Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Ginny Aversa Tyler, author of the Kingdom Kicks Series. These picture books are a mix of Bible stories and modern-day life lessons in the setting of martial arts.

Ginny, please tell us a little about yourself.

I am a believer in Christ, a wife, and a homeschooling mother of four.  I have been training in the martial arts for almost 30 years and have been teaching karate for the majority of the time since earning my black belt in 1999.  I am the owner of Disciples Making Disciples Tae Kwon Do (DMD Tae Kwon Do) in Anna, Texas, and I am the author of the children’s Kingdom Kicks series, as well as the Mat Time series for instructors and martial arts enthusiasts.  It’s my passion to use my martial arts training as a way to tie the lessons in God’s Word to the martial arts and show how the two can be interconnected.

What inspired you to write Kingdom Kicks Series?

When my husband and I decided to grow our homeschool co-op karate classes into an actual school that was open to the public, I felt this needed to be for the glory of God.  I implemented biblical character training into our classes and felt we were on the right track, but the Holy Spirit kept tugging at my heart saying, “What about the students who cannot be in your classes?  How can you extend your ministry to others?”  The answer followed immediately—books!  From 2017 to 2020, God was faithful to my prayers for the right words to say as the Kingdom Kicks series came about and grew to 11 books (so far).  

What makes these book unique?

For many, it is hard to reconcile the differences between the martial arts, which traditionally teach Eastern philosophy, and the Word of God.  I feel these books take the common denominator, character tenets, and allow the readers to see how martial arts training can not only bring you closer to God, but also solidify your faith.  I believe these books are a testament to the very real fact that God can use anything to glorify Himself if we are obedient to use the talents He has given us.  In addition, the books enable other instructors and parents to do what I have been doing in our own classes: to train their students and children for not only their physical battles, but more importantly, their spiritual ones.

Who is your target audience and how do you hope the books will be used?

Each series is a little different, but both the Kingdom Kicks series and the Mat Time series have the same ultimate goal: to bring both the reader and the listeners closer to God.  The Kingdom Kicks target audience is elementary to upper elementary ages, but I also created supplementary materials for the entire series to solidify the lessons in each book in an engaging, lasting way.  The Mat Time series are to be used primarily by instructors or parents, and they enable them to pass those seeds of truth on to their students and children, as well as to grow their own faith in the process by serving as a personal devotional.
My hope and prayer for the series was to create something that was much needed in the martial arts’ space—a tool that will bring the readers and the listeners closer to the person God wants them to be, as well as equip them to feel confident in sharing the Word of God in their spheres of influence.

Where can our followers learn more about you and your books?

DMD Tae Kwon Do’s website is the best place to start. It tells more about who we are, what our goals are, and also provides links to Amazon where all of the books are sold.  www.dmdtaekwondo.com

We are also on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/dmdtaekwondo.com.

For anyone interested in the books exclusively, a simple Amazon search for “Ginny Tyler” under the “books” department will bring up both series, as well as my independent book, Under the Door.  It is my hope that our effort and books will inspire more people to share Christ with those around them using their own spiritual gifts.  

Thank you, Ginny, for sharing with our CCA followers. May God bless you as you use your gifts to reach children for Jesus.

Crystal

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