Strength and conditioning coach, as well as jiujitsu athlete describes this guest’s daily professional life, but she encompasses those same passions into her personal world. Meet Kiaya Jackson who can easily be described as a go getter and goal setter. After her school days she started looking for a fit that offered a mix of organized sports and personal athleticism where you push yourself to meet personal standards. She wanted to participate as a team and have comradery. She found jiujitsu but at first was not impressed. Time, money and the gym atmosphere were stumbling blocks she experienced as she began her search. However, it was an instant fit when she walked into 10th Planet Decatur. The big family atmosphere and connecting with athletes who were there for the same reasons makes the time spent at the gym fulfilling on many levels.We talk about intimidation and how that can be a part of the athlete’s mindset, but she was the girl playing with the guys in her childhood days— so she really never felt that or paid attention to it much. Kiaya recalls the big hair and bows tossed about and perhaps torn tights when she came in from playing rough—so she’s always held her own.A big topic for her is that of trust and who you trust— from those you train with to trusting the coaches and the whole environment. You’ll hear what it’s like on the mat and her moves and how she handles the "punch choke” from Coach Brandon Mccaghren and how he brings on signature moves. This line of conversation leads us to talk about the fun and respect the athletes have on the mat.Kiaya’s pathway in her career that changed from engineering to where she is today is enlightening and encouraging to young women following their dreams.Living your passions and not knowing what is coming next is part of her appeal. You’ll hear us as we talk about her strong confidence and where it comes from and that she wasn’t always so sure of herself. She talks about her daily routines and the discipline she implements to keep her anxiety at a distance and her determination focused. “When you decide to do something the nontraditional way and navigate your own set path, you have to stay on your course.”As far as her work, she is a believer that strength and conditioning is the way to prevent injury and Kiaya’s knowledge is up there with being able to help and create a balance.She always believed that she needed a purpose and that has evolved into serving other people. Kiaya found what she loves in athletics and is able to make it her career while having impact. Success has much to do with being satisfied and she is a much happier person with goals to be the best in her competition and in gathering knowledge to relate to others. She had to figure out what success meant. She wants to dominate at the highest level. She’s a performer and she puts on a show.
Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff
