JoAnn is a certified instructor in Jeet Kune Do under Sifu Jerry Poteet and Sifu Fran Joseph. JoAnn is one of the first women in the United States to achieve rank of Silver Glove (the equivalent of black belt) in Boxe Française-Savate. She is also the former president of the United States Savate Federation, another first for an American woman. She has competed in both full and light contact tournaments in Muay Thai and Savate, and is a dynamic teacher due to her previous experience as a dancer and athlete.

Most recently, JoAnn won the National Championship in Boxe Française-Savate Assaut in Chicago on October 25, 2003. She then went on to win the world vice-championship (#2 in the world) in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in July, 2004. JoAnn also competes in figure competitions as well. These competitions are similar to body building but are judged on the competitors body symmetry and development as related to fitness not size. She is current California State Champion in her division and will compete for the national title in July of 2005.