Katie Wells is an athlete.

A short introduction to yourself?

I am a huge mental health advocate and a firm believer in empowering myself and those around me in my everyday life. I work in the mental health field and like to apply many principles from my work to the mats (& vice versa, of course).

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

I always had an interest in combat sports and loved watching the wrestling matches in high school. I knew absolutely nothing about BJJ, but I knew I wanted to try it. I fell into Jiu-Jitsu because of my coach, Mike Medrano. He was a customer at my family’s local business and suggested that I stop by. I finally took a class and fell in love with BJJ ever since. I started training in September of 2020.

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

I am currently a four stripe white belt. I love having a diverse and technical game, but I am a big fan of the leg lock component of Jiu-Jitsu.

Are you a member of any sports team? if not have you ever been?

My team is Aesthetic Temple, which is Carlson Gracie affiliated. This is the first sport that I have taken seriously.

Describe your major highlights and achievements in sports in the past.

I was never the athlete in the family. I just about made the travel basketball team in 8th grade. Passion drives me in all directions in life, so if I am not passionate about it, I will not partake. Finding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a huge highlight in my life in general. I am so grateful to have found my niche in the athletic realm.

Are there any short-term goals you’d like to accomplish in the next few months to a couple of years?

My goals for the next few years include becoming more experienced in competing, absorbing as much knowledge as possible, and having fun throughout the process.

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

For myself, I consider BJJ to be a healthy combination of both. Although I value my training on a serious level, I like to find moments where I can just have fun. You can catch me laughing or smiling during rolls more often than not.

What challenges have you faced in getting to where you are now? You can also share any injury story.

Many of the challenges I have faced in BJJ have been internal. The most challenging part about this sport is finding comfort in being bad at it. Most sports are straightforward and to the point, but BJJ has many paths and a plethora of knowledge to take in. The moments I felt the most defeated on the mats were overall the most rewarding.

What motivates you most about your profession as an athlete?

What motivates me most as an athlete are those around me and the desire to be better than I was yesterday. My greatest competition is myself. I am grateful to have the coaches and the support system that I do.

Do you have anything you want everyone to learn?

So far I have learned that BJJ is the ultimate revealer. When the ego is placed on the line, you come face to face with the most authentic parts of teammates, opponents, mentors, and most importantly, yourself.

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

My most recent tournament was an incredible experience. Aside from placing first in Gi and third in the intermediate division of No-Gi, I was able to accomplish clarity and calmness throughout the entire tournament. By far, this is what I am most proud of. There were moments of adrenaline, but overall my performance was technical and focused.

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#throwback #bjj #bjjgirls #bjjlifestyle #bjjlife #bjjmotivation #competition #jiujitsu #jiujitsulifestyle #jiujitsugirls #empoweringwomen #onevstwonews #onevstwo #sports #athlete