Publication Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Head of the class
Head of the class
(May 25, 2005) Former karate student now owns dojo where she trained
by Daniel Grujic
When Molly Ashworth first showed an interest in martial arts, her parents believed it was a passing fancy.
Ten years later, she ranks as a second-degree black belt and is co-owner of the United Studio of Self-Defense in Menlo Park.
"I could live here," said Ashworth, a 21-year old Palo Alto High School graduate. " ... I know that here I will not get laid off, and I will always have money in the bank if I just keep my part of the deal going."
Ashworth's connection to the dojo runs deep. She started taking classes at the studio at the age of 11 and never stopped. "I just kept coming throughout," she said. "I was one of the students that stayed throughout the growth of the dojo."
She worked with the same teacher, Gary Caldwell, throughout that time. Now she equals her instructor in rank as a second-degree black belt in karate. "I guess I caught up to him, outgrew him," Ashworth joked.
She said her parents were initially skeptical of her interest, and later worried once she began sparring.
"They were afraid that I'd get punched in the nose, or get a black eye," she said.
The punches and the protests were shrugged off by Ashworth. "You cannot get mad if someone punches you," she said. "You have to thank them because they were able to show you what you were doing wrong."
Despite the risks involved, Ashworth emerged from her training -- thus far --relatively unscathed. She has never suffered a broken bone, or any other kind of serious injury. It's somewhat ironic that her favorite martial artist is movie star Jackie Chan, who is rumored to have broken every bone in his body through risky stunts.
Ashworth's dedication took her through the first 12 levels of karate. At times, she said, Ashworth even surprised herself, thinking "Wow, I didn't know you could do that."
In 2003, she earned her second-degree black belt.
She was awarded the honor, represented by a double red line on her belt, after an exam that lasted for roughly six hours. "I was really nervous. It was really exhausting, they push you to your last bit of strength," she said, noting "a lot of people that don't make it don't go back. If you have the spirit for it, the spirit of martial arts, you go again."
Her new role as co-owner of the dojo comes with some pressure for Ashworth, who like many business people has a measure of anxiety. Sometimes, Ashworth said, she even has nightmares about not having any students. However, the fleeting fear is tempered by her confidence in her abilities and position.
"The main part is out there teaching and enjoying it." she said.
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