Latter-day Saint Martial Arts Annual Report 2014 | Page 10

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Meet Jennie Ray Masterson
LDSMAA member since October 2014
I started Martial Arts when I was 11 years old at Baize Martial Arts in Clarksville,
Tennessee. I went there after one of my brothers had already started there.
After I got started, one of my other brothers joined, than my sister, than my
mom. Almost my entire family attended at one point or another.
As I progressed through the ranks, I attended several competitions. Winning
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies almost every time.
After 5 years of training, I became a sensei to the children at the school, working with the little dragons
and older children. I also went to different preschools and daycares and taught Martial Arts to the
children at those places.
I achieved the rank of second degree black belt at age 18 and continued to teach at the school I trained
in. I studied two different styles being Shotokan and Kami Bushi Kai (A branch of Shotokan).
I was on a demonstration team with the martial arts school for 4 years. In the last two years training and
my time on the demonstration team, I became an assistant instructor, working with the team and
choreographing fight scenes and presentations. We preformed at many different events every year,
including the two big ones in Clarksville Tennessee: Rivers and Spires, and Riverfest.
Along with my martial arts training, I dreamed of becoming a competitive ballroom dancer, I took classes
in different studios around town, and I even got good enough to teach some classes at a place in
Springfield, Tennessee.
In January of 2010 I moved to Utah to chase ballroom dreams. I started classes at UVU (Utah Valley
University) in the summer of 2010. Over the next few semesters I worked very hard to become the
greatest dancer I could be. In my fourth semester I met a tall, handsome, read headed guy in my
ballroom dance class. He asked me out, and a 6 months later we got married in the Bountiful Utah
temple.
During that same semester I began having pain in my feet. I ignored it until after I was married and my
husband made me go to a specialist. My foot specialist told me that I had ground my sesamoid bones in
both of my feet. He told me that I could no longer dance if I wanted to keep walking. My dreams were
crushed, I had just finished my first semester on a dance team, my dreams were just starting. What
would I do If I couldn't dance?
My husband was very encouraging and pushed me to try other things I might enjoy. I found a passion in
photography and decided to switch my major to that. I also started sewing and found enjoyment in
refashioning ugly clothes from the thrift store to be beautiful outfits. I continue to sew and photograph
and am discovering new passions through these. During this time I also had my first son.
Currently I am the young women president in my ward and my husband and I are expecting our second
son.