Only two years after taking up jiu-jitsu, an Orillia woman has risen to the top of her game — so far.
Staci Shaw competed at the World Master International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Championship last week at the Las Vegas Convention Center and won gold in her blue-belt category.
“I was just hoping to podium. I didn’t think I’d take it all,” she said.
She received a bye for the first match. In the next one, Shaw locked a cross-collar choke on her opponent until she tapped out. In her final match, Shaw won on points and she was off to the podium.
“I was in shock. I’m still in shock. It’s crazy town for me,” she said with a laugh. “I’m the champ until next year.”
Competitors can only reach the podium twice in the same belt level and Shaw will return next year to defend her title.
She has been interested in jiu-jitsu for years, but she faced some hurdles that prevented her from pursuing it. She cleared those hurdles two years ago and hasn’t looked back.
“I’ve always wanted to do it,” she said. “I always encourage others to follow their dreams, and here I wasn’t following my own.”
She’s thankful for her friends for helping to make it a reality. They set up and contributed to a GoFundMe account to help cover the cost of the trip and the tournament registration.
Shaw runs Staci Shaw Fitness on Ontario Street and she trains out of Gracie Humaita Barrie. There aren’t many women who train there, Shaw said, so she is used to going head to head with men, who are often younger than she is. The Vegas event was the first time the 48-year-old went up against competitors her own age.
Shaw hopes her success inspires others to go after their goals and not give up.
“I used to get my ass handed to me. I've learned more losing than I ever have winning,” she said. “You can absolutely do anything you put your mind to. I 100 per cent believe that. I’m living proof.”
