Ashley Barber Success Story

Ashley Barber an athlete.

A short introduction of yourself?  

My name is Ashley Barber, I just turned 30 and I am from North Carolina.

How did you develop your fondness for your sport and at what age did you start learning jiujitsu? 

I have been around folkstyle wrestling all of my life but I fell in love with jiu-jitsu when I went to a Naga tournament with my boyfriend to watch a friend of his. I had gotten a job in Charlotte NC and immediately found a gym nearby and signed up. That was about 2.5 years ago.

What is your style and what rank do you currently hold in?

I am currently a blue belt and I would say my game is a lot of pressure and smashing however it is becoming more well-rounded.

Do you have a favorite Sensei?

My coach and black belt are Michael Allen. He has helped to develop my game and pushes me to be the best competitor I can be.

How did you get into this position and how did your journey in this sport go?

My love for martial arts has grown over the years because of that one Naga tournament. I wouldn’t even be training had I not seen the matches up close and personal. When I decided I was going to find a gym I immediately bought a Gi and went to my first practice. My coach told me I was the very first person to show up with a Gi in hand ready to go. I loved my first practice so much that I stayed for the second practice that day. I have been to over 500 practices since starting and competed and won in multiple tournaments.

Do you take sports as a profession or is it just a hobby?

I started this as a hobby so that I could compete, learn to protect myself, and honestly because it is crazy fun. However the more I compete and the more I train the more I want to put myself into this for life. I want to open my gym one day.

What challenges have you faced in getting to where you are now?

You can also share any injury story. My biggest challenges have been balancing my life and the gym. I am raising my nephew, I work full time and I am a college student. It is very hard to put in all of the hours I want to train when I have other obligations at hand.

What motivates you most about your profession as an athlete?

I think what motivates me that I want to win and they want to be the absolute best I can be. I know that there is always going to be someone out there working hard and training to beat me on the mats.

Do you have anything you want everyone to learn?

Just be the best person you can be on and off the mats.

What tournament or match you have won are you most proud of and why?

I can’t say that I am more proud of one win or the other. I will always remember the first tournament I ever competed in I won gold in honor of my mom at Tap Cancer Out. As a white belt, I competed in the Las Vegas Novice International Open and won 3rd place. I would have to say winning gold at the IBJJF Charleston Open this past year was pretty amazing as well.

Tags:

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