About EmpowerUSA, Inc.

EmpowerUSA, Inc. started in 1984 as Health Kick, Inc., a brick-and-mortar martial arts & fitness training facility. In the late 1990’s, Health Kick became Empower Training Systems, Inc. because of the addition of the fitness industry continuing education and instructor training programs developed by Tim Rochford. He continued to operate the martial arts/fitness facility until 2015 but has since focused the business on training and developing instructors for his programs, along with teaching/training private and corporate clients in both fitness and personal safety & self defense. He has continued to teach these programs in the facilities he has managed since 2015. In 2021, because of various societal factors, Rochford felt the need to emphasize the new vision for his business by changing the name to ‘EmpowerUSA’. The new name states exactly what he intends to do, with the help of the team of trainers who complete the current and future EmpowerUSA fitness and self defense/personal safety instructor training and certification programs.

About Tim

Tim Rochford
President & Head Trainer for EmpowerUSA, Inc. (formerly Empower Training Systems, Inc.)

FITNESS CREDENTIALS

• MS in Exercise Science (Kinesiology)
• BS in Sport Management-Fitness & Wellness
• Gray Institute Certifications – CAFS, 3D MAPS, Functional Techniques & Functional Golf Specialist
• Brookbush Institute Certifications – Human Movement Specialist & CPT
• ACE Medical Fitness Specialist & CPT
• NASM CPT
• AAHF SrFit & JrFit certifications
• FAI Functional Aging Specialist
• ICAA Foundation for Wellness certificate

MARTIAL ARTS/SELF DEFENSE TRAINER CREDENTIALS

• Trained in martial arts since 1978 – 7th degree Black Belt in Kajukenbo Karate.
• Amateur kickboxing competitor & trainer – 1984 to 1993
• Sport Karate competitor – 1978 to 2015
• National and International personal safety & self-defense trainer for corporations, public & private organizations

Some larger personal safety & self-defense clients have included:

• American Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Marshall Field’s
• Target Department Stores
• Saks 5th Ave.
• 10th Circuit Court of Illinois
• Numerous universities, high schools, real estate companies, etc.

FITNESS & MARTIAL ARTS INDUSTRY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Continuing education provider for ACE, NASM, NETA & WITS.

Program developer and trainer for:

• SAFE & STRONG! Program
• EmpowerUSA Kickboxing Fitness Instructor Training
• EmpowerUSA Personal Safety & Self-Defense Instructor Training
• Active Aging Fitness & Wellness – Boxing/Kickboxing/Martial Arts
• Neuro-Motor (C4-A-R-B) Training
• TKO-PD – a kickboxing/boxing-based fitness program for Parkinson’s Disease
• P2 Force – Designed and patented this body weight & elastic resistance training equipment that provides true multi-planar and multi-angle resistance training capabilities
• Author – Personal Safety, Self-Defense and Fitness articles and training manuals for trainers, clients, and corporation/organizations

FITNESS INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIPS

• IDEA (since 1989)
• MedFit

About Linda

Linda M. Cabanban
Linda Cabanban has been a physical activity enthusiast throughout her life.

Linda’s Dance Training was studied under several well-known dance professionals, Stone Camryn School of Ballet in Chicago, Ruth Page Foundation School of Dance, Joel Hall – New School for Performing Arts where she was a member of the professional Joel Hall Dancers with whom she performed nationally and internationally from 19880 to 1985.

She was a Track & Field competitor through high school and they were state champions in 1977. Linda was a competitive amateur Speedskater as well as a competitive tennis player for the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Linda then turned her passion for being active into a fitness career, earning several group fitness and personal training certifications, including; American Council on Exercise Group Fitness and Personal Training , Connie Love’s Bench Aerobics, Barre Basics-Barre Above, BOSU Integrated Balance Training, Mad Dog Spinning, EmpowerUSA Kickboxing Fitness, EmpowerUSA Personal Safety & Self-Defense, Zumba Fitness Certified Instructor – Basic and Level 2, Zumba Gold.

Linda’s main focus has been to enhance her knowledge and skills as a Pilates Trainer. She has completed over 1200 hours of training in the following Pilates programs & certifications:

• MCore Align Level 1
• Pilates Method Alliance Certification
• Teaching Certification – Village Pilates Studio – Comprehensive Classical Matwork/Reformer/Chair/Cadillac (750 hours plus 102 Continuing Education)
• Pilates Matwork – PhysicalMind Institute
• Pilates Matwork – Body In Balance – Studied under Fran Ahrens who was trained in Boulder, CO.
• Stott trained in Pilates Matwork, Beginner Thru Advanced
• Stott trained in Reformer, Essential and Intermediate levels
• Peak Pilates MVE Chair instructor
• Peak Pilates Level One Certified

Linda has also completed intense training through the EmpowerUSA Personal Safety & Self Defense program. She has taught several self defense training workshops, alongside her husband, Tim Rochford. She has been an important and valuable part of the program development and instruction. Her skill demonstrations in the workshops is empowering for the female participants.

Linda, who was also an American Airlines Flight Attendant for 17+ years, is an animal lover who is constantly volunteering for various animal rescue organizations. She has also, herself, rescued numerous animals (especially dogs!) who were then provided with a much happier and loving life! Linda is a quiet, but confident person, who wants to share her personal safety knowledge and self defense skills, in order to help make our world a safer place.