The Grounded Girl Interview Series Welcomes Leigh Riddle Co-Founder of Riddle Defense

We are so excited to introduce our Grounded Girl for the month of October for Groundedco. Every month we are looking forward to sharing with you these amazing women in our community that are empowering and inspiring others.

I introduce to you Leigh Riddle co-founder of Riddle Defense, a reality self-defense training center that also focuses on being “fit to fight”.

 

 

MEET LEIGH 

Groundedco: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

Leigh:  Riddle Defense  is a realty self-defense training center that also focuses on being “fit to fight”. Riddle Defense offers ongoing training in Rape Prevention, Krav Maga, Firearms training, Simunition Tactical Scenario training, Sabre Pepper Spray, Combat Fitness, and Situational Awareness, as well as specialty training workshops and seminars.

Self-defense is about taking control of your own life in a positive way and dominating your life’s circumstances while staying physically and mentally in great shape. From personal experiences, I know that life is short and precious. In an instant, anyone’s life can change, and it is up to each individual to be responsible for themselves. I started my healing process by taking a self-defense class with John Riddle. During my training I learned that I have the power to defend myself despite my small stature. John taught and continues to teach me the skills necessary to take care of myself as he always says… “You can only rely on yourself”. Being physically fit, mentally & situationally aware, and practicing self-defense has and continues to empower me. If something does occur in my life again, anywhere, no matter what it is, I will have a fighting chance!

I also had the honor of being featured in The Boca Raton Observer Magazine April 2017 edition “Wonder Women”.

 

 Groundedco: How do you keep balanced in the everyday life with all the hustle and bustle?

Leigh: I start each morning with purposeful intention; focusing on the things in life that I find are important. At the same time, I have a reflection period of gratitude; which creates positive energy. Below is a helpful exercise from a blog I had written on February 9, 2020 titled “Little Known Ways to Get Out of Your Own Way”

Cycle of Personal Sabotage

• Start with good intentions
• Day to day life gets in your way… work / kids / pets
• Feel Frustrated
• Give up

I like to breakdown the negative cycle (personal sabotage) and turn it into a positive (personal motivation)

Cycle of Personal Motivation

• Write down your intentions
• Stay consistent and don’t get caught up in the “all or nothing” attitude
• Work through frustration not letting yourself fall back to old bad habits
• Never quit… never give up on yourself

 

Groundedco: Who has been your greatest inspiration and why?

Leigh: Without a doubt that is my sister, Michelle. As a single parent of 3 adopted children, she maintains a life that is filled with chaotic realism and a true blessing for our entire family. She is one to never complain and is the first one to help anyone in need. During my personal tragedy she was one I could count on to be there for me.

 

Groundedco: What is your favorite way to stay active?

Leigh: Functional training moves where my muscles perform everyday tasks by strength training 3 x per week and cardio / core work every day. I prefer to embrace my age since we aren’t physically able to change the actual birth number. I treat my workout time as my way of “drinking from the fountain of youth”.

 

Groundedco: Why did you start Riddle Defense? What is next?

Leigh: As a mentor, motivator and co-owner of Riddle Defense I inspire my vision and mission to share knowledge, teach others real life scenario training for real life situations. What’s next… that’s a great question! Perfect time to imagine as the opportunities are endless. I do know that I want to continue to offer my knowledge from my accomplishments and certifications as well as a survivor of domestic abuse to help those in need.

 

Groundedco: What is one or some of the biggest challenges you have had and how have you overcome them?

Leigh: Stepping out of the box, out of my comfort zone is one of the hardest things that I am still trying to overcome. No one likes feeling uncomfortable, but there is not a single person out there that hasn’t experienced that feeling. I find that the difference between people is how they approach it, how they handle it, and how to move forward. Living in a constant state of being comfortable doesn’t allow a person to grow and become the “best” version of themselves. This is why I like to do the Spartan races. Training for it is not easy! Committing to it and signing up to have that goal of the race date forces me to prepare not only physically but also mentally. There are some days that I don’t feel like putting myself through the intense training. Those are the days that I have to remind myself of why I committed to this in the first place. For me personally, I like the challenge; I like the team spirit of surrounding myself with positive individuals that will help each other past certain challenges; I like the feeling of achieving things that I didn’t know I could do!

 

Groundedco: If you could pick any place in the world to be grounded, where would it be and why?

Leigh: I love being home in my backyard surrounded by my fur-babies and my best friend who is also my husband. Being outside listening to the spa water trickle down and being at peace with nature is my creative zone!

 

Groundedco: As an expert in health and fitness what advice can you give women to better maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle?

Leigh: Over the years of being a personal trainer I have seen and heard so many people talk poorly about themselves. “I’m horrible at this; I can’t do it, I’m so weak; I’m fat.” I try to motivate people by positive talk, but I’ve come to realize that I can talk all day long trying to convince someone to be positive, but I can’t do it alone. The person must talk to themselves in a positive way. My question is… would you talk to your best friend like that? The answer is no! You would say words of encouragement. So, why not talk to yourself as you would your best friend!

There are 4 questions to ask yourself to find out what you are getting out of listening to your inner voices and how you see yourself:

-What do I see?

-What am I not seeing”

-What am I not allowing myself to see?

-What am I getting from listening to my inner voice?

Identify the negative voice. This is where you have the opportunity to change it. Although the voice will never go away, we can infuse the negative voices with our positive voice. This type of process is called Healthy Denial.