Community Highlights: Meet Jeri Doyle of Moorpark’s American Mixed Martial Arts

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeri Doyle.

Hi Jeri, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have been doing Martial Arts since I was 3 years old. My mom and dad both obtained a black belt before I was even born, so it’s safe to say I have actually been involved since before birth lol. My dad opened this school here in Moorpark in 1990, where I eventually obtained my black belt at the age of 8 in 1998 at American Hapkido Karate, located in the Wood Rach and 7-11 shopping center. During this time I assisted the instructors in teaching and always remember being apart of the karate studio, being apart of The Country Days Parade, competing in tournaments, doing demonstrations at local school, even Magic Mountain. Martial Arts and teaching Martial Arts has been something I have been passionate about, which is why after attending college in Hawaii and going off on my own, I eventually ended up coming back and being the head instructor for my parents business here in Moorpark again. After being in the business for 36 years, my mom and dad finally decided it was time to retire which opened the door for the opportunity to take over American Mixed Martial Arts Karate and After School program. Now I am fortunate enough to continue the family business, being a positive influence in the lives of young children, young men and women adults and the community as a whole.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As any business owner knows, the road to success if full of highs, lows and bumpy roads, especially for the small business owner during COVID. During this time we were forced to close our doors and only through the grace of our loyal customers were we able to open our doors back up once restrictions were lifted. The community of Moorpark has been extremally supportive and I cannot thank them enough for keeping this dream alive.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
For first and foremost with my years of experience in martial arts it is all about connection. You need to, as an instructor , understand your students needs, and understand what they are looking for. Through our services. we do this in the following ways:

Here we pick up kids after school from all of the schools in the Moorpark District in our Martial Arts Vans and bring them back to the studio where they are also involved in the martial arts program. What I am proud of is the support and trust of our community and parents to allow us to have such an influence on their children. We instill values and morals or respect, comradery, discipline, goal setting and dedication, something that no other after school program offers through the implementation of our martial arts philosophy. We dedicate time to help each child with their homework, have conversations about personal goal setting, how to obtain those goals as well as improve mental and physical stamina through martial arts training.

How do you think about luck?
I think I am truly lucky to have had the opportunity to not only learn martial arts and teach it to others but the fact I am now teaching my daughter, picking her up in our after school program and being able to be with her all day is something I am so fortunate for and lucky to be able to do as many parents do not have jobs that allow this.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mmamoorpark.com/
• Instagram: @moorparkmma
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552627196852