Ffion Davies has turn into a pressure on this planet of grappling, and he or she’s achieved it her method, methodical, relentless, and with a wholesome dose of Welsh grit. Davies began out tossing opponents on the judo mats as a child, ultimately making the Welsh Nationwide Judo Workforce.
Ffion Davies
But it surely was Brazilian jiu-jitsu that actually clicked for her. “Once I went into jiu-jitsu, it was the very first thing that I ever felt clever in,” she remembers. “It was like, ‘Wow, I really feel sensible right here, although I’m not sensible.’ But it surely was the primary time that I ever felt intelligent, like I’m selecting it up,” Ffion Davies defined.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
She’s the primary British or Welsh black belt world champion in each gi and no-gi, the primary European to win the Brazilian Nationals, and the lightest-ever competitor to win the IBJJF European absolute division. Ffion Davies’ trophy cupboard is bursting: ADCC World Champion, a number of IBJJF World and European titles, and victories over a few of the sport’s most adorned names.
However Ffion Davies’ motivation isn’t nearly medals. She’s pushed by the puzzle of jiu-jitsu itself. “I simply love getting higher at this as a result of I take pleasure in it a lot… I’ve so many issues to work on,” she says. Even after main wins, she’s fast to level out, “The issues that I’ve received, none of them had been my final objective… I’m not achieved, so it’s like that retains me transferring on a regular basis.”
Ffion Davies has additionally turn into a number one voice for girls within the sport, each on and off the mats. When she began, feminine coaches within the UK had been uncommon. “Now, for the women coming by, they will do jiu-jitsu and see a pathway, although there are such a lot of limitations. If I will be somebody that they will look to as, ‘Okay, effectively, she did it, so I can observe go well with,’ that’s vital to me,” she says. Her mantra is easy: “For those who can’t see it, you’ll be able to’t be it.”
UFC
Her advocacy doesn’t cease at visibility. Davies is outspoken about pay fairness and professionalism in jiu-jitsu. “There completely is [money in jiu-jitsu]… Now, having a gymnasium, you’ll be able to purely be an athlete if you wish to. There are athlete sponsorships, far more curiosity within the sport, and now organizations like UFC. The expansion of the game is so thrilling,” she says, whereas additionally pushing for extra alternatives for girls and a cleaner, extra marketable sport.
Now, with a two-year UFC contract, with UFC Battle Go, in hand and her personal gymnasium, Arma BJJ, opening in London, Davies is about on teaching the following technology. “Teaching is the antithesis to being an athlete. I really like being a competitor, it’s superb. Nonetheless, it’s extremely egocentric. To educate somebody, you must give your all to them. I take extra pleasure in serving to another person fulfill their goals as I do for myself.”
