Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Holt.
Hi Holly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been immersed in martial arts for 16 years and music for over 20. Both have been my calling since I was 13 years old—I just knew I was meant to pursue these arts and eventually bring them together.
I began teaching both martial arts and music at 16. It was my first job, and from the start, I was determined to work in a field that brought me genuine joy. My instructor, who founded Aim & Focus Karate in 2000, built a strong foundation and created a leadership path for me to one day take the reins.
At the end of 2024, he needed to close his school for personal health reasons. That moment became a turning point—it inspired me to open Golden Hands Martial Arts and begin a new chapter of my own.
I was incredibly fortunate to have family, friends, and community members who helped pave the way. One of my earliest supporters, Zein Al-Jundi, owner of the Arabic Bazaar—a beautiful Middle Eastern shop and dance school—offered me my first “home” to teach martial arts in her space during her off hours. Not long after, one of my students’ parents found a nearby location for rent—simple, welcoming, and the perfect size for a first school.
I wouldn’t be here today without the unwavering support of this community and the courage to trust my own truth, no matter how bold or big the dream.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course not.
There were many personal challenges along the way. After graduating from the University of North Texas in 2020 with a degree in Jazz Piano Performance, I found myself at a crossroads. The world had come to a standstill, and I had no idea what a music career would even look like in the middle of a pandemic.
At the same time, my martial arts instructor was struggling to keep his school alive with no students coming through the doors. Yet, despite his own difficulties, he offered me a position to teach again—a gesture of faith and generosity I’ll never forget. I took the opportunity without hesitation. Being back home and teaching brought me a sense of purpose and peace.
Still, 2020 and 2021 were full of personal and family challenges that forced me to pause and reflect. By the end of 2021, I decided to leave Austin for a while to find clarity and space to grow. But after ten months away, life had a way of calling me back. My childhood piano teacher reached out with an offer to play piano at Bee Creek United Methodist Church, and around the same time, I returned to teaching martial arts.
That season taught me balance—how to run a school, nurture students, and still honor my passion for music. There were moments when I felt I had to choose between the two paths, music or martial arts… but over time I realized they were never separate journeys. They were always meant to merge as they were in ancient times. As that truth became clear, the vision for creating my own education center—a space that blends martial arts and music—was born.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Golden Hands?
Golden Hands is more than a martial arts school—it’s an enrichment center for youth and adults alike, rooted in the belief that movement, mindfulness, and music can transform lives.
We teach Tang Soo Do, a traditional Korean martial art that unifies the mind, body, and spirit through disciplined, fun training and self-defense. Our goal is not just to strengthen the body, but to cultivate confidence, focus, and inner peace.
We offer a variety of programs for all ages, including our After-School Martial Arts, Meditation, and Music Program for children ages 5–12, where students develop balance—both physical and emotional—through structured practice and creative exploration. For teens and adults, we offer evening Tang Soo Do classes designed to challenge, inspire, and connect.
Our newly launched Women’s Self-Defense Program (ages 11 and up) empowers participants with the tools, mindset, and confidence to protect themselves and others. Though it’s marketed toward the feminine, this class welcomes anyone who feels called to train in this way. I even encourage students to bring a partner—husband, boyfriend, friend—someone bigger they trust to practice safely and effectively.
We’re also developing a music enrichment program that helps students explore rhythm, melody, and harmony—learning not just to play, but to play with others. It’s an extension of our philosophy: community, creativity, and connection through the arts.
On the competitive side, Golden Hands proudly represents the Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan lineage at national and international levels. I’ve been honored to earn multiple national titles in forms, team forms, sparring, team sparring and weapons, and now coach students with that same passion and intensity. In 2025, Golden Hands made history as the only school to bring not one but two team forms to the International Championships in Scotland—earning 2nd and 3rd place.
What sets Golden Hands apart is our fusion of tradition and innovation—martial discipline and musical expression, strength and softness, self-defense and self-discovery. We’re building not just stronger students, but a stronger community—one that moves and grows together.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
As a new business, I’m looking to connect with others who share similar values and goals. We’re looking forward to 2026 for more events, collaborations and development!
Pricing:
- $145/month for evening classes
- $400/month for youth after-school
- $15/class
- 30 min ($40), 45 min ($60), 60 minutes ($75) for private lessons
Contact Info:
- Website: https://goldenhands.love
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenhands.love/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572746321515
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/holly_theincredible_holt/
Image Credits
Abigail Leigh White, Kushan Nemalikanti, Giacomo Forbes, Holly Holt
