TMA Role Models – Lydia Coyne – Teen Student

In this edition of TMA Role Models we meet Lydia Coyne, and interview her about her path through training and how she gained confidence and discipline through her training. Lydia is always polite, well-mannered and is a very competent martial artist. Lydia is an active member of TMA and hold a position of responsibility in our Instructor Programme working alongside Sensei Paula teaching our 4-6 and 6-10 year old students. At this time of year it is easy to consider quitting martial arts because you are worried about moving to a new school and the legendary amounts of extra home-work that you’ll be getting, but really this couldn’t be further from the truth. So take a moment to meet our TMA Role Models. These students all continued to train in the martial arts throughout their school life and have achieved amazing things. 1. How old were you when you started training and why did you choose martial arts? I was 12 when I first started martial arts and I chose to do martial arts to learn a new skill and activity. 2. How has martial arts training helped you at school (better concentration, grades, confidence etc)? Since beginning training I have become more self disciplined and organised at home and school. I have also gained confidence at school and in my social life through training at TMA. 3. How do you balance homework against your training, has training helped you be more organised or helped you cope with the stress of moving up to a new school? When I start new things or go to new places I am always wary to start with, but knowing that I made the choice to join TMA on my own It gave me the confidence to start a new school and meet new friends. 4. Did you ever feel like quitting training? Yes as I have to rely on my parents to get me there, but Martial arts has taught me to never give up and I wouldn’t quit after everything I have achieved and how proud I feel about myself. 5. If you had to give someone one piece of advice about balancing home/school/work and martial arts what would it be? Even when you feel like you have no time or feel tired you always feel so much better after going to training and remember that every class you go to you are learning new skills while keeping fit. 6. If you have left school where are you now? I studied A-levels at sixth form and. I am now currently at college.