Karen Banes is a black belt out of Texas, 5 time Master World Champion, owner and professor at Genesis Azle, active competitor, Fight2Win veteran, mother, and role model to many women in the jiujitsu community. This week we get to learn her story.
“I’ve been an athlete my entire life. I started competing in road races at the age of nine, after my dad said there was no way I could run that far. I loved a physical challenge. I did six different sports in high school, two sports in every season. In 1997, I graduated from Springtown HS and went on to Tarleton State University where I earned a scholarship in track and field as a heptathlete. I finished with a bachelors degree and specialize in early childhood development.
I originally thought I would become a police officer. I was even the Lieutenant on the Police Explorers program in high school. However, I have a heart and passion for children as well and chose to go into teaching instead.
Over the years I taught in public and private school, ran an in house preschool and served as a children’s minister in a local church.
I continued to remain active by competing in road races and adventure sport racing. My college teammate, Kate Webb, and I earned the title of 2007 Texas State Adventure Sport Racing Champions.
My son began participating in various martial arts. Once he got into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I decided to join him. After six weeks of training, I thought it would be a good idea to compete in a tournament. My opponent and I both had black eyes from accidental head butting. It wasn’t pretty! Haha I mean the match wasn’t pretty. The black eye was cool and you can always blend it in and match the other side with make up. Especially when it lands nicely on the top eyelid.
About six months into training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I joined with Fitness Fight Factory and began training mma under UFC Fighter Johnny Bedford. In 2013 I took three amateur cage fights. With very little BJJ, I finished all my opponents within the first two rounds. Two by rear naked choke RNC and a TKO, earning the title of TXMMA Amateur Fighter of the year, Rookie Amateur Fighter of the year and a nomination for a national poll for WMMA.
In 2014 I shifted my focus solely on Jiu Jitsu.
It was during this time I was ending a 14 year marriage and going through divorce.
Jiu jitsu helped me rebuild my life and find my self worth and purpose again. I had many opportunities to travel all over the US and Brazil. I’ve learned to accept new opportunities and take a risk. Greater the risk, greater the reward. In my mind I have slayed a few dragons. I have gone against some of the best to earn multiple titles in the adult divisions, 5 IBJJF Master World titles and I have had 6 professional F2Win pro matches.
Some of my best matches I did not win but I was challenged to another level and it brought out the best Jiu Jitsu I had on that day.
With my teaching background and training 2-3 times a day I opened my gym well before earning my blackbelt. Along the way I’ve had amazing support from my professor Albert Hughes with Genesis Jiu Jitsu.
Today my academy has been open for 6 years and I enjoy running it and investing in my students. It is very rewarding to watch them grow and develop their skills. We are finally at a stage where my students are now becoming teachers and that is amazing to watch.
This fall marks three years as a blackbelt and I’ve earned my first strip. Every belt I received was a surprise. I never expected anything but worked for everything. I’m not even close to knowing it all and the beauty about it is I never will. I just embrace the journey and continue to grow where I’m at today.”
Find Karen on Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trainatgenesis
Instagram: @KarenGenesisJiujitsu
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