This is Monica Smith. I have known Monica since she was about 14 years old. She was involved in a car wreck several years ago. How bad was the wreck? Monica lost her mother and suffered massive burns that covered a large part of her body. Monica's legs were amputated and she lost the fingers on on her hand.
Monica has never quit. I do not think that the word is in her vocabulary. Monica started training in Shen Chuan when we first met. She was always there and always working hard. After the accident she started rehab. My father was in rehab at the same time. He told me at the time that her goal was to become a black belt and that she could not wait to start training again. He watched her go through the pain and suffering of learning how to function again. My Dad called her the toughest person that he ever met.
I have not trained with Monica since I left Nacogdoches 11 years ago. I had emailed her a few times and sent her one of my school's shirts. Monica was at Camp Lansdale 12 this last weekend. She was using her prosthetics and knocking around with everyone there. Monica could just sit back and be a victim, but she has chosen to be a part of life. Monica did not ever stop training other than short breaks to rest. She even worked through lunch with one of my guys.
Monica has taken what some people would see as limitations and worked with them to strengthen them. Monica has learned to use the way her body works to increase her ability to defend herself. She has a devastating low shin kick because of the nice pieces of titanium she now wears. Her hip movements enable her to generate really good power as well as be hard to hold onto.
She has earned her Brown Belt with Black stripe and is working towards her next rank, Black Belt. Monica is a testament to what I wish could be instilled in everyone I train. Never quit and rise to the highest level that you are capable of achieving.
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