Maine martial arts teacher empowers young women

Becoming a leader in the community through the Women's Karate Club. 10;13;02 “For the past five years, Dr. Lisha Petrovich (known as Sensei) has been leading an all-girls karate club, teaching girls how to protect themselves in a variety of ways.” Petrovic has about 10 girls in her women's karate club. 10;12;22 “When will she be able to protect herself? Now! She doesn't have to wait until I can put my hands on her.” They meet once a week at Kyokushin Karate of Maine to learn stances, kicks, punches, blocks and how to react in difficult situations. 9;51;34 “Our mission is to help young girls find their voice while they're still confident, before self-confidence dies and peer pressure sets in.” Petrovich said his daughter, Katie, gave in to peer pressure and first tried fentanyl when she was in high school, but she was given more than 100 doses of Narcan throughout her addiction and is now in recovery. Petrovic says this is part of why the all-female karate club is so important to her. 9;55;55 “My hope is that when the time comes, because someone is offering them something and someone is asking them to do something they don't want to do, they will have the strength and confidence within themselves to say no when it matters most.” Petrovich and the girls take a moment to talk at the beginning of each lesson. 10;10;27 “The reason I can't control you is because you don't have a magic remote control. Well, if I had a magic remote control I'd make you all sit up straight.” 10;03;40 “Sometimes I just need to focus inward and do only what I want.” 9;54;23 “Girls need their own space to grow and advance as leaders because they are the ones who will lead the next generation.” I'm Talia Clark, your local Maine general coverage reporter. I hope you have a champion like Dr. Petrovich in your community.

Community Champions: Maine Martial Arts Teacher Empowers Young Women

“Our mission is to help young girls find their voice,” says teacher Lisa Petrovich.

Last updated: July 8, 2024 11:57 AM EST

Lisha Petrovich has been teaching a girls' karate club at her dojo, Main Kyokushin Karate, for the past five years. There are 10 girls in the class, all elementary school age. Petrovich not only learns karate techniques, but also uses the class as an opportunity to teach the girls how to handle themselves in difficult situations. Conversation topics include leadership, bullying and peer pressure. “Our mission is to empower young girls to speak their minds,” Petrovich says. Petrovich says her daughter, Katie, tried fentanyl for the first time when she was in high school after succumbing to peer pressure. During her daughter's drug addiction, Katie was administered Narcan more than 100 times. Katie is now in recovery. Regarding the all-female karate club, Petrovich says, “I hope that when it comes time for someone to offer something and ask them to do something they don't want to do, they will have the strength and confidence to say no when it matters most.”

Norway, Maine —

Lisha Petrovich has been teaching a girls' karate club at her dojo, Main Kyokushin Karate, for the past five years. There are 10 girls in her class, all elementary school students. In addition to learning karate techniques, Petrovich uses the classes as an opportunity to teach the girls how to handle themselves in difficult situations. Conversation topics include leadership, bullying and peer pressure.

“Our mission is to help young girls find their voice,” Petrovich said.

Petrovich said his daughter, Katie, first tried fentanyl when she was in high school after succumbing to peer pressure. During her addiction, Katie was given more than 100 doses of Narcan. She is now in recovery.

Regarding the girls' karate club, Petrovic said, “My hope is that when the time comes when someone offers them something and asks them to do something they don't want to do, they will have the strength and confidence to say 'no' when it matters most.”

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