Melody Johnson – SKILLZ – Ep255

Melody Johnson is a lifelong martial artist, educator, and one of the true pioneers in children’s martial arts development. With more than three decades of experience researching childhood development as it relates to sports, coaching, and parenting, she has helped shape how martial arts schools around the world teach, coach, and support young students. Her groundbreaking work began with the creation of the Little Ninja Preschool Martial Arts program, a curriculum that has since been implemented in thousands of schools worldwide. Building on that foundation, she went on to revolutionize the children’s martial arts space through the development of the age-specific SKILLZ curriculums and drills—programs now used in over 1,000 martial arts schools across more than two dozen countries, setting a global standard for excellence in child development through martial arts. Beyond curriculum design, she is a highly sought-after consultant, educator, and speaker. She shares her expertise through initiatives such as SKILLZ University, the Certified Pediatric Ninja Specialist program, and dynamic seminars focused on teaching, coaching, and parenting—helping instructors better understand how kids learn, grow, and thrive both on and off the mat. Her own martial arts journey began in 1987. She holds a 7th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo under former guest of the show “Super” Dan Anderson, a 5th Degree Black Belt in the ATA, and is an ATA World Champion in forms. She currently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida with her family, and her son—who continues to inspire her daily mission to help children reach their full potential through martial arts and life. Please welcome my guest today, Melody Johnson. SKILLZ Program – SKILLZ Child Development Center