Lisa is the creator of the I AM Initiative: a self-defense through self-empowerment curriculum for pre/mid teen girls and the author of ‘I AM: A Girls Guide To Harnessing Superpowers’.
The purpose of her workshops and book is to empower girls and demonstrate the necessity of self-love in relationship to self-protection. Lisa Van Ahn is a professional boxer and kick boxer. She found her way to the sport after being exploited as a child, years of believing she was unworthy, and living as a victim. Once she began kickboxing, her self-esteem soared and she was able to heal the wounds that were inflicted in her younger years.
She started her fighting career in 1996, and quickly rose to the top of her sport with a regional Championship title and moved on to fighting professionally winning a national Kickboxing title in 2000. After winning her kickboxing title Lisa found fights difficult to procure and decided to take on the world of boxing. She boxed professionally in Las Vegas from 2001-2004 and fought on many prestigious cards and arenas including the Arco Arena SAC, and the Philips Arena, ATL. She also appeared on ESPN’s Friday night fights. Lisa still fights for the U.S. kickboxing team and won a bronze medal at the Pan Am Games in 2012. In 2015/16 she also participated as a competitor on the popular NBC show, American Ninja Warrior. Lisa’s passion for finding her inner superpower stemmed from her difficult childhood of being exploited. By the young age of 15, Lisa started having unfortunate suicidal thoughts after feeling like all her darkest secrets had been exposed. Coming from a place of deep salt-blame, Lisa struggled as a child, teen and young adult. Playing the “victim role” was all she knew, which again led her to making poor choices. At only 19, Lisa found herself in an abusive relationship with a much older man.
“I remember specifically one day as he kicked me out of his Bronco, I landed in the front entrance of a kick-boxing studio and had two options…I can sit here and cry or I can walk myself into that studio.”
Sometimes, it’s in our darkest moments that we find our truest selves. Lisa knew that was the perfect time to stop playing the victim, stop saying “I cant do anything about this,” and decided to turn her life around!
“Very often the world is going to put you down or give your mixed messages. You have to be able to recognize yourself!”
Young or old, still in search of your inner superpower?! Let Lisa be the one to help dust off the cobwebs on your wings, and if you're not even sure where to begin, recite the following with me:
“My thoughts guide my attitude. My attitude guides my actions and my actions create my reality.”
Don’t let anything fool you, the universe is always on your side of the ring! (Pun intended)
Find out some more BADASS inspiration at lisavanahn.com or iaminitiative.com. Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com