Rochelle E. Brenner

Martial Arts Instructor & Writer | Action Karate Mt. Airy & Collingswood

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Rochelle writes across the full breadth of martial arts education, drawing on three decades of competition, coaching, and award-winning journalism.

ABOUT ME

Rochelle Brenner has spent 30 years within the martial arts space with a career alongside it telling its stories. A 4th Degree Black Belt in Kenpo and boxing, she is the 2008 National Women’s Golden Gloves Champion, a former USA Boxing judge and coach, and the first woman ever honoured by the Boxing Writers Association of America for first-person ringside writing. As a Temple University journalism graduate, she has written and edited three books on martial arts. Apart from all this, she has appeared on national television and built two Action Karate locations across nearly a decade. Rochelle’s expertise also means she has trained an estimated 3,000 students and guided more than 200 to their black belts.

WRITING AND TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Rochelle’s writing is grounded in a conviction she has carried since her first class as a child: that martial arts belongs in the mainstream. Not as a niche pursuit or a supplement to other activities, but as a core curriculum. The physical and mental benefits she has witnessed across 30 years of training and 10 years of teaching are not incidental. They show up in grades, in friendships, in the way a child carries themselves into a room. Her published work reflects that belief, moving freely between competition reporting, parenting insights, and the quieter victories that don’t make the headlines. As a mother of two teenagers and an active foster mum to teens with babies, she brings a professional and personal perspective.

CREDENTIALS

Martial Arts
Writing and Media
Personal

4th Degree Black Belt (Kenpo and Boxing)

BA Journalism, Temple University

Mother of 2 teens and active foster mum

30 years training and 10 years teaching

Graduate Certificate, C.E.M., University of Richmond

American Gladiators contestant, 2008 (won her episode)

2008 National Women’s Golden Gloves Champion
Author, Emu and Squirrel; editor, Black Belt Parenting and Teachings of the Asah Shark
Featured in Championship Rounds by Bernard Fernandez
Grand Champion 18+ Open Form, NAFSMA 2024 (swept kata, weapons, and open form)
First woman honoured by the Boxing Writers Association of America
Media appearances on Philadelphia and South Florida news affiliates
Former USA Boxing judge and coach
Digital Marketing Certificate, BrainStation
See: actionkaratema.com/blog
Approximately 3,000 students taught and 200+ black belts trained
Graduate, Kaleo School of Biblical Leadership

Articles by Rochelle

The Journey to Becoming a Martial Arts Instructor

The Journey to Becoming a Martial Arts Instructor

Teachers carry the great responsibility of educating the nation’s children, preparing them […]

What Does a Karate Black Belt Really Represent?

What Does a Karate Black Belt Really Represent?

Karate is a form of Japanese martial arts with a long history […]

Best Martial Arts: Choosing the Right One for You

Best Martial Arts: Choosing the Right One for You

If you’re looking for a fun and exciting way to get in […]

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL!

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL!

3 Lessons + Uniform + $100 Birthday Party Gift Certificate

WHAT WE CAN DO AMIDST BACK-TO-SCHOOL TERRORS

Back to school is unlocking new terrors. Here is what we can do.

GROWING UP WITH NO EXCUSES

GROWING UP WITH NO EXCUSES

My Dad didn’t have to ask what was wrong, he knew the drill when he heard me wheezing.

WHAT ASTRONAUTS AND KARATE HAVE IN COMMON

Before he became a famous NASA astronaut, John Glenn was a fighter pilot in the Korean war.

THE LESSONS IN YET AND GET

Oftentimes parents feel pressure to be “perfect,” even though no parent is (sorry Mom ), but there are always small adjustments you can make as a parent.

BUILDING FOCUS AND CONFIDENCE IN ISAAC

BUILDING FOCUS AND CONFIDENCE IN ISAAC

Isaac started martial arts three years ago. He was 4 and active and his parents wanted to find a way to help him interact better in pre-school.

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