I often say, “Krav Maga gave me back my life,” and I mean it with every fiber of my being.
At eighteen, during my freshman year of college, my life was shattered when someone I considered a “friend” sexually assaulted me in my dorm room. That moment changed everything. For two decades, I buried the truth, convincing myself that minimizing it to “just” a sexual assault was easier than facing the full weight of what had happened. But deep down, the fear remained. For 20 years, I lived in panic—unable to go anywhere alone, frozen by the sounds of everyday life, always needing someone by my side just to do the simplest of errands.
By the time I was 37, I was a wife and mother of three, and my world had become unbearably small. I couldn’t sit through my daughter’s karate classes without panic attacks. I couldn’t take my kids to the park by myself. I couldn’t live without fear. That was the moment I knew something had to change.
That’s when I found Krav Maga.
Walking into the dojo for my first private lesson in August 2017 was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I cried, I shook, I panicked at every sound—but I stayed. And in that hour, I did more than just survive: I hit the pads, I practiced defenses, and I screamed with everything inside me. For the first time, I felt a spark of strength return.
Over the next five years, I fought for my healing. There were setbacks, panic attacks, and countless tears. But there was also progress, resilience, and triumph. Eventually, I earned my First Degree Black Belt in Krav Maga—something I once thought was impossible. I faced my greatest fear, and I won.
But healing isn’t a straight line. Even after my black belt, life tested me again. Recently, I spent time in the hospital for my mental health—a reminder that trauma can echo years later. That stay was one of the hardest experiences of my adult life. But this time, I wasn’t powerless. I had tools I didn’t have at eighteen: the discipline of Krav Maga, mindfulness practices, meditation, and the resilience that had been built on the mats over years of showing up despite fear. Those practices carried me through, helping me not just survive but return with greater clarity, compassion for myself, and strength to keep going.
That’s why I chose my logo.
The lotus flower represents my journey. Lotuses grow in murky, muddy waters, yet they bloom into something beautiful, untainted by the muck beneath them. My life, too, began in trauma and darkness, but I chose to rise, heal, and grow into something more. The lotus is a symbol of perseverance, rebirth, and beauty rising from struggle.
The black belt around the meditating woman symbolizes the discipline, resilience, and inner strength I found through martial arts. For me, earning my black belt was not just about fighting techniques—it was about reclaiming my life, one breath and one step at a time. The belt is a reminder that healing is not passive; it takes practice, courage, and determination.
Together, the lotus and the black belt tell my story: from trauma to transformation, from fear to freedom.
To the 18-year-old girl whose life was stolen: You can rest now. I’ve got you.
And to anyone reading this: You can rise too. No matter the muck, no matter the fear—you can bloom.
“So that one may walk in peace” – Krav Maga
**Rachel trains at Americas Best Defense in Mansfield, MA and will gladly partner with you when you are ready**
