Meet the Leaders with Sam Dan Nim Soehner!

Meet Our Leader: Sam Dan Nim Soehner!

Continuing our “Meet the Leaders” series, we’re proud to introduce Sam Dan Nim Soehner! Known for her discipline, compassion, and powerful presence on the mat, she leads by example and brings out the best in every student.

Her dedication to martial arts and the Lane Academy community shines through in every class she teaches. Get ready to be inspired as we learn more about the woman behind the belt.

𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔? I was 33

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔? I always thought it would be cool to do martial arts, but it wasn't until my oldest kiddo was 5, and he too wanted to do martial arts that I was introduced to it. After he and his brother began training, I decided it was indeed something for me. I was excited to do forms (which are my favorite) and to learn just how strong my body could be. Eventually all of my kids and I were training together.

𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔? My kids were my inspirations. Watching what martial arts was doing for them made me want to have that experience too. They were my first teachers (in the kitchen), and I couldn't have asked for better instructors. Along the way, Kwan Jang Nim Lane and Sam Dan Nim Schievelbein have always been amazing mentors. I've trained with both of them since the beginning of my martial arts journey. Their knowledge and passion for martial arts has always made me want to work harder. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄, 𝒂𝒏𝒅/𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒔?

My music is eclectic. I like a little bit of everything. Usually I'm listening to Good Ole' 80s music. As for movies, I'm a fan of RomComs. Especially Nora Ephron movies.

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏?

My favorite vacation location is Disneyland in CA. I'm a Disney Adult! My favorite vacation was the first birthday I spent there (I was 37.) But again for my 47th birthday, I spent my birthday there. My mom joined us, all 5 of my kids, and my sister flew out and surprised me. (She lives around the corner from me, but it was awesome that she came and surprised me.)

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍?

My favorite subjects in school were English, History, and Choir.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒘 𝒖𝒑?

When I was little I wanted to be a Beautician, a Teacher, and a Singer. By trade I'm Cosmetologist (so check!) I teach in the literary industry and martial arts (so check!) And I have sang at a wedding (so I'll count that too, check!) The photo is a yearbook photo of me singing a solo my junior year in high school. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔?

I love to do forms. I love the movement, the memorization of the pattern, and I love what it looks like when the whole team does the same form. I also love working with the Bo Staff. But most of all, I love knowing I'm strong enough to defend myself, and I adore my martial arts family.

𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔?

I think people should try martial arts to find out just what they are capable of. You never know just how strong your body and your mind is until you unite them both in form, self defense, sparring and weapons. Martial arts offers so much more than fighting. Martial arts is a whole body and spirit activity.

𝑰𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖?

I would like my students to know that I want the best for them. I want them to know that they can do anything they set their mind to, now and in the future. I want them to know that the leadership team at LAMA wants them to succeed in a safe and welcoming environment. If they ever need something, I'm happy to be someone they can turn to. No matter what they need.