, organizes, and teaches at Wind and Rock, one of the fastest growing, most highly acclaimed martial arts training camps in the country. She has also been an active participant in Simonet's many public appearances and seminars coast to coast.

A highly accomplished martial artist in her own right, Hernandez has made frequent appearances in national martial arts magazines, including Inside Kung-Fu , Black Belt , Women's Self-Defense , Masters of the Filipino Arts , and Terrorist Survival Guide . In addition, she has collaborated with Simonet in producing, promoting, and starring in numerous martial arts training videos. The success of these videos encouraged Hernandez to branch out as a voice in women's martial arts, motivated by her passion and fierce determination to connect with women seeking physical and emotional security.

Fight Like a Girl is Hernandez's first public attack on the commercialism of “personal security.”

“The flashy fitness routines in many cardio kickboxing classes have created a false sense of security for many women,” she says. “The only thing those classes will do for you is give you the conditioning to run away faster and longer.”

It is her hope that by teaching women how to translate movements learned in these classes into practical, effective self-defense, Fight Like a Girl will be a practical step toward debunking the false pretenses. She plans to follow this solo debut with several more self-defense videos.

Widely viewed as a complete and successful martial arts practitioner, Hernandez has embraced the spirit of the white belt: forever the student. She understands that for both men and women, the road to personal security is lined with hard work, dedication, and a continual desire and willingness to grow, and she utilizes the foundational platform of realistic martial arts training as a template for advancing this concept.

Q&A

Paladin: Did your interest in martial arts stem from your pursuit of fitness or vice versa?
AH: It's hard to say. I was always a tomboy, and I always dreamt about being a martial artist. My whole life was about being stronger and fitter and having to prove myself. Martial arts became the perfect outlet for me.

Paladin: Why did you decide to begin training in martial arts?
AH: I started training with Joseph Simonet at age 17. My plan was to attend Eastern Washington University (EWU) and get into the physical fitness field. My training with Joseph was not only physical but also became an enlightening journey to self-discovery. Joseph opened my eyes to a life I never knew possible. I started questioning my family, my life, and who I really was. It was like I was breaking free from all of these shackles that had been put on me by so many circumstances and people in my life. When I left for EWU, I was in such a space of freedom and pursuit of truth that I felt college would be the perfect extension of the path that Joseph had opened for me. Unfortunately, when I got there I found that the shackles I had been breaking free of were now being put on me by new people. Needless to say, it wasn't a very good experience. At the end of my first quarter, Joseph proposed the idea of making martial arts my career. I jumped at the chance, and here we are 10 years later.

Paladin: How do your various certifications complement each other to make you a well-rounded fighter?
AH: All have given me a very good understanding of the four ranges of unarmed combat: kicking, punching, trapping, and grappling. I feel this is an excellent base for becoming a well-rounded fighter.

Paladin: How does meditation make you a better fighter?
AH: Meditation is an excellent practice for anyone. It enables you to reel all of the scattered pieces of yourself back in to center. This is especially true for a fighter. Through meditation, a fighter becomes more focused and in tune with the situation at hand.

Paladin: Have you ever had to put your martial skills to use on the street?
AH: The self-confidence and awareness I have attained through my martial arts career have empowered me to foresee bad situations before they occur, which I feel has enabled me to avoid them. Self-defense is largely a matter of common sense: be aware of your surroundings, have an open line of contact at all times, always carry your knife, don't allow yourself to be lured into uncomfortable situations, and make good choices when it comes to the people you allow into your life. This is not to say that things couldn't happen that are beyond your control, but if you are trained and have these bases covered, you will be better prepared for such a situation should it occur.

Paladin: What is your greatest challenge as a female martial artist in a male-dominated arena?
AH: My most anticipated challenge is to become a prominent female voice in the martial arts. I feel very confident that I'm on my way!!

Paladin: What is single-most important self-defense lesson a woman will take away from Fight Like a Girl ?
AH: You'll learn how to create your own arsenal.You'll pick key defensive moves you feel confident with and capable with and practice them over and over. Visualize yourself in a confrontation and see yourself attack your assailant with these moves. Remember, you never know how you're going to defend yourself, but you do know how you're going to attack.

Paladin: Does the viewer need a kickboxing background to learn something from this tape?
AH: No—it starts from the premise of teaching beginners. However, a woman at any level can find something of value in this tape.

Paladin: What is the biggest shortcoming of cardio kickboxing class?
AH: Many of the cardio kickboxing classes out there fail to teach target-specific attacks, which means students just do empty movement in the air.

Paladin: What is the worst thing they teach?
AH: The worst thing a woman can learn is a false sense of confidence.

Paladin: Are there any valuable techniques taught in these classes?
AH: If you have a good instructor you will learn how to execute punches and kicks with the right mechanics. This eliminates the potential for serious injury and gives you a good base to work from.

Paladin: Do you advise women to carry weapons? If so, which ones?
AH: Yes, all of my female clients carry a blade. The knife is an equalizer of strength and power. Every woman should carry one and know how to use it.

Paladin: Does your video address the use of a blade?
AH: Fight Like a Girl does not address offensive and defensive knife fighting, but I would like to focus on that in my next video.

Paladin: Some law enforcement officials advise women to cooperate with an attacker rather than fight. Is this ever good advice?
AH: There is a fine line between fighting for your credit card and fighting for your life. Again, common sense plays an important role. If I felt that my assailant just wanted my money, I'd hand it over. But if the threat escalated to a more serious situation, such as rape, you bet I would fight back.

FIGHT LIKE A GIRL
A Woman's Guide to Transforming Cardio Kickboxing
into Effective Self-Defense