Iron Flora brings together different parts of my life that, for many years, seemed quite separate — psychology, education, full-contact martial arts, flexibility training, and an interest in helping people become more confident in what they already know and can do.

My academic background is in Psychology and English Studies at NUS, followed by a Master of Education in Educational Assessment at NTU-NIE. Over more than 16 years in education, research, and adult learning, I have taught psychology and research methods, designed curriculum and assessments, developed workplace competency frameworks, and worked with educators and adult learners across different settings.

That background shapes the way I teach at Iron Flora. I believe good training should be structured, practical, and grounded in situations people might actually encounter, while giving participants space to practise, reflect, learn from one another, and build confidence at their own pace.

Alongside my professional work, I have trained in martial arts for close to two decades, primarily in Japanese Ju-Jitsu and Kyokushin Karate, earning black belts in both disciplines. I have also trained in Judo and later trained as a Yin Yoga instructor.

Martial arts taught me much more than how to strike, block, fall, or escape from a grab. They taught me about awareness, composure, discipline, boundaries, and the importance of knowing when not to fight. [Read: Iron Flora — Strength and Gentleness Can Coexist]

Iron Flora grew from a simple idea: women can learn practical self-protection and build confidence without becoming aggressive.

Our approach is simple: run when you can, de-escalate when you can, and defend yourself when you need to. Physical techniques are only one part of the training. We also work on awareness, communication, breathing, boundaries, and staying composed when a situation becomes uncomfortable.

Iron Flora is not only about the individual woman. I believe confidence can grow through community too. There is something powerful about women learning together, practising together, sharing experiences, and encouraging one another. What one woman learns can travel beyond the training room — to friends, colleagues, daughters, sisters, mothers, and the communities around her.

That is what Empower One. Empower Many. means to me.

What began as one workshop eventually grew into eight sessions — and became the beginning of Iron Flora. [Read: Iron Flora — I Thought I Was Running One Workshop. It Became Eight Sessions.]

You do not need previous martial arts experience, or to be particularly strong, athletic, or flexible. My hope is simply that you leave Iron Flora feeling a little more aware, composed, confident, and capable than when you arrived — with a few practical self-protection skills available if you ever need them.

Beyond Iron Flora, I also write about psychology, education, assessment, life, and the experiences in between. [Read my personal writing here]