Inspiring Champions Podcast

Master Hakan Ozgun Koprulu, born in Turkey, was an elite athlete and coach in his country. After competing on the Turkish National Team for 8 years with great international success, he completed his degree in Physical Education at Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey. Master Hakan was also the Coach of the taekwondo team at that university and then a very successful trainer at many of the top taekwondo clubs in Turkey. Through his role as a coach and trainer, he lead many athletes to level of National Turkish Team members then began to pursue an international taekwondo career. He is now the head Master of Marine Park, Brooklyn, NY's Champions Martial Arts school, which opened in 2019. He talks about his passion to teach and the hard work needed to have a successful international career. Master Hakan embodies the character of a black belt that is instilled in martial arts-courage, respect, perseverance, confidence, taking yourself out of your comfort zone in order to grow, and a love of martial arts.

Brianna Salinaro is a para-taekwondo sparring athlete who is currently ranked #4 in the world. In this Episode, I speak to her just days after learning that she has qualified for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Brianna shares her stories and experiences leading up to that news, what it was like to find out she will be a Parolympic athlete, and her plans for this year leading up to the Games. She is candid and always inspiring as she discusses what it is like to compete at an elite level with Cerebral Palsy, and how much mindset affects an athlete. Brianna was the first guest on Inspiring Champions Podcast and it is an honor to have her as the first returning guest, as well.

In this episode, Chris Miranda discusses how martial arts have helped him develop his self-perception skills and the impact that has had on his life, career, and interpersonal relationships. Chris is a 3rd Dan Black Belt who began his taekwondo journey over 25 years ago. He is has a passion for Eastern Asian Medicine, and is a practitioner of acupuncture, massage therapy, cupping, and other health practices. He has recently begun hosting a Facebook live program called the Ultimate Path to Health. Chris' experiences and stories told during this episode show how the lesson learned and the inspiration formed in taekwondo shapes a person throughout the course of a lifetime.

Master Jacqueline Hernandez of Bay Parkway Champions Martial Arts in Brooklyn, NY talks about her journey in taekwondo, with a chance encounter with Master Joseph Froman on the sidewalk outside his school when she was 10 years old. That chance encounter turned into her life's passion of teaching martial arts, coincidently in that same school she was walking past as a child. Master Jackie shares what it takes to find your path in life and the value of always challenging yourself and those around you. This episode will inspire you to support those surrounding you through mutual respect, continual learning, and compassion.

Instructor Scott Tracy of Staten Island Champions Martial Arts shares his story and influences that have shaped his journey through taekwondo and life. He has experienced many new beginnings throughout his journey, from family tragedy, to seeking a career in a new industry, and to a return to martial arts through a door to an opportunity that never really closed. Instructor Scott shares how research, organization, preparation, and routine have driven his high levels of success in life and martial arts. He also talks about the power of support from his wife and taekwondo family. This inspirational podcast episode will help you realize the power of new beginnings and how to approach new challenges with enthusiasm, not trepidation.

Michael Lantino is a phenomenal athlete and martial artist, who is only getting started! He is an AAU Junior National Team member and a part of the Team Champions elite sparring competition and training team for Champions Martial Arts. This year, Michael has been competing around the US with outstanding success! He has begun his pursuit of international titles with a gold medal win in Mexico, and he hopes to have a chance for a World Championship title in the near future. In this episode he discusses what it takes to compete so consistently at such a high level in a Junior division, the role confidence plays in training and competition, and what it has taken to overcome injuries.

Instructor Ivan Soto of Maspeth Champions Martial Arts shares his journey through taekwondo, MMA, personal training, and his passion to teach children martial arts and exercises. He discusses how he has fused his passion for strength and conditioning training with martial arts training into a thriving Champions school. He reflects up how his own injuries shaped his path through life and how his own children inspire him to help his students.

Master Frank Guerrini shares his experiences as a high ranking official for Taekwondo tournaments. In this episode he shares the value of becoming a referee and the insights that Masters, Instructors, Coaches, and Athletes can gain from officiating taekwondo tournaments. He also shares what it means to him to take on challenges in order to grow both personally and professionally.

Instructor Nadine Pace is the passionate about inspiring those with special needs to participate and compete in taekwondo and martial arts. She is the head instructor at Oceanside Champions Martial Arts in New York and the mother of a child who is on the Autism Spectrum. She is a strong proponent of awareness, acceptance, and inclusion in the sport. Instructor Nadine shares her experiences with special needs instruction and individualization. She also talks about the origins of her development of perseverance towards achieving goals.

Brianna Salinaro is a second Dan black belt and Team USA Para National Team Member for Taekwondo. She is currently ranked 3rd in the world in sparring and has been in the top 5 worldwide since 2017. She has the distinction of being the first female para Taekwondo athlete to represent the United States and the first Taekwondo athlete in history to fight on a world stage with Cerebral Palsy. She talks with Inspiring Champions about what it takes to compete at an elite level as a para athlete in pursuit of the 2020 Tokyo Para Olympics.