History

Growing up in Elko, Nevada Lisa Abbott began her karate study in 1982 at the local community college. The style offered at the college was Kyokushinkai which became the root system of the style that later became known as Futago no Kogyoku Neko Ryu, also known as the Twin Jade Cat* Martial Tradition or TJC. The TJC was a combination of styles her core instructor had studied which included Sil Lum Jing Mo Gung Fu, Thai Boxing, Moo Sul Kwan Hapkido, and Pai Hu Jen Tiger Boxing. The TJC was a very well-rounded diverse, comprehensive system. Training was done on concrete and sparing was full contact, combat style with no protective equipment.

As brown belt, it was mandatory to teach, so Lisa opened the Wells Branch of the TJC in 1989. She rented a space in downtown Wells and opened the doors in October. Plans went onto the drawing board to build her own studio and construction began in the spring of 1990. Lisa tested and earned nidan in 1993, becoming the only female to reach rank in the TJC System and one of the few students to have learned Iado.
     

Lisa returned to Elko’s Community College in 1996 to take Tai Chi Chu’an from Connie Eikenberry. After the first semester, Connie asked Lisa to teach Simplified 24 Forms Tai Chi in Wells. Declining the offer at that time, Lisa enrolled for several semesters taking other Chinese forms along with repeating Simplified Forms several times from Connie.

During the late 90’s Lisa enrolled in a ‘Traditional Oriental Medicine Principles’ class. The class was taught by Bonnie Crotsenberg, a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, and was only offered for two semesters. These classes brought comprehension of the meridians and channels of energy that run through the human body: Concepts introduced in Lisa’s core martial art, yet not quite understood until Bonnie’s insightful lessons. 

After teaching Traditional Martial Arts in Wells for many years, a 2000 letter of resignation announced her departure from the TJC. It was at this time Lisa began teaching Simplified 24 Forms Tai Chi in Wells, as Connie wished. 

The fall of 2001 Lisa applied for work/study at Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, NM. Her request was accepted. Lisa spent the month of June 2002 in Santa Fe where she met Roshi Joan Halifax. Entering a Buddhist Monastery during a month-long silent retreat called an ‘Ango’ a few days after it had begun was challenging. The practice of meditation was done several times a day, and Zazen was a practice Lisa was familiar with through her martial arts training. 

It was during this time at Upaya that Lisa met Ursula Binner. After the retreat ended, Lisa and Ursula began a speaking relationship and discovered a strong friendship. Ursula is a healer doing ‘Subtle Energy’ Work. In 2007, Ursula made the trip from Germany to see Wells, Nevada and visit Lisa. During her visit, Ursula facilitated a ‘Subtle Energy’ Workshop.

The summer of 2003 at Upaya is when Lisa recognized she had the skill and experience necessary to help other women. This is when she realized a passion to empower Women with Self Defense. She knew that her traditional martial arts method of teaching was not of interest nor practical to those women who needed personal defense the most. Lisa also knew that there were vital components relevant to self defense that her former martial arts studies did not address. She set out to discover a simple, effective and complete method of self defense, aimed specifically toward women of all ages, ability and skill level.

In 2004 she attended a Self Defense Association’s training seminar to obtain a certification in Rape Awareness and Prevention. It was at this seminar that she became a part of a network of self defense instructors and colleagues from all over the world. Taking a 'Self Defense Business' session from Erin Weed, founder of Girls Fight Back, gave Lisa a new direction of teaching.

It was at the 2004 seminar where Lisa met Phil Messina and became aware of his unique training facility. Training continues with Modern Warrior© Defensive Tactics Institute, as she travels to Long Island, NY as often as possible to take classes with Phil. She has received certifications in Confined Areas Survival Training, Defensive Tactics and most recently as a Rape Prevention Instructor, renewing her original 2004 certification.

Confined Areas Training took place in April of 2005 and consisted of tactics of defense in areas such as elevators, buses and airplanes. The next session attended at Modern Warrior© was Defensive Tactics. The 5-day, eight hours a day course, was demanding. Among those that participated were several body guards from the US embassy in Beirut. The most recent Self Defense seminar at Modern Warrior was in October of ’09. “Training with Phil has made me a better instructor. His method of instruction and the ingenuity of giving realistic as possible training is a huge asset to teaching ordinary civilians how to best be prepared for their own personal safety.” ~Lisa Abbott

Self defense is more in depth than merely the physical skills. It involves threat recognition, verbal assertiveness, and understanding the anatomy of fear and violence. Lisa teaches alone and utilizes training aids to help participants comprehend the mechanics of the physical skills.  A Crown Gym Mats Defender Model training aid, H.I.M (Homo Impactus Maximus) is used for striking. For ground fighting, the H.I.M. is used in conjunction with Crown's Roll-a-Fold mats. Other training aids include a reality-based  head-shaped focus pad known as  the Hammerhead and various other items to help participants practice. Classes stress the importance of mindset, having a plan of action and having the knowledge to know what to expect and what to do, along with giving the physical and psychological tools to implement a plan of action.

Lisa has not only discovered important insight that help teach personal defense skills to women, she also has the capability to take the instruction wherever its requested. Her program is fully mobile and can be customized for any group's needs. She has given programs in Winnemucca, Ely, Wendover, Ruby Valley and Boise, Idaho. Presentations have been as short as 40-minutes for high school students and as long as 8 hours for the Community Health Resource for the Elko Band.  Generally, requested workshops/programs are 2 hours long. The most detailed, comprehensive instruction is through Great Basin College in Elko.  Workshops/programs have even been held on location for promoting businesses. Enchanted Paper in Elko recently held a workshop for their patrons. 

Programs are fun, informative and comfortable. Concepts include matters of importance for any woman no matter her age, ability, or experience to know in order to be better prepared to avoid or deal with a violent situation. Concepts such as how to be a hard target, awareness and verbal assertiveness along with physical tactics. Anyone can defend themselves, it is all about mindset. You are your best defense.

"The best way to prepare for a situation is to have a plan of action - Remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."  ~a.a. milne 

Quality – Experience – Knowledge