Miss McKensie Parrack

CURRENT RANK4THDEGREE SENIOR BLACK BELT

YEARS TRAINING23AND STILL LEARNING

YEARS TEACHING15

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

SOMEONE BELIEVED IN ME.NOW I GET TO PASS IT ON.

One of the greatest gifts martial arts has given me is the belief that I can grow into the person I want to become. As a child, I thought I had the best instructor in the world. He made me feel capable, strong, brave, and excited about what I could accomplish. His encouragement helped me become more outgoing and trust myself.

I wasn’t a naturally athletic child, but I had someone who understood how to challenge and motivate me. With his guidance and my own effort, skills that once felt far away became things I could do with confidence. That experience is why I teach: I know how much it matters to have someone believe in you while you are learning to believe in yourself.

MY ROLE GOES BEYOND TEACHING CLASS

HOW I GET TO KNOWYOUR FAMILY.

Feeling supported starts with feeling understood. Here is how I build a connection with your child and a partnership with you, from our first conversation to the goals we work toward together.

STEP 1
First, I listen to your family.
Before your child steps onto the mat, I want to hear what they enjoy, what feels challenging, and what brought you here. You may be hoping for more confidence speaking up, better follow-through, or greater comfort in a group. You may simply want a fun activity and a place to belong. We start with what matters to your family so I can help make that first experience a positive one.
STEP 2
Then, I connect with your child.
I get to know their interests, what makes them proud, and what encourages them to try. Some children are ready to jump in; others need time to watch, ask questions, or build trust. By talking with you, listening to your child, and noticing how they respond in class, I begin to understand how to support them. I want them to feel that their voice matters and their effort is noticed.
STEP 3
From there, we keep growing together.
Our partnership continues beyond that first class. Together, we identify areas of focus, celebrate what is working, and adjust as your child’s goals grow. I welcome the little updates from home, the questions, and the conversations about harder days. You know your child in ways that help me teach more thoughtfully, and keeping that connection open helps us encourage their progress as a team.

THE MOMENTS THAT STAY WITH ME

SMALL MOMENTS.SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE.

Finding their voice

A parent tells me their child volunteered to answer a question. They are beginning to trust that what they have to say matters.

Meeting a challenge

A frustrating situation becomes a chance to pause and try a different approach. I love hearing about that growing patience and determination.

“I did it myself!”

A student proudly does something they once needed help with. Recognizing their own progress is such a meaningful part of building confidence.

WHY THESE MOMENTS MATTER TO ME

THE GROWTHI LOVE TO SEE.

My favorite part of teaching is watching students recognize their own progress. As physical skills grow, so do patience, determination, communication, and confidence. I love seeing a student take responsibility for their effort, encourage a classmate, or step into leadership. They are discovering that they can help someone else feel capable, too.

I especially love hearing how that growth carries beyond the Studio. Those everyday moments mean so much because they show students putting their growing confidence to use in their own lives.

MY OWN JOURNEY

ALWAYS LEARNING.ALWAYS A STUDENT.

Constant and never-ending improvement.

That is a principle I try to live by. Martial arts gave me the confidence to take on things I once would have talked myself out of trying. Over time, I learned that confidence grows through effort: showing up, accepting guidance, and taking the next step even when it feels unfamiliar. Earning a Black Belt gave me more reasons to keep learning.

After 23 years of training, there is still something to refine in every class. I want my students to see that in me. I ask questions, work through challenges, and keep practicing the details. When I encourage a student to be patient with their progress, I am sharing something I practice, too.

CONTINUING MY EDUCATION

UNDERSTANDING THE CHILD.SUPPORTING THEIR GROWTH.

Our program focuses on four connected areas of development: social, emotional, mental, and physical. Getting to know a child means paying attention to all four. How they connect with others, respond to frustration, approach a new idea, and feel in their own body all help me understand their experience in class.

That is why continuing my own education matters so much to me. I spend time reading, researching child development and children’s psychology, and exploring different ways to communicate and teach. I bring that curiosity into conversations with parents and students, too. The more I learn, the more thoughtfully I can approach each child who walks through our doors.

PUTTING THAT BELIEF INTO PRACTICE

Growth is something I ask of myself, too.

I want to lead by example. The same four areas I help students develop give me ways to keep challenging myself, both in the Studio and in everyday life.

PHYSICALLY

Finding a new challenge.

In addition to martial arts, I have taken up snowboarding over the last few years. I love how it challenges my balance, coordination, and endurance in a completely different way. Being a beginner again means listening, adjusting, and being willing to try after a fall. It reminds me how much courage there is in learning something new, and how good each small improvement can feel.

MENTALLY

Following my curiosity.

I love learning something I could not do before, whether that means taking a course to become a better writer, teaching myself to code, or building a new project. Figuring things out takes patience, creativity, and plenty of revisions. I enjoy that process because it keeps reminding me that a skill can grow from curiosity and a willingness to keep working at it.

SOCIALLY

Showing up for people.

Time with friends gives me a chance to unwind, laugh, and enjoy the relationships that matter to me. It is also where I practice the respect and consideration I teach. Being a Black Belt carries into how I listen, keep my word, and make room for someone else’s perspective. I want the people in my life to feel heard and supported, just as I want my students to feel.

EMOTIONALLY

Practicing patience with myself.

I hold myself to the same reminder I give my students: progress takes practice. For me, that means making time to pause, noticing when I need to reset, and approaching a setback with perspective. I want to model taking responsibility, being open to feedback, and giving myself room to learn. That ongoing work helps me bring more patience and understanding to the people who count on me.

LET’S FIND THEIR NEXT STEP

A STARTING POINT.SO MANY POSSIBILITIES.

Martial arts welcomes so many different starting points. I want to help your child find their next step, feel supported enough to take it, and grow proud of the effort that gets them there. Helping students build lasting belief in themselves is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. I look forward to getting to know your family and working toward those goals together.

COME MEET US MEET THE REST OF OUR TEAM

MISS McKENSIEPARRACK.