Michelle Aura

I did not know what Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was when I began. I saw a class happening at my Krav Maga School and just knew I had to do it. I knew it was going to be difficult, and I decided no matter what challenges arose I was just going to face them head on and work through them. I was out of shape and felt out of place when I started my journey. I applied my mentality of perseverance and accepted the feelings of discomfort that arose, and faced myself. Slowly, I built confidence with the support of my coach and fellow athletes. I knew I wouldn't be one of the people who started this sport and quit when it became difficult. I have always been a natural encourager, supporter, and problem-solver off the mats. These traits instinctively translated to the person I was on the mats, which eventually transitioned into coaching. Growing up sports like BJJ were not available to me. I played Tennis growing up, which I still enjoy doing. My Honey Badger mentality made me a very tough opponent.

Motivation & Passion

My motivation for coaching is to support and encourage each person to become the best versions of themselves, on and off the mats. I want to support each person with their individual goals; from the casual learner who wants to meet some cool people and learn a new sport, to a competitor who wants to tear up the competition world. There is room for everyone. You might just become the best version of yourself.

Turning Point

I knew the moment I stepped onto my coach's BJJ mat that my journey would be a beautiful mess. I was out of shape, overweight, and filled with my own doubts, questions, and imposter syndrome. I knew immediately this was going to be more of a journey with myself than just learning a sport and that it has been. They say you can't hide anything on the mats in BJJ and this is the absolute truth. I made a pact with myself early on; "I am just going to keep showing up and facing the difficulties head-on and work through them." In my early days, there were tears, doubt, frustration, questioning, wondering, etc. There was nothing that didn't come up for. I leaned into it. I leaned into all of it. The victories, the defeats, the ugly, the beautiful, the frustration, the learning. I decided to love every minute of it because I was shedding the parts of me that needed to go. And, I have had the privilege of stepping into my most authentic self. It has become easier to face myself and the challenges that arise now. I love learning, and growing, and improving, and teaching, and being my best self. I am only 3.5 years into my BJJ journey. I have gained a new community of supportive people. I have become a BJJ competitor. I have become a life-long learner. I have become my most healthy self. Oh yeah, it also changed my physical self. I have lost 80 lbs and completely changed the way I treat my body.