Meet Betsy

Name an experience and I've probably had it. I grew up in a small town in the middle of southern Wisconsin, from there moved to the "big" city of Green Bay, and this is where I've stayed. My work as a Registered Nurse has taken me all over the US and has allowed me the pursuit of my dreams to empower people. I am part owner of a martial arts school in Green Bay; Total Self Defense.

When I'm not at work or at the dojo, you can usually find me in my home gym, planet fitness, in the pool or running and biking on the Fox River Trail. My two Bernese Mountain dogs provide ample entertainment as they supervise my training.

Currently I'm working towards completing a Full Ironman Triathlon. I have done several half Ironman triathlons and it's time to set my sights on a new challenge. I am a person that loves the challenge of figuring out how I can accomplish a task. To accomplish the task I find experts and listen to their advice, make a plan, fail, make a new plan fail, make a new plan and eventually succeed.

There are lots of challenges in life; don't let any of them stop you. I use a positive attitude and willingness to fail to see the opportunity for growth to succeed. I have always struggled with my weight. In high school I played soccer, a goal keeper. I was fit, but I was always a "bigger" girl. After I had my son, I gained weight and kept it on. At one point I was 300 pounds on a 5'8" frame. In 2010 I blew out my knee playing soccer and that was my turning point. I was finally aware of how my health was deteriorating and I was ready to do something about it.

My health wasn't my only challenge. I found I was is a relationship that wasn't healthy for me. It took me 10 years before I realized what that relationship was doing to me, and another five before I had the courage to leave. One of the things that martial arts has taught me: be yourself, the right people will want to be around you and then your life will be amazing. Don't get me wrong, you'll still have struggles, but the highs will be higher and lows won't be that low, because you'll be surrounded by people that believe in you.