Emma Lynds

Since she can remember, Emma has always been a competitive athlete. Though at age 15, she started looking for something beyond conventional athletic sports, and she began training the Korean Art of Taekwondo. Her discovery of Martial Arts seemed like tapping into something new, exciting and limitless. Over the years, that initial spark ignited a fire fueled by depth of experience and understanding.

While living in Calgary and caring for two young children, she started learning the Art of Hapkido from a traditional Martial Arts teacher from Korea, Master Kwon Mo Yun. After years of dedicated training, Emma was the first and only woman at her club to have been awarded a black belt by Master Yun.

When the Master went away one summer, Emma ran the club for him. Inspired by her ability to teach, she started running Martial Arts classes within the community for non-profit organizations.

Today, she maintains her close ties with her community and, having experienced five-years of co-ownership of Dojang Studios, she has branched out to open a club of her own.

Emma is now the only woman who created and owns her own Martial Arts club in the City of Vancouver.

Elements Academy reflects Emma’s hard work, passion and enthusiasm, as well as her strong belief in the Martial Arts and in the process of teaching and learning. She believes every one of her students has limitless potential, connecting with each individual to inspire, empower and bring out their very best, and striving to support them on every level. She emphasizes setting goals, challenging yourself and, most of all, believing in yourself.

Despite her role as an instructor at the Academy, Emma’s passion for Martial Arts allows her to be humbled, and she remains a life-long student dedicated to self-improvement. Emma is currently throwing other students at Steveston Judo Club, Boxing with former Pro Boxer Tony Pep, sparring Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Elements Academy Instructor Todd Smith, and following a rigorous weightlifting program at the gym. She also plans to study Human Kinetics and exercise science in the future.

In March 2010 she will be taking part in ten days of Muay Thai Kickboxing training in Thailand with some of her students and instructors. Her personal goals are to compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai matches.