Recently, our Union County CEO young professionals had the incredible opportunity to visit Coffman's Martial Arts Academy in Anna—an outstanding business making a powerful impact in our community.

Grand Master Heather Coffman and Grand Master Robert Cuttrell have moved the Chun Ji Do World Headquarters to the academy, bringing world-class expertise right here to Southern Illinois. From preschool students to adults, they are equipping individuals with not only martial arts and self-defense skills, but also confidence, discipline, and life-changing mindset tools.

Grand Master Coffman shared her inspiring journey, beginning martial arts in her 30s alongside her son. While he eventually stepped away, she discovered a passion and natural ability that led her to become a world champion competitor and an exceptional instructor. Her story is one of perseverance, growth, and following your path with courage.

Grand Master Cutrell, founder of the Chun Ji Do system, has taught across Europe and the United States, growing the organization into a global presence in 32 countries. We are incredibly fortunate to have leaders of this caliber investing their time, knowledge, and passion into our community.

While we certainly gained insight into martial arts and self-defense, our students walked away with so much more. Grand Master Coffman shared meaningful advice that truly resonated, and our young professionals captured that impact beautifully in their reflections:

From Drue Teske:

“Heather said a few words that really stuck with me. First, she told the class that every life experience gives you tools in your toolbox. I love that she said this, because sometimes it is hard for me to understand that everything happens for a reason, even if they might not be the best experiences.

Heather also told us to never let the negative comments get to us. Instead, keep going and prove them wrong if you need to. I am constantly self-doubting myself because of comments that maybe were intended to be sincere, but came out wrong…or really anything else. To me, this piece of advice really reminds me to prove myself wrong, and to tell myself that I am strong and capable enough to push through my own self-conscious thoughts.

In all, this visit was probably one of my favorites ever, as it really opened my eyes to grounding myself and my thoughts. I am very thankful for Heather and the time she allowed us to share with her on Thursday. I hope to see her again soon (and maybe in a self-defense class!)”

Alyssa Fabian shared:

“On Thursday, we visited Coffman’s Martial Arts, owned by Heather Coffman, who opened the business in March 2011. Her story was incredibly powerful and honestly one of the most inspiring visits so far. She grew up in Anna and has dedicated over 20 years to martial arts, earning nine world titles along the way.

What stood out most to me was how open she was about her struggles. She talked about how being a woman in her field has been a challenge, especially because people are constantly comparing you, whether it’s appearance, strength, or capability. Despite that, she emphasized the importance of living your life on your own terms, because no one else can do it for you. Her story became even more impactful when she shared that her life completely shifted after a divorce. She went from living comfortably to struggling just to get by, even living in government housing and not always having enough money for food. Hearing that, and then seeing where she is now, really put into perspective how quickly life can change, and how important it is to keep going even when things feel unstable.

The biggest takeaway for me was something she said: life is like a roller-coaster. You can’t get stuck at the bottom, but you also can’t get too comfortable at the top. That idea stuck with me because it applies to everything, including success, failure, and growth. This visit reminded me that resilience is one of the most important qualities you can have, and that setbacks don’t define you unless you let them.”

We are so grateful to Grand Master Coffman, Grand Master Cutrell, and even Dojo-dog Sugar for such a meaningful and memorable visit. Experiences like this continue to shape and inspire the future leaders of our community.

Thank you again, Heather—we can’t wait to come back! 🥋🐾✨