CaraMia Pandozzi Spotlight

JUSTIN: For those who may not yet know you, can you introduce yourself and provide a brief overview of who you are?

CARAMIA: My name is CaraMia Pandozzi. I'm 28 years old and I own a Martial Arts and Fitness studio in Whitinsville, MA. I've been doing martial arts since I was about 12, but have been in the business side of the industry since 2018. I train under the Larry Tatum lineage, under Francisco Vigoroux in American Kenpo.

Beyond physical skills, how has martial arts contributed to your mindset and approach to life outside of training?

Discipline. I truly believe that there is a certain indescribable, intangible force that becomes a part of you when you start training that then trickles itself into other aspects of your life.

It's like an invisible friend that is incredibly stubborn that starts talking to you to do right. Discipline for training physically is one thing, but also developing the discipline to take care of yourself—emotionally, mentally and spiritually. The discipline that you said you were going to do something, and follow through with it. I think anyone and anyone in any sort of training, knows exactly what I'm talking about.

The people around us are essential to our own experiences within martial arts. How do you foster collaboration or a sense of community in your school?

I truly believe that you get to learn something from everyone. Even if you learn something that you don't like. In my school, I call my kids "Coach" because I learn from them as well and they learn from each other. I tell my students that "you are only as good as your training partner."

So we all try our best to be the best students and Coach that we can be to each other. And on the days some of us just don't have it in us, we have this whole room of people that can help Coach us through it.

Even for my adults, the same rules apply—if not more so. For my fitness clients, no one finishes a workout alone. People will go back into the work out once they're done to do the final stretch of exercises alongside someone.

In the age of technological advancements, how do you see traditional martial arts preserving their authenticity while embracing modern tools, such as online platforms or digital resources for training?

I think that will certainly be a challenge, but I don't think THAT much of one. People can only be by themselves for SO long. They can have some "fake" connection to an instructor on a screen who doesn't know them as an actual person. It's only a one sided relationship and that only lasts so long. There is a certain magic that you can feel, see, hear–being in a space with people doing the exact same thing as you at the exact same time. For any martial artists or people who do any sort of group fitness, you can feel that wavelength and there's a beauty in suffering simultaneously.

If you could go back and give advice to your younger self when you first started martial arts, what would it be?

Don't take anyone's shit. Trust your gut when it starts to show you and give you signs that something that maybe you're doing is leading you off the path you're supposed to be on. People who are no longer in my life used to tell me that I was our instructor's "favorite" and the "golden child." And it used to hurt me because I was just hungrier than them. I wanted to do this for ME. Not for the recognition of anyone else. Until one day I had the thought "Well, one of us has to be."

Community appreciation and collaboration play a crucial role in the strength of Cup of Kick. Can you highlight individuals who have significantly contributed to your martial arts journey? In other words, who would you like to publicly acknowledge for their support and influence?

Certainly my instructor—Frank Vigoroux. I wouldn't have ever known the beautiful art that Kenpo is if we had never crossed paths.

Also my dear friend and business coach, David Pantano who is not only such an amazing friend and person but has been right alongside me my entire career.

My dear friend from Mexico, who is truly my brother–Augusto Perez (Tito). He has been such a true friend in this community and respects that Art the same as I do. He was such a reminder to me in a hard time to just have fun with this.

And lastly, but certainly not least; my incredibly wonderful, loving and encouraging boyfriend, Christopher who believed in me and what I could do way before I even knew it. Thank you for your support, day in and out and supporting my passion. I love you. And thank you for letting me beat you up every now and again.

How can readers keep up with you or get in touch with you?

@driventotrain - Instagram & TikTok. Driven Self Defense on Facebook.

What's the name and address of your school? If you don't teach at a school, you can list your general location.

Driven Self Defense, 116 Church Street in Whitinsville, MA.