Editor’s Note: We at Stay Positive News are excited to present a short series highlighting a few women from our North Nashville community. All of us have multiple stories etched into our past that bring depth to our present. As you hear from each of these powerful women, you will no doubt want to have your own cup of coffee with them. We encourage you to reach out, follow them on socials, and allow their positive perspectives to beautifully color your day.

Step into a bustling coffee shop with Hiroko Holland, and she will make you feel like you’ve been best friends for a decade. Within a few minutes, we moved from chatting over the superficial school-type drama to deeper topics like big girl dreams and what you do with “failure”. Hiroko’s passion for service and family permeated our conversation. Born in Japan, Hiroko came to the US as a foreign exchange student in 2001. Living in Iowa with her exchange family, she fell in love with the US and knew she would be back.

In 2007, she met her husband Jesse while he was stationed with the Air Force in Japan. They married and moved to the States, their journey leading them to Hendersonville 3 years ago after Jesse's retirement from active service. Having seen much of the country, they decided to select where they wanted to raise their daughters. Out of 52 states, they chose Tennessee. Hiroko and Jesse then decided to also raise a business in the bustling "ville". Universal Kempo Karate Schools (UKKS) – Hendersonville Branch was born.

Kempo is a martial arts style that Hiroko was first introduced to while Jesse was stationed in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There are UKKS branches all over the US and in the Barbados islands. A style rooted in family, it’s what Hiroko calls “Kempo Ohana”. “No matter which branch you train at, you become a part of our Kempo-Family,” she says. “We take care of each other, we support each other, and we lift up each other.”

Hiroko’s vast experiences bring a richness to the wisdom she shares as we talk, our coffees growing cold. “Stay being you,” she says with conviction. About those big girl dreams? “Just do. Make it happen,” she encourages. “Don’t think too much. Make it happen and see where it goes. There’s power in the doing. There’s no magic. Believe in the power of doing.” Dreams happen in the daily doing, the moment-by-moment decisions to move forward. One step at a time.

Check out more of Hiroko’s story and Universal Kempo Karate Schools – Hendersonville Branch  at  https://hattorikempo.com/

Follow Hiroko on Instagram and Facebook.