Beth Hyatt
UCLA Shotokan Alumni Instructor
Beth Hyatt never wanted to train Martial Arts. There was a violent crime near her residence on campus so her Mom pressured her to take a self-defense class. She chose Shotokan Karate because the class was offered in the evening. She originally planned to take one class: 25 years later, she studied and trained as a competitor throughout college; she traveled Internationally and trained in numerous languages she did not necessarily know; she utilized her martial arts training to develop a successful career in sales and leadership and continued her training.
She earned the role as Chief Instructor for Shotokan Karate at UCLA where she had the distinct pleasure to teach the UCLA population about the value and benefits of martial arts. As a Sensei, she used martial arts to teach students confidence, public speaking, teaching, interview skills, communication, physical fitness, and self-defense. The UCLA population is a diverse group that includes professors, students, international visitors, disabled participants, and more; many with little to no experience in martial arts or exercise. Beth enjoyed cultivating these individuals to create self-assured Karatekas. Her students, many of which she has visited, surround the Globe: Italy, Hong Kong, Spain, Venezuela, Japan, China, Mexico, Canada, Germany, and across the USA.
Beth attributes her many successes in life to her martial arts training. Hearing “no” in business is a lot easier than blocking a punch. Training in sparring teaches open-mindedness to rapid change and adjusting with this change. Group trainings taught her to reach beyond her comfort level and push herself to new heights physically; for example, training hard 40 hours in a 72-hour period over a holiday weekend.
Beth is privileged to have a wonderful son. Sharing her martial art experience with him at UCLA while teaching has had a profound impact on him and his ability to solve conflicts at school, speak different languages, carry himself with confidence, and interact with individuals of all ages. She attributes his success as an actor to his martial arts experience. Recently, they went to Japan to visit friends and family; martial arts is one big family. We were embraced by a high school Kendo Team that included special Sakura trainings.
Beth volunteered to teach at his pre-school where she utilized her martial art training to teach the children to “react to stimulus”. This training came to fruition when the school had a lock down due to an armed robbery suspect hiding in the area. Karate is not just about punching and kicking, it trains a person from the inside out.
She earned the role as Chief Instructor for Shotokan Karate at UCLA where she had the distinct pleasure to teach the UCLA population about the value and benefits of martial arts. As a Sensei, she used martial arts to teach students confidence, public speaking, teaching, interview skills, communication, physical fitness, and self-defense. The UCLA population is a diverse group that includes professors, students, international visitors, disabled participants, and more; many with little to no experience in martial arts or exercise. Beth enjoyed cultivating these individuals to create self-assured Karatekas. Her students, many of which she has visited, surround the Globe: Italy, Hong Kong, Spain, Venezuela, Japan, China, Mexico, Canada, Germany, and across the USA.
Beth attributes her many successes in life to her martial arts training. Hearing “no” in business is a lot easier than blocking a punch. Training in sparring teaches open-mindedness to rapid change and adjusting with this change. Group trainings taught her to reach beyond her comfort level and push herself to new heights physically; for example, training hard 40 hours in a 72-hour period over a holiday weekend.
Beth is privileged to have a wonderful son. Sharing her martial art experience with him at UCLA while teaching has had a profound impact on him and his ability to solve conflicts at school, speak different languages, carry himself with confidence, and interact with individuals of all ages. She attributes his success as an actor to his martial arts experience. Recently, they went to Japan to visit friends and family; martial arts is one big family. We were embraced by a high school Kendo Team that included special Sakura trainings.
Beth volunteered to teach at his pre-school where she utilized her martial art training to teach the children to “react to stimulus”. This training came to fruition when the school had a lock down due to an armed robbery suspect hiding in the area. Karate is not just about punching and kicking, it trains a person from the inside out.