McKenzie came to martial arts from a background in soccer and never looked back. Over 12 years of training and 11 years on the mat as an instructor, she has turned her personal experience with anxiety into her greatest teaching strength. Training gave McKenzie confidence, structure, and a sense of control when she needed it most, and that’s exactly what she brings to every class. Now holding a 4th Degree Black Belt, she’s dedicated to creating the kind of space she once needed herself.
Adult martial arts training, confidence and resilience building, adaptive instruction for diverse learners, and helping students push through mental barriers to reach their goals. What Instructor Fagans can do for you:
Build unshakeable confidence
Push you further than you thought possible
Meet every learner where they are
Celebrate the small wins that lead to big ones
Teaching philosophy
McKenzie believes the mat is one of the few places where the work you put in always shows up in who you become. Her approach starts with meeting each student exactly where they are with no judgment, no shortcuts, no one-size-fits-all instruction. She uses a blend of visual cues, step-by-step demonstrations, and hands-on guidance to make sure every student truly understands before moving forward. When verbal direction alone isn’t enough, she’ll slow down, show it again, and stay patient until something clicks.
But patience doesn’t mean easy. McKenzie holds her students to high standards because she knows what they’re capable of, often before they do. She’s seen firsthand what happens when a shy student is encouraged to stay in the room just a little longer, to show up one more time, to keep going when stopping feels easier. That’s where real transformation happens. Her students don’t just leave with better technique. They leave believing in themselves and that, to McKenzie, is the whole point.
