Name: Shama Ko

Bio:
Shama Ko is a Purple Belt under Master Relson Gracie and Black Belt Phil Cardella. She is an active member of the Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu team as both a competitor and assistant instructor. She holds several wins since her start with Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in October 2003 and has been assisting with class instruction since 2005. She has competed in Hawaii and the Mainland USA. Her goals are to continue to share her knowledge of Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu through her teachings as she works towards her black belt and to carry on victoriously as a competitor nationally and internationally earning a world champion status.   

Tournament Accomplishments :
• 2009 – 2nd Place World Jiu Jitsu Championships Light Feather wt. Female Gi Div Purple Belt Women - Long Beach, CA
• 2009 – 1st Place Pan American Championships Light Feather wt. Female Gi Div Purple Belt Women - Carson City, CA
• 2009 – 3rd Place Fight to Win Tournament Open wt. GI Female Blue Belt and above Women - Austin, TX
• 2009 – 3rd Place Fight to Win Tournament Open wt. No-GI Female Advanced Women - Austin, TX
• 2008 – 2nd Place Atama Open Light wt. Female Gi Div Purple Belt Women - Houston, TX
• 2008 – 2nd Place Atama Open Light wt. Female Gi Open Div Purple Belt Women - Houston, TX
• 2008 – 2nd Place Atama Open Light wt. Female Advanced No-Gi Women - Houston, TX
• 2008 – 3rd Place Atama Open Light wt. Female Advanced No-Gi Open Women - Houston, TX
• 2008 – 3rd Place NAGA Europa Light wt. Female No-Gi Advanced Division - Dallas, TX
• 2008 – 2nd Place NAGA Europa Light wt. Female Gi Purple Belt Women - Dallas, TX
• 2007 – Competitor World Championships of Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt Women - Long Beach, CA
• 2007 – 1st Place NAGA Hawaii No-Gi Light wt. Female Div. - Honolulu, HI
• 2007 – 3rd Place NAGA Hawaii Blue Belt Female Div. - Honolulu, HI
• 2006 – 3rd Place Arnolds No-Gi Light wt. Female Div. - Columbus, OH
• 2006 – 3rd Place Arnolds Blue Belt Female Div. - Columbus, OH
• 2006 – Competitor 4th Annual BJJ Winter Wars Light wt Female Div. - Dallas, TX
• 2006 – Competitor Elite Submission Championships Light wt Female Div. - Houston, TX
• 2005 – 1st Grapplemania Female Div. - Waller TX
• 2005 – 2nd Place War on the Mats Female Div. - Houston, TX
• 2005 – 1st Place Ultimate Submission Challenge Blue Female Div. - Houston, TX

Location/Gym:
The Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Austin,TX

Profession:
Photographer, Children’s jiu-jitsu instructor

Message:
Jiu-jitsu has instilled confidence and self-reliance in me. It’s the core part of who I am. Jiu-jitsu, I think, is important for women because it gives them the tools to protect themselves. Their presence in a male dominated sport proves the essence of the jiu-jitsu, which is technique over brawn.