VIDEO: Shana Pasapa – Empowering Indigenous Women through MMA (Behind the Scenes Video + Pics + Full Story)

Posted On 11 Mar 2015

RezX and Leftboot recently collaborated for a photoshoot with Shana Pasapa, a female Jiu-Jitsu artist that everyone is talking about. But we wanted to take it further and get all the angles, so we shot a behind the scenes video along with a time lapse video to give you an insight into every photoshoot we do at RezX. Our Editor, Chris Tyrone Ross even agreed to let Shana demonstrate some of her Jiu-Jitsu moves and she easily took him down. Check out the full story written by Shane Bellegarde (which also appears in our latest edition) along with our behind the scenes and time lapse videos and pictures below.

SHANA PASAPA WANTS TO EMPOWER INDIGENOUS WOMEN THROUGH MMA

Shana Pasapa was understandably nervous when she walked into the gym three years ago for her first Jiu-Jitsu lesson. She was the smallest person in the gym and happened to be the only female.

“We started out stretching and doing a little bit of a cardio workout. Then we did drilling and the first thing I was shown was called an Americana. It’s basically an arm lock.”

That’s all it took to get passed the jitters.

‘It was the coolest thing ever. I’d never heard of it before and I knew how to do it now.’

Shana was already hooked but when the instructor took the time in that first class to show her how to escape from underneath a person much bigger than she was it really sealed the deal.

“Jiu-Jitsu is the art of fighting on the ground. The philosophy of it is that a smaller, weaker person can overcome a larger, stronger opponent by using technique, leverage and getting their weight off balance.”

It takes a lot of sweat and determination to learn these techniques and Shana began paying her dues in the gym and even taking her skills to tournaments.

“When I first started I would be so nervous my body would be shaking… Now I’ve found a way to calm myself down through music or sometimes I’ll sing ceremony songs before the tournament and it just calms me right down and it kind of gets me in the zone.”

It seems to be working for Shana, who began training with AJ Scales at Complete MMA and has been very successful. Unfortunately, injuries are common when training or competing in martial arts.

“Both of my arms have been hyper extended. Twice on one and three times on the other.”

A knee injury suffered in a tournament also set her back six months. Unfazed, she went right back to work with a regimen that now includes Wrestling, Muay Thai and Boxing. Although she’s climbing the ranks in the Jiu-Jitsu world there’s a reason for her diversification.

“I grew up watching UFC with my uncle… It is a goal to have an MMA fight.’

Training in multiple styles helps her become a more well rounded opponent and allows her to set up her finishing Jiu-Jitsu submission moves in other ways. Shana continues to be passionate about learning and advancing in the sport, always adding something new to her repertoire.

‘My favorite move is a baseball choke, but I haven’t perfected it. I like watching it though. When I see it I get excited.”

It might be hard to balance the life of a single mother with all her training, (Shana has 2 young boys) but she is setting a great example of a healthy lifestyle for her children and they happily take part. Jiu-Jitsu is only part of that balance.

“I try to make it to the gym at least four times a week to train.” On certain days, “We all have a class. Other days we’ll do yoga or walking. We also do Pow Wow, dancing and weights.”

“I’m very fortunate to have a gym & family who support me & help what I do.”

Other plans for Shana include using what she’s learned to empower others through a “self defense program for women. With the issue of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women, it’s a tool our women should have.”

Shana has developed a business plan to help this dream unfold so that others can feel safe and more confident in all aspects of their daily life.

We look forward cheering her on and maybe learning a move or two in one of her future classes.

Shana will be competing in the Saskatchewan Submission Series April 4th in Saskatoon.

– Story by Shane Bellegarde / Photos by Ryan Peterman of Leftboot Photography

BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO