White Belt
A Mother-Daughter Journey
by Kyssi Arshé

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Kyssi Arshe' never expected to find her strength on the mat. After escaping an abusive relationship and moving to Manhattan with her young daughter, she sets out to rebuild their lives and protect them both. When her daughter joins a local karate class, Kyssi becomes a regular at the dojo, first as a parent on the sidelines, then as a student, competitor, and eventually, a fighter in her own right. Told with honesty and heart, White Belt: A Mother/Daughter Journey is a memoir of grit, growth, and the unexpected ways we reclaim power. Through setbacks, sparring, and self-doubt, Kyssi discovers that the journey to a blue belt isn’t just physical—it’s personal. What happens when a mother finds her own fight while supporting her daughter’s? This is that story.

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“Mommy, I want to spend the night at the dojo” is what Kiylah aka Yellow said the 1st time she touched the mats.

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Kyssi Arshe' is a martial artist with over ten years of experience in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. She began training after enrolling her daughter in karate and later expanded into kickboxing and BJJ. In addition to her work in martial arts, Kyssi works as a receptionist at an animal hospital. White Belt: A Mother-Daughter Journey is her first book. She lives in New York with her daughter, two dogs, and a cat.

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Contributors

Author

Kyssi Arshé

Developed by

Kiylah Herbin