We were lucky to catch up with Angela Jordan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Angela, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
Being misunderstood or mischaracterized is inevitable when you create from a real place and choose to share it publicly online.
My largest platform is Instagram, and as a female martial artist who specializes in kicking, I’ve often found that people stay for the visuals but don’t always see the person or the hard work behind it. Many of my kicking videos perform well, and I’m proud of them! They represent over 20 years of dedication to martial arts. Still, it can be frustrating when they’re only seen as “pretty” or “badass” without any recognition of the deeper effort, emotion, or meaning behind the movement.
Early on, I took those views and compliments as validation. But when people only knew me as “the girl who does cool kicks,” I started feeling disconnected. I’d ask myself, Why don’t they get what I’m actually trying to say? Aren’t they reading the captions? Don’t they see I’m a whole human being, not just a highlight reel?
The disconnect started to weigh on me. I was trying to express my passion and depth, but I didn’t fully know how. I wasn’t clear on what I wanted to say, so others couldn’t really hear it. And because of that, I attracted attention that focused more on surface than substance.
Taking a break from social media helped me rebuild that clarity. I reconnected with why I created and fell passionately in love with my training again. It’s not about chasing trends or pleasing the algorithm. It’s about representing the #keeponkicking spirit: perseverance, heart, and the inner battles behind every clean technique. If I stay true to that, the right people will feel it.
One of my recent posts, after coming back, was meant to be a release. Spiritually, emotionally, artistically. I wasn’t at my best, but the intention was there. The thought and conversation were there. And yet, someone still reduced it to “trying too hard to be deep” and commented on body aesthetics rather than the actual skill.
That hit me.
Not because I need everyone to understand, but because it reminded me how often people project their own limitations onto what they can’t yet process.
But I’ve learned that being misunderstood isn’t always something to fix. Sometimes, it’s a sign that you’re creating from a place that’s ahead of language. Some work hits right away.
Some work unfolds later.
And that’s okay.
I don’t need to be fully understood to be fully authentic.
I need to stay grounded in who I am and #keeponkicking.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Angela JordanAJKICK101. I’m a martial artist, indie action actress, and creative storyteller who uses movement, performance, and content creation to connect people to deeper layers of discipline, emotion, and self-growth.
I’ve been training in martial arts since I was 5 years old. Over two decades now! It started with watching Power Rangers and Jackie Chan Adventures until I began taking classes in American Kenpo Karate and Sport Karate. Later, I expanded into Judo, Muay Thai kickboxing, and other disciplines. But beyond mastering techniques, martial arts became the lens through which I understand the world. For me, kicks aren’t just physical. They’re poetic. They’re how I express joy, frustration, resilience, and everything in between.
I first started sharing my journey on Instagram back in 2016. It was just for fun: posting kick videos, training clips, tutorials, and highlights of my journey. But over time, I realized there was a hunger for more than just technique. People resonated with the spirit behind the movement. That’s when I leaned into content that was more emotionally expressive, even philosophical, like visual journaling through martial arts. I shared not just the grueling, badass training moments but also the quiet, everyday lifestyle of a martial artist—the human behind the fists and kicks.
As an indie action actress, I’ve performed and worked on fight choreography for film projects, collaborated with creators in the martial arts, stunt, and action community, and helped shine a light on the old-school Hong Kong-style martial arts action I grew up loving with the indie film production team at Art School Dropouts. One of the projects I’m most proud of is Michael Jai White’s film Trouble Man. I was blessed to stunt double Levy Tran (who played Song) and perform in the final fight sequence against Mike. I also contributed behind the scenes as an assistant fight choreographer. I helped with previzing and capturing the process through filming the behind-the-scenes footage. I’m incredibly proud of my Art School Dropouts fam and grateful to have been part of that journey. I’ve also worked on several indie film projects, fan films, and online commercial projects, either with other productions or self-produced for release on my own page.
I also offer coaching, tutorials, and creative direction for brands and individuals who want to elevate their visual storytelling and learn to work effectively alongside the algorithm. Whether it’s teaching someone their first tornado kick or helping a creator develop a cohesive visual identity, I love helping people express themselves through motion and media.
