About Me

Hi! My name is Michelle Johnson. I’m a mom and martial arts teacher.

I love connecting with others through martial arts practice. Cornerstones of my teaching include Wuji Standing Meditation, White Lotus Daoyin, Freeform Martial Movement, Street Self-Defense, and Push Hands. My practice focuses on postural alignment, healthy martial movement, understanding the self and the body, setting boundaries, and cultivating energetic clarity. My teaching mixes energetic awareness, boundary-setting practices, and external movements from my years training in various hard-style martial arts.

I have been practicing the Shanti System, an esoteric internal arts system based on Chen style tai chi since 2018. I earned my Shanti System teaching certification in 2020. I am also a student of  White Crane Silat and have been practicing under Sister Maggie Dawson since 2022. Prior to that, I trained in Mo Duk Pai kung fu under Sifu Kyle Alexander in Portland, Oregon (2005-2014.) Before that, I was fortunate to train in Seido Karate and Self-Defense under Shuseki Shihan Nancy Lanoue and Sei Shihan Sarah Ludden at Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self Defense in Chicago (2002-2005.) As a kid in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I trained in Tae Kwon Do at Keith Hafner’s Karate under Master Keith Hafner (1992-1995). 

I currently teach a weekly Women’s+ martial arts class in Peninsula Park. I also co-host a bi-annual event for women, nonbinary, and trans martial artists called Femm Fighting. During my years as a Mo Duk Pai student, I led numerous classes for kids and adults, and co-developed and taught a self-defense workshop series. In 2021 and 2022 I was selected to teach at the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists’ annual training camp.

Since having children, I have allowed my postpartum healing journey to inform my practice. I take a special interest in pelvic floor health and anatomical differences that arise when training in a female body. I especially enjoy practicing with other women and nonbinary martial artists and teaching martial arts as a path to deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Now here’s some pictures of me with some martial arts friends over the years. Thanks for visiting!