MARCH FIERCE FEMALE
CARA CAPUTO
GRIT + GRACE
Our March Fierce Female packs a serious punch (sorry, pun totally intended)! She has all the trademark qualities of a GROW Fierce Female and was actually my original inspiration for this blog. So the story goes…
This chick (aka myself) walks into a gym after taking a bit of a workout hiatus and is greeted with a friendly smile and a thermometer (because, ya know, pandemic things…). She tells the kickboxing coach this is her first class ever and asks “can I handle it or will it totally kick my ass?” The answer she received was “Yes. And yes.” Well pfft, sign me up!
… And all sweat was given that day (maybe even some blood and tears too - can’t remember. I was too busy trying to maintain a pulse to notice).
Throughout the class, Cara projected an awesomely motivating “you’ve totally got this vibe” with the perfect dose of “if you’re not dead, you’re not done”. And she was right. Not only did I make it through the class feeling like a total beast (opposite of how I felt upon arrival, for the record), but when I got home and looked in the mirror I was like “is that an ab I see?!” I mean, it wasn’t… but I still felt fabulous!
It’s one thing to be a badass yourself, but you’re on another level if you’re able to emanate badassery to the point it’s infectious enough to fuel those around you in their weakest moments. Kindness and encouragement can be just as powerful as skill and the ability to teach, and if you have prowess in both then damn girl, you’re a force! It’s no wonder why there is a waitlist for all her classes. Way to be FIERCE AF, Cara!
I highly recommend checking out her class at GritBox in West Ashley, SC if you’re in need of a daily dose of ass-kicking confidence or just a quick reminder of what a female powerhouse looks like!
MORE ABOUT CARA…
Growing up, Cara was always playing sports (swimming, tennis, cheerleading, softball), but usually gravitated towards a team sport environment. In college, she experienced her first group fitness class, Body Combat. She originally thought group fitness meant a 70s-style step class or high energy Zumba, which was not her style; when she walked into Body Combat (an MMA-cardio class) she immediately fell in love with group fitness and knew she needed to be part of the fun. And this is where her love of kickboxing began.
She became certified to teach Body Combat a few years after that first class and loved being mic’d up teaching the fun and energetic moves. She came to realize what she loved even more was watching people come back week after week, getting stronger and becoming more confident with every punch and kick. She saw her passion as helping people create their most authentic self and giving them a safe space to figure that out.
After college, an HR job fell into her lap and she found her true passion again: helping others. She considers herself an empath (to a fault at times!); so HR has its tough moments, but she also finds it so rewarding to feel like she’s made a difference in someone’s day with even the smallest of gestures. After holding various positions in the HR field, fast forward to today and she is the HR Manager for 5 hospitality properties along the East coast. Always a team player, she enjoys collaborating with others on finding the best solutions to issues. And because HR can be stressful business, it has always helped to have kickboxing as an outlet!
Cara took her first class at GritBox in 2018 and instantly fell in love with a concept of kickboxing that was new to her. Body Combat didn’t use any bags - GritBox used gloves, wraps, and bags and she was slightly intimidated, but forged on with her knowledge from teaching. She thought she knew all the moves, but boy was she humbled in the best way possible. She was hooked and immediately wanted more. After speaking with the owner, Cody, and letting it slip that she had been teaching Body Combat for a few years, he asked if she wanted to train to become a coach at GritBox. She didn’t even hesitate, just immediately accepted the invitation. The energy is infectious in that gym so she was thrilled to be a part of it. She loves every single person who walks in the door willing to try something new, even though they might be slightly intimidated like she initially was, they usually end up loving it too!
What she loves most about GritBox is that she’s able to be a coach in more ways than one. Yes, she makes sure members are doing the strikes correctly and fulfills her kickboxing coach duties at every class, but ultimately she’s there to coach people through their struggles and help them come out stronger on the other side. If she can give even one person that release they need in class by pushing them one step further outside their comfort zone, then she feels she’s done her job and you’ll find her smiling from ear to ear. She strives her hardest to help others realize their true potential and she loves to do that through fitness.
When she’s not HR-ing by day and kickboxing by night, she’s usually playing with her 115-pound lap dog Teddy or going on an adventure with her fiancé, Brooks. They love everything outdoors and enjoy hiking, camping, and climbing - Teddy usually joins in the adventures too!