What sets me apart is that I approach content like a visual storyteller, not just a martial artist. I edit and film the majority of my own content and work with others who can help elevate my vision, which is how I’ve developed my own voice. I care about the energy of each piece: what it says, what it feels like. My captions are often mini-essays. My kicks and camera angles are carefully choreographed. I also pride myself on leaning into “edutainment” and making martial arts content that’s both informative and fun. There are already so many accounts trying to be just badass or aesthetic. I want to offer a voice for people who don’t always resonate with that energy and might be curious about martial arts but feel intimidated or overlooked. I want them to see the real journey: the highs, the awkward attempts, the discipline, and the joy. A more grounded, human perspective on both martial arts and content creation.
I’m most proud of staying true to my message, even when it would’ve been easier to post what performs. I’ve taken breaks when needed, grown through criticism, and come back stronger each time. The #keeponkicking mindset isn’t just a hashtag. It’s a way of life. It means showing up, even when your footing isn’t perfect. Especially then.
If you’re just discovering me, here’s what I want you to know: This isn’t just about aesthetics or technique. It’s about resilience, artistry, emotional honesty, and helping others find the courage to keep going. That’s what drives everything I create. And that’s why I #keeponkicking.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn was that value equals validation. That if something didn’t get likes, views, or praise, it somehow wasn’t good, or that I wasn’t good.
When I first started posting, especially as a martial artist trying to break into content creation and the action world, I was hyper-aware of numbers. People gave me loads of praise and opportunities, and a high-performing video felt like proof I was on the right path. A low-performing one? It would spiral me into doubt and comparison with other creators in my space. I started subconsciously shaping my content around what I thought people wanted: cool kicks, slick edits, and good vibes, even if I was feeling something else entirely.
The backstory is that there was a period when I was posting consistently, getting the numbers, and starting to make a little money chasing my dreams, but I began to feel empty. I was performing at a high level physically, but emotionally, I felt disconnected. I realized I was feeding the algorithm but starving my own voice. I started hating everything about it. That’s when I took a step back from social media and the idea of always having to perform.
During that break, I asked myself: If no one clapped, would I still do this? The answer was yes, but I had to redefine what “success” meant to me, and I had to do some soul-searching to discover who AJ really was. I had to unlearn the belief that external reactions validated internal truth.
Now, I post with more clarity and more care. I don’t just share what looks good. I share what feels aligned. Some of those posts still perform well. Some don’t. But all of them are me, and that’s worth more than any metric.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
The best way society can support artists and foster a thriving creative ecosystem is by learning to value the process just as much as the product.
Much of our current culture rewards finished and polished results. Audiences often equate the viral moment, the perfect shot, or the clean edit with success but overlook the messiness, the years of training, and the emotional risk-taking that go into making something real. We’ve built a system that asks artists to constantly prove their worth through visibility and output rather than giving them the space to explore, fail, and evolve.
Support doesn’t always have to mean money, though fair pay, funding, and access to opportunity are vital. It also looks like giving artists room to breathe without demanding constant productivity. It’s about taking the time to understand what a piece means, not just how it performs. It’s about creating safe environments, online and offline, where vulnerability is respected, not punished.
For martial artists and creators like myself, support also means rethinking how we discuss discipline and creativity. Not everything has to be incredibly badass or aesthetically pleasing to be meaningful. Sometimes, a wobbly kick or a shaky caption is someone’s first brave step. Let’s honor that. Support them in taking the time to pour their heart into their craft without the pressure to rush. And don’t forget to acknowledge the growth and effort it took to get from the start to where they are now. That space matters, especially if you’re a friend or family member of someone on this path. Your encouragement can make a lasting difference and help nurture the creativity and heart society needs now more than ever.
Creatives don’t just need applause. They need space, respect, and time. That’s how we build an ecosystem that not only utilizes art but also nurtures it. When people are given the space to create from the heart, real connection and understanding follow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ajkick101.com
- Instagram: @ajkick101
- Facebook: @officialajkick101
- Twitter: @ajkick101
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ajkick101
- Other: Patreon: https://Patreon.com/ajkick101
Teespring: https://ajkick101.creator-spring.com/
TikTok: @ajkick101
Image Credits
Jolly Roger Imagery by Michael Lee
Art School Dropouts