Don’t Rush the Journey: Fiona McAvoy on 17 Years to Black Belt

It took Fiona McAvoy 17 years to earn her Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. Looking back, she’s grateful she took the time to grow into it. In this episode of the Small Man Jiu Jitsu Podcast, Fiona shares her journey from competitive soccer to judo and eventually BJJ, where she began training under Dave Camarillo at American Kickboxing Academy. Now a first-degree black belt at JR Academy in Calgary, she reflects on finding her place on the mats, taking time away for graduate school and motherhood, and building a life around the work and training she loves. We talk about being one of the few women in her early classes, adapting techniques for a smaller body, and the challenges of teaching students with different sizes, abilities, and goals. Fiona also shares her perspective on realistic self-defense preparation and why repeated practice under pressure matters. As a mother and coach, Fiona discusses the pressure adults can put on young competitors, letting her children choose whether to compete, and helping kids learn to handle both winning and losing. Away from the mats, her path has included kinesiology, an MBA in finance, corporate work, and starting Athletic Arts. Today, she combines strength and conditioning, jiu-jitsu coaching, and finance and operations work with Pontus. Her advice for anyone feeling stuck in their training: take your time, understand why you’re there, and find a way to keep enjoying the journey. In this conversation: • Her introduction to judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu • Early training with Dave Camarillo • Women’s experiences on the mats • Coaching her own children and managing competition pressure • Making techniques work for smaller practitioners • Strength and conditioning for recreational athletes • Changing careers and finding fulfilling work • Earning her black belt after 17 years • Working through plateaus without rushing promotions Connect with Fiona: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiona_strength.roll.elevate/ Athletic Arts: https://www.athleticarts.co/ If something in Fiona’s story connects with your own experience, share it in the comments. Subscribe to the Small Man Jiu Jitsu Podcast for more conversations with people sharing their lives through jiu-jitsu. #SmallManJiuJitsuPodcast #FionaMcAvoy #JiuJitsu #BJJ #BlackBelt #WomenInBJJ #JiuJitsuJourney #JRacademy