We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Janelle Kleftis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Janelle below.
Janelle , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
When I was younger, I believed that my self-worth was determined by my weight and beauty. I didn’t truly know how to stand up for myself or say “no” to something I didn’t want to do. After college, I moved abroad to teach English in Thailand for one year. While living in Surin, Thailand, I went with some of my Thai friends to see Muay Thai fights. The fights were being held in a parking lot; There was a ring set up and the ring was surrounded by people shouting and gambling. This was my first time seeing Muay Thai and the entire experience was thrilling. I loved the excitement, the beauty of the art, and the respect shown after each fight was finished. I had already taken a leap out of my comfort zone moving abroad and decided that I would go even further and try something brand new. This is where my Muay Thai journey began.
I have now been training, competing, and teaching for almost ten years. Muay Thai training requires incredible resilience and discipline. I’ve learned how to push my body and my mind past their limits. I’ve learned that I am capable of so much more than I initially believed. On this journey of training Muay Thai I have fallen in love with moving my body and becoming stronger. I see myself in a different light.
I have a stronger positive self-image from my own Muay Thai journey, and it is a big goal of mine to inspire the students in my program to see themselves in a brighter and better light as well. With our six- to eleven-year-old and twelve- to seventeen-year-old age groups, we do a mat chat every class where we talk about important subjects such as confidence, anger management, self-discipline, positive self-image, and more. During our mat chat on positive self-image, I ask our students to say something positive about themselves while looking in the mirror every morning for one week. I also incorporate strength training into each class so that the students can challenge themselves and see what they are truly capable of! It is my goal to help the children and adults in the program grow their self-confidence and believe in their self-worth.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the Owner and Head Instructor of Muay Thai Beyond Limits, an inclusive martial arts program where we focus on making martial arts accessible for the neurodivergent and disabled community. At Muay Thai Beyond Limits, we adapt our space and teaching style to make it accessible for people of all abilities. Many martial arts schools have bright lighting, music playing during classes, a required uniform, larger class sizes, mirrors in the space, and more. We offer flexibility with attire, small class sizes capped at 4 or 6 students a class (depending on age group), a 2:1 or 3:1 student to instructor ratio, minimal distractions in the space, dimmable lighting, a visual schedule, the use of sign language, and a sensory corner for sensory breaks that are incorporated into classes.
There are so many incredible benefits of martial arts training, and everyone should have the opportunity to learn. Muay Thai training helps with crossing the midline, bilateral coordination, self-regulation, balance, core strength, body awareness, and so much more. I feel our program is special because we have created a safe, inclusive, welcoming environment for our students where they can truly be themselves. It is so exciting to see our students push themselves out of their comfort zones and build up their self-confidence. We have a student who uses a walker who jumps their way through the agility ladder, a student who is blind and loves boxing, a student who is a sensory seeker who loves our strength training, particularly medicine ball slams. Teaching classes to these incredible people is always the highlight of my day.
I currently teach weekly classes in Lakewood, CO on Mondays, Commerce City, CO on Thursdays, and near the Lowry neighborhood in Denver, CO on Saturdays. I also teach classes out in the community in Castle Rock, Arvada, Aurora, and more. I’m so excited for our program to continue to grow and can’t wait to bring accessible and inclusive martial arts to more people in and around Denver.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Passion, discipline, and empathy have most directly impacted my journey so far. I am incredibly passionate about the many benefits gained during martial arts training and I truly believe that everyone should have access to a space where they can train while feeling safe and welcome. Passion is the drive behind what I do and whenever things get hard or something happens that is unexpected, I look at the poster above my desk that states our mission: “Our commitment is to serve the neurodivergent and disabled community by providing inclusive and accessible Muay Thai classes where people of all abilities can be included and feel safe.” Find something you are passionate about and pursue it to the fullest!
Discipline has long been a part of my training and now it is a part of how I run my business. There are days where I don’t feel like doing anything and it is on those days that it is often the most beneficial to work on the business and improve it. I write a to-do list for every day of the week and do my best to stick to it. Motivation will not always be there; you must have the discipline to do the work anyways. It is so important to practice discipline and be consistent. If you don’t feel like going to the gym – go anyways! When you feel too tired but were planning to work on your own business, sit down and set a timer for 20 minutes of work. You will most likely find that once you get to the gym or start working you will be glad you didn’t quit on yourself.
Finally, empathy has played a huge role in my life and my business. Everyone has a story to tell and everyone has had hardships. It is so important to listen and be understanding. I work with a lot of families who are often just looking for someone who will listen and support them on their journey. I believe that empathy is one of the most important skills a person can have and is something all people should strive for.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My mom was an Occupational Therapist. She loved what she did so fully, and it felt like every day that she would come home and tell a story about one of her students, gushing with pride. She would hide the students’ names on their worksheets and have me read what they wrote to see if I could understand it; she let me be a part of the work and that’s what fueled my passion and led me down the path I’m on now. She inspired me to work with the neurodivergent and disabled community and taught me the importance of inclusion.
My mom was incredibly passionate about the work she did and loved making a difference in the lives of others. She has greatly impacted my career choice and my passion for the community I serve with Muay Thai Beyond Limits. I’m grateful to her and hope that I am making her proud.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.MuayThaiBeyondLimits.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/muaythaibeyondlimits
- Facebook: facebook.com/accessiblemartialarts
