In January of 1993, at the age of eight, Danielle began her journey into martial arts.
At Austin Society of Karate (ASK), training under Greg Beaver, Danielle gained a great deal of experience with competition and performances. She loved going to tournaments and performing in Black Belt shows, her first performance was her fathers. At the age of eleven she topped out of the children’s program as a third degree red belt, however she was not old enough to attend the adults program.
After topping out of ASK Danielle joined a school that focused mainly on self defense, joint locks, and throws. In December of 1995 she began training with her mother at South Austin Karate. South Austin Karate teaches a style called Ba Ki Do, meaning “The Bainton Way”. This system is a first generation school founded by Sensei Michael J Bainton, who holds black belts in both Kung Jung Mul Sul and Hap Ki Do. Spending three and a half years with Sensei Bainton, Danielle grew as both a person and a martial artist. On April 10 of 1999 she tested with her father and they received black belts together.
In July of 1999 Danielle decided it was time for another change and found Central Texas Kung Fu Exchange (CTKFE; now known as Austin Fitness Martial Arts) under Sifu Jeff Hughes, who was trained by Sigung Raymond Fogg. She loved being immersed in the Chinese culture and within her first year with CTKFE she was competing as an intermediate student. During her six years with CTKFE she traveled and trained in many different cities, states, and even went to China in the summer of 2002 for competition. In 2005 Danielle took a step back from all established schools to reevaluate what she was searching for in Martial Arts. Taking a little over a year she practiced on her own, outside of a school environment.
In October of 2006 she found a home at Pratt’s Karate Club (PKC) and began working out with PKC on a regular basis. In May of 2008 Danielle was invited to join the pre-conditioning program. She accepted the challenge and was repaid with one of the most exhilarating and challenging years of her life. Pre-conditioning tested her body and soul, and over the course of the year she grew more than ever before.
Danielle reflected on her experience saying, “This year has been the hardest I have ever faced in my sixteen years of martial arts. I believe that Pratt’s Karate Club’s Candidate Program is one of the most difficult and most rewarding programs I have ever been a p