Reading, book signing

Austin-area martial arts instructor Cathy Chapaty will read excerpts of her recently released memoir No Pouting in the Dojo: The Imperfect Journey of Teaching Children Character through Martial Arts (Sidekick Publications, 2014) at 4 p.m. Aug. 31 at BookWoman, 5501 N. Lamar, #A-105. A book signing will follow.

Chapaty is a 22-year martial arts veteran and third-degree Taekwondo black belt who specializes in teaching children, many with ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, and other challenges.

As an Ambassador for the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors, Chapaty teaches workshops at girls’ empowerment conferences and has helped area Girl Scouts earn their safety badges through self-defense seminars. She has also led seminars at National Women’s Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) camps, which attract hundreds of girls and women from across the United States, Canada, and Europe. (The NWMAF named her Member of the Year in 2011.)

Chapaty has had dozens of essays and articles published in a variety of media on topics such as integrity in sports, anger management, and mentorship through martial arts. In 2012, she was honored by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea for an essay on the transformational power of Taekwondo. Chapaty is a member of the NWMAF, Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors, USA Taekwondo, and the Writers’ League of Texas.