We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tracy Huff. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tracy below.
Hi Tracy, thanks for joining us today. Have you ever had an amazing boss? What did you learn from them? Maybe you can share a story that illustrates the kind of boss they were or maybe you can share your thoughts on what you think made them an awesome person to work for?
The best boss I ever had was one of my first. At the time, I was an E-4 Specialist in the U.S. Army, working in the S-3 section, which managed all the training for our battalion. Our office consisted of sergeants, officers, and two specialists—myself and another soldier, Julie. Part of our job required us to interact with company commanders and first sergeants, many of whom would try to use their rank to pressure us into prioritizing their requests.
Master Sergeant Worth taught me two invaluable lessons: first, if you can’t get your work done between 8 AM and 5 PM, you’re focusing on the wrong things; and second, to stand firm in the authority of my position. The first lesson helped me develop strong time management and prioritization skills, while the second taught me how to assert myself with higher-ranking individuals without being disrespectful. He also demonstrated the importance of appreciating the people who work hard for you.
Julie and I often rotated after-hours duties since I was a single mom. On one occasion, I had just returned from the field and was overwhelmed with personal responsibilities when I was told I needed to attend a presentation in person. Frustrated, I argued that everything was prepared and that Julie could handle it, but they insisted I be there. I went in with a bad attitude, only to be completely caught off guard—once all the senior leaders were assembled, they called me to the front of the room and presented me with a service award, recognizing my hard work. That night, I learned to keep doing my job to the best of my ability because my work matters. You never know who is paying attention.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hey there! I’m Tracy Huff—family coach, martial arts expert, author, business owner, and speaker. But at my core, I’m just someone who’s passionate about helping families build stronger, more connected relationships. I’ve been married for over 30 years, I have two amazing sons and three incredible grandkids, and I know firsthand how tough it can be to juggle parenting, work, and personal growth without losing yourself in the process.
My journey started with a simple dream—I was the first person in my family who wanted to go to college, but my parents had no idea how to make that happen. One of my teachers suggested I take the ASVAB to see if I qualified for assistance, and before I knew it, I had joined the Army to pay for my education. That decision changed my life in ways I never could have imagined. At my first duty station, I met the love of my life, the man I’m still married to today.
But falling in love with him put me in a tough spot. I grew up in a deeply religious home where premarital sex was considered a sin. When I got pregnant, my father gave me an ultimatum—terminate the pregnancy and cut ties with my husband or be disowned. I chose love, and in doing so, I lost my family. They told me I’d never accomplish my dreams, that I had ruined my future, and that my life would always have limits because of the choice I made. But they were wrong. That choice led me to the beautiful, fulfilling life I have today.
I got into martial arts because of my son, Stephen. He was struggling in school with peer pressure, and I wanted to help him find confidence and discipline. At the time, my husband was deployed in Iraq, I was raising two boys, and I was running my own computer networking business. I needed an outlet for stress, so I started training, too—and I fell in love with what martial arts did for me. It became more than just self-defense or exercise; it was a personal growth system that helped me level up in every area of my life.
Now, I use that same system to help moms raise responsible, confident kids—without having to be the drill sergeant or the nag. My team and I offer martial arts training, workshops, events, and speaking engagements. We also launched Fearless Foundations, a virtual program for kids who are too shy, anxious, or afraid to train in person. We help them build confidence and start winning right where they are.
I also love giving back to parents, so we’ve created free resources like How to Raise Responsible Kids and Be the Mom You Want to Be and 5 No-Fight Morning Hacks, plus my book, How to Punch Failure in the Face. We also run free webinars and masterclasses to help families with their biggest challenges.
What I’m most proud of? Watching our students grow into confident, respectful leaders and finally see themselves for the incredible, unique people they are. And I love seeing moms finally get the respect and recognition they deserve in their families—without having to lose themselves in the process. That’s why I do what I do.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I think I’ve built my reputation by staying true to my personal standards—taking responsibility for my actions, holding myself accountable for my results, owning my mistakes (and apologizing when I need to), and making sure the advice I give actually fits the person I’m helping, not just some cookie-cutter formula.
For me, there are three big ways to make sure I live by that:
Wearing Different Hats – In business and in life, you can’t always be the expert. Sometimes you’re the teacher, sometimes you’re the student. Sometimes you’re the coach, and sometimes you have to be willing to be coached and ask for help. Knowing when to step into each role keeps me growing and makes sure I never get stuck thinking I have all the answers.
Learning from Mistakes Instead of Fearing Them – I don’t believe in perfection, but I do believe in progress. I give myself permission to make mistakes, but I also make sure I learn from them. Every misstep is a chance to get better, not a reason to beat myself up.
Surrounding Myself with the Right People – No one succeeds alone. I make it a point to tap into people who challenge me, support me, and push me to be better—whether that’s mentors, peers, or even my own students. Growth happens in community, not isolation.
At the end of the day, my reputation is built on integrity, honesty, and real connection. I’m not here to be perfect—I’m here to be real, and that’s what people connect with.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the biggest tests of my resilience came when I transitioned from running a computer networking and support business to unexpectedly stepping into the world of martial arts. I didn’t set out to own a martial arts school—I just loved training. I found an instructor I wanted to keep learning from, and since it was his vision to open a school, I helped him get started.
But over time, we had very different ideas about how to run the business. He was focused on quick money, and I didn’t agree with the direction he was taking. So, I told him he could have the business, and I would step out. That’s when he admitted he wasn’t prepared to run it on his own. I tried to work out an arrangement where we could share the space, but he refused to commit to paying for it. Instead, he started bad-mouthing me to our students, claiming I hadn’t paid him. He took every student we had, walked away with the logo, and left me with all the expenses—rent, bills, everything.
There I was—a brand-new 1st-degree black belt, stuck with a martial arts school and no students, all while still running my computer company during the day. But I wasn’t about to quit. Every night, I showed up, taught classes, and visualized a room full of students behind me. I studied everything I could about becoming a better instructor, enrolling students, developing curriculum, and rebranding the business as Family Martial Arts Academy.
It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. Since then, I’ve helped over 2,000 families raise confident, responsible young leaders who are comfortable being themselves. One of the greatest joys of my work has been training with families for four years or more—watching my students grow so confident in who they are and what they want that they eventually leave to follow their passions, even in areas that used to scare them. I’ve had the privilege of helping them discover their strengths, believe in themselves, and grow into incredible young adults.
What started as a massive setback turned into one of the most rewarding journeys of my life
Contact Info:
- Website: https://familymaa.com
- Instagram: @fmaafayetteville
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracy.huff.39
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theconfidencecoach
- Youtube: @FMAAFayetteville
- Other: 5 No-Fight Morning Hacks: resource.familymaa.com, Family Strategy Call: , call.familymaa.com
