Sheila Watson
Team Lead, Program Development
Sheila is an empowerment self-defense (ESD) instructor and mentor, a 4th Degree Black Belt in Chang Hon (ITF) TaeKwon-Do, and a personal trainer. She is the owner of Iron Fan Martial Arts and Empowerment and has been practicing martial arts and ESD for nearly 20 years. She is a mentor and former member and instructor for the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF). Sheila has taught students of all ranks, ages, and backgrounds, has adapted programs for those with physical and mental limitations, and is especially committed to those experiencing abusive and coercive relationships. She developed a comprehensive self-defense program using the ESD framework and created all-female, all-male, and all-gender curricula for high school students. Sheila has also taught ESD programs for LGBTQ youth and health care providers. Sheila is a World Martial Arts Games gold medalist in Taekwon-Do and competition judge. When Sheila isn’t empowering students to , and enjoys coaching students to draw out their best selves physically and mentally, she is publishing short stories and novels under her pen name Sheila Massie. Sheila is the proud parent of four now-grown children and lives with her husband and dog on the lovely Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.