Ria is passionate about self protection and empowering those who need it the most through positive and realistic training. She is a black belt krav maga practitioner since 2011 and likes to spend her spare time practicing muay thai, boxing, jiu jitsu, and judo. She is active and likes attending different self-defense and martial arts seminars such as: FMA, STX, CSW, combatives, first responder, and tactical shooting, to name a few.

Ria believes that cross training gives her first hand experience with the different styles of training, teaching, and self defense techniques - what really works and why.

Ria is also an active volunteer / civil first responder for organizations such as Operation Underground Railroad, Mutual Ground, Women's At Risk, Samaritan's Purse and others.

She is currently the Education Director for American Women's Self Defense Association, responsible for their self defense instructors' curriculum.