Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Lambert.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kim. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It was 1997 and I was on a first date, with a much older man, who I didn’t particularly like. We were listening to a band at the Star Bar in Little Five Points. I went to the bar to get a beer, and heard a smart ass remark about my low calorie choice. I turned to see who was behind the remark, and there he was. Sitting alone at the bar, blue work shorts wife beater, shaved head, and tattooed. But what I remember the most was his smell, he smelled liked a man, a hardworking man. I still, love that smell on him.
What followed was a courtship full of long nights, beer and lots of music. I never thought we would actually be grownups together, be parents of two amazing kids, be making a difference in people’s lives. We came from different worlds. A northern Jew, who grew up privileged, went to boarding school, who was supposed to marry a doctor. He was a self-proclaimed red neck who grew up in rural Georgia who looked at girls like me and laughed. I never thought in a million years that when I told people, the night after I met Trey, I just know I am going to marry him, I would actually marry him, stay married to him, make it through infertility, parenthood, life, death and financial struggles.
Life was supposed to be easy but of course it never is. I decided to go back to school after I lost my job because of a very difficult second pregnancy. I took out a huge student loan and as soon as I started school I realized we were in big trouble. Trey had been employed with Delta Air Lines for 2o years but they filed bankruptcy and took 35 percent of his income. So now I have no job, I have a 2 year course commitment and he can’t work over time and has lost a chuck of his pay. We had to ask my parents to pay our mortgage and even some of the bills. It was awful. As soon as I graduated I took a full time travel position to try and reclaim our independence. Trey became mom and dad of two small boys, who missed their mommy and a wife who was absolutely heartbroken to leave her kids but had weight of the world on her shoulders… There was no Face-time, Facebook, Skype and cell service sucked. I would write each boy a letter for every day and night I was gone. Trey would make sure they woke up to my letter and went to bed to my letter.
In 2006, Trey started the Garden Hills Elementary School Karate Program as a way to bring mommy home and to make up the difference in travel pay. Initially we had the freedom to govern our own program. We were not looking to get rich, Trey wanted to share his love of Martial Arts as well as reach as many kids as he could. His class quickly grew to capacity but if a teacher or parent was unable to either afford the class or the class was technically closed, they would come directly to Trey and we would continue to accommodate as many as we could Let’s be honest we have all , as parents , witnessed some of the instructors that run other activities. Young adults who had little or no experience, invested 50 percent, Trey never taught a class where he did put 110% of his effort into providing what he would expect as a parent. We just plain ran out of space. Karate started having a long wait list for enrollment, then there was a new sheriff in town, and the rules of after school started to change.
Prices were asked to be raised and it seemed the people that really need our help could no longer afford to get it and it was no longer “ok” to make our own rules about who we let in, if they paid or not. The demographics of our little Buckhead Elementary school were definitely changing. More kids were on free or reduced lunch and breakfast, they were missing at least 1 parent, teachers were finding more kids who need a male role model, old school discipline, but could not afford to pay for their own clothes, meals and homes, Affording after school activity fees were out of the question. It didn’t seem fair to close out the people who really needed our help. It was time to expand.
