Trinity Johnson has been in martial arts since she was five years old. In 2008, she started training Tang So Do at Young Champions under Gerald Ballard in Michigan. She started competing in tournaments in 2009 under the Young Champions organization in categories ranging from forms (kata), weapons skills, and board breaking. In her division, she would regularly place 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in those categories. For weapons, she trained bo-staff and nunchucks, and with the help of her parents would seek out additional opportunities to attend seminars taught by Young Champions’ masters. She favored the bo-staff and quickly became proficient in its use. In Tang So Do, Trinity had earned up to her brown belt, winning the award of excellence each testing period which was a great honor at her age. Trinity then moved from Michigan to Illinois.



In 2010, Trinity started training Taekwondo at Kaya Martial Arts under Sung Min Park in Illinois. Because of her past martial arts experience, she was allowed to keep her old rank and started off as a brown belt at this new school. In 2011, she started competing for her new dojo in tournaments. Trinity still competed under the categories of forms, weapons, and board breaking and would go on to continue placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in those categories.



Trinity earned her first degree black belt in Taekwondo on November 5th, 2013, at which point she also started to take instructor classes. It would take Trinity three years of hard training and dealing with extensive injuries to earn her second degree black belt in Taekwondo on March 21st, 2016. Trinity then moved from Illinois to Arizona.



In April of 2018, Trinity started Kenpo Karate at the American Institute of Kenpo under Andrew Pilch in Arizona. When Trinity promoted to brown belt in the spring of 2020, she was invited to take part in the the American Institute of Kenpo Instructor Training Program. Her love of teaching is readily noticeable when you watch her interaction with students, and is especially apparent when she teaches new games to kids.



On March 6th, 2021, Trinity tested and was promoted to 1st degree black belt in Kenpo. Alongside her brother, because of the in-person class shutdown due to Covid, they were forced to complete their training and testing virtually over Zoom, which once again displayed her mental fortitude, drive, and commitment to the art of Kenpo.



In the spring of 2021 Trinity was invited to advanced sparring classes. In those classes Trinity continues to learn and excel at boxing, kickboxing, and even learn about Jiu-jitsu and MMA. She has been a great training partner and an amazing martial artist to train with. The American Institute of Kenpo looks forward to Trinity learning more about the martial arts, continuing to develop her combative skills, and having her on our teaching staff.



~ Last updated 7/12/2023