Isabella Poudel

I started martial arts at age eight in karate camp, being put in aikido a year later. I started dancing seriously at age 14 at Culture Shock Dance Center in San Diego. I moved to Los Angeles at age 18, continuing with dance and martial arts in college. At age 19, I was paid to dance in two separate private events with WestBound Dance Company. At age 20, I left dance to finish college. In 2017, I decided to give cirque a try, and took to groundwork right away, specifically contortion, handbalancing, and acrobatics at Cirque School LA. In early 2021, I started private training in contortion and handbalancing. I also discovered Systema (Soviet martial arts), and I never looked back. In late 2021, I started rhythmic gymnastics training with Diana Sarabekian. In early 2022, I started learning handbalancing and acrobatics privately from Junru Wang, and trained basic Wushu, Boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Eskrima/Kali, each from different coaches. I earned my white belt in Wushu in about a month. Currently, I am in cirque, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kali, Silat, and Systema. Long term, I want to coach, teach, perform/work, and learn! Most recently, I earned an internship at Sparta Academy, learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and taking up cross training as well. My internship at Sparta Academy ended in January 2024, and I went back to The Academy Beverly Hills for Systema and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I still practice cirque on my own and under Azaa Sharavnyam.