In 2011 we opened Power Up Martial Arts. As nervous as it made me to open and own a business, he was a great teacher. I always knew he was a good guy, I mean I married him, he was great dad, I knew that too. But, I would watch him teach. The easy kids and the difficult ones and it was really clear, it is what he was meant to do. Right away we realized that our neighborhood was full of children whose dads were absent, whose moms were working 2 or 3 jobs to keep household a float leaving young people to raise young people. I remember there was a young man who I could tell was the parent to his younger brother a kindergartener. He would walk him to class, pick him up, they would hold hands on the way home and there were times I saw them grocery shopping together. When his 4year brother first joined us he was so shy and just scared to death to let go of his brother. I asked him if he would like to read a book. He said yes, climbed into my lap and within min was laying in my arms like an infant would while being rocked by his mom. Before I finished the book he was asleep. Curled up against my chest. I let him sleep for almost 2 hours, realized how much he missed his mom. I cried for him that day. From that day forward they would arrive 45 min early to read a story, he would nap, and then get up and do karate. Within a week he started opening up to me a little more and shared he was hungry, I started bringing him a snack each day and sending a sandwich for him and his brother each night. After a couple more weeks the weather was getting cold and I realized he had no jacket and kept coming to class in shorts. They were walking home in the pitch black on Cheshire Bridge. I wouldn’t want my child doing that so I started driving them home after class each night. We made sure they had coats and pants, food and our cards. We instructed our students that they could call us if they need anything, at any time. We assured them a safe ride home, a meal if they needed it, a place to crash, whatever they need we would provide that night no question, no consequences. But the next day we would expect to work on a plan, address whatever issue and if necessary speak to a parent or guardian. We quickly became the go to couple for teachers who saw the need for assistance and we offered our neighborhood the same courtesy. We took on physically and emotionally challenged children, we waived tuition, we offered discounts, gave rides to families in need, provided clothes and meals. We became a recognized part of a community that really needed us.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
“It’s not always easy, this thing called life,” We definitely did not have a smooth road on our journey to 2017 Trey and I both had individual struggles that forever changed who we were, and how we are together.
The death of both his parents, multiple serious health issues with myself, learning how to parent being raised very differently, financial struggles. The struggles we are all familiar with, come with being in love and staying married. Learning how to be business partners is a different story. We are still learning how to that. How to not step on each other’s toes on a daily basis. We both have our god given strengths and our god given weaknesses. But Power Up Martial Arts would not be what it is today without the mixture of both.
Please tell us about Power Up Martial Arts.
Power Up Martial Arts is known for several things because of the wide range of ages and abilities of the children and adults we teach. We teach ages 4-adult, We accommodate the physically disabled, children on the spectrum, as well as emotionally challenged children. We train adults of every age, size and ability. We offer private lessons, group lessons, adult classes, and personal training. We offer classes in Karate, MMA, Kickboxing and boot camp /strength training. Our business is small my husband is the Lead Instructor, the only Karate instructor, I am the Program Director/ Den Mom and we have one other instructor that teaches the boot camp classes and helps with Kickboxing.
Our goal is to find the strengths and possibilities in every student, child or adult that walks into our Dojo. Trey has an amazing reputation for taking on difficult situations, having the patience of a saint , and being able to show success where other have not.
I think we are best known for our hands on relationship with our students and their families. They become part of the Power Up Martial Arts family, especially with our younger students. We have been the ride home in the middle of the night, a safe place to sleep when a house burned down, read a book and rocked when a hug is needed, made sure they were fed, clothed, warm, clean.
We are part of a group called Ultimate Leadership Martial Arts. Our program is guided by 5 tenants
1. Leadership
2. Commitment
3. Respect
4. Strength
5. Knowledge
Our mission is to equip our students with a strong body and a strong mind. Teach them a love of fitness as well as instill character building leadership traits that kids need to excel in school and in life.
I am most proud of our special needs success stories and the difference that our time and effort has made in the lives of these kids. I especially proud of 3. These 3 are now main streamed into our regular classes, 2 whom are black belts and help instruct our new students and camps.
There is lots that separates us from the rest. But we recently started a scholarship foundation to seal the deal. Last February I met a local business man and explained how much need there was in our local community for martial arts and men like my husband. We had the facility and drive just not the resources. We started a 5013c scholarship foundation to provide underprivileged children access to strong mentorship, and fitness while providing a safe place to socialize and do schoolwork. We focus on building a strong work ethic, goal orientation, self-confidence, and self-control. Last summer we put our first group of 12 students into an intense 6 weeks of Martial Arts Camp.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I was a young girl I was part of a group called Indian Princesses. The Dads chose our names. My name was Princess Dancing Eyes… I always felt so special when I said that name, still do as an adult.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2084 B Cheshire Bridge Road
Atlanta, Georgia
30324 - Website: http://powerupmartialartsatlanta.com
- Phone: 404-329-9010
- Email: poweruppd@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Power-Up-Martial-Arts-218193561541032/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/powerupkickboxingatlanta/
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