Amy Harris, St. Albert local and co-owner of the Hayabusa Training Centre and True North Grappling Ltd, has earned her black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
This milestone comes after 16 years of Brazilian jiu-jitsu training and training in judo since she was five. Harris said she has never been motivated by earning belts, but reaching this milestone feels fulfilling.
"It feels fulfilling like it's not an end goal," said Harris. "It sort of feels like I'm just getting started."
Harris trains daily on the mat and does strength training three times a week.
"I think a big part of that is just the dedication I've given to the sport," Harris said, explaining she started practising martial arts as a hobby but it has grown into her career.
Alongside being an athlete, she is also a coach, business owner and mother.
"Juggling the family and life and business is always challenging, but I think it comes down to being there and showing up for yourself," said Harris,
When she had her kids, she made a commitment to continue to work towards her goals. Harris said maintaining consistency, even on the hard days, has been key to her success.
"Just reminding yourself to show up, to be there, that you, maybe you don't have 100 per cent that day, only 50 per cent, but you just have to continue to show up," said Harris.
While Brazilian jiu-jitsu is often viewed as an individual sport, Harris credits much of her progress to the community around her, including her coaches, teammates and the women and girls she trains.
"I have incredible coaches that support me along the way, and my teammates," said Harris. "When you compete, it's the only part that feels like an individual sport."
Harris also offers free women's self-defence classes and has one coming up on June 8. She said inspiring women and girls is a major goal.
"Being a positive role model for people, especially young girls, I take a lot of pride in because when I started, there were no girls or women doing much martial arts," she said. "So now to see that half my kids' class are little girls, and I have over 25 women in my women's program, it's really awesome, to see that sports are evolving."
Harris said while she will continue to compete, her priority is leading a strong team of women and helping them gain the same confidence she has gained through martial arts.
"So I've been a world medallist four times now, just haven't been at the top of that podium yet. So that's definitely a goal," said Harris. "But more than that, for me is allowing the women that I have around me to just continue to thrive and evolve in their personal lives."
