Alyssa’s Win and the Growth Behind It
Saturday night, Alyssa got her hand raised.
It was a strong performance. Calm. Measured. Composed. She made good decisions, adjusted when she needed to, and never rushed anything.
But the most impressive part of the night wasn’t just the result.
It was how different she handled it compared to a few years ago.
If you’ve been around the Academy for a while, you’ve seen Alyssa in a lot of roles. She helps with kids classes. She runs much of our social media. She’s usually the one behind the camera capturing moments most people don’t even notice. She trains consistently. She competes. She puts the work in.
She gives a lot to this place.
And because of that, you can really see the evolution.
The Shift
When Alyssa first started training, tough rounds hit hard. If something didn’t go right, she’d carry it with her. A bad rep could snowball. One frustrating moment could feel bigger than it needed to be.
That’s not uncommon. A lot of people — adults included — struggle there.
But fighting changed something.
Somewhere along the way, she stopped spiraling and started adjusting.
Now, if a rep goes poorly, she asks why.
If she gets caught, she studies it.
If a round doesn’t go her way, she resets and moves forward.
She doesn’t treat one mistake like it defines her.
That showed up Saturday night.
There was no panic in her eyes. No emotional swings. Just steady problem-solving. When something wasn’t there, she pivoted. When an opportunity came, she took it.
That kind of composure isn’t accidental. It’s built.
The Example She Sets
One of the most meaningful parts of the night was thinking about the kids who see her every week.
They see her helping tie belts.
They see her smiling before class.
They see her training hard.
Then they see her compete with confidence.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being steady.
We talk a lot about resilience without always using that word. Keep going. Fix the mistake. Try again. Don’t let one round define you.
Alyssa lives that now.
And the cool part is — it didn’t happen overnight. It happened slowly. Rep by rep. Class by class.
Saturday night was a good moment.
Not just because she won.
But because of how she won.
Calm. Mature. Present.
Growth like that is hard to fake. And when you’ve watched someone build it from the ground up, it makes the hand raise mean a little more.
We’re proud of her — not just for the performance, but for who she’s become along the way.