A Slacks Creek mother of five has taken out top prize at the Pan Pacific Jiu Jitsu Championships, and is the highest ranked Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition in Australia.
White belt, Karly Flynn took won her masters division at the Melbourne competition in October and now plans to compete internationally in the next two years.
Mrs Flynn only started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) three years ago, because her daughter wanted to learn to “fight like Batman”.
“We were looking for an activity to help her develop self-control over her emotional outbursts,” she said.
“I wasn’t currently playing any sports and was losing motivation in doing my own workouts at home.
“I initially started training in Hapkido but wanted an activity that I could apply and test my skills on and BJJ looked like so much fun.”
Since then, Mrs Flynn has competed in 11 competitions, with 27 match wins.
“Six months ago, I joined Base Gracie Jiu Jitsu at Loganlea and started training under instructor Professor Rob Williams,” she said.
“My first conversation with Rob was ‘I am entering the Pan Pacific BJJ Championships and want to win, make me a champion’.”
Winning the competition was her focus for 12 months. She was determined to win before becoming a blue belt.
“I will continue to compete at the Pan Pacific championships each year with the goal to compete at the world championships in 2-3 years’ time,” she said.
“I believe this sport is super important, especially for women, to be able to protect themselves in case of an unfortunate incident. That’s why my husband and I have strongly encouraged our five5 daughters to train and learn BJJ skills.
“It is the most frustrating, challenging and humbling sport I have ever done, and it is also the most rewarding for physical and mental growth. It has taught me perseverance, resilience, self-confidence and inner strength.
“I am also a very firm believer that everyone, especially mothers should do or have something that is for themselves and in my case, mat time is my time.”
Mrs Flynn isn’t the only one in the family to compete in the sport either.
“My husband and our children train and have competed in BJJ and their other chosen martial arts like Hapkido and Taekwondo,” she said.
“BJJ is for everyone; size, gender, weight, shape, coordination or fitness levels don’t matter.”
Mrs Flynn will go for her blue belt grading in December.